Year in Review

Happy New Year!

Here are some highlights from 2007...

• Ben and Carolyn were married by Ben’s father on Easter Day at Old Trinity Church in Church Creek, MD. In June we took a honeymoon cruise from Vancouver BC to Anchorage, Alaska and drove to Denali N.P. -- completing visits to all 50 states for Ben.
  
• We saw many good friends at our annual Independence Day (now Non-Independence) party, and at a reception with colleagues in Chicago. We also visited San Antonio, TX and Portland, ME.
  
• Carolyn’s office at DHS was moved under FEMA and she is busier than ever. Ben continues to stay busy with FWHA, the Road Gang, and the thankless job of president of their homeowners association.
  
• Carolyn’s youngest Jai finished her first year at Goucher College, appearing in several theater productions including The Tempest. Alas, Goucher proved too small, so Jai is working on transfer applications for next fall and living with her big sister Asha in NYC. Asha’s had an exciting year as a music publicist, including going backstage on Saturday Night Live with her client Björk.
  
• Carolyn’s oldest, Deva, interned at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Roanoke this summer, and is in his final year at William & Mary Law School. Anyone want to hire a new lawyer?
  
• The Dunn families celebrated Charles Dunn’s 80th birthday together in Danielson CT in August, and had a big Thanksgiving in New Jersey. Ben and Carolyn also had birthdays in big round numbers.
  
• Ben enjoyed watching nieces Hannah and Holly -- all by himself!

Christmas Week

Christmas Week – 2007

Monday 12/24/07 – Christmas Eve. More preparations, errands, and cooking. We had a Christmas feast of red snapper and Brussels sprouts, played Scategories, had dessert of poached pears, had 20 minutes of organized religion, and watched movies, to Christmas soundtracks and Guitar Hero III in between. Wrapped presents.

Tuesday 12/25/07 – Christmas Day. Slept in. The crowd made coffee and opened stockings; then came the presents. Asha and Jai got sweaters and other clothes. Ben got a new coat and briefcase; books: The World Without Us, Transit Maps of the World, and Movies.

Wednesday 12/26/07 – Boxing Day – Rev. Robert Benjamin Gribbon I Birthday. Drove to Church Creek Maryland and had tea and presents with family and relatives. Thanks everyone for the books and pecans. Opened presents with Hannah and Holly.

Thursday 12/27/07 – Rob and Ben made brunch. Drive home, stopped for groceries at the food coop, and tried to take a nap. Then saw Charlie Wilson’s War at Lowe’s Centrepark.

Friday 12/28/07 – Met the Dunns (Tom, Susan, Ellen, Michael) and friends for Lunch in Washington DC at Bistro Du Coin. We enjoyed Haagarden Belgian Beer, Tartine à la tapenade, jambon cru et gruyère and other open-face sandwiches, salads, escargot and other emals. The went to the Corcoran Gallery, stood in line, and saw the Ansel Adams and Annie Leibowitz exhibits.

After Maryland Terrapins defeated University of Delaware in basketball, Dave and Sabrina Lovell came over with Bob and Erin to watch the Emerald bowl. Bob and Erin were excited about “touchdowns” but even more excited about Pumpkin, chips, toys, Rudolph, and playing downstairs. Too bad it was hot upstairs and cold downstairs. Maryland terps lost in the Emerald Bowl.

Saturday 12/29/07 – I’ve come down with a cold and am finding as many ways as I can to clear my head. Ugh. Patriots defeat the Giants at the Meadowlands to complete a 16-0 undefeated season and set 2 new records with touchdowns from Tom Brady to Randy Moss. What a game!

Christmas Preparations

Sunday 12/23/07 -- Deva, Asha, and Jaishree arrived over the weekend, one at a time, as we prepared for Christmas. By Sunday 12/23 at 3 o’clock, the tree was decorated, the house was clean, and a feast was prepared. Our Neighbors George and Julie came by for a little while, followed by our friends the Lovells. We nibbled all day on cheese, crackers, cookies, finger sandwiches, mango-crab in wantons, and Pomegranate martinis. We watched some football, listened to Christmas music, built a fire in the fireplace, and played with the kids. In the evening, we watched the Redskins defeat the Vikings in high definition. All was right with the world.

Another Christmas Miracle

Friday, December 21, 2007. We were awoken by the cat rampaging through the bedroom. When I turned on the light I found a sparrow on the windowsill – on the inside. When I opened the window to let her out she hopped onto the threshold. The cat pounced and the terrorized sparrow leaped – not out the window but into my arms. So I carried the bird downstairs, and out into the front yard. She rode around on my arm for several minutes as I looked for a safe branch when she spotted one of her own flew off to it. There she sat for at least 10 minutes until, I gather, she gathered her wits and flew away, uninjured I hope. Last Christmas I had to rescue a kitten, so I wonder what it will be next

Great December Weekend

What a great weekend! Friday night we had Korean at Woomi in Wheaton to celebrate Jamie's birthday. Saturday we we got a ton of stuff done. But Sunday: Bret Favre suprassed Dan Marino's record for career NFL passing yards (just over 35 miles) to win. The Redskins beat the Giants at home in a frigid blustery fight in the Meadowlands.

Meanwhile, we had dinner at Bar Louie and saw Trans-Siberian Orchestra at the Verizon Center in DC -- what a show! They surpassed Pink Floyd and Plant-Page for my all time favorite concert. TSO actually made it *snow* in the Verizon Center! Wizards in Winter, Mad Russians Christmas, and Faith Noel were especially good, of course. Interesting how man's greatest achievements in art, music, and architecture are for the glory of his God... and other compensation.