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.

Thanksgiving Weekend

Friday, November 23, 2007
New York, NY – Walked across Anderson Park around 10 a.m. in the new colder weather, and took the DeCamp bus from Montclair, NJ to the 42nd Street Port Authority station in NYC. Got return tickets and a breakfast sandwich on an Asiago cheese bagel from Au Bon Pain at the Port Authority. Walked across the street through the new New York Times building and the digital clips exhibit to see the atrium. Browsed around the shops and ice rink in Bryant Park, and really enjoyed the Metal Shop. Had lunch on E 42nd Avenue at Osteria Laguna.

After Lunch, Deva ran into friends while walking to the Chrysler Building. Tom’s company New Holland America occupies the 66th floor, the last row of full windows at the top. Amazingly, the windows open so we had a great very of the City!

Next I toured the Jack Kerouac exhibit at the New York Public Library. Deva and I saw the movie No Country for Old Men, while Carolyn and Asha saw Enchanted. Then walked to Greenwich Village and had dinner at Jai’s restaurant Café Condesa. The staff and food were fantastic. I had wine, lamb chop with potatoes and chimichurri.

Saturday, 11/24/07
Saturday the DeCamp bus was close to full with standing passenger so the driver just blows right by waiting passengers.Met Asha and Deva at Dorrian’s Red Hand Restaurant in the Upper East Side to watch the Virginia game, while Dave L kept me posted by text message on the Maryland game, where the Terps won 37-0.

Thanksgiving in Montclair

Thursday, November 22, 2007 -- Here's our menu for Thanksgiving 2007! I am full of thanks for all these people who prepare and help eat: Turkey, stuffing, mashed and sweet potatoes, green beans, creamed onions, garden salad with blue cheese dressing, pomegranate sorbet, pumpkin and pecan pies, Irish bread pudding with Jameson’s caramel whiskey sauce, cranberry sour cream tart, brownies, blondies, brownie cupcakes with peanut butter icing, and white wine.

Eighteen people came to the Dunn4Feast, including: Charles, Tom, Susan, Michael, Ellen and Carolyn Dunn; Jai, Asha, and Deva Goodman; me; Sharon, Raymond, and John Catatore; and Susans cousin, sister, and friends: Charlie, Amy, Myron, and friends.

After dinner it rained while some walked, and we watched some of Lions game and some of Cowboys game. Myron got out his horn and played a little for us, and then we had dessert.

What great family and hosts to spend Thanksgiving with.

Georgetown - Sept 15 2007

Carolyn and I went down to AMC Lowes Georgetown 14 to see the movie "In the Valley of Elah", starring Tommy Lee Jones, Charlize Theron, and Susan Seranden. A father tries to find what happened to son when he got back from Iraq. Good movie, but the restrooms need some maintenance.

Before the movie we had coctails next door, followed by dinner at Mie N Yu on M Street. What a great place: the Silk Road decor and themes were great, the antipasto, rock lobster, and curry mussles were yummy, and the cocktails inventive.