December 2009

The Christmas season has treated us well as we have been able to see friends and family frequently during the month. We went to Chicago for an annual Christmas party thrown by Joe and Ali Rago. We arrived at their house on Friday evening and enjoyed catching up. Matt Schafer showed up the next day and we all partied until 3 in the morning. We enjoyed a limo ride home, some late night pizza and played Rockband once we got home. The next morning we were able to go into the city to visit the Andersons and their new daughter Emma. They were adapting well and it was great to get a chance to meet her. We got home a little exhausted since we don’t party until 3AM anymore!

For Christmas, we went to Davis, WV this year and it was a great visit. We arrived on the 23rd and were able to go cross-country skiing on Christmas Eve. Everyone went and we spent about 2 hours outside skiing around. Everyone fell a few times but I think I had to get up the most! We went to midnight mass and I don’t think anyone changed out of pajamas on Christmas. I received some ski boots and ski poles, along with some nice jackets. Deb received a Garmin, and some shirts from WV and a local brewery. As always, we ate very well and everyone found their way into the kitchen to help out. It was very icy and windy on Christmas, which took out some of the snow. On the 26th, we did make our way over to Timberline and did some skiing. I did much better with all the new equipment and Deb, Anna and I wore out quickly. Randy met us for a few beers at the lodge afterwards as nothing is better than a cold beer after skiing! We got caught in some snow on the way home which caused us to be a little delayed. We celebrated Christmas with the Carroll family on the 29th. We received a sushi making kit, a new phone, and a new Wii game. Deb and I also got some clothes which we asked for. We played a little euchre and then made our way over to the Wahmans for a nice dinner and catching up with everyone.

Here are a few more items from the month:
• We went to a caroling party at the McGraths.
• We went to our annual Christmas Dinner with some Purdue friends at Buca de Beppo.
• We went over to Pete and Laura’s apartment to watch the Colts beat Jacksonville (where I heard Claire say “Uncle Keith” for the first time…sounded like “Unc Kei” but I will take it!).
• I went to a Pacer game with people from work as our auditors were able to get the suite for a game vs. the Milwaukee Bucks.
• We went to a Christmas Party for Deb’s work at the Tyndall’s house.
• Dad and I went to MCL cafeteria for a nice dinner.
• We went out for a nice dinner at 14 West. This is a restaurant that serves local food and changes it menu seasonally. We met Tom and Tracy beforehand at The Capital Grill (where Tom and I had “man-drinks” (i.e. Manhattans)).