Everyone have a safe a Happy New Year!

We got a giftcard for 2 free Blockbuster movies so I went and picked up March Of The Penguins, and The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy. Both were pretty good. MOTP was very cute, who doesn’t love the sight of a fluffy baby penguin? Hitchhiker’s was entertaining, I’m sure you’d find it that way even if you’ve never read the book. I liked the casting, but the ending was way too Hollywood, as Geoff put it. I would have preferred for them to leave it open to the idea of a sequel, but without Adams writing that script, who knows how it would turn out.

Since I got a ton of books for Christmas (and I haven’t even finished the books from last Christmas), I’m trying to make time to read. I really enjoy reading. My books this year would indicate that it was a Canadiana theme. Which is funny, as I seem to be struggling with my identity. I live in the U.S., I barely have a grasp on what’s happening in my home country, and I have an American son to raise. We were approved to switch visas, so next week when Geoff goes up to Boulder, he’ll talk to them about where we go from there towards our goal of getting a green card. I’m fairly certain I want to hold a dual citizenship, but I don’t really know how it benefits me.

Anyways, I’ll sign off with a quote from When Harry Met Sally. I hope I get to see you all sometime next year.

Harry Burns: I love that you get cold when it’s 71 degrees out. I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich. I love that you get a little crinkle above your nose when you’re looking at me like I’m nuts. I love that after I spend the day with you, I can still smell your perfume on my clothes. And I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night. And it’s not because I’m lonely, and it’s not because it’s New Year’s Eve. I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.

Live What I Believe – Russ Lee
Mr. Brightside – The Killers
Micah #5 – ApologetiX
Will 2K – Will Smith
King Of New Orleans – Better Than Ezra
Just Like Heaven – The Cure
Reach Out I’ll Be There – Four Tops
Sunday Morning – Maroon 5
I Melt With You – Jason Mraz
Dancing With Myself – Billy Idol

The wind, she is a blowin’. It was far too windy for me to venture too far from home. And I was heading to Blockbuster to get some new releases to watch. Perhaps I’ll take the car later and go pick some up.

I think I’m nearly ready to take down all the Christmas decorations. I’d like to leave the outdoor lights on for a while though, I really like them. Also, if I take everything down, I’ll be able to see if we’re going to need another storage box.

No plans for New Years. Last year, we stayed in a hotel and it was fun, except that we were both sick and went to bed at 9pm. This year I’m not sure if we’ll stay up until midnight, I do have to work in the nursery at church the next morning. Thankfully there is only one service and it’s at 10am. We may try to have some friends over on Sunday for dinner, we’re waiting to hear back. These would be our friends Chad & Khara. Great couple. I’m a little hesitant about having them over for dinner only because Khara travels all over the country, and has eaten at some of the coolest, nicest restaurants in the U.S. But I have faith in Geoff’s cooking, and really the company can make a meal better.

Soon Geoff will be departing for the west coast. He’s looking forward to the learning experience he’ll get, but not so much the being away from us, and eating out every meal. I’m hoping he’ll take advantage of being so close to San Fran and take in some sights. Man I wish I could get back to San Fran. What a neat town. I never get to see enough of places I visit (except Edmonton!), but I guess that’s what draws us back.

I’m watching Hero right now. No, not the martial arts movie, the Dustin Hoffman, Geena Davis, Andy Garcia movie. Excellent movie. I’ll close with a quote from it.

Bubber: So you don’t want the credit?
LaPlante: I don’t take credit; I’m a cash kind of guy.

We’re just days away from 2006. Exciting isn’t it? I still have problems remembering what year it is, and now we are changing over. Maybe it will get easier.

I’ve had something on my mind for a few days, and I’ve been trying to get the words right in my head. There is still no resolution to that missing girl Aarone. It bugs me, that her family can’t have peace, or answers. The father is still being painted suspicious, and I wonder if it is deserved. I think he is hiding something, and all the strange stories that keep coming up don’t help his case. The big thing that everyone is harping on, is the he isn’t acting the way people think he should. And it brings to my mind something I said following the death of a loved one, everybody grieves differently. We all react to death differently. Not to say this poor little girl is dead (though I suspect that must be the case since they have no leads, no sightings). Everybody sees things with their own slant. Years ago, I used to wonder how Colin & I could view our childhood so differently, and then realized we didn’t share the same childhood. He experienced things differently than I did. Yes, we shared the same parents, and sometimes shared the same house, but we had two different childhoods.

Where was I? Oh yeah, I wish for that family to get answers and be able to move on with their lives. That’s what’s been on my mind.

And in the new year, I want health, happiness, travel, and much less drama!

I’ll close with a quote from Toys (for you Geoff).

Patrick Zevo: Are you taking my duplication investigation seriously or are you disrespecting my duplication investigation?

