Victoria got a nice blanket of fluffy white stuff last night. There are only about 3 inches or so around our place, but the wind has reorganized it in a few areas. I stepped in one snow bank that was half way up to my knee. I woke up early this morning (6:15), and since I couldn’t get back to sleep, I decided to get up and take the dogs for a walk at Macaulay Point Park. I bundled up nice and warm, grabbed my camera gear and a cup of coffee, then stepped out into the winter wonderland with two over eager dogs.

They had a great time once I let them off leash. They ran and ran and ran. Once in a while Digger would scoop snow as he was running at full speed! Meanwhile I walked much more slowly and took lots of pics. As I was deciding to leave, I noticed the beginnings of a nice sunrise, so I quickly scrambled to the highest point in the park and took a few shots. Beautiful!
Read more for the pics.

The wind kicked up and forced me off the lookout, but I went for one more lap to use up the warm light. The doggies had a great time. In all we were gone for over an hour and a half.

Yay, it is now snowing in Victoria. I hope it doesn’t stay too long, but it is nice that it made an appearance this year.

I was awoken too early by the dog and I could feel the effects of a hangover from last nights party. Yeuck! Thankfully it is only mild. I got up, made some coffee, and while on the couch scanned the TV Channels. Speed Channel is having a World Rally-Thon! Woohoo! The whole WRC season in one day! I am sitting on the couch writing this up with the TV on in the background. I love WRC racing, and having the whole season in one day is wicked.

I remember them doing this last year and it is a welcome surprise. I missed that last few races of the season this year, so I will get to see them after all. I am going biking at 1, so I will have to tape them, but that is just fine with me! Yay! This makes me happy.

In other racing news, Speed Channel is advertising the next Dakar Rally which starts Saturday. Again, this makes me happy! 🙂 I love rally races. WRC is so fast and crazy. The Dakar is in many spots too, but it is more raw and pure. Plus some of the scenery is so stunning. I love watching the Dakar!

What a week! I love Christmas, but it gets very tiring when you travel a whole bunch. I left Victoria on the 24 and jumped onto the 2pm ferry. The sailing was uneventful until we got to the open water in the straight. It was windy, and the waves were rocking the boat. I was down on the car deck the whole time and more than a few times there were some large bangs followed by the ship shuddering a little.

Once off the ferry I drove to Sue’s mom’s house. I was white knuckling for a large part of the time due to the wind, the rain, and the crazy as drivers. Who in their right mind does 60 KM/H in a 100 zone when everyone else is doing 110? Then there were a few people doing more than 130. The side wind was horrible, and the rain pounding, with a few flakes of snow mixed in to make it real fun. I was happy to arrive in Langley safely.

Christmas morning was a big change for me. This was the very first Christmas that I haven’t woken at my mom’s house. In some ways it didn’t feel like Christmas, but it most definitely was. The plan was to wait until Geoff, Cary, and Alexander to arrive, and then we would open presents. Sue and I decided to take Yoshi for a spin to the dog park, and on the way back pop in at a couple of her friends’ places. While at the park we came across another beautiful GSP. His name was Barley.

As soon as Sue and I got back to Pat’s house, we learned that Pat couldn’t wait any longer, so we opened the presents then. There were some great gifts. Sue got a picture of me at Whistler enlarged and framed. Our gifts were well liked, including Jan and Graeme’s mirror. The interesting part is that they gave us a mirror that Graeme had made! Graeme’s mirror is a beautiful walnut with a wonderful inlay.

Later that afternoon the rest of the gang arrived and more presents were opened. Sue’s nephew Alexander got a huge Star Wars Lego set. We set about putting it together, and almost finished it before dinner. Christmas dinner was very yummy.

A while later while Pat and I were working on her computer, Alexander had an accident with his Lego set, and it came apart into several large pieces. After finishing the computer stuff, I set about fixing the Lego creation. My cape was flapping big time that night and soon Alexander was happy again! I had forgotten just how much fun Lego was, perhaps I should think about getting some more for me 🙂

Boxing Day was an early morning. It was cold, icy and dark as we left Langley. We were heading to Nanaimo to spend some time with my mom and sister. The ferries weren’t too busy, and we enjoyed our fine ferry made breakfast. In Nanaimo we had another wonderful Christmas and another excellent Christmas meal.

