A very few milestones here at the end of 2008.

We (Leah, the kids, and I) went to Utah for Christmas.

We were terrified to return because of 5 inches of snow on the ground.

We were happy that the roads were okay, and we didn’t have to use the ill-fitting chains we borrowed from my father-in-law.

I shoveled snow once and enjoyed it. I was listening to Frank Zappa.

I also concur with Mr. Blurb O’Mat that the rational thing if one lives in snow is to purchase a snow-blower.

I received many very nice gifts this Christmas (new sweaters yay!).

The mysterious tingling in my hands and feet has not abated.

The kids rode ATVs in the snow and enjoyed it.

We did well by them presents-wise. I am looking forward to Wicked with Leah and (especially drama and musical-oriented) Alex at the Pantages next week.

My Mom is doing well cancer-wise, though she is back on an oral chemotherapy. Her spirits are high and it sounds like good things.

She and my father visited at Thanksgiving and that was pretty fun.

I saw Slumdog Millionaire and am so glad I did. So much of it brings to mind when I was a kid and lived in the Philippines. Poverty so crushing it’s hard to understand, but nevertheless, it exists.

The house waxes and wanes in terms of how much of a shambles it is with still-unboxing and the holidays.

Next week Dev will turn 20 years old. My stepson is more

In 2009 I’ll turn 39 years old.

I saw Zappa Plays Zappa at The Roxy and it was transcendent for me.

We bought new tires for both cars last month. Tires ain’t cheap, but it’s nice to have some peace of mind about our cars’ feet.

I like my home office, I even put up my degrees and accomplishments, which I’ve not had up in a long time. Time for some new accomplishments to put on the wall.

I re-read Watchmen over the holiday and remain impressed by it. Hard to believe it’s a 25 year old comic graphic novel.

I like Toblerone.

I have a lot of scanning to do from asking family to draw in my drawing notebook.

X is a good band that I think I both under- and overestimated.

Leah crafted up a storm and basically created most of our Christmas. Impressive work.

I like my in-laws and my stepkids. I lucked out.

Speaking of luck, Leah and I celebrated four years of marriage on December 21st. We have an excellent partnership, and I am thankful for what we were, what we are, and what we are continually becoming.

Merry Belated Christmas, I couldn’t put it better than Douglas Crockford:

Christmas is the day when Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, atheists, agnostics, pagans, heathens, and mystics can put aside their differences and join together in love and fellowship to celebrate the miraculous birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the sweet fruit of the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the only begotten son of the one true God.

I hadn’t seen You Can’t Take It With You, directed by Frank Capra. I liked it, and have been working on creating such a house as much as is practical and inasmuch as house bills can be paid.

I’ve trimmed down what I read in my RSS feedreader, which is great. I’ve also been dropping folks I follow on twitter. I’ve not quite given up on it a la MAS, but I understand quite well his point of view. If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.

It’s so great to get paychecks on time.

That’s all for today. I hope you’re having a great holiday season, whatever your faith or lack thereof!