Just one more sleigh ride shot from an afternoon full of them.

Just one more sleigh ride shot from an afternoon full of them.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

To cover a few more of the bases from our trip to 'Sconi, the following pics are a few of my faves. I hope you agree.

A sunset aflame over fields of white.

A sunset aflame over fields of white.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

My parents' quaint country church on Christmas Eve.

My parents' quaint country church on Christmas Eve.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

Spike, the farm dog, at 17.

Spike, the farm dog, at 17.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

"Bosso Nova or Swing?"

"Bosso Nova or Swing?"
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

Maya and Grandma have one last stroll together before we head back to Seattle.

Maya and Grandma have one last stroll together before we head back to Seattle.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

Sarah checks out Sham - our sleigh ride muscle.

Sarah checks out Sham - our sleigh ride muscle.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

Time warp

Time warp
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

Maya and Sarah get prepped for their turn in the sleigh.

Maya and Sarah get prepped for their turn in the sleigh.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

Maya and Sarah with a wintry backdrop for the ages.

Maya and Sarah with a wintry backdrop for the ages.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

Grandma and Grandpa head out for a spin around the field, in a one-horse open sleigh.

Grandma and Grandpa head out for a spin around the field, in a one-horse open sleigh.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

Maya's first Santa experience went better than anyone could have hoped.

Maya's first Santa experience went better than anyone could have hoped.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

Christmas in 'Sconi

Happy Holidaze to all on this fourth day of Festivus. We're back safe and sound in Seattle after a trip to my 'rents place in Ogema, Wisconsin. I've taken a few weeks off from posting, but you can bet your bottom Swedish pancake that I've got some good shtick upcoming. Sounds like most of the country missed out on a white Jesusmas. That's surely what we were expecting. Even though my Dad had been working for months on the idea of staging one-horse open sleigh rides on the fields behind their house for Maya and her two cousins that live in Wausau. When we got in to the impossibly cute airport in Eau Claire after yet another badluck Northwest Airlines layover (my official badluck airline), all we saw was ice. Then more rain. But then a hearty, perfectly-cured 5 inches of the best snowman snow you ever saw dropped the early morning hours of the 23rd and stuck like glue to everything in sight. A thousand people in the vacinity of where I grew up lost power when lines broke beneath the weight of what appeared to be Christmas chandaliers, made of ice and branches. Up therebouts, a thousand people cover some serious territory. Sadly, many were still unjuiced on Christmas. I can only assume the vistas were less stunning viewed over a camp stove or while struggling with a generator. From my point of view, however, it was the most idyllic Holiday I've ever seen. In all earnestness. Please check back later for pics.

Hope all your hangovers today are easily cleared with a broom or long board. Rock on.

Maya weathered the downpour as we gathered our tree in true Seattle style.

Maya weathered the downpour as we gathered our tree in true Seattle style.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

Maya warmed up to Seattle's three-day winter like a champ.

Maya warmed up to Seattle's three-day winter like a champ.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

Here's a few shots for those of you worried that we'd never post wintery photos from last week's freakish Seattle snowstorm. The snow's as gone as James Baker's midlife-crisis mullet. But it was fun while it was there to see. Maya truly loved it. Hope your own climate is normalish these days. Rock on.

"Snow is nice - high five!"

"Snow is nice - high five!"
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

Maya preferred charcoal to my suggestion for buttons - cow eyes.

Maya preferred charcoal to my suggestion for buttons - cow eyes.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

"Hey Brett. Up here. Near the Blimp!"

As a treat to myself, I bought a ticket via eBay for last nite's Packers - Seahawks game. Any chance is a welcomed chance on my end when it comes to seeing the Pack, especially as a MNF game. Not to neglect mentioning what may be a last run for Brett Favre. Seattle got a chance for the first time since I've been here to host a snow game. Existentially, the Pack sucked. Even more than the Seahags. Literally, same deal. I did my best to sneak throughout Qwest Field's plush although savvy interiors, including an hour spent on the Club Level (if you go, that's where you undoubtably want to be). But this post's pic was taken from the vantage point that was alleged to be my seat up in LoserLand. I didn't stick around long enough to see much more than how the upper deck is full to the brim with really boisterous but entirely unlikable Hawks fans. Many others that I met along the way were much more interesting. The Pack lost. But I loved seeing things up close. Qwest Field earns a B-Minus rating. A snowy Monday Night in Seattle earns a solid A.

Hope your seats give you a clear shot at the Queen's underpants. Rock on.

Black Friday goofiness for a well-fed Nation

We're in Santa Barbara, doin' a delightfully vacation-like version of the Thankgiving weekend. Unlike most, we flew on TurkeyDay morn. And it was a piece of cake. Maya took the direct flight in stride, nappin' and yappin' like a good girl should. Yesterday's NFL games were as thrilling as a "What I'm Thankful For" sermon from Ted Haggard. But the meal and associated thankiness with my wife's side of the family were wonderful. We didn't kill our own bird. Not many of those critters running 'round this neck of the woods. But it tasted so good you could have sworn we'd raised it or ran over it ourselves.

Now that we've moved onto "Black Friday" and everyone's prepared to cast aside yesterday's uncommonly good principles in hopes of scoring a Playstation 3, time for two brief bitter nuggets that are stuck in my craw.

First of all, I'd love to know which Bushie came up with the idea of having Dubya not-at-all randomly call 10 lucky "members" of the military. Worst. Token Effort. Ever. Did anyone suggest giving 10 random folks an honorary release from duty? When you consider the WashingtonPost piece posted today that scandalously notes 16,000 SINGLE MOTHERS have served in Iraq...well, I just can't imagine how we can be doing that to our people. Or maybe Dubya should have randomly called 10 citizens not in the military to get their opinions on the conflict. Oh, wait - he doesn't listen to the polls. Whatever way you kick this can there's little doubt in my mind that the Bushies are completely flummoxed by the need to come up new misleading imagery to better put a bowtie on this historic turd.

Secondly, I will start by admitting a certain appreciation for the classy discount retailer, Target. When I went to college in Minneapolis (where Target/Dayton's is based), Target supplied me and my equally poor cohorts with basically everything. Often on a short-term unofficially-leased basis (translation: lifetime return policy). They still blow away other retailers when it comes to charitable giving. In that light, they hitched their philanthropic wagon to David Blaine. His latest stunt was horribly contrived - hanging in shackles above Times Square for 2 days only to free himself this morning just in time to take a bunch of needy kids to a Target in New Jersey for a shopping spree. Seriously. Except Blaine didn't stick the landing. At all. Went through the plywood floor. Went to the hospital. And the kids? They don't really factor into the stories anymore. Ooof - now that's how NOT to run a publicity stunt.

Finally, the Dubya twins turn 25 tomorrow. And Jenna just got her purse snatched in Argentina, even while followed by the most entertained detail in all of the Secret Service. No follow-up joke there - I trust you've got plenty to say on your own. Discuss amongst yourselves.

Hope your own stunts involve secure flooring today. Rock on.

Maya prepares to paint most of the house.

Maya prepares to paint most of the house.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.