Zoo Lights

Wow, can you believe that we are entering the last 2 weeks of 2008? Christmas is a week away. I hope you are ready!

This is one of Horizon's Q400's in Boise last week. I LOVE the paint job! Foggy morning in downtown San Francisco last week--I love the way the fog is creeping over the buildings.We had a little bit of snow in Denver this week. This was Sunday morning. Look closely at the right side of the photo--there is a third airplane, but it's just a shadow, almost hidden by the snow! The high on Sunday was a whopping -2*...brrrr.....rrrrr..r.r....rrrrr...rrrrrrr!Poor Corey, one of our mechanics, had to come out to fix my plane. Don't you love his 1980's bank-robber ski mask? It was SO cold on the ramp--it was about -10*--yes, MINUS 10! Not quite the high of -2!Calgary got quite a lot of snow, too. This poor little tree was outside of my hotel room. I think it just needs a few lights and a star on top!
Jenny, James, Csaba, Kristen and I went to the Denver zoo for Zoo Lights. It had warmed up to a balmy 28*, so it was a pleasant night. Jenny said that she had 4 layers on. I had 3, including silk longjohns and a wonderful Eddie Bauer wool shirt under my down coat! I was warm, though!Now, the cool thing about Zoo Lights is that that they should be viewed with 3-D glasses! So, on with ours! Don't we look cool! Or is it "cold?"

This is what you see with 3-D! Awesome, isn't it? Can you see the tiger on the right side of the photo?This lovely fellow is a King Cobra. He wasn't amused with the laser focusing device. He was about 6 feet long.

James & Jenny in 3-D--
I think that this is the year of the Dragon. Or, maybe the zoo HAS a dragon? ! ?

What a wonderful package, with a bow on top!
I finally got this year's Christmas photos taken. Thought you'd enjoy the process of getting the perfect shot. Ranger is ALWAYS helpful!And cuddly!Checking to be sure my hat is secure...I probably need a kiss right about now! He's happy to oblige!Aha! The perfect shot...um...Beau, what are you doing?

We got one of the best Christmas gifts yesterday--Brett Ellis was born! Brett is Brian and Odette's second child, and Sara's baby brother. Brian took some photos which I'll upload in a day or so. Welcome, Brett!

Rangedeer, Beaudeer and I wish you a WONDERFUL Christmas!

Christmas Lights Parade

Lindsey, James, Jenny & I went downtown for the Christmas Lights Parade. It was very good--and we were pretty warm until the wind blew! Fortunately, a quick stop at Starbucks solved that problem...Enjoy the parade with us! I don't think that these guys were very cold! Yes, that's FIRE!There were plenty of marching bands, playing festive Christmas music. It sure got people singing along--rousing choruses of "Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells...!" Their uniforms and instruments were lit up, glittery and sparkley, and they brought us all a lot of joy! There was a lot of wildlife-
Go penguin, go!Southwest Airlines was there, too! If you've ever been on an overnight with a SWA crew, you'll know why I'm classifying them as "wildlife!"No Christmas parade is complete without a Chinese New Year's Dragon!There were well-behaved horses....And not-so-well-behaved children!Dancing timepieces,Gingerbread houses, and Gingerbread men!Twirling poinsettias!The Nutcracker Suite...And the Nativity-the reason for the seasonaccompanied by Shepards and Angels.The most famous reindeer of all!Dancing packages...no, my name wasn't on any of them...Santa finally showed up...hooray! Merry Christmas! Are you in the Spirit, yet? If not, grab a Peppermint Mocha, put on some Christmas tunes, and let yourself be filled up with the magic of the month!

Let it SNOW!

We normally have about 10" of snow by Dec 1st; this year Denver has only received .1" snow...until today. It's been snowing all day. We're expecting 3"--I had at least that on my car this morning. I don't know why there's a patio table on this roof:I went to an REI seminar last night. REI has really good presentations; this one was about snoeshoeing routes. I bought snowshoes two or three years ago and intended to go, but spent the winter too sad to do anything. I bought appropriate clothing last year, but never did go. This year, one of the FO's I flew with recently wants to go, so we are planning an easy start as soon as enough snow is on the ground. There are several 2-3 mile routes within an hour's drive. Watch for photos of that event, when & if it happens!

I went to the Rocky Mtn Wildlife Refuge a few weekends ago on their photo tour, during which they seek the big bucks. The boys are out, chasing the does, so are readily available for photos. We came across this guy right next to the road. He was the biggest buck I'd seen all day! Can you see the does in the trees? How many can you count? There are 5, plus the buck... One doe laying down on the left, one standing, just behind her is the head of another laying down, one in the top middle of the thicket and one just above the buck. There was actually one more doe, between the standing and laying doe, but she hunkered down and didn't appear in the photo. So, this buck had a 6-doe harem!

The horses are adjusting well to the new barn. Ranger is going to LOVE his new neighbors; I met one a few days ago. Here's the rest of him: Kjell & I flew his last trip before he leaves. He is going to Dubai to fly for Emirates. It's not a lifestyle I'd want, but he & his wife feel that it will be a good adventure for themselves and their daughters. We'll all miss Kjell--he's one of the best pilots and delightful co-workers with whom I've flown--it's always a perq to fly with good people! Kjell graciously offered to let me stay with them if I ever want to visit, so I'll plan a trip after they get settled--before it gets too hot!We got great photos of Kjell's last trip. The badlands at dawn...when you fly west, you often chase the dawn or the sunset, depending on time of day. So, we saw sunrise four times: on Pike's Peak, the badlands, Bryce Canyon and the Sierras on Sunday. We flew over Yosemite, with Half Dome at first light. If it's snowing where you are, get out and throw a snowball or two, or make a snowman! Enjoy! Only 19 days til Christmas--are you ready?