Year 2 - Day 265 - December 31

This cell picture doesn't really do it justice, but it's neat to watch the sunrise in northern Tucson, because there are mountains between you and the sun. It makes sunrise take forever, but as soon as the sun pops over the mountains it's like someone turned on the bright light switch. And oh, so early! We were racing the sunrise to the airport at 6:30am. Yawwwwwwwwwwwnnnnnnnnnnnnn.

Year 2 - Day 359 - December 25

Merry Christmas from Tucson! As we have done for the past several years, we got up at the crack of dawn (4am this year) to catch a flight to Tucson for Christmas with my side of the family. I am glad that his family has always celebrated on Christmas Eve because it means we both get to be with our family during their celebrations even if it means no sleep and lots of traveling. Since we left one party after 11pm and got to the next one at 11am, I'm willing to be there's actually less hours between our celebrations than some friends who have less than 3000 miles to travel. :)

This is ALL of Tucson. These are all the tall buildings they have to offer.

Day 364 - December 30

We're flying home today ... it's pretty overcast in Houston.  One more takeoff, one more landing, and then we are home!

Day 359 - December 25

Merry Christmas!!

It has been a LONG 24 hours.  We celebrated with his family last night, closed our eyes for a few minutes and then flew to Arizona this morning.  Somehow while we were traveling, morning turned to afternoon and then evening so here we are in the dark.  We had dinner and then played this year's Christmas present game - "Minute To Win It Christmas Edition."  We picked up candy canes using chopsticks and ribbons, shook jingle bells out of a tissue box on our back, put bags of Hershey kisses in order by weight without looking inside, and tried to swing red pom poms to our nose but that one didn't work. 

My mother was very surprised with her special present - it was a toy train that she thought got lost in the moves but it was safe in my Aunt & Uncle's garage the whole time. 

The picture is of a small neighborhood in my mother's Christmas house village.  This is "Ralphie's neighborhood" from A Christmas Story.  (Not pictured, the department store with the scary Santa & slide.) The mini leg lamp was one of my best Christmas present finds ever, back in college I think, just before the movie got super big.  We set it up in the window for her while she was out one night.  Now it's the centerpiece of Christmas village.

Day 52 - February 21

 

Yesterday, we finally got around to visiting the International Spy Museum in D.C.  We have wanted to go for a long time, and so we met up with Mike's friends that live down there.  At first, I was super impressed.  The first few rooms are ultra-interactive.  You pick a "cover" and have to memorize some facts about it.  Then after a couple exhibits, there are computer terminals that test your memory and give you a "job" to do.  Disappointingly, after that you don't come to another computer terminal until the end.  Also, I understand that they can't give away any current day stuff and that we have to rely on TV and our imagination to think about modern technology, but the information definitely skewed towards long ago.  

My picture is of the Christmas ornament I got in the gift shop.  D.C. now has a "green bag" tax.  They were happy to wrap this ornament in several pieces of tissue paper, but if I wanted a bag it was 5 cents.  (I just popped it in my purse.)  I understand the tax - I'm sure more people are willing to go without the bag if it means paying extra as opposed to getting a 5 cent discount.  Even though it's a grand difference of a dime - the psychological difference is much more. (I'd assume.)  However - to use that much tssue paper seemed counter productive! :)