Happy Ewe Near!

That's what you say when a contented sheep passes by you. (courtesy of the NYT crossword puzzle in today's Post-Dispatch.)

I spent the last afternoon of 2005 as I did the previous year, with an afternoon hike on the Chubb Trail. It takes off from Lone Elk Park near Valley Park, MO and descends into the Meramec River valley. This time of year hardly anyone is on the trail so it's a nice place to "unplug" for a couple of hours. It travels mostly through a bottomland forest but eventually opens up into a beautiful prairie grassland by the river. I had my camera with me and took some great pictures.

I rang in 2006 with a few good friends, progressive-dinner style. We met at A.'s house for appetizers, then on to J. and K.'s house for meatball sandwiches, sides, and a few rounds of Mad Gab. Dessert was served at B.'s parents' home (his house is small) where we partied in their basement and inhaled much chocolate fondue-age (chocolate-covered strawberries...mmm!) I shot a few games of pool and enjoyed hangin' out with everybody until it was time for the big ball drop at midnight. I regretted that I forgot to bring my sack of Black Cat firecrackers (that date from the year 2000), in order to ring in the new year properly.

Started the new year off in fine church-fashion today. It was a pleasure to renew acquaintances with my buddy M. (author of Whatispossible) who is home for the holidays from his job assignment in India.

The rest of the day has been spent quietly with the crossword puzzles from the newspaper and a Band of Brothers marathon on the History channel.

I wish all the readers of this blog a satisfying and blessed 2006 - may all your hopes and dreams come true.