My birthday is in 15 days! So says Amazon.com.

I’ll be spending it alone with Elijah, but it is my hope to find someone to go with me to Macaroni Grill and have enjoy the caffe latte cheesecake (my favorite).

It’s nice to have something to look forward to. 🙂

We had a fantastic Christmas morning, all of us getting a ton of great gifts. I don’t really want to brag, so I’ll leave it at I was very blessed. 🙂

Church was good last night and this morning. Elijah did pretty good sitting with us, but I can’t wait until he can go back to the nursery. After we sang some songs, we all had to
-grab a t-shirt that read, The Church Has Left The Building
-get directions to a police station, firehouse, or hospital
-take at least 6 dozen donuts to your destination and thank them for working on Christmas Day

It was fun. We drove a few miles to a firehouse in Aurora (not the one down the road from us) and rang the doorbell. A man peeked out side the window before opening it to see our 3 smiling faces wishing him a Merry Christmas. He invited us in, and we saw two other firemen, and they lead us to the room with the vehicles. He explained the difference between a fire truck and a fire engine (they have an engine) and we talked a little bit about the other vehicles there. We wished them a slow day, and then we came home.

Geoff has tomorrow off work too, so it’ll be another quiet day hanging around. The weather is awesome, very warm so we’ll probably go out for a family walk tomorrow. The ribs last night were awesome, and the house smells like ham right now.

I’m going to close with a quote from Sneakers.

Whistler: I want peace on earth and good will toward man.
Bernard Abbott: Oh this is ridiculous.
Martin Bishop: He’s serious.
Whistler: I want peace on earth and goodwill toward men.
Bernard Abbott: We’re the United States Government! We don’t deal with that sort of thing.
Martin Bishop: You’re just gonna have to try.
Bernard Abbott: All right, I’ll see what I can do.
Whistler: Thank you very much. That’s all I ask.

Hope everyone is having a Merry Christmas morning. We’re off to church, but I’ll upload some pics when we get back. It was a very wonderful morning, and it is indeed better with a little one to share it with.

*Update* I uploaded the pics. Visit Elijah’s blog to see a movie.

First off…
Merry Christmas Everybody!

Yesterday we went off to donate blood at the new blood center. It’s not nearly as spacious as the old center, but if you are donating for a surgery, they give you headphones and you own tv to watch while they draw your blood. I was not able to donate yesterday, my blood pressure was too low (84/52). I tried to tell them I have a naturally low bp, but since your blood pressure drops 10 points when they draw blood, it’s a safety issue. So I was disappointed, and may try to go back at some point. Geoff had no problems and he got his toque.

We had some plumbing issues with our kitchen sink, so we had to go to Home Depot this morning for Geoff to get supplies to fix it. He’s quite the Mr. Handyman. Now I guess I can’t complain about him watching Ed The Plumber if he’s putting to use what he learns.

Our plans for today? Flexible. Geoff is making the cinnamon buns we’ll be eating tomorrow morning (an Armstrong tradition), we’ll go to Christmas Eve service, and hopefully Geoff will play Christmas carols on his violin. Somewhere in there we may watch Christmas specials (The Toy That Saved Christmas, Merry Christmas Mr. Bean, anything that’s on tv), and we’ll put the gifts under the trees.

Tonight’s dinner is ribs, and let me say Geoff makes the best (in my opinion). Tomorrow night we’ll feast on ham. Both recipes courtesy of our favorite chef, Alton Brown. We don’t starve at our house. We also have a bunch of Christmas cookies to eat, lemon crisps (excellent with tea), Rachelle’s gingerbread cookies (very chewy), shortbreads (Geoff’s favorite) and my Christmas cutouts (turned out pretty good. The orange zest really adds to the flavor).

We may try to call y’all tomorrow, but time will tell what the day will bring. We’ll also be online (AIM), and trying to send pics as often as we can.

I’m going to close with the lyrics to a great Christmas song, Babe In The Straw.
Who is this Child asleep in a manger
The Heavens are bright and the stable so cold
And on this holy night have You come to redeem us
Little Child in the straw
Who is this Babe, the Prince of the universe
The donkey is braying, the angels are singing
The prophets did say You would ocme to redeem the world
Little Babe in the straw
Merciful One, Lover of every soul
The Father’s own Son, Emmanuel
Yes, we believe You are able to heal us
Noel, Noel, Save us all
And if we lose sight of Your sweet face
At the birth of grace, at the birth of grace
Light of truth, shine like Bethlehem’s star
And lead us to where You are, Show us who You are
Save us tonight, Little Babe in the straw

Or anyone who wants a laugh. Make sure your speakers are on. 🙂

Chewy wishes you a Merry Christmas.