Ear Infection

It was just another ear infection. I went and got the pink medicine.

Christmas Disaster

A tree falling over would be too easy.

EJP is on his way to the emergency room. Again. He's been feeling sick the past couple of days and complaining about his ear, and we took his temperature this afternoon and it was 101 degrees. So, rather than a catastrophe on Christmas Day, RCP decided to take him in today. Since it is Saturday, his doctor isn't around, so off to the hospital.

I will update as we learn more.

EJP's Prayer

I wish God had a spider costume. And I wish I had a spider costume. Amen. And I wish Jesus had a spider costume. Amen.

I'm Funny

While dressing EJP this morning, he said "I'm funny." Then he put his hands in his armpits, and said "Squirt, squirt, squirt," while moving his elbows up and down. "See, that was funny." Apparantly, he (and some other kids) do this at school regularly, and think it is very funny.

It is clear that he wants to be the class clown.

Anyone have advice for the class clown?

EJP Speaks

Mom, I want a French manicure!

Person to Person

We spend a lot of time driving. Sometimes, we have intersting discussions.

Recently, we were talking about the telephone system from days of yore. Dad mentioned a concept that is completely alien to me: The person to person call.

Here's how it works. I call the operator and tell her I want to talk to RKCP at a given number. She would call the number and ask for RKCP. If she was there, I'd be connected and pay a higher rate. If she wasn't there, I'd pay nothing.

I will leave it to the reader to determine if this was an interesting conversation or not.

Hey, you can still do this! Why can you still do this? When would you use it?

The charge for a person-to-person call to another state is $1.15 a minute with a $12.50 operator service charge.

For your reference, here's what you do:

• Dial '00.'
• Enter the 10-digit number you're calling, starting with the area code. (It is not necessary to enter 1 or 0 before the area code.)
• You will then hear prompts telling you to say "person-to-person."
• The operator will come on the line to assist you in reaching the specific person or department.

Dividing Line Restored

Madera County is the geographic middle of the state; it is halfway between Mexico and Oregon. To mark the spot where north meets south, someone planted two trees in the median of Highway 99, a few miles south of the city of Madera. The northern tree is a redwood, and the southern is a palm tree.

Last winter, the redwood fell down during a storm. Southern California appeared victorious in the eternal struggle.

Now, the North will rise again: CalTrans has planted a new redwood tree.

(Who would have guessed that CalTrans would be party to something that this? Do they have a personality, or even a soul? I never would have guessed.)

First Trip to the Dealer

I took the Hyundai to Smitty for its second oil change. He noticed that something needed to be smoethinged, at the dealer. Its not a big deal, but it makes me feel like I don't have a new car anymore. *sniff*

That Permanent Smell

When we were getting into my car today, SKGP said that my car smells permanent. When asked for an explanation, she said it smelled like a permanent marker. And, she was right -- it did smell like that.

Christmas Party

Last night, we had a Christmas party at PaceHouse 2.0. It was fun. There was lots of good food, some tasty drinks, and lots of fun conversation. And it showed that Trader Joe's in Morgan Hill is a very good thing.

We experienced the offical drink of South Africa (with a name I've forgotten), which is amarula (marula fruit cream) and creme de menthe. It was a very yummy gold and green shooter.

The attendees were:

• Andrew and Tammi
• Arielle and Catalina
• Erik, Sheryl, and Dylan
• Faith and Pierre
• David and Rebecca
• Pallavi
• JEP, RKCP, SKGP, and EJP

I used the Champagne Sabre on a bottle of Kirkland Champagne. What else could you ask for in a party?

Christmas Fun

"While the bagel's cooking, I'm going to play Baby Jesus."

Yes, the Fisher Price Nativity Set is the getting the most play of any toy in a long time.

Trader Joe's Mania Hits South Valley

Ripped from the headlines:

Gilroy Dispatch, December 9, 2006

Big crowds show support for specialty grocer

Much to the delight of many, Trader Joe's is finally open. After years of longing by residents and eight months of plans and construction, the specialty food chain opened it's doors to loyal South County shoppers Friday morning.

[...]

"Obviously it's very popular," said [RKCP], a Gilroy nutritionist, who added spinach and curry sauces to her cart. "I was amazed to pull into the (117-space) parking lot after 9am and see it was already packed."

[...]

I expect a letter to the editor asking for a correction: She is a dietitian, not a nutritionist. I'm a little worried that I have spinach to look forward to soon.

The Injustice of Youth

"Why did I only get $1 for my tooth? Emily's sister got $20."

Another Tooth

SKGP lost another tooth today. One of her top, front ones.

All together:

All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth,
My two front teeth, see my two front teeth.
Gee, if I could only have my two front teeth,
Then I could wish you "Merry Christmas."

It seems so long since I could say,
"Sister Susie sitting on a thistle."
Gosh, oh gee, how happy I'd be
If I could only whistle.

All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth,
My two front teeth, see my two front teeth
Gee, if I could only have my two front teeth,
Then I could wish you "Merry Christmas."

OK, she's only missing one at this point.

Christmas Disaster '06

My family has a couple Christmas traditions. We always watch A Christmas Story at least once. We open stockings as a group in the morning, and all sing "Ri-Co-La" when the cough drops arrive. We also have an annual Christmas disaster.

Once, we put the turkey in the little dorm fridge. The little door to the ice area was open, and so the turkey was found frozen solid on Christmas morning. A scouting party eventually found a turkey at the bowling alley restaurant.

Once, the garbage disposal got clogged up, and the sink filled up.

Once, mom was taken to the emergency room, just in case.

Tonight, our giant tree fell over as we ate dinner. The stand we have might not be able to handle a tree this big. So, I'm off to Target to see if there is a stand that can handle something this big.

I hope that this counts as the Christmas disaster for 2006.

Family, please post comments of the other disasters that I've forgotten....

Christmas Time Is Here

Tis the season!

Christmas Parade, where On Friday, RCP wrapped the staircase banister with lights and put up various holiday thingies. Yesterday, EJP and I put up the exterior lights. Then last night, we saw the Gilroy Christmas Parade; SKGP and RCP marched with the Brownies. We also got to take some pictures with Santa.

Today, we went and picked our Christmas tree. The place where we got the tree last year didn't grow Douglas Firs, which we have decided is our official tree. So we found the Uvas Tree Farm (11370 Watsonville Road, Gilroy, CA 95020. Phone: 408 842-3746). Here's how they describe their operation:

We have unique and individual trees for the unique individual. If you are looking for a tree that looks like it was shaped in a pencil sharpener you will not find it here...we have no two trees a like. What we do have are healthy well cared for trees in a friendly environment and customers that keep coming back, once they have been here. We might not look like much from the outside but it's what's inside that counts.

We found the place, and the guy sent us down to a cow pasture / forest. The cows were gone, but they left mementos of their time. After wandering around for half an hour, we chose a tree. It is very big, and it definitely doesn't look like it was "shaped in a pencil sharpener". It has character.

We made it home, loaded it into the stand. It falls over a little, but that'll just add to its charm when it drops on us during presents opening. With Gramzilla's newly arrived help, we rearranged the furniture a bit and brought it in.

Now we're listening to Christmas music, with a fire in the fireplace. And drinking wine and eating yummy appetizers. And RCP is wrapping lights around the tree.

Merry Christmas, everyone!