Thursday, December 30, 2010

Mr. C's Christmas Adventure

It's always in great anticipation that I make my, now, annual Christmas journey to North Carolina to visit with daughter and family.  It's also a pretty long drive from Baja Georgia so I like to take along a recorded book or two to keep me company.

This time I took two:  Nature Girl by Carl Hiaasen, and The Good Husband of Zebra Drive by Alexander McCall Smith, the latest in his #1 Ladies Detective Agency series.

For those of you not familiar with either author, Hiaasen, a writer for the Miami Herald, creates hilarious characters and situations which mostly take place in the wilds of South Florida.  In this particular book, there's a character who had his hand stuck into a stone crab crate by a jealous husband, whereupon he had several fingers pinched off by the giant crab claws.  To complicate matters, in surgery, his fingers were reattached to the wrong stubs as the doctors and nurses were distracted while arguing over who was going to get to keep the crab claws for dinner.

Alexander McCall Smith is a wonderful author with a treasure trove of novels, all well worth your time.  Precious Ramotswe owns and operates the #1 Ladies Detective Agency in Botswana where she encounters all sorts of unusual situations while investigating her clients' troubles.  McCall Smith is one of those rare authors who can delight and entertain you with totally wholesome stories.  No violence.  No cursing.  Just good clean fun.  A real relief from most of what's available today.


My vacation began with a two-day visit to an old friend in Greensboro.  We spent two nights playing music and a day driving up into the mountains and to Hanging Rock State Park.  At Hanging Rock is one of the most beautiful waterfalls I've ever seen.  The falls were enhanced by 5 to 6 foot icicles and was really special.  Unfortunately, being the bonehead I can oft times be, I managed to erase the entire damned memory card so have no photos to show you.  Maybe next time.


Christmas was spent with the family in Charlotte, and what a wonderful time it was.  Daughter and hubby have three girls, a five-year-old and three-year-old twins.  Prime time Santa Claus age.


I was first up Christmas morning and was enjoying a quiet cup of coffee when the house awoke.  Down the stairs they came, ready for action.
Looks like Santa came last night.  Notice Mr. C's stocking.  Some fine cigars and a new lighter.  Mr. C's been a good boy.
Grandpa John shows off his new Snuggie, and blessed and absolved me of my sins while he was at it.
Only in America.  I know it's overkill, but you gotta love it.
The day after Christmas we awoke to this.  Looks like Mr. C is staying over.
An angel makes an angel.
The twins help build a snowman.  We never finished it.

I couldn't stand being cooped up inside on a day like this, so I got out in it.  Here's a little of what I found.



I've got to say that this blogging gig has been a lot of fun, made all the more so by all of you who honor me with your visits.


Thank you, and may the new year bring you all peace and love.

13 comments:

  1. What is the white stuff all over everything?

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  2. Here in the frozen north we have... rain coming on Saturday. One has to drive away from the moderating effect of the lake, to see snow that more than just dusts the ground.

    Great photos, Mr. C. Happy New Year!

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  3. Punch... Santa's dandruff. Really dry.

    Doug... I constantly remind myself that to you snowbirds, snow is a pain in the arse. But to us Bajaians, it's something special. Especially if you only have to be in it for one day.

    Happy New Year to you too, sir.

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  4. Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Enjoy the cigars. I replaced the blown out speakers in my beater so now I can ghetto trip through the hood playin' the four seasons by Vivaldi. What a Christmas.

    Yeah same as everyone else to the east it will hit nearly fifty today and they be's no mo snow. Climate change my ass!

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  5. Oh my goodness--those photos are heavenly. So peaceful and beautiful! I miss the chance to see snow. I grew up in Charlotte and moved down here as a senior in high school...always remember the excitement of waiting to hear that school had been cancelled during the usually 1-2 times it would snow, dust or ice each year. I loved Nature Girl and am actually reading an older Hiassen now--Native Tongue. Not nearly as good as Nature Girl, though I think some of the same characters are sprinkled in. Love his sense of environmental justice.

    The Snuggie is hysterical; the memory card erasing is tragic.

    Happy New Year!

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  6. WM... Somehow I just can't get ghetto blasting and Vivaldi reconciled in my head. Bach, yes. Vivaldi... on the other hand, it is the Walking Man, after all.

    Gropie... Snow is special to someone who almost never sees it, like me. But after a day or two... The memory card makes me sick. Some really good shots of a waterfall on it. Sigh.

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  7. Merry New Year, Mr. C! Loved the family pics (and am again grateful that nobody decided I needed a Snuggie for Christmas).

    Don't fret over the memory card...as long as YOUR memory card works, you're doing ok.

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  8. Thanks for sharing your holiday cheer with us. Those are great photos. Have a super 2011.

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  9. Intelli... I didn't mention the treacherous climb over ice covered boulders to get the waterfall shots. But as you say... it's in my head, and heart. Oh, now I know what to get you for Christmas next year!

    LGS... Thanks. I'll be in touch.

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  10. The best time of the year this...the G dandrift stuff notwithstanding. Isn't it great for a couple of "mature" coots such as us, to have those beautiful little ones in our lives. A very special greetings to you C.

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  11. I wish you a happy new year. You are just great and I love these photos.

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  12. Great photos. Glad that you made it back to the deeper South. Happy 2011.

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  13. JJ... You're so right about the little ones. However, unlike you, I can give mine back when the time comes. Ha!

    Susan... Thank you so much and same to you. I'll be back over to your place as soon as my brain starts working again.

    Thanks Syd. It is nice to be back in 70 degree weather again. Although I love the cold for brief periods. Happy '11 to you too.

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