Happy New Year

I probably won't have the opportunity to write another post today, so to everyone who has visited Casting My Net since I started it 186 entries ago and to those who have made it a part of your regular online reading - Happy New Year and God's Richest Blessings to You in 2006!

Some good things are lined up in the next few weeks as I make some adjustments to my online journaling habits. As I told myself at the end of 2004, 2005 was going to be the Year of the Blog and I've had fun (lots of fun) exploring the blogosphere, meeting many folks who share my interests and developing cool friendships. In 2006, I hope to make blogging a more useful tool in my life online and offline.

So however you ring in the New Year, be safe and I'll talk to you next year...

Fun with... Holiday Decorations

"We've fallen and we can't get up!"

Really, this post should be titled "Fun with... (already broken) Holiday Decorations". No clay snow people were intentionally harmed in the making of this photograph.

Happy 8th Birthday, Ian!!

It's very hard to believe that eight years to the day have passed since our family increased from "just the two" of us to "we three". We love you Ian!

--Mom & Dad


Mmmm. Birthday Waffles!



One of our family traditions. Waffles, raspberries, ice cream, whipped cream, chocolate sauce, strawberry sauce, maple syrup and/or bananas. Oh, and the special Birthday Plate.     :)

Christmas to our 3-Year Old

Watching all three of our boys grow from babies to toddlers and then into little men, It's amazing to see how quickly the world comes together in their heads. So at three-and-a-half, Myles has fully grasped the concept of Christmas, but it's the combination of innocent wisdom with a raw eloquence that makes kids say the darndest things. For example:

"Bethlehem" becomes "Buffalo Ham"
"Feliz Navidad" translates to "Felee Smelly-Dad"

We have explained and corrected the pronunciation of Jesus' birthplace, but I'm afraid the whole "Smelly Dad" thing might be around for years to come. With the whole family... and now, probably the entire extended family. Felee Smelly Dad, Y'all!!

They're Coming Home

Do you remember the Folgers Coffee commercials they used to run at Christmastime many years ago? The All-American son comes home from college and sneaks into his parents' house before anyone is awake. Then he makes a pot of coffee and before too long, the bleary-eyed mom and dad shuffle into the kitchen wondering why the coffee is on. Suddenly, they catch a glimpse of their boy and, well, yeah... time to get the tissues.

I've never had the opportunity to "come home" from too far away during the Holidays, but little by little family and good friends are coming home, here to the Dallas area and it's giving me that homecoming feeling. My sister is back from France;  I saw 3 siblings at church yesterday - all home from college; a good friend and his family are coming in from Cheltenham, U.K. this week - we'll get a chance to see them, I'm sure; and at a Christmas party Lisa and I went to this weekend, we saw lots of folks we hadn't seen in a while. Yup, it's beginning to "feel" a lot like Christmas. will you be home?

Jack Frost

Took this picture yesterday morning from the inside of my truck. Thought it was just too cool not to. Click on the picture to see the detail.

With a Capital 'K'

My Grandfather often used the expression "Class with a Capital 'K'" when remarking on things that were done with unique excellence. So it was no wonder that the phrase came to mind once again when a mysterious black envelope arrived in the mail... sealed with a 'K'. Our name and address was handwritten in silver ink, no return address and a silver wax seal on the back. I tried to think of everyone I had ever known with a last name beginning with 'K'. I came up blank so I opened it. Inside was an invitation to a New Year's Eve 'Black & White Affair' from Keystone Church. Now that's Klass!

She Did It!

My sister Jacqueline (y'know, she's in France for a year as a teacher) started her own blog. She warned us that it was just her random thoughts, but from the looks of things she's found the exact purpose of blogging. Go check out her scene at http://tangledshadow.blogspot.com

More Starbucks Observations

7 tables
10 laptops
13 people
Laptops are gaining.

My New Poison

Yesterday, I grabbed the wrong drink at Starbucks, but luckily it worked out to my favor and now I have a new favorite drink. Thanks to the markings on the cup sleeve and a keen interpreter, I can not only explain what it is, but can confidently order more.

It's called a "triple tall, two raw sugar, extra hot, extra foam latte".

Triple - 3 shots of pure Starbucks essence - BOO-YAH!
Tall - In a tiny cup
Raw Sugar - Takes the edge off ('raw' is a bonus word that makes it sound rugged)
Extra Hot - Makes it last more than five minutes
Extra Foam - After-drink reminders? (...urp!)