Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving 2006 was pretty fun. Almost all of Victoria’s mom’s side of the family made it. We missed Desiree and Juan with their twins, J.R. and Sierra but I believe everyone else was there.

We got there a bit early, around 11am. We got some lunch on our way and watched some football. Both of the widely viewed games were pretty boring. No one, I think, really questioned that Miami and Dallas had those games wrapped up before the opening kickoff. The results confirmed that.

The food was great and the conversation was as good as always. I missed having Bill there. I know he’s staying at a shelter somewhere but I have no way of getting ahold of him or I think he may have been welcome to join us.

The evening game of Denver v Kansas City was a nice change of pace vs the morning and afternoon games. I wish Time Warner would pick up the NFL Network. Not that I like their commentating (just the opposite in fact) but it would be nice to be able to watch the Thursday Night games the rest of the year without having to go over to the in-laws.

Ahh so family, food and fun. Can’t really ask for more on Thanksgiving. Other than a bit of drama about the time we ended up eating there were no fights or arguments and everyone seemed to have a good time.

Here are pictures of the event…

BTW…leave a comment. What was your favorite moment this Thanksgiving? Not evening. Not “spending time with family.” Singular moment. Every get together has that moment. What was yours?

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New toy and Renaissance Faire

Ahhh my new toy has arrived! I purchased the new Canon EOS Rebel XTi (aka Canon 400D), a battery grip with 2 extra batteries, 5GB worth of memory cards, the 18-55mm kit lens, the 50mm f/1.8 prime lens and the backpack for it all you see in the background. Picture was shot with a Canon Elph Powershot SD550. A great point and shoot camera I intend to purchase once I’ve gotten more lenses, a flash and added equipment for my new camera.

I took the camera out for a test run at the Escondido Renaissance Faire last weekend. Here is yours truly and his dashing young bride at the faire:

Isn’t we just shiny? It really was a great day. We hung out with our good friend Becky, ate some food, watched the Merry Wives of Windsor and checked out all the wares being sold at the various booths at the faire. There was such a friendly and funloving spirit throughout the grounds. I don’t know if it was because this was a smaller faire. I don’t know if it was the local feel or perhaps just the people and everyone having a good day all at once but it was pretty cool. Not the biggest faire we’ve been to but probably our favorite so far.

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I really need to post more often…

 … but I probably won’t.

Been a tough day. Halloween was a bust again. I didn’t dress up but Victoria did. Awesomeo: her new secret identity. She was so cute. Then later there was this naughty school girl number. Well, let’s just say if any kids had come for candy, I was going to have to be the one handing out the candy. Very nice indeed. Well, except I didn’t get any at the end of the night and well I can’t complain since I’ve barely been able to keep up with her lately.

Now, she’s writing a novel about rape and that means I ain’t getting any through the entire month of November and probably well into December. I’ll keep you all updated since I’m sure what I’ve already written hasn’t been at all too much information. I’m sure you’re just begging for more.

Thought a lot about Stephanie today. Reading a story in the Ensign about Jennifer Sabin, a woman in our stake who was saved from CF by two donors within the ward who gave her a lobe each from their lungs. I was reading it out loud to Victoria while she was cooking and I just couldn’t keep my composure. I just kept thinking about Stephanie and how badly I wanted to give her my kidney when she went on dialysis. I never actually took the steps to finding out if I’d be a match. I guess it’s natural, when thinking back on someone you loved who died young, of all the ways you could have maybe saved them or at least postponed the inevitable.

Anyways, that’s been the last few days for me and moreso the last 24 hours. Just trying to keep a smile. Of course there is one thing that’s put a smile on my face today: I just purchased a black Canon Rebel EOS XTi (aka 400D) D-SLR camera with the kit lens.

I also bought a Canon 50mm f/1.8 lens which I’ve heard is a must have. I  got a special backpack for it, battery grip with a couple extra batteries and a couple 2GB memory cards. I’m also getting a battery charger and a beanbag. Then all I need is a couple other lenses (telephoto and fisheye or wide angle probably), a flash with a diffuser, and a couple small things and I’ll be complete. For those unaware, I’m strongly pursuing a career in photography. I’m going to take a bunch of classes, go to workshops and of course LOTS of practice.

So it’s been a bit of a bittersweet day. Thinking of Stephanie, trying to enjoy Halloween, getting my new camera and getting to spend my evening with my wife. Have I mentioned yet just how absolutely wonderful this woman is?

Anyways, I can’t stress enough that you must not take advantage of loved ones around you. Even those friends and even acquaintances. One day they might not be there and you’ll wish you spent more time with them. I’m just grateful for every day that we got with Stephanie. She sure caused a lot of heartache but not nearly as much as she brightened my life with her presence. What a wonderful spirit. Be kind to those around you. Even those pesky drivers on the road who get under your skin. Those are human beings in that car and we all make mistakes.

So let me not be a hypocrite and start with you. Hello there. That’s a great shirt you have on. You’re really cool and I want to know you better. Not in that creepy, I want to cheat on my wife with you, sort of way. That’s just wrong. No it’s more like that…nevermind. You’re intelligent. You should be able to figure this out on your own. See? You took it in the wrong way and now we can’t be friends. Just know it wasn’t me. It was you. You messed this up. Good day sir/ma’am.

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