What I've been up to since my last attempt at posting on this blog:

• traveled over 3500 miles by airplane


• read three books


• went to a hockey game


• played 18 holes of golf


• observed and identified many of Florida's estuary birds


• slept on a Murphy bed (that's right folks, it comes out of the wall)


• attended a cooking class


• finished my Christmas shopping

Along the estuary on the J.N. "Ding" Darling Nature Preserve.

I've been keeping busy visiting various family members around the country. Most recently I was fortunate enough to spend some time in South Florida visiting my grandparents and my Aunt Connie. They graciously and energetically entertained me for five days.

Grandpa and I on the Murphy bed. As many different types of beds that I've slept on this year, it only seemed right and complete to add this to the list.

My new place of residence for the next night or two is with my cousins Alaina and Andrew and their two boys. I'm back in the midwest, the place of my birth. The snow is bright, the air is cold, and it finally feels like Christmas!

Patrick and Calvin practicing the art of stocking shelves.