Christmas Dinner (PR Part III)

Here is our official Christmas picture-taken in our hotel lobby. For those of you who receive our annual Christmas card, you know this picture won't make the cut. Nice, none the less...

Then we headed to the Marriot where we had a private room reserved for dinner. Before dinner, we, of course, took a ton of pictures. Here is one of the whole gang.

Then it was time for what has (like many traditions, I don't know quite how this one evolved) become a Christmas tradition: exchanging instant lottery cards. Everyone brings lottery cards from their home state, and we all spend a few minutes thinking we are about to be $20,000 richer. Unfortunately, nobody has ever won more than a few bucks which is paid out on the spot by the people who brought the ticket.

Aunt Ellen had brought an Etch A Sketch to occupy Timmy during dinner but it was Kerrie who entertained us all by producing very detailed drawings. If the whole education field doesn't work out for her, I am pretty sure she could make a few bucks...

It was a long night, and the excitment was too much for Jacob.

After a superb meal, we headed to the lobby bar to fortify ourselves before heading to the tables for a little holiday Roulette action (no luck there).

Puerto Rico Adventures (PR Part IV)

While in Puerto Rico we had the chance to get out a bit to explore the surrounding landscape.

One day we went to one of PR's National Parks, El Yunque, a very beautiful rainforest about two hours outside of San Juan.

The familiar US National Park signs made me feel at home. I don't care what anyone says--the National Park system is one of the greatest gifts our government has given us.

We make great tourists, don't we?

This is our guide, Roberto. He reminded me of a PR Indiana Jones with that hat.

We climbed up, up and around inside this tower.


Pat and Kerrie outside the tower.

We also did an awesome night kayaking trip to an area where microorganisms in the water (not unlike fireflies) light up the water on moonless nights. First, of course, we had to don life vests. No drowning allowed.


Then we jumped into kayaks.

And headed through the mangroves. It was very, very dark and a little spooky.

We insisted on taking pictures although it wasn't easy. Unfortunately, the glowing water didn't really take to photos, but, you have my word, it was really cool. It was also very tiring--we didn't get back to our hotels until after midnight.


And we got a fun group shot with our guide.

The Tourist Trail (Puerto Rico, Part V)

In addition to hanging around the beach and casinos, we did squeeze some in some of the standard tourist sites as well.

Well, the first one isn't really standard: we took a tour of the US Coast Guard base. The daughter of Pat's parent's friend is stationed on the base right by our hotel so she met us for a tour.

Here is Mary Dwyer with Pat's parents. She was a great host, and it was interesting to get a glimpse into military life.

After our tour of the base, we walked up to Fort San Cristobal to poke around.

It was very pretty and green.

One day, we went to Puerto Rico's premier tourist attraction: The Bacardi Rum Factory.

The grounds were immaculate.

We took a little tram over to the tour.

Outside, we were given two tickets to try daquaries, mojitos, and Cuba libres, Bacardi's three most famous drinks. I drank a lot of mojitos in PR. Done right, they are fantastic.

We hung out for a long time afterwards.

On the way back, there wasn't room for all of us in one taxi so the cabbie just threw a lawn chair in back for me--it was funny.

After everyone else had flown home, Pat and I went to El Morro, the oldest and biggest of the San Juan Forts. It was impressive.



Here it is from afar.

And near.



Here is Pat.

We also went to the San Juan Cathedral. It was stunning.

And Ponce De Leon is buried there!

Thanksgiving Holiday

For the first time in recent memory, Pat and I traded in our annual Thanksgiving Camping Trip (AKA Annual Sufferfest) to visit my family over Thanksgiving.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinnner with all my mom's great comfort food.

Can you guess where we went the next day? Hint: check out those street lights. Yep, Hershey, PA. My mom was running a walk there, and we went out and did a quick 5k before being pressed into service at the registration table.

On our walk, we saw the World Famous Kissing Tower.

And no visit to Hershey is complete without going into Chocolate World where you ride in a little cart and hear the story of how chocolate is made. And, get this, it is free!

The line wasn't even too long, and, before we knew it, we were on the ride. This picture is funny because of the windmill painted on the wall in the background.

Here is the Kiss Depositor!

And the chocolate bar molds.

The weekend was so busy. After leaving Hershey we went up to Millersburg where my brother and his gal live for their tree lighting ceremony. It was a slice of small town Americana. A far cry from LB, CA, that's for sure.

Pat and I were freezing, and, of course, everyone was making fun of us. I don't know why...it was 40 degrees! Brrr.....

The next morning, two long-time friends from home came over with their five children. It was total mayhem--my mom's house is not made for kids. Of course, they found all sorts of ways to entertain themselves.

Morgan and Ellie, both about eight-months old, were hilarious.

Then we took a group shot.

And bundled everyone up to say goodbye.

The next day it was time for us to say goodbye. My sister Judith brought her five foster kitties down to meet us. She knows our weakness for kitties, and I am pretty sure she was hoping we would take a few home.

We were very tempted. They were so cute.

Who wouldn't want this kitty?

Here is who!!! My mom's cat Simon was not enthused.

Next Up: Christmas trip to Puerto Rico!