Mike's Christmas Wish List

My updated list...(2008)

- Bobby McFerrin & Chick Corea dvd, "Rendezvous in New York"

- A Monopod (like these): mainly, one that is light-weight and packable

- Cd's - note: buy them used if at all possible! All I do is burn them on my computer once, and then play them from ipod...so don't buy the new ones. What I want: Keane album (either "Under the Iron Sea" or "Perfect Symmetry" or both), a U2 album - some type of "greatest hits" album, preferably from the 80's and 90's I think (songs like "40," "Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For," etc - I just don't own any U2 so I want a cd or two with some of their best hits), I'm really into Jack Johnson but I have 3 of his albums already - these are the albums I DO have (Brushfire Fairytales, On & ON, Sleep Through the Static)

- DVD's: The Bourne Trilogy, The Matrix (1st movie only),

- Xbox Games I'm interested in (GET THEM USED): Call of Duty 2, Tiger Woods golf (whatever the last version was they released for the xbox...probably '07 or maybe '08)

- Love gift cards; especially "Taco Lobo," "Starbucks or Woods Coffee," "Robecks," or something new...

- Other ideas: anything from REI, really.

Christmas Images - Have a Very Merry Christmas

Pictures are (from top left): My Gingerbread house, our entry-way (candle display), our new mantle, our new niece (and her mom, my sister-in-law), and a beautiful Christmas boquet

Cast Your Vote

Is the "best picture" of a mushroom, still just a dumb picture of a mushroom? Or is it a great shot? Who knows! What do you think?

Soar like an...UPDATED (click on the flying eagle, get a bigger pic)

This summer Julie and I made it up to Point Roberts. In case you don't know, Point Roberts is this littls spit of land that you have to drive through Canada to get to. At any rate, the Eagle photos are from that trip. The racoon, (bottom), lives in our backyard. We gave him a few names; "Rudy" or "Bandit" or "Racoon." At any rate, haven't seen him around in awhile.

Adrianna

Here she is - Adrianna Nicole Scheid, our new niece born on December 1st.

Click here to see more!

SNOW - part 3...more images!

SNOW - part 2...Images from Today

SNOW - updated

As of Monday morning, we have 10 inches on our deck and drifts of alot more than that. Enjoy the pictures!

Happy Thanksgiving

Things I'm thankful for:
- Jesus Christ, without whom I'd be forever lost and forever hopeless
- My beautiful wife, who does so much to keep our home in order. I love you!
- My family; my parents who did a wonderful job providing a great home, my siblings who are a constant support and remain my greatest advocates, my grandparents whom I learned so much from, my wife's family with whom I've become great friends
- A home, a house, warmth, food, shelter
- A great job at a great church where I work with great people
- Our Country: still the greatest country in the world
- Golf: (I digress)...but I do love to play that silly game!
- The family at our church who helped turn our "fixer upper house" into a "home" where we can host Thanksgiving meals
- Airplanes which allow me to visit my family in Papua New Guinea, and take trips to places like Vienna, Austria
- The beautiful world we live in and especially this corner of it; the San Juans, Mount Baker and Shuksan, wow
- For technology which helps us stay in touch with those who are far away

And from my lovely wife:
1. a warm house to wake up in
2. warm clothes
3. my patient husband
4. that I have my hearing so I can enjoy music, that I have use of my hands and fingers so I can play music
5. that mom and dad came home from Honduras for Thanksgiving and Christmas
6. for new babies (like our niece-coming-soon)
7. for good friends from years of friendship

Stormy Weather

Yes, it was blowing all day in Bellingham. First noticed the high winds in the middle of the night and they stayed that way till about 5:00 PM. They say we had gusts over 50 mph for over 12 hours straight. Bellingham Bay reported a gust of 89 mpg. The picture at left was taken with my cell-phone...it is very low resolution, but is at least a shot of the Bay.

As for us? Power went out yesterday at about 3:00 pm. As of 9:30 AM, Thursday, still no power. It was a cold night...but thanks to our gas water heater, we did have a nice hot shower.

Anyone else got a weather story?