Happy New Year & Financial Comments

The weather is back to normal now and we enjoyed New Year's Eve afternoon at the community pool. It was warm enough to lay out and enjoy the sun! As you can see we had the pool and spa all to ourselves, which is usually the case.









And now for something completely different ----

As anyone who has a 401(k) or money in the stock market knows, 2008 was a rough year. However, since someone requested that I add some financial facts and commentary to this blog, I will say that it seems to be a great time for first-time home buyers - especially in Arizona.

Builders who a few years ago had no problem selling their spec houses for more than the asking price, are now trying to unload them at great discounts. Also, interest rates are at historically low low rates. Add these two facts together and it's a great time to be buying a new house. However, if you have a home to sell, that might be a bit difficult right now. The bottom line is, for first-time home buyers with good credit, this is the time to buy! Even with the existing builder discounts, the builder will probably accept an even lower offer, just to get it off the books.

Happy New Year 2009!

Let it snow?

Did someone here request a white Christmas? How did this happen? It's not supposed to snow in Tucson. I think this barrel cactus and prickly pear in our backyard are just as surprised as I was to be subjected to snow on the day after Christmas.

Okay, it's less than an inch, it will be gone tomorrow, and I know it's nothing compared to the several feet of snow that Utah has now, but I'm just amazed!

Update: I understand Tucson did not get snow today. We are a little higher in elevation out here and closer to the mountains, so it tends to be a few degrees cooler here which is welcome in the summer, but not in winter.

We did have a nice Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
with Ryan & Ashley. We will have another Christmas
with Kevin & Caroline and kids when they get back from
their Christmas visit with Caroline's family.

Joy to the World

When is Joseph also the Shepard? When is the Inn Keeper also all Three Wise Men? When does the angel stand on a step-stool? When is Mary's scarf held on by a clothes pin?

Only in the Joy School Christmas Program! They all did a great job, but I thought the star of the show was the Joseph/Shepard!

It was reported that at rehearsal the 4-person cast at times had some heated disagreement about who would do which part and the actors refused to say their lines or even wear the costumes. However, at the actual performance, everything came together. They all repeated their lines perfectly, wore their costumes, and had a good time doing it!


No room at the Inn for Mary and Joseph.

















Mary, the Shepard, the Angel, and Wise Men celebrate the birth of the Baby Jesus.

Joy (School) to the World!

Update on the last two posts

House update:
Last night I saw the House episode that explains what happened to his leg (and his ex-wife/girlfriend?), so that was interesting. I'm sure it was a rerun, but new to me. Also, do real doctors really go to people's homes to see what they might have eaten, or breathed, or been exposed to? I don't think so.

It's a Wonderful Life update:
Not really an update, but to get back to a more Christmasy theme, some quotes from different scenes in the movie, that you can easily use in real life.
ZuZu: Paste it Daddy, paste it!
(To be used when anything is broken and needs to be fixed.)

and
George : This is a very interesting situation!
(This can be used for any occurrence that seems a bit out of the ordinary.)

and
Violet: Why this old thing? I only wear this when I don't care how I look!
(A great response for any comment on what you are wearing or how you look.)

House and Jane Austen

If you are one of those people who claim they never watch TV, stop reading now.

Does anyone else watch House? I find I would much rather watch attempts to diagnose a strange disease than watch those other shows where they reconstruct/solve a murder in excruciating detail. At least with House, the patient usually lives.

For those with a medical or pharmacy background, any professional comments? Such as:

___ None of that would ever happen in real life.
___ The medical/pharmaceutical terminology is way off.
___ Those patients would be suing the hospital.
___ All of the above.

Extra points for those Jane Austen fans who can answer the following:
House (Hugh Laurie) was in a 1995 movie version of which Jane Austen book?
Hint: The movie starred Emma Thompson?

Suggestions for Christmas Movies?

I've been trying to find some good Christmas movies. Of course, there are always the old favorites, which include:

It's a Wonderful Life (1946) - Even if you watch it every year, it just keeps getting better.

Miracle on 34th Street (1947) - If you want proof that Santa really does exist.

Miracle on 34th Street (1994) - I prefer the reasoning and evidence used to prove Santa exists in the old version, but I like the ending better in this newer one.

A Christmas Story (1983) - I double dog dare you not to like this one.

Extra points for providing memorable quotes from any of the above movies.

Any suggestions for other good Christmas movies, old or new?

Why did the chicken cross the road?

Just passing this along. : )

WHY DID THE CHICKEN CROSS THE ROAD?

BARACK OBAMA: The chicken crossed the road because it was time for a change! The chicken wanted change!

JOHN MC CAIN: My friends, that chicken crossed the road because he recognized the need to engage in cooperation and dialogue with all the chickens on the other side of the road.

HILLARY CLINTON: When I was First Lady, I personally helped that little chicken to cross the road. This experience makes me uniquely qualified to ensure - right from Day One! - that every chicken in this country gets the chance it deserves to cross the road.

BILL CLINTON: I did not cross the road with that chicken. What is your definition of chicken?

AL GORE: I invented the chicken.

DR SEUSS: Did the chicken cross the road? Did he cross it with a toad? Yes, the chicken crossed the road, but why it crossed I've not been told.

Bike Race . . . the rest of the story

The arduous 109 mile El Tour De Tucson bike race, with it's grueling uphills, sandy desert washes, and seemingly endless hours of biking. You've heard the success stories, read how the three tenacious racers finished in times which beat all predictions, even seen the pictures . . .




. . . but do you know the rest of the story?

Along the way, a small group of supporters followed the bikers, watching and waiting, cheering them along with encouraging signs waving, and greeting them at the triumphal finish line.

Here they are!







And now you know . . . the rest of the story.

Wii, Buckles, and Reindeer Antlers

By popular demand, a few words about the adorable grandchildren. Right now there are three, but another is expected in February. I will just relate one thing about each one for now, as activities with these kids may possibly (meaning definitely) be the subject of future blogs.


The four year old is becoming quite a Wii expert. His favorite is the Tank Game, but he is also quite good at Wii Bowling and Wii Tennis. His technique is definitely unique, but effective. Anyone else developing a Wii addiction at your house?



The two year old is great at putting things together. His favorite things to assemble are Lego Blocks, train tracks for Thomas and Friends, and buckles. (He's also good at causing a bit of destruction too.)







The baby is 3 months old and is getting ready for her first Christmas with these stylish Reindeer Antlers.
Reports are she already sleeps through the night. How come my kids never did that until they were much older?

A Pseudo-Retirement

Although you may have heard rumors that I have retired, it's really just a pseudo-retirement or what I like to call a sabbatical. I am still way too young to be labeled as "retired." With the new house in Tucson and traveling to Massachusetts to spend time with Suzy who is expecting a baby soon, I just had too many things to do to continue working right now. Also, I did not want to think of spending another winter in SLC with the snow and cold when Tucson is in the 70s right now. When all has settled down next year, I would like to find a job I actually like. Who knows?

Ken is still working in SLC as he is very close to the minimum retirement age with the company he has been with for 32 years. We will both be going back and forth over the next few months. Everything is flexible and subject to change at any time.

Here are some pictures of the Tucson house for those who haven't seen it yet. For those who have seen it or have seen previous pictures, please disregard the following pictures and skip right to the question at the end of this blog.

Enough about Tucson for now. My next blog will be about either the three adorable grandchildren or the bike race that Ken, Kevin, and Ryan participated in recently. Which one would you like to see next?