Long Hair

The girls received these garlands in their Christmas stockings. They have worn them nonstop. Catherine likes to show me her "long hair".

Here they are showing off their new tutu's they received from PawPaw and Gigi.

Catherine beating Grandpa and Aunt Jena at another gameof Hi Ho Cherrio!

And the other angelic granddaughter, Mary.

There's More (Coffee)

My parents gifted me with a Starbucks card this Christmas. Very nice. And seemingly, very straight-forward.

But there’s more …

During the registration process, I learned that this card tracks my visits, and based on the level of my java-swilling enthusiasm, the program rewards me with special discounts and freebies.

But there’s more …

One of the confirmation emails from Starbucks informed me about a downloadable app available for my Blackberry to track my balance. Sure enough, after my first purchase, a quick online inquiry showed the balance properly adjusted within minutes of the purchase.

But there’s more …

I wondered, “wouldn’t it be smart if this online app reloaded my card automatically?”, and sure enough, it was there! You can set a lower threshold amount and a reload amount on the Blackberry, and - voila! - a bottomless latte!

Of course, this is all connected to my credit card. It’s a win/win for Starbucks and me.

Saddle up your horses!

Catherine came up with a really good idea.

She decided to take the strap off of a purse and attach it to Grandpa.

And ride him like a horse.

The Movie Critic

Here's a rundown of my last five movie experiences ... you heard right, this is the analysis you’ve been waiting for …

True Grit was engaging and entertaining. The Coen Brothers did well. With all due respect to the Duke, this flick was an improvement on the original.

Robin Hood was a pleasant surprise as it wasn't warmly received by the critics. It was a prequel to the classic story of Sherwood Forest, and historically interesting. With all due respect to the critics, this was a great movie.

The Expendables was an action movie involving several classic "tough guys", some throughout the plot, but most in short cameos. With all due respect to the stature of the actors involved, this was a waste of time and special effects.

Salt was an Angelina Jolie vehicle. She was a CIA agent who was unknowingly an elite Russian sleeper agent who, after killing about half of her former office buddies, turned out to be CIA-friendly after all. With due respect to the gigantic holes in the plot, it was a watchable movie (but only once).

The Social Network is drawing attention as a top film of 2010. These real-life business dramas are intriguing to me. With all due respect to my own misgivings about Facebook, the accolades this movie is drawing are well-deserved.

I would still like to catch up with a few 2010 flicks, including 127 Hours, Inception and The King's Speech.

Sunny's Birthday

We celebrated Sunny's birthday a few days after Christmas. Pio's was the location of choice. They put us in a party room downstairs. We had the place to ourselves. That was really nice because you know how rowdy we can get! The owner Ernie Dempsey came by and chatted. My Dad ran into some longtime friends upstairs and when they were done eating they came down and visited for a while.

Sunny requested a cake with fruit on top. So I bought a cheesecake with fruit on top, a strawberry cream cake, and for good measure a coconut cream pie.

Michael enjoyed the festivities.

Mary enjoyed the coconut cream pie.

Rainbow

Let me introduce you to Rainbow. She is a new model in town. All of the moves are completely hers. By the way "Rainbow" is her stage name.

End-of-Year Activities

The end of the year is filled with many tasks around our house. The Christmas lights come down, we learn how to operate the latest Christmas “toys”, and the elaborate Rennier filing system gets a shakedown in preparation for the dreaded tax season. The shredder is churning so fast you’d think we were an embassy on the retreat.

With a full week off, I complete much of my personnel work for the past year, and sketch out thoughts for the next year. Working without planning to some stated objective is simply day labor in my opinion.

Vacation plans are mapped out for the next twelve months. This entails general hiking and travel pre-planning. Invitations are assembled and mailed to solicit company where needed.

Another end-of-year chore involves the update of the family net worth statement. I have found this annual snapshot to be the most essential financial tool we have as it combines savings, investment, retirement, and debt management performance into one simple view.

Lately, insurance companies and the billing departments of various hospitals and medical offices require attention. They operate like no other business institution with which I’ve been previously involved. So, letters must be written and calls placed.

Like most folks, I spend some time just sitting and thinking. The quiet at the end of the year provides a great time to put routines on hold and consider how the routine itself should be redefined and altered.

Did I say “quiet”? Much of this “quiet time” is punctuated by Catherine’s persistent calls to “play with me!”, “start this movie, Grandpa!”, or “let’s go outside!” (and Mary nodding agreement with each demand).

Happy New Years, and the best to you!