Tonight was our annual dads Christmas night out. We began getting together in the early 90’s.. and have gotten together at least once a year  since. We’ve been through so much together.. We used to get together downtown at daily planet , eat, drink  and pretend to shop.. we eventually dropped the pretense of shopping.. recently we’ve been going to the public house in Hinesburgh. Tonight it was a small group.. Jake.. our fearless organizer, dave 1, Dave 2 , Jim , and I .. We had fun talking about old times.. and old friends who had been with us on an off through the years

Trying to remember all the folks who have been with us over the years : Jake, Dennis, Dave  Y, Dave E, ill, R, Bill S, Walter, George, Lou, Joe, Steve, Bill H, Dave B, Marshall, Jim, Todd.. who else ? 

 tonight we talked about  family.  kids,wives, dogs, retirement, artificial intelligence, trump, vermont.. .. all the good stuff.. or most of it good anyway. 

Great to have this group to check in with..

nite all, nite sam

-me

 

 

It’s the 6th night of Chanukah.. and my first day at home in a week or so..   we took today slowly.. we went to the Richmond Library Christmas fare to see freinds.. Jen’s pottery was so beautiful !

 

it was pretty classic richmond.. All our old friends were there with traditional vermont hippy food.. Chickpea brownies were actually really good !

 

here’s the view from the balcony.. 

 

hey.. I see diane down there !

 

 

we took advantage of the weekend night to organize a spontaneous chanukah party . basically an excuse to eat Latkes (potatoes, eggs. onious, flour .. and tons of oil !) 

 

diane went into Latkes ke production. 

 

I was responsible for the condiments.. traditionally it’s just sour cream and apple sauce.. but in our house we add mustard, kim chi, peanut sauce, chipotle chalula, pace hotsauce, sirracha, may, enchilada sauce. Caesar dressing sauerkraut..    I tried them all !

 

avery did the honors for lighting the 7 candles.. 

 

then it was time to eat !

 

so many sauces.. so little plate !

 

the christmas tree added ato the multicultural vibe 

 

 

 

always thinking of sam at these gatherings

we took advantage of all the help to finish decorating our tree.. As we usually do.. we made a red bull tree.. We used all the red bull cans that Sam had collevcted and cutsome up into garlands, and tied strings around the others.. Sam really , really. really loved red-bull

it was fun getting everyones help putting all the stuff on the tree

 

 

out came a card game called GUBS.. with increddibly difficult rules.. I opted out in order to do the dzillion greasy dishes.. 

the house smells warm and wonderfull..

 

I cant keep my eyes open any more

 

happy chanukah everyone

 

nite all, nite sam

-me

 

Sitting at home in front of thefire with our dogs.. grateful to be home.

Day started before daen in Munioch.. after only about 3 hours sleep..our building was beautiful in the dark

 

got my early morening plane and worked the entire 9 hours on trying to get through my email backlog.. looked up long enough to recognize my average location of ‘somewhere south of iceland’.. last trip of hte year I hope.. it will eb nice ot be off of planes for a couple of weeks,. 

 

 

was nice ot bve back in the usa for the rest of the year,.. so nice.. I took a picture of my first step back on the continent 

 

 

flight from newark back to BYV was beutiful.. including these views of the andorondacks. 

 

 

 

gabe was heare when I got home.. got to light night 5 of the menorah.. ,.  hadn’t been able ot mark chanukah yet\

 

 

 

DIane had shared these pictures of Finn lighting the candles last night.. too cute !!

 

 

 

aroud 6 diane and I leftf or the ibm party.. after a quick suhi dinner we made it to champlain college for the ibm party..

 

it was so great seeing so many old frineds.. so mcuh catching up. lots of talks of retirements,. !.  it was really fun .. 

 

w

 

ok. jet lag creeping in,.. gotta s,eep.

more tomorrow !

nite all. nite sam

-me

 

super busy day .. started in Herzogenaurach with less than 4 hours of sleep. Strill had a very productuve day..

Diane told me I’m missing some early season cold..  (Cenrigrade freinds.. thats about -20 C) .. not all that cold.. but early just the same

 

 

doiane even made ice xcream out of the very cold snow. 

 

my meetings todsaywre very good. hilight was hanging out with friends like Joern who gave me a ride all the way back to Munich !

 

got back to muncih in time to meet markus for a night of chrstomas venues. 

 

went dontown wiht markus to see the people and the sights.. like this minuture duinner party 

]

 

we grabbed soem curreyand ate outside.. the chilis kept us warm wenoguh

 

now after 2 am.. gotta sleep..

more from the plane tomorrow

nite all, nite sam

-me