Yes it is that time of year again. The time when I am thankful to live in California and get to rub it in to those of you who live in such places as Minneapolis, Sioux Falls, Chicago and the like. Most of the time, California is kind of hard to love with the traffic, smog, people, idiot Senators/Representatives, and weirdos...but this is the time of year where it is about 75 here and sunny with no clouds. This is a stark contrast to the frigid temperatures of the East/Midwest that most of the people here cannot even fathom. I know how it is out there so I can really appreciate the sun out here.

That is the end of my talking about the weather so for those of you that hate the California mentality and attitude it is safe to read on.

This weekend I had a sailing race...or tried to have a sailing race. The sun and high pressure system that is over us did not produce any wind and we bobbed out in the bay for about 1.5hrs on a race delay and then they thought they would start the race. We knew that there was no wind and the race was going to be boring and slow so we headed in to the harbor.
A day on the bay...even without wind...is better than a day at work.

Today we went on a motorcycle ride out to the coast. We packed a lunch (went to Subway) and went to an overlook and had a picnic. The swells were up (6-8') and there was no wind(of course) so it was a perfect day to sit and read with a great view.

I guess it is springtime here. There were fields and fields of wildflowers everywhere.

Some nice asters.

Our lunch spot was very nice. Your can see the yellow wildflowers on the right.

Another great shot.

There were a few people on the beach, but it is nice to get away from the old grind now and then.

I am so excited about this next week because the world is going to do a 180 from the path of fire and brimstone which is the sole responsibility of George Bush (not the speculator investors that owned 10 houses, put no money down, and had a job that paid $30,000/yr. How could it be these peoples fault??? We need to be told what we can afford and spoon fed everything... I thought that was the governments job) to everyone getting everything they ever wanted and everybody living in Peace. What a great world this will soon be. You may be thinking I am being a bit over the top and I would have thought the same, but by the interviews I have been hearing on TV and radio lately the general public is going to be very disappointed.

I consider myself a realist and know that the world is not going to change that much, but it is the small changes over a long time that will make the difference. I hope that Obama can deliver on just a few of his promises and the Nation will be a better place to live. Good luck Obama and I hope you have figured out a way to walk on water.

To start the first blog of the new year, I thought that I should put this terrific sign that I saw while driving through the central valley.

This Christmas we had a great time visiting family up in the great state of Washington. we left home on the 24th and went to Mt. Vernon to visit my parents for a few days. It is always a good time visiting the parents and we got to see a bunch of snow which is uncommon for that area. The heat went out on our second day there so it is a very good thing that my parents have a wood stove. It is unfortunate that the wood stove is on one end of the house and not in the middle so the heat did not travel out into the rest of the house very well.

Can you believe that my parents still have a rotary phone? I thought these things went out with black and white TV. It still works so I guess it is as good as any other, but you cannot dial out on it because the phone service cannot deal with this archaic technology.

Here is the gift that I lovingly handcrafted for my parents. The windmill is a pattern I made from a picture I took while in Holland. I burned the windmills and the great De Jong name into the wood to make a pretty cool looking sign.

I also made one for my in-laws and put a couple of Model T's on it for my father in-law, who is currently restoring his 3rd one.

Here is the cool new gym and school that my dad helped build/fund/design. It is very big and it is one place where I wish I went to school.

Making dinner in the nice kitchen. Isn't my old man cool.

After my parents house we took their truck and drove to Brenda's parents to visit with their family. Paula and Kevin (along with the associated rugrats) flew in the day before and we got a chance to hang out with them.

Rugrat number one is pictured here...no not the one on the right, that is Brenda...it is Landon on the left.

My in-law's might get the award for the best Christmas present ever. Next time you call here I will be talking on this wonderful piece of "functional art".

There was a Christmas cookie decorating contest when the men were watching Bourne Ultimatum. The winner is on the right. Paula had a great design, but Brenda's snowman with buckteeth and pocket protector was pretty cool.

Speaking of buckteeth... I wish Brenda would brush her teeth more often. She loves to make these fake teeth out of walnuts.

A blistering game of settlers always keeps the blood pumping and is about the only exercise I got all week.

I think Landon loves having his shirt off...a real mans man.

We went out to the Elk feeding grounds before we went sledding. There are so many elk that, to keep them away from the farmers field and away from traffic, they feed them at higher elevations. There were some great bulls that dwarf the bull I got this year.

Look at that guy in the middle and tell me you don't want to have that on your wall and in your freezer.

Brenda's grandfather carved this totem pole and it was given to a family friend after her grandmother moved out of her house. He repainted it and it looks great.

Brenda's sister and brother-in-law...with the rugrats.

Kids being kids.

Brenda and I having a happy new year.