and all that jazz...

Happy New Year...and all that jazz.
Thanks for the calls to "remind" me that I have neglected to blog for 2 weeks....I feel so loved! Yes, I know the last time I blogged James Brown was still feeling good.

Through the grapevine I heard that not everyone got the Christmas presents they asked for.... So I'd like to take up a collection to fill those stocking voids...Marcus didn't get his confidence; Brittany had asked for panties; Stephen needed that history book that explained that the last three Prime Ministers had already raised the gay marriage thing. (Maybe we can all chip in a get him a new environmental policy while we're at it); George got his wake-up call, but needs a new pair of binoculars to see the future. BC Place asked for band-aids, and Denman needed that clapper, damn it!

Kicked off the season with a whirlwind trip to the big city on the 23rd. Rounded up as many kids as possible (4 fer 6 ain't bad) for lunch and a well intended gift exchange. (see rant, last blog, not revisiting that). It was very enjoyable and everyone was in good spirits... every indication is that next year will be a Denman Island Christmas.
The first "kidless" Christmas was enthusiastically kicked off by sleeping in and taking a long walk around noon. Then off to the Kingfisher for the famous "sea food buffet"....click here to see it. Topped off with a bottle of NK'Mip Pinot Blanc, it was a very nice meal.... Would I hurry back? No, I don't think so, not because the food was not wonderful... it's just the buffet thing... you kinda feel rushed; like you might miss something... I think I prefer a more relaxed eating format. (the food was great though!) Might have to try the wine-pairing dinner. Sorry for the large format on the menu to the right... but you have to check out the dessert selection! Kari rightly noted that my dessert plate was in fact, larger than my dinner plate.... ya, so...
Kari & I headed down to Victoria on the 30th and had a great Chinese dinner (Ho-Tong not Ho-Ting) with Krista and her guy Dave, along with Sue & Bill and Mom. Consensus was Dave passed all the tests.

New Years' Eve was @ Dunsmuir Lodge where the "small people" had a great meal, great wine, great conversation about the meal and the wine (and nobody had to drive home....) They also had king-sized beds. Some of us made it until midnight and were safely tucked into said beds by 12:10. I should have a pic of this (not the bed, but the dinner) however the jpg has not arrived by email yet.
Great people talk about ideas, average people talk about things, and small people talk about wine.
Fran Lebowitz US writer and humorist (1950 - )
Yes, we've been rather small lately.... speaking of which... check out this link to find some of the best import wines under $15, (my budget). If you can get by some screw-caps and synthetic cork, there's some winners here.
We returned via Saltspring Island, (the Malahat by-pass) and had nice lunch at a waterfront pub with other hangover-ites. Checked out a rammed-earth house, which was pretty cool and the first one we've seen. Supposedly they can last several hundred (maybe a thousand years) and are not much more to build, (than stick or straw) not to mention environmentally freindly and highly energy efficient.

Then back home to a rotation of wind, rain and sun (or any combination thereof). The animals were happy to see us and all had been on best bevavior for Fireweed and Mike. I'm glad to be back to our little island and looking foreward to having visitors over the the long upcoming holiday drought. Sign up soon.