The end of the 'Burg

byebyeburgermaster3
Originally uploaded by ZhenPanda

Not that I ever eat there or even drove on the ramp... it's still part of the good ole days disappearing...

Welcome SONIC!

Snow guage

Snow guage
Originally uploaded by ZhenPanda

taken at 7:20AM December 26, 2008.

Thanks Dave!

Elvis lives!

Elvis lives!
Originally uploaded by ZhenPanda

Christmas is family

Turtle surprise!
Originally uploaded by ZhenPanda

Although we did not give or receive many gifts at my house I feel my family is truly blessed. My niece, Turtle, is so much fun to photograph. She is so expressive and open.

My she never loose the wonder...

Merry Christmas

Ornaments on the tree
Originally uploaded by ZhenPanda

Happy Holidays!

From the ZenPanda House to your!

*sigh*

How did I manage to delete every picture off of my cellphone?

I'm going to cry in the corner for a bit...

Winter morning at the Black Eagle Dam Powerhouse

Winter morning at the Black Eagle Dam Powerhouse
Originally uploaded by ZhenPanda

I was up & out very early today and snapped this when I noticed how beautiful the powerhouse looked lit-up with the snow.

Practice beard

Practice beard
Originally uploaded by ZhenPanda

Someday he can play Santa but for now it was just 6 days of leave & no shaving!

He got a nice break from work last week and is now back in the grind. This week and next are only 3 days of work each so he should be good to go by January 5!

I, of course, still have no ink for my printer (going on 14 days now), the internet is so slow at work I can hardly use it and the phone is intermittent. I will be doing paperwork from home this week. No returning calls once I leave the office & no in-person assistance.

Everytime I get gas

the next day prices drop more!

I am not complaining.

I would just like it to be the same price for a week after I buy it.

I paid $1.49 a week ago Friday & Saturday it was $1.43! Of course the fact that I filled up my van (from next to fumes) for $20 was EXCELLENT!

My Christmas shopping is closed to finished and I am under budget!

It is a great week in my house!

Hiding behind my tail

IMG_0285-Hiding behind my tail
Originally uploaded by moosewhisper

If I can't see you - you can't see me!!

Somedays I get the feeling

IMG_7344
Originally uploaded by Capital Photography

that I am just barely hanging on.

Today is one of those days.

***scream***

Now I feel better.

Nutcracker of the day

Today's nutcracker of the day
Originally uploaded by ZhenPanda

My kids gave me the idea to put up one nutcracker a day from December 1 until Christmas... sadly I have enough to do just that!

I'm really trying to feel it!

I'm baking cookies as I type... yah me!

Frozen

Frozen
Originally uploaded by ZhenPanda

So Winter 2008 has started... a bit late but better late than never!

Son#1 got out to shovel our walk & noticed no one on the block had done any shoveling so he did our side of the street. He returned with icicles on his lashes.

Now for some hot cocoa!

It's up!

It's up!
Originally uploaded by ZhenPanda

The tree is up. We purchased a pre-lit 4.5 ft tree and sofa table to put up in the front window without having to rearrange the livingroom (just moved the couch out enough for the table.)

It is only partially decorated but it up!

Now I get to bake all weekend!

A 5 1/4 inch FLOPPY!!

A 5 1/4 inch FLOPPY!!
Originally uploaded by ZhenPanda

Friday is shred day at the office. Since we moved in March I have shredded over 10 file boxes worth of files. We are trying to keep our records streamlined so I shred ALOT.

I was surprised to find this today in a file.

WOW.

Does anyone still have a drive for one of these? I bet the documents on this will not be readable by any computer either!

Family gift exchange

Back in the day we used to cram 30 people & 3 or 4 pets into my Grandmother's house (about 900 square feet on the main floor) and have a mountain of gifts to unwrap, ooh & aah over...

