“Dear Santa Claus, How have you been?
Did you have a nice summer?
How is your wife? I have been extra good this year,
so I have a long list of presents that I want.
Please note the size and color of each item,

and send as many as possible. If it seems too complicated,
make it easy on yourself: just send money.
How about tens and twenties?” - Sally BrownIt takes two full days to clean the house after Christmas. You know there is a floor there somewhere under sedimentary layers of psychedelic wrapping paper and torn cardboard. With the skills of a student archeologist you can hopefully sort the legos and other important items from the twist ties and cookie crumbs.

In the kitchen food is stacked everywhere to shame us for our amazing affluence. And now the race is on to consume or pass on all this before it becomes un-edible and wasted. Mary’s massive Christmas pud will be relegated to a boat anchor for next year’s fishing season as no one could be convinced to take it home for days of tasty brandy soaked fruity bliss.

I obviously hinted enough as I got my cool ‘Soul Boater’ hoodie. I feel bad though that Mary had to play around with the stress and fretting that intermittent email responses give. These days people tend to use email like they do answering machines, as a way to sort out the messages they care about from the ones they don’t. Or at least the ones they want to put off. Very few things strike me as being as rude as screening phone calls or leaving emails un-answered. I’d rather be forced to talk to sales people then blow off a friend to save myself some effort. I don’t find it hard to send out, “I’m busy, but will get to this. .” emails when I AM swamped. People are important. Yeah, even that stupid guy trying to sell you printer ink!

I also got a Bender “Kayak Joe” which will now be put to use demonstrating proper body positions. In the shot here you will notice the torso rotation and loose grip as Joe performs a hanging draw. . All you ACA coaches will also respect how Joe does not talk as he demonstrates. .

Gryphon was inundated with new toys being the only young person in a group of various grandparents, parents and siblings. Meaning this child unlike anyone else in his family, has never known want or need. I fear this actually. Everyone should go to bed hungry once in awhile. No one on the other hand, should go to bed hungry more than once in awhile. .

The toy of the day was certainly Roboraptor who would have free run of the house if Mary would not keep picking him up for a snuggle. Yep, Mary loves Roboraptor. Now I would like to mention that I did get her some unique Asian Indian clothing & jewelry as well as the shiny silver NRS PFD that she really, really, really, really, wanted. Sorry NRS, when it comes to ultra modern toys Roboraptor is winning hand’s down over the Groove!

One little house cleaning note; I’ve been sorting the journal posts into categories which you will now see on the right-hand column. I know many of you are seeking out tips, skill work, stroke info and the like so I hope this helps make that easier. I’ve only worked through about 50% of old posts yet, but I’ll get there. Sorting though old blogs is sort of like an old photo album, you keep wondering why you would ever where clothes like that!!

Related Posts:

1. Day 1,
2. The Day After
3. every day, every day
4. Day by Day
5. Floods Day 3