Christmas is around the corner

There are now 20 days until Christmas.  It is interesting as the kids have grown older how the emphasis of Christmas has also shifted.  There was the one perfect Christmas when the kids were 10 and seven years old.  They were the perfect age and Christmas morning was magical, full of smiles and wonder!  It was the year that Andrew set up the video camera to catch Santa and the year the Delaney pulled a whole bike out of Santa's sack that he leaves every year.

This December, the big event for Andrew is in 10 days when he gets his braces off and he can eat popcorn.  He is more excited hanging out with his friends on Christmas break then any of the Christmas family things we have planned.  Delaney is not quite that into to her friends, yet, but she is looking forward to movies and sleep overs almost as much as Christmas day.  And if it snows, that will be the most bestest, perfect day ever!

So, for now, I have taken joy in simpler Christmas events like hanging lights on the house and taking old Christmas keepsakes down from the attic so it can enjoy the month of fun that is the Christmas season.  We are looking forward to going to the Grotto, seeing the Christmas lights, and hearing choirs sing.  I look forward to going out with the kids and getting a hot fudge sundae more than presents on Christmas morning.  Although, a day of fun in the snow falling out my front window would be good too.  I am not a total Scrooge.

For now, 20 days 'til Christmas, the most wonderful time of the year. I know because I got a sign out of the attic last night to remind myself.

What are my plans for the next 50 yearsl

I have spent the last few months looking at articles about what I should do before I turn 50 or things I need to do after I turn 50, or a whole list of "Bucket List" items to put on my bucket list.  It has been interesting.  I did find it funny that a couple of the items that showed up on more than one list were to be healthy, to travel, and to go skinny dipping.  An odd trio to be sure.  I like to travel and skinny dip ( especially with Dana and other beautiful women ), but the staying healthy -- losing 100 pounds -- is more challenging and more work than fun.

I also came to the conclusion that all the things I want to would be impossible to complete before I turn 50, so here are some of the things I want to do before I turn 60. And if I ever run out of things to do on my bucket list, than I am just waiting to die. I hope to never reach that point, ever. 

My list of things to do before I turn 60:

1. Fix a bobbing head. I collect the kitschy bobble head dolls from various sport team.  I buy them on eBay as I find them, but recently the price has gone through the roof. So, I am hoping to find one that needs minor repairs and I can repair and restore one. 

2.  Frame Hockey Tickets. So I have a set of season tickets to the Los Angeles Kings for the '93-94 season.  There was a hockey strike that year so I still have the complete set. I kept them because the looked really nice and figured it would fun to add to my random sports memorabilia collection.  That was 22 years ago and I figure if I can't get them framed in the next ten years, I should just give up. 

3.  Raft the Grand Canyon. I want to float the river at the bottom of the can you and look up at the red walls. I want to go to Elves Chasm and see the waterfall, swim and take some fabulous photos. 

4.  Stand on top of the Great Wall of China. That is it. I want a selfie of me standing on top of the Great Wall of China. That obviously means that I will have to travel to China, and there will be more to that trip, but I want picture on top of the wall. 

5.  Go to Paris, eat at a cafe, and see the Eifel Tower. And now that I have met Tanguy, I really want to spend at least a week in Annecy. Mostly, I want to take my wife to Paris. I want to see a world famous city and all the sights, museums, and landmarks. I want to see why it is called "the city of light". Vacationing in Paris always seemed like when you did that, you had made it. You were a success. 

6.  Las Vegas High Roller weekend. I want to park valet. I want to rent a pool cabana, or even better a villa in back with a butler. I want a big bed with a big window with the lights of Vegas shining below. I want a fancy dinner followed by a show and then betting a $100 on the hard eight. Hopefully, I win, but mostly I want to be a high roller for 48 hours. 

7.  Stay in Hana. I want to explore the bamboo forest and beaches of Hana. I want to swim in the Venus Pools and see the waterfall of the Blue Hole. I can stand by Lindbergh's grave and drive the forbidden road. Hana seems like the most isolated original Hawaii that I can find. I also want to stay in a thatched roof bungalow over the water, but that is a different trip. Not Hana. 

8.  Repair the old radio. 

Summary of Spring Break

Another Spring Break has come and gone.  There were no vacations to France, no scuba diving in Hawaii, just a day at the Art Museum looking at French fashions, a day trip to the beach to have bland clam chowder and an unsuccessful hunt for glass floats, and dinner at an Indian Casino buffet on the way home.

We always think that Spring Break will be an amazing week filled with unforgettable moments, but they generally turn in to lazy days at home hoping the rain isn't that heavy.