Mele Kalikimaka!

In my never-ending quest to investigate Climate Change™, I discovered (much to my wondering eyes) that Santa's Workshop at the North Pole was no more, due to the fact that the ice upon which it formerly stood had melted and the entire complex sank.
(Undoubtedly, to be claimed by Russia at some future date)

Not to worry though, Santa Claus is on top of things, if not the world any longer; he moved his entire operation to someplace that stays warm all year 'round:

But seriously, as I've said before:

"I like this picture because it portrays the (nativity) scene in a cave, which many believe to be accurate. In fact, the actual cave in question is located within the present-day Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.":


Actually, the silver star beneath the altar in the Grotto of the Nativity marks the spot believed to be the Birthplace of Jesus:


Luke 2:1-12 (KJV)

"And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger'."

Merry Christmas!!!

Update!

I'm not dreaming of a white Christmas; I got one:

Read any good books lately?

"Bedtime Story" by Jim Daly

I have been what one might term a voracious reader for quite some time now.

I'm always reading something, often (usually) more than one thing at a time...most days I read one of the many magazines to which I'm subscribed, in addition to my books.

In the "reading room" at home is an historical novel, based on actual events.

In my lunchbox, for reading at lunchtime (go figure!) and on break, I'm currently in the middle of a Dean Koontz novel. I've read a lot of his stuff; he's one of a select few authors that makes me have to look words up occasionally.

Anyway, on the subject of reading, there's a great website with over 20,000 free books.

It's called the Project Gutenberg Online Book Catalog.

I haven't read too much there (yet) but plan to.

Looks like hours (and hours!) of enjoyment.

Check it out...

Wanderlust...

wan·der·lust (noun): A very strong or irresistible impulse to travel.

This condition is definitely one with which I've been living for quite some time. But I have also acted upon it for a long time; for example, take my recent excursion to one of the "ends of the Earth" (Antarctica) to research the effects of Climate Change™:

(Just kidding; I took that at SeaWorld)

For Thanksgiving Week I went to Southern California, La Jolla to be precise. Across the street from where I stayed there was an apparently popular surfing spot:


This plaque was about two blocks to the East of the condo where I was staying:


Also, the historic San Luis Rey Mission was a few miles up the coast:


Here's part of the original structure:


I took quite a few more pictures on that trip, some of which I'll share in a future post.

Last weekend I went to visit a friend who is in the MBA program at Yale. After touring the campus, we both got a guided tour of Yale's Peabody Museum...from one of the members of its Board of Directors. I thought that was kind of nice; even though I serve on several Boards myself, none of them are quite so prestigious as that.


There's a really nice (award-winning, even) panoramic painting in the background of this photo, taken in the "Great Hall":


They just don't build like this anymore:


Next destination, Colorado...