The 27th was a relaxation day, and we went to the hospital to visit my aunt. We took Yoshi with us, and he was very good there. He made lots of people smile as he wore his antlers.

Sue left for Powell River the next day to visit with her Dad, and Jan and Graeme who had traveled up there. My mom and I went out and did a little shopping. I didn’t get very much, mainly just a new computer game.

Sue came back the next day, picked up Yoshi and me, and we headed home. Jan, Graeme, and Pat all came to stay with us.

Tuesday night we went and saw Cold Mountain at the Vic. Excellent movie. I can see why it has so many Golden Globe nominations. It was a little on the long side (2.5 hours), but I didn’t notice the length while watching it. It was thoroughly captivating.

That night I woke up around 3 am, and heard Yoshi outside our bedroom making noise. I got up, went to the bathroom, and as I was returning to bed I heard Pat calling me from downstairs. Turns out, our Christmas tree fell over! Ack. I was confused and half asleep still, so cleaning up the mess was a pain. Thankfully nothing was broken, but lots of ornaments were scattered across the floor, the lights were dangling off the tree, pine needles were everywhere, and the water had spilled out wetting a few gifts that we had yet to give. Not a nice way to wake up! 🙁

They left New Years day, we prepared for our party, and had a grand time ringing in the New Year in the company of friends.

Phew! What a vacation huh? Today is a recovery day, a light ride with some friends I haven’t been mountain biking with in a long time, perhaps going to see Return of the King (a second time for me), and then early to bed since I have to work tomorrow.

Merry Christmas!

I am done work, and on my way to Langley. I hope everyone has a safe, and most enjoyable holiday.

I have seen the Grinch, and he is an ass. I cheated on Yoshi this morning while I was at Starbucks. A guy around my age was waiting outside with a beautiful vizsla named Leo. I asked if I could say hi to his dog and we talked about dogs for a couple minutes.

After I went inside, I saw the guy tie Leo to a garbage can, then come in to the shop to get his drinks. Some stranger walked up to Leo and reached over him to put something in the can. I guess Leo got scared, so he barked and backed up. This in turn scared the crap out of the guy because I saw him jump (a lot). Anyway, the stranger came into Starbucks muttering and cursing. “fucking dog” *grumble grumble* He then turned to the owner and said “What the hell are you leaving a dog like that alone for. Fucking irresponsible.”

😕 What?? Leo was a very sweet dog. When I said hi he was very affectionate, and very happy. I think the stranger was just pissed cuz the dog frightened him in front of a long line of people.

Anyway, bad human experience. Very nice dog experience. Merry Christmas buddy.

I have a bad feeling that something evil is following me. Something has not felt right for a couple days. Sometimes in the morning I almost catch a glimpse of it, but before I see it, it has disappeared.

Today a heaviness has settled in, and I am a little scared. I want it to go away quietly, but it is mostly beyond my control.

My Christmas holiday starts tomorrow, and when I leave the Island, I hope the beast stays behind. I know it will try to hitch a ride across the water, trailing me, taunting me. I hope I am strong enough to ward it off now before it gathers its full strength, yet I fear I am not.

Christmas it a time of joy, not a time for hiding. It is a time to spend with loved ones, not mourning in a cold room alone.

I think I am coming down with the same sickness that has afflicted so many of my friends. I want it to go away. I have too much to do tonight and tomorrow to get sick. That and I absolutely despise being sick during Christmas. I feel rotten and depressed when I am sick, and generally just want to be left alone. Yet with Christmas I want to be happy and cheerful and in the company of loved ones.

Crazy busy Christmas Season. Friday was VMI’s Christmas thing. We went out for lunch, then we headed to a movie. Lunch was adequate, but the movie was good.

Yesterday I finished my shopping off! Yay! 🙂 I still have a bit of wrapping to do, but that is the fun part.

Last night was our friends silly gift exchange. Lots of fun was had, and I ended up with some silly gold covered angel candles after Rhiannon stole my microwave self-buttering popcorn maker.

Today Sue, Krist, me, and the two dogs had a nice walk at Thetis lake. More relaxing is in store for today. Pretty soon we start our Christmas travelling. 🙁 It will be nice to see everyone, but I am not looking forward to all the driving (to Langley, to Nanaimo, to Powell river, then back to Victoria). I know it is going to be a great Christmas.