Covered Parking Mishaps

So Kallie and I roll back into our parking lot after a great Christmas in Redding to find our neighboring car port has collapsed. And yes, there is a car wedged underneath. Fortunately no one was hurt, but apparently our complex doesn't do well in the rainy season. Parts of it like to fall down due to its own weight. And to think we passed up paying an extra 20 bucks a month for a covered parking spot. Karma!!

Baker Christmas!

Andrew shows us that storing carrot in your cheeks ALL DAY means you don't really have to eat veggies.

After our German/Japanese Markle Christmas, we got to fiesta with the Mexican branch of the Baker family tree and eat lasagna for Christmas dinner. Throw in a little Kwanzaa and we would've had it made! THIRTY TWO people were at my parents' house for Christmas, complete with a newborn, a set of twins, and flask of whiskey. My grandpa Dan showed Josh how to play Bacci Ball like a man and Travis demonstrated the danger of projectile pistachios when launched from a kitchen knife. And like good missionaries Josh and i spread the joy of Speed Scrabble and learned Spades in the process. We walked away with some new socks and a pound of ground beef to call our own. And no longer will we be sleeping on Josh's lifelong V-shaped bed because my parents rock!!
If there was a common theme this year in our multi-faceted Christmases, it was how veryvery blessed we are to have doubled our wonderful families into two. We also got to see some very dear friends in the days around Christmas, so before and bow was unwrapped we already had more than we could ask for. Cole Porter said it best:
"You're the top! You're the Colosseum!
You're the top! You're the Louvre Museum!
You're a melody from a symphony by Strauss,
You're a Bendel bonnet, a Shakespeare sonnet,
You're Mickey Mouse!
You're the Nile, you're the tower of Pisa,
You're the smile on the Mona Lisa,
i'm a worthless check, a total wreck, a flop,
But if baby i'm the bottom, you're the top!"

luv, kal

Christmas Party Pics

Winter and Jason's Christmas Party and Jeopardy Jamboree!!

Markle Christmas 2004

This year's Christmas had two very different perspectives...that of a three year old and that of an 83 year old. It was interesting to see the excitement of a toddler tearing open the unknown only to shriek in glee with its contents revealed. It didn't matter that it was just a box and she hadn't really made it to the "actual present" inside, it was all about the excitement of the event. The exact opposite was present as well. Some older family members who have had their fair share of Christmas' peel open a couple presents to reveal books and knick-knacks that they are sure are copies of something they already have. Oh well, tis' the season. It is always the thought that counts. Regardless of who got what and who liked what, it was great seeing family. One of the main reasons Kallie and I made the swap from San Diego to Elk Grove was for the family. And that is exactly what I got for Christmas.

-Josh

sick-sick-sickypants

Josh's charming little niece and nephew (aka Bearers of Death and Snot) coughed all over us at Christmas and now we're sick. But it was worth it because Claire throws a damn good tea party. i had brunch with Ashley yesterday and got to ride in her sparkly new car! We ate at LeBou which i decided i liked alot and we caught up on our life-happenings.

My only friend at work is a Christian girl named Jerusha and we have funny conversations about all the weirdos and Witches we work with. Seriously. We work with at least four practicing witches. They're nice though, for witches. Anyway, one coworker is a Yale-educated "Christian, Witch, and Buddhist" and tried to tell Jerusha that it's okay for Christians to drop acid because it allows them to experience God in the holy realm and not just in the earthly realm. Jerusha came and found me and we confirmed that 'nooo, drugs are BAD'. Those coworkers who are not witches are Lord of the Rings nerds and grown men who play Dungeons and Dragons. Jerusha put in her 2-week's notice yesterday so she's going to abandon me to the acidy depths of nerdy witchhood. Sad.

Please move to Elk Grove post-haste.

luv, kal

Early Christmas

We spent this weekend at Grandma Laverne's house (aka "Big Red") to embark in some early holiday festivities. This year's holiday treat was some well needed socks for me and Kallie. Of course the evening ended with the traditional competitive game of Phase 10. I'm afraid my team had nothing to be proud of this year.

Operational

Consider this blog operational. I would like to take the time to thank David Overholt and Macromedia's Dreamweaver for making this all possible.

damn the man!!

Last night one of my managers shut and locked a door in my face while i was talking to her. This morning i told the supervisor and she's gonna get in trouble. You don't shut doors on me. Be advised.

Second Blog

I hope this works.

My First Blog

My first blog.

Thanks Dave.