Thursday, December 22, 2011

 

Happy Holiday Season from Us to You

We would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy holiday season and a wonderful 2012!

greetingcard


Monday, December 19, 2011

 

Congratulations to Jack!

Congratulations, Jack, on winning the spelling championship at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Amarillo!  We are very proud of you.  The winning words were telepathic, nocturnal, and lullaby for the win.

JackSpelling

Jack stands alone as the champion…nothing but empty chairs behind him.


Sunday, December 18, 2011

 

Boston Celtics (2011-12)

NBA_Boston_Celtics_Logo

After a long, drawn out lockout by the NBA owners, a shortened training camp, and lots of free agents moving everywhere, what can we expect from the Celtics this season?

Bob Ryan, who has covered the Celtics in the Boston Globe for an eternity, wrote an interesting article recently on this year’s team.  It can be found here.  Ryan indicated that the “window” is still open for the current version of the Big 3.  (However, I must point out that this was written prior to the announcement that Jeff Green would miss the season because of heart surgery.  Green, who was obtained in the Kendrick Perkins trade last season had been expected to play a key role for this season’s team).

There have been a few changes from last year’s team: in my opinion Brandon Bass is an upgrade from “Big Baby” Davis; Chris Wilcox will add some hustle off the bench; Keyon Dooling can fill Delonte West’s role adequately.  Two keys will be: Jermaine O’Neal’s health and Marquis Daniels’ play off the bench.  However, everyone is a year older and I doubt that the two rookies from Purdue, Johnson and Moore, will provide much in the way of support this year.  So, who knows how well they will do; I doubt that “Banner #18” will be hung from the rafters after this year, however.

I did watch the first game of the abbreviated preseason against Toronto.  It was an adequate performance…all things considered – shortened training camp, first game, new players, no Paul Pierce.


Wednesday, December 14, 2011

 

A Collection of Visits from Santa

Santa (and Mrs. Claus) came to visit a few days ago to make certain everyone was doing well and prepared for his visit.  He seems to visit now that Sarah is around; prior to her birth, he never came by.  (What’s up with that????)

I’ve put together three pictures of his annual visit – 2009, 2010, and 2011. 

2009-12-17SarahSantaandMrs

2009

 2010-12-12-03-EBSteveSarah

2010

IMG_0297

2011

She is getting braver each year.  (I always thought the sequence of photos from 2009 were priceless – December 2009 Archive)

I thought I would throw in a family photo that turned out reasonably well considering at least one of the subjects…

IMG_0299

Happy Holidays from the Claus and the Cruser families!


Saturday, December 3, 2011

 

300th Geocaching Find

Geocaching is one of the things I enjoy doing when I have some time off (see the November 2009 archive).  Jeff and I have gone on a number of “adventures” (some as far away as Colorado) the past year or so and had a lot of fun.  Recently, I made my 300th find.  (Jeff has over 1,000!; so, I am way behind him).

No.300

Geocaching provides a great opportunity to get outdoors, to get exercise, and to improve one’s “geekiness”.


Friday, December 2, 2011

 

Interesting Photo Op…

Last summer while enjoying a hike along Segment 9 of the Colorado Trail in the Leadville area with family members, we came to a scenic spot for a rest/lunch break.  The segment is about fourteen miles long and this hillside was probably about nine or ten miles into the hike.  Much of the trail was wooded and this was really one of the the first opportunities for some distant scenic viewing.

2011-07-18-06-CTSegment9

After a fifteen-minute rest we continued on our way and finished the hike in good fashion.  So, what is so interesting about this photo op?

Well, each year the Colorado Trail Foundation has an picnic to celebrate the Trail, to recognize those who assist in maintaining the trail, and to just have a good time.  As a long-time “constructor”, “maintainer”, and supporter of this spectacular trail, we receive an invitation to this picnic each year.  (It is held at Bear Creek Lake Park in Lakewood, Colorado.  However, living over a thousand miles away makes it unattendable…)  However, this year the photo on the postcard invitation grabbed my attention.

CTFcard

The photograph on the postcard was taken from almost exactly the same spot (note the small rock in the middle of the trail and the short pine tree just as the trail continues uphill.)  There is a little less snow in the postcard picture.  And, just prior to our rest stop we had “endured” about fifteen minutes of mixed hail and rain…hence “our” sky is not quite as blue as the CTF sky.  (Thanks Erin, Greg, and Nick for hiking with me and for being the “models”.)


This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?