Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all of our friends and family all over the U.S, Canada, and anywhere else you may be reading (I know there are a few of you elsewhere). We've had a great holiday season and are wrapping things up with a wedding in Ontario tomorrow.

Any of you been to Ontario in January? It's a balmy thirty degrees BELOW zero today...and I actually just heard one of Sherry's uncles say, "It's really quite nice today!" Are you kidding me?!?!? These people are not normal. Sherry's dad shovelled snow for 10 hours on Tuesday stopping just long enough to eat lunch with us. I seriously wanted to offer to help him but I'm just not that tough. So I helped in the kitchen most of the day...really, I like to be macho and that was kind of a blow to my own ego. But I knew I'd freeze to death, so I just avoided him most of the morning.

Then I spent Wednesday on the couch with my new battery powered electric heating socks trying to thaw out my toes. Really, I knew battery powered socks existed, but now I know why. Necessity is the mother of invention, eh? (can you tell we've been here a few days? I'm starting to say "eh" a lot, and I watched an entire hockey game or match or whatever they call it? ) Did any of you know there was some big hockey game last night between the US and Canada?

It was like when I was a kid and the president was on EVERY channel we got...everything on TV here for the last 3 days has revolved around this game...that and the announcement of the Canadian Olympic hockey team. They were all so happy to have won last night in some kind of sudden death, double over time thing. And, of course, I'm the only full blooded American here. I know they really wanted me to care and everything, but I've never watched hockey in my life. But I think they just wanted somebody to tease...I didn't have the heart to tell them that all of our first stringers are still in football season.

On a serious note, we're thankful to be here...Sherry and I got married four years ago yesterday(agreeably the best four years of our lives). But some of you know what a struggle we've had with visas and greencards and all of that stuff. This is the first time we've been able to be here with her family, and it's been a real blessing...regardless of an ambient temperature that would cause the abominable snowman to shiver. We hope that you all have had as good a holiday season as we have and that you're off to a great new year. We love and miss you...most of you anyway :)