2000 Dominik Christmas Pictures

		Ah, yes, the old Buck Hill Shot of the Day. You can see we've obviously gotten more snow. Actually, they're saying we're well over double our average snow for the month. And they're talking about more next week. As usual, this links to a much larger image.
		And a shot going the other direction from our deck - this is looking south-west. If you look really hard, in the lower-right corner, you can see a car with half the windshield cleared of snow (we got 1.3" of snow last night). That would be my vehicle.
		And yes, the shot to the northeast off the deck. Lots of snow, eh?
		This is a picture of the Dominik's tree, for this year. One nice thing of note is that the tree isn't quite to the middle of the room, and doesn't reach the ceiling. It's still using the same tree-stand, though. Puny, and not nearly one-tenth of the normal number of ornaments... But there are a few favorites...
		This image gives you some idea of the range... We've got hand-made and store-bought "Poohs" by the truckload. Along with other things. Including glass balls. I suppose I should note that many of the glass ornaments on the tree are older than I am. Not an antique yet (he said, hopefully), but they're somewhat valuable.
		And this is our walk. I've put this picture in to show you first of all what the heck those folks south of the equator get to benefit from - The sun's in the upper-right corner of the picture, and that's pretty low on the horizon - we're also talking a good two or two and a half hours before sunset. Yuck.
		The "Auld Homestead". This is where I grew up from the age of 11 until I moved out fourteen years later. Two acres, about 70% of it was "mowing yard" and more trees than you could shake a leaf-covered stick at. I hate raking.
		Now this is the life, if you're four. You sucker an aunt and uncle into towing you down the road, on ice, and you plant both feet and slide along. They run like sled dogs, and you get to slide. Of course, at some point, they'll figure out you're getting a free ride.
		Of course, occasionally, you lose control, and flip around. Jack was laughing at this point - I don't think anyone else was.
		Snow angels. His uncle dropped into the snow first, and Jack followed.
		A simple how-to tutorial on snow angels from Jack.
		Now, this one requires some explanation... My family tends to get hold of some stupid, annoying gift idea and then beats it to a pulp, sort of like an election recount challenge, if you know what I mean. Anyway, in this picture, you see a number of reindeer, among other things - this year we've got a Madonna Reindeer, a Harry Potter Reindeer, a reindeer incognito (that's the one with the fake red nose), and the "Unknown Reindeer" with the bag on his head. Don't ask.
		Now this requires more than a little explanation. At one point, my dad wrote a book with one of the monk-professors at St. John's. This Monk was a Math prof, with a weird hobby - he creates these shapes, based on mathematical models, and then covers them with colored sparkle paper However, Fr. Magnus has to decorate trees that are forty feet or more in height, and his ornaments are two feet, or more, in diameter The other ornament to the right is a baby Jesus in a walnut bed. We're a nutty family, we are.
		And this is the nutty family I sprang from. That's me and Jack in the back, Grandma, Grandpa, Rhiannon, and mom in front. I think the comment just before this picture was taken was "smile if you're wearing someone else's underwear." This explains my wife's exasperated look, my mother's laugh, my daughter's "oh, just take the picture" grin, my father's "what underwear?" look, Jack's laugh, and my "uh, who belongs to these?" look. Aren't we a weird bunch? And you'll note the books behind us there. . . That's just one end of a sixteen-foot wide bookshelf in the living room.
And Then		Christmas Eve
		This is on the way up to the 22nd floor of the Radisson Hotel, where the Carousel Restaurant is found. The carousel gets it's name from two different directions - the first is the decor, old carousel horses, and the second is from the rolling ring you can sit on to see the entire skyline of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Well, most of the skyline. This is a view south.
		Same direction, ten floors up. You'll notice the steam off the open water. Yes, open water. This time of year, after quite a long time of below-freezing (not to mention below zero) temps.
		And this is mostly what I saw during my breakfast. My son was across the table, across the street from the St. Paul courthouse (that's the building), and he was doing the typical touristy-type thing - staring at everything.
		This is one of the views. If you look at the large image, you'll be able to see plenty of detail, including the tall building in the foreground, which is known as "Landmark Tower" and where Ann used to work about four-five years ago. Just to the right of that is the green dome of the St. Paul Cathedral. Just past that is the skyline of downtown Minneapolis. The building in the other window is the new home of Lawson software. If you haven't heard of them, you soon will.
		This is my daughter. Worth getting up every morning to see, wouldn't you say?
		My two girls. Obviously, someone is suspicious of me. Probably safest.
		This is the highlight of the day. Jack says, in a very loud voice, "I like sitting here. It keeps my butt warm." He was on the heater.
		Jack and Ann "clinking". I don't understand it, but he did.
		No wonder the horse is nervous.
		And back down to where we belong.

Daynotes on a budget

The weekly Diary of a PC Geek

Updated: Wednesday, October 02, 2002 09:18 AM -0500