A wound on Grandma Jean's right calf was not healing properly so her doctor said to have her checked out at Overlake Hospital Emergency.  Bacteria in the wound required antibiotics so she was checked into the hospital on December 22nd.  I left work early and sat with mom in her hospital room.  I sat with her most of the following day, taking it off from SPU.  Randy visited briefly on the 22nd and Don stopped by on the 24th, Christmas Eve.  Her hospital diet was nothing like what we served her at home.  Imagine giving a diabetic a Ben & Jerry's ice cream bar!  (But she loved it -- and could not remember she had it a few hours later.)

Susan Rutherford and I met with the doctor from the hospital after breakfast on Christmas Eve and discussed her diet and the possibility of bringing her home.  We were to check her out about 9:00 p.m. that night.  We were so happy to have her home on Christmas Day.

Jeannie Beth sings and dances in December

Jeannie Beth enjoyed the opportunity to sing a solo with the BCS Concert Choir at their annual Christmas concert.  She sang with that choir and with the women's ensemble Belle Voce.

And the dancing was at the tolo.  She enjoyed going solo and dressed as a "lump of coal" for this holiday dance that was a "snow-lo" and had a Christmas theme.

Huskies win a close Apple Cup, earn a rematch with Nebraska

I'm listening to the 2010 Holiday Bowl on 950 KJR as I type this on December 30th.  It's the first quarter and the "underdawg" Huskies just went up 10-0!  They earned a trip to a bowl game with an exciting win over the Cougs in the Apple Cup.  [ It's not my three UW degrees that make the annual Apple Cup so personal for me. ]  Their 6-6 regular season record is nothing of which to be proud.  But a bowl game (quarterback Jake Locker's only one) is a great way to end any season. 

(Now 10-7 at half time!)  (Wow, 17-7 at the end of three!!)  (Safety -- Nebraska holding in the end zone ― 19-7 after the Cornhuskers stopped the Huskies on a 4th and goal on the one.)

And although the game was only on TV on ESPN (cable), I surely enjoyed the radio broadcast and the 19-7 WIN!!!  What a sweet win, avenging the 56-21 loss to Nebraska back on September 18th. 

Nathanael is in the running for Cross Country MVP

Nate completed the Cross Country season with an average team finish place of 2.50.  Only one other Falcon had a better season ― or did he?  Senior Jacob "Wally" Wahlenmaier's average team finish was somewhere between 2.14 and 3.38.  The coaches did not decide to whom to give the MVP award and will present it in June at the SPU all-sports banquet.  The problem is that Wally had five first place team finishes to Nathanael's two, but he also had one big "DNF" ― Did Not Finish.  How will the coaches score that race where Wally started but dropped out?

Wally used my photos and others to prepare an end-of-season show at the team party.  However, he had forgotten to secure a computer and projector to present the show.  Fortunately, I had all the necessary hardware in my office and setup the show while the team was having dinner at Brougham Pavilion on campus.

At the left, AJ Baker and Nate swap "paper plate awards" at the potluck award dinner.  Nathanael made AJ's in the form of a priest's ephod.  AJ's for Nathanael reads, "Witch King needs no Cell phone!"

Annie joins Tom's Family on a Christmas Caribbean Cruise

Annie joined Tom and twelve of her future in-laws on a 10-day Caribbean cruise.  They had a great time and managed to avoid the big east coast snow and the post-Christmas travel woes. 

They ate and swam and shopped.  But after a brief few days back, she and Tom drove to Dallas, Oregon, for New Year's parties.

She brought back some beautiful scarves, a big Conch shell horn, and a small 50ml bottle of rum for me from St. Kitts.  

Nancy put on a 70th Anniversary party at our house on December 7th.  Dad was not keen on having a party, but had fun telling his stories and eating the goodies and getting a refill of his Robin Hood cookie tin.  Mom had fun as well but could not recall the event the next day.

We had visitors throughout the evening.  Don and Judy stopped by and had the second dinner.  Then Adam and Katherine stopped by (after Dad had gone home) and had dinner number three.

I made a PowerPoint show with photos from the past six years.  And you can see the COSTCO cake Nancy got.

We may have tested our party technique of the future.  We set up sandwich makings and an assortment of other items on the granite bench under the south window.  It worked very well for our busy family. (I long for the day when we can extend the party into a finished Library.)

And as always, I recall that this December 7th is the 21st anniversary of my dissertation defense and of my first being greeted as Dr. Sleight.

Bits and Pieces

   I gave blood on the 30th.   I only buy beer on the days I give blood.  It's a good compromise.  The family is watching TV and I'm listening to the Holiday Bowl and enjoying a 16 oz. Miller.  (What a surprise ― when I thought I'd picked up a six pack of 12 oz. cans.)

  On the 29th, we went out to an "authentic" Korean restaurant in Lynnwood with David Park, my family, and Susan and Ginger.  (There was snow up there.)  I learned that I liked Chinese food better than Korean.  But it was a $150 post-Christmas adventure and a culinary education.  They cooked some of the beef at our table ― but failed to tell us that we were responsible to do the cooking after the meat had been turned once.  Our house guest David ordered in Korean, and we were the only Caucasians in the restaurant.  David was delighted to show off his culture.

  My commitment to photographing BCS wrestling is not as strong as it was in years past.  But Brandon Prior is back as the assistant coach and that's a plus.  I traveled to Nooksack Valley on a Monday and also covered the As Iron Sharpens Iron tournament in December.