"Blinded by the light. . . "

Rick came too close for his comfort to a lightening bolt last night. He took the golf cart up to the gate to lock it. Just as he finished locking the gate and was turning back to the golf cart CRACK!!  A quick, zapping bolt of lightening struck a tree 50' to his side. The light was blinding and he could feel the heat from the lightening, as well as smell it. The bolt hit a tree and the tree exploded. It definitely was an adrenalin booster for Rick and as he said, a number eleven on the pucker scale. I have never seen him so shaken up and that includes close calls with rattlers. The whole episode has me thinking. We tend to think we are massively complicated, intricate and strong, but in reality we are extremely fragile. Everything can be halted by a random act in a split second.

Kindergarten Christmas Program

The kindergarten classes had their Christmas program last night. Their costumes were matching pajamas. Blue for girls and red for boys. I snapped a few pictures while Rick video taped the event. Please excuse the color and sharpness of the pictures. The lights were dimmed in the auditorium.

The theme was Polar Express and the concert started off with them sleeping.

 Here's a question. Are men unaware that they should remove their hats indoors? I also ran into this at The Nutcracker. Seeing a hatted man in an audience with a chapeau perched on his head is like white dress shoes after Labor Day. It just looks wrong and it gets under my skin.

 I like this picture because of the expression on Brayden's face. Such pain, such sorrow.

Katie and Cody flirting while on stage. Cody told her that she was cute. Katie returned the compliment.  Katie had a good time on stage. Cody and she seemed to be the only one that enjoyed being there.

Thanksgiving 2011

We have returned from our Thanksgiving trip to Michigan's U.P. (Upper Peninsula). We were gone for nine days, but it went quickly. Cody did time at K9 Tactical's kennel and came back depressed and thinner. I think the goober was on a hunger strike to bring attention to his blight, cut off from his family.

Rick has had a cold for a few weeks now. Kate had it but recovered then caught another one and recovered. The two of them shared with me. Because of flying and breathing regurgitated air, my sinuses hurt like all get out and I am blowing my nose non-stop. Please don't say "sinus infection". I really can't deal with one of those.

My mom and dad have come screeching into the 21st century. They now have the internet available in their home. It was installed for my sister who has been taking care of them since August. We Skyped last night, but the quality of the video starts to tank until my computer freezes with 100% CPU utilization by Skype. It should not be that way. Just another item added to the to-do list.

As for The Nutcracker, Katie enjoyed being on stage. She even told me that she wished that she could be on stage all by herself. No surprise there. My critique of this year's The Nutcracker is that Sunday's matinee performance was an edge better than Saturday's evening show. The dancers were better matched to their roles. In general though I thought the show we attended last year was a more refined performance. My favorite role in the ballet is the peacock. Katie's ballet teacher, Mary Elizabeth, performed the part last year and she was outstanding. This year's dancers were good but they did not bring the same grace or mesmerizing movement than Mary Elizabeth had.

Below are two pictures of Kate in her stage make-up before the Sunday matinee.

"Nobody knows the troubles I've seen. Nobody knows my sorrows. . . . " 

The reason for adding the above picture is that I can't believe how long Kate's eyelashes are.  Apparently they are light colored, because when I added a touch of mascara they showed their true length.

The next few pictures are from our trip up north.

Kate couldn't get enough of the snow. Oh where, oh where did Rick and I go wrong?!

Throwing snow.

 

 Flowers from my sister Linda. She wasn't able to make it for Thanksgiving. She is in the middle of buying a house.

 Rick cutting Tom Turkey. It was soooo good.

Mom and Dad before the feast began

 Kate earning her dollar. She loves doing dishes so I don't know why I don't make her do them more often.

My cousin Cheryl, Kate and Cheryl's dog, Lola. Lola is a Great Pyrenees and a big ol' puff ball

Kate driving the Skylink at DFW

I will chat with you later when I have something of great importance to share with you. Okay, maybe sooner than that. I volunteered to work in the Tiger Store tomorrow and I am not sure why when I have enough to do around here.