As time passes there are fewer of us to gather and my Aunt who lives with Grandmother is not too appreciative of the mountain of gifts, thus we now have the "gift exchange." I assumed that all the names of everyone over the age of 18 were actually put in a hat & drawn- WRONG! Apparently they divide the names by generation and then my Mother & Aunt V just pick who should give to whom! Of course every year without fail the Hubby gets Cousin L and I get Sister#3...surprise this year I got Cousin L & the Hubby got Sister#3!!! I REALLY hope that Cousin D DOES NOT get me! She buys the worst gifts -even with the suggestions! Son#1 and Step will exchange with Big J while Son#2 & Turtle will get as many gifts as people want to buy them (since they are still under the magic age of 18!!)

To help the family with the exchange this year I requested 3 gift ideas from the Hubby, Son#1, Step & Son#2. The cheapest gift will be suggested to the person giving in the exchange, the most expensive (within reason) will be from "Santa" or Mom&Dad and the middle one for my Mother (since we have to have gifts at her house as well)

Don't get my rambling wrong- I enjoy exchanging gifts and having fun with the family but I really don't relish having to shop for all of it. Christmas shopping is NOT retail therapy!

The truly funny thing is I can find things for the kids & even Cousin L online no problem but shopping for the Hubby is the worst! I have no idea what bi-pod he wants/needs for his spiffy new gun! How do you pick a rifle sling?? Maybe I'll just give him a gift card to Scheels!

Of course I don't want much:

Big Buddha Melrose bag in Yellow

OR
A Nikon D60!!!
(I'm not really betting on either!)

I'll be lost in the mall about 4PM today... wish me luck!

Cranky

Cranky
Originally uploaded by ZhenPanda

Can't say I blame him...

He is getting a colonoscopy in the morning!

*BTW* Found my phone case with cc & ID intact!!!!

Just checking...

Just checking...
Originally uploaded by ZhenPanda

I had to make sure my head was still attached.

Yesterday I managed to loose a $100 bill. I hope who ever found it has a nice Christmas.

Today my van broke down & after I removed all the vital stuff I discovered I lost my cellphone case which has my military ID & debit card in it.

SO now I am without a way to buy food for 4 days. yah.

Go me!

Trying to get the spirit

Nutcracker7
Originally uploaded by ZhenPanda

Just not getting much yet....

I did break out my nutcracker collection and start to get it set up!

Maybe we'll get the tree up by Christmas!!!

Somedays...

I miss my Friend
~Darryl Worley

I miss the look of surrender in your eyes
The way your soft brown hair would fall
I miss the power of your kiss when we made love
Oh, but baby, most of all
I miss my friend


The one my heart and soul confided in
The one I felt the safest with
The one who knew just what to say
To make me laugh again
And let the light back in
I miss my friend

I miss the colors that you brought into my life
Your golden smile, those blue-green eyes
And I miss your gentle voice
In lonely times like now
Sayin' it'll be alright
I miss my friend


I miss those times
I miss those nights
I even miss our silly fights
The makin' up
The mornin' talks
And those late afternoon walks
I miss my friend.
-----------------------------------------------------------

I truly miss my friend.

A brief synopsis of the holiday break

Versitile
Originally uploaded by ZhenPanda

OK- Turkey Day was a bust. The family gathering was lame, we said no prayer and it really was just uncomfortable. The Hubby & I agree that next year we will do or go anywhere else.

The USAF did not take a break so the Hubby worked Thursday, Friday & part of Saturday. He hunted on Saturday & Sunday with no luck.

Saturday my Aunt took me on a long drive looking for turkey to photograph with her spiffy new camera. In the van we carried 6 cameras, two humans and one dog. We saw one group of turkey so far from the road that even her 80-300mm didn't help. The only saving grace was taking the wrong turn and ending up in the middle of a cattle drive. About 500 photos later we headed home.

I caught a cold or maybe a sinus infection.

I didn't think about work one day over the break! Now, I'm behind on the website. I hope I will have it up soon! Stay tuned.

The Owl is still alive & doing very well! I hope to have more photos of him soon.