I know I maybe jumping the gun here but the holiday is around the corner and my family is buzzing with excitement. We got a early Christmas gift. A little fella named Bear. He's a Rat Terrier and has taken the hearts of the family except for the cat. The cat likes the dog food, hates the dog.

Any who, I want to wish you all the best holidays ahead and a fanastic new year. 2010! Only two years until we are all to end, according to the Myans or is it the Aztecs?
In that case, screw my diet and excerise program! Where's the beer and steaks!
Have a great holiday and I love you all.
Thank you.
R

I was going to put a photo of our Charlie up here but there wasn't a way to do it. Charlie is a Rat Terrier too, a little guy who is one year old and full of energy. They have a mind of their own and can hear a fly land a mile away or a candy wrapper and react accordingly. Ours likes to go for long walks, demands it once a day, and loves to ride in my Jeep with the window down and his nose out in the freezing rain, snow or wind. He doesn't sleep alone either, any bed with a warm body to press against is just fine. Breakfast, lunch and dinner he is there begging for some. We remind him that he has his own food. I once caught him finishing off a glass of my chocolate milk I had just poured and put on the table next to my chair. The bottom line is they can't be trusted, they will go off in a shot like they totally forgot what they were doing and where they were. They will run across a road or in front of a train, they have no clue. I'm working with him but sometimes I wonder what's going on in that brain. He's an affectionate little guy though, I rub his right rear leg which was hurt when he was a puppy and he licks me in gratitude. I think he needs ACL surgery, maybe this Spring we will see the doctor again.

Curt

I was going to put a photo of our Charlie up here but there wasn't a way to do it. Charlie is a Rat Terrier too, a little guy who is one year old and full of energy. They have a mind of their own and can hear a fly land a mile away or a candy wrapper and react accordingly. Ours likes to go for long walks, demands it once a day, and loves to ride in my Jeep with the window down and his nose out in the freezing rain, snow or wind. He doesn't sleep alone either, any bed with a warm body to press against is just fine. Breakfast, lunch and dinner he is there begging for some. We remind him that he has his own food. I once caught him finishing off a glass of my chocolate milk I had just poured and put on the table next to my chair. The bottom line is they can't be trusted, they will go off in a shot like they totally forgot what they were doing and where they were. They will run across a road or in front of a train, they have no clue. I'm working with him but sometimes I wonder what's going on in that brain. He's an affectionate little guy though, I rub his right rear leg which was hurt when he was a puppy and he licks me in gratitude. I think he needs ACL surgery, maybe this Spring we will see the doctor again.

Curt

Happy holidays from up here in Spokane. My boys were thrilled with a light snowfall late in the second evening were were here -- still on the ground, so we will have a white Christmas. We went up to Mt Spokane today for some tubing in the snow.

My best to everyone!

Vaughn

PS...we have already finished off the four growlers of various beers my nephew brought over from Montana...back to the regular stuff, I guess!

Happy New Year from the Oregon Coast!! The weather was absolutely gorgeous for Christmas, but it's a wet and wild one today. Great fun!
Denise

Snowing beautifully in Portland this afternoon.
Dennis

Yesterday was cool and clear -- took the boys to the beach in the afternoon, beautiful! Cold, wet and windy here today, too! Glad the snowy weather waited until after our drive back home! The Gorge can get a bit nasty!

Vaughn

I was down on the coast Christmas Eve Day and it was really as nice as Denise says - Vaughn; I'm glad you missed the snow and ice going home also - the Gorge was closed a for a day or so about 10 days ago because of the ice on the road and high winds. Happy New Year to all; keep those shutters going!

Ron

Two hours left of the year, here on the Left Coast. Three organic IPA's down the old hatch, wife is already in bed, my three boys are trying to stay awake for their first welcoming in of the New Year.

Off to the redwoods tomorrow, rain or shine, to visit the light and watch the salmon and steelhead do their thing in the riffles of Prairie Creek -- a New Years Day tradition. I'll take the 8x10 just in case the rain lets up.

Happy New Year!

Vaughn