Baby it's cold outside

It has been so cold this week. My office at work is cold, my bedroom is cold; it seems I just can't get away from the cold. This is about the time last year when we went to Disneyland and enjoyed the warm weather of southern California. Too bad we can't go this year.

We've been having high drama at work. My employee has been in a relationship with someone in another department at work and it has gone sour. Unfortunately they haven't been very mature about it and their problems have been bleeding into work life way too much.

We've been planning to take a "vacation at home" to get away from the stress of work life, but I think we may have to modify those plans. Maybe we can break it up by taking some time off and having a couple of long weekends at least.

James was visiting today from BYU Idaho. He has to get a couple of crowns on his teeth on Monday. Clair, Carrie, Bobby, and Joy came to visit. We made fish tacos and then played Bananagrams and Settlers of Catan afterwards.

We originally had planned to go night skiing, but it was just way too cold. Here's hoping that next week is warmer than this one.

Ian shoots the moon

Miles wanted to play Pinochle tonight. Pinochle has been a tradition in my family for as long as I can remember. I have lots of fond memories of my parents, uncles, and grandparents staying up late at night playing, talking, arguing and laughing. We always had loads of Pinochle marathons during our yearly vacation with our cousins at our condo in Island Park.

Miles and Lisette are carrying on the tradition. A couple of years ago while we were on vacation with family they learned how to play. Ian hadn't learned yet, but tonight he had a very auspicious debut.

I helped him with his first hand and was amazed as he shot the moon! (I did help him, a bit). For those non-Pinochle players if you get a hand that is so stupendous that you think you won't lose any points, you can wager the whole game on one hand. He actually had one loser card, but his partner saved it and they won. He then left and Melinda played 2 hands. He came back later and played another game. This time Melinda helped him and he had a lay-down shoot the moon, which is super colossal amazing! Even more incredible, was that he only got 2 cards from his partner.

I'd wager that there is a high probability of this family tradition continuing strong.