Ring in the New

The joys of air travel. I just left Dulles Airport after dropping off Annie to catch a flight back to Beijing.  I had earlier this morning left BWI with Annie as her flight from there back to Beijing was cancelled.  We had no snow here, but since the plane was going through Newark, where there apparently was some snow, her flight was cancelled.  She made out though, on two counts.  First it looked like a direct flight to Bejing and second, she got a Cinnabuns treat at Dulles after checking in.  Of course, I had to join her.  You know the rule about eating Cinnabuns alone.

Working backwards, we had a farewell dinner for Annie last night which was punctuated by a kitchen sink problem.  Hope to get that sorted out momentarily.  Earlier in the day, I stopped in to see Grandma, and Peter came over to join us for lunch.  Grandma is well, and has these chocolate covered pecans which seem to multiply every time we leave.  News from Peter includes: new crowns for his teeth (ouch), new convertible top for his car and new comfortable chairs.  

My week was spent in Pittsfield, tearing down walls in yet another bedroom.  Progress continues in the addition with electrical wiring and framing continuing. We are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Just one more room, and we will have torn down the walls in every room in the old house.  I went over to John and Marilyn's for dinner, and they shared this wedding photo of Colleen and Pauline from a month ago.  Congratulations!

Mary flew.  She left on New Years Day, to come back and have a full day of recovery and restoration before she headed back to work.  While up north, we hosted Cliff and Sheila to ring in the new year (playing Sequence and watching The Town helped us to stay up past midnight); we went skiing; Annie and Margaret and James (and D) joined us for camping out in the construction site, and we went out to eat with John and Marilyn.  The next generation all left on New Years eve, with plans to spend time in New Haven (Margaret) and NYC (Annie).  Margaret saw Kathleen who broke the news about her father's broken ankle.  He had slipped on the ice while walking and broke it in a couple of places.  Ouch.  We talked this am, and he is still in pain and discomfort.

And, still going backwards, we had spent the night on the way up with Grandma, postponed by a day because of the big storm in NJ, but nothing in MD.  It looked like anywhere between 1 and 2 feet there, but the roads were good the day we got up there.  Fortunately for Grandma, she didn't lose her power or have to deal with the Governor Christie's awol-style of managing a crisis on the roads.

And before that, we celebrated Joe's birthday here a day early.  He turned 28!  On the 28th!  We reminisced about all the birthday celebrations he enjoyed with cousins and grandparents and aunts and uncles in Pomfret.

Speaking of Pomfret, I am now Facebook friends with Margie Huoppi, who posted photos of a Christmas tree in the big room, celebrating with her grandsons.  Seems very familiar.

Tomorrow is Jeffrey's birthday, and we understand from Facebook again, he and Melodie enjoyed Christmas in Minneapolis, but maybe not the flight adventures

 getting there.  They plan on going to Rochester this weekend.  

And Sunday is Margaret's birthday.  She philosophized that she will be closer now to 50 than she is to her birth.  

Yesterday was Three Kings Day, the 12th day of Christmas.  It was a wonderful holiday this year, and we are glad to have connected with so many of you.  

Love from down here.