New Year's Eve

The first official dinner guests at my place.  Huge amounts of fondue, several bottles of wine, some fireworks, fantastic company -- just a great end to 2010.  

Spare Change

There was a special promotion going on at the Coinstar machine that ended on the 31st, so it was officially time to get all my change together.  (I love the things that make my to-do list during breaks from school).

Fellini's

Brennan in Atlanta means Fellini's for dinner.

Finally

After a great trip to CO, I had to get up for a 6 AM flight, then go to work for the afternoon shift.  But as soon as we closed things started looking up.

Long Way Home

It's amazing that it only takes 5 minutes more to drive past this on the way to my parents' house.

The Best of CO

At the Broncos game with the family to see Tim Tebow's first NFL win, and then out with Palmer friends for a less-than-traditional 26th.

New Toys

When you get older you get Christmas gifts that are interesting and useful.  But when you're little the presents are a bit more amazing.

Christmas Eve Traditions

First, Dad and I headed over to help w/ NORAD Tracks Santa ...

Then everyone got dressed up and went to Carlo's for dinner.

Christmas #1

We celebrated Christmas w/ Shawn today before he left town.  It wasn't a white Christmas, but at least there was frost on the trees this morning.

Tree Trimming

Time to really get ready for Christmas!

Shopping Assistant

It's not last-minute shopping if you don't even have to use overnight shipping.

Pops' Birthday

Fortunately Pops didn't have to work too hard to get his presents open thanks to his helper.

Checking things off

So having a good picture to show the parents over Christmas wasn't the most important thing I needed to get done today, but it was the most fun -- so, therefore, that's what got done.

Monster BBQ

Pulled pork sandwiches, homemade mac 'n' cheese, and pickles for the vegetable ... it was much better than it looks in this picture.  I was pretty impressed.

Brass tacks

7 shopping days till Christmas.  Probably need to start making some progress.

Stress is Stress

Whether it's a hard workout, lack of sleep, or an acute case of holiday spirit brought on by crowds, etc. nothing helps like a good pair of compression socks.

Undefeated

Just when you think life couldn't be going any better -- admissions throws you a bone and lets every one of your ED kids in.  And since it's the 15th, it's official now.

Counselor Simmons

Thanks to the wisdom of Scott Simmons and more than a couple Shiner Bocks, we had distance running pretty figured out by the end of the night.  Turns out my favorite part of the coaching convention is spending time around people that make me feel good about coaching.

Jim in his element

I can't explain the joy I felt when I found Jim in a gas station parking lot w/ four cases of Bud Light.  Sometimes things in life just feel right.

Manly Work

Took a bowl-making class at Highland Woodworking today.  The finished product actually looks pretty finished.  Those guys know what they're doing!

National Record Delivery Day

I was on a plane back from CO over Thanksgiving when this little guy went on sale at independent record stores -- fortunately, thanks to Backstreets I didn't have to go on a wild goose chase when I got home.

Xmas Spirit

Time to get in the holiday spirit -- Christmas music (thanks, Boss) and sugar cookies.  We may not be Paula Dean, but I think my hands still smell like butter.

Twain Tracksters

The track staff's annual Christmas trip to Twain's for shuffleboard.  Given the company I'm sure it's no surprise there was a lot of "coaching up" during the games.

Season of Giving

Becky & Shawn up the ante with an awesome Christmas present idea -- a gift certificate to Kiva.org.  If you haven't heard of it, check it out, it's pretty great.  And Oprah approves, so can argue?

Late Night

But worth it.

Ties

Some how I pulled off my second tie of the season in fantasy football -- clearly my guys need to learn how to finish before the playoffs start.

Botanical Gardens

Slightly embarrassed to say that I had never been before, but the Atlanta Botanical Garden is awesome.  It was cold enough to keep most people away, but pretty enough out to make it a good trip -- even if some stuff was pretty dead.

The Modern Athlete

Cell phone in one hand, iPod in the other ... it's amazing anyone was able to race well before this decade.

Time Trials

Rob made a guest appearance today to show the young guys how it's done at the annual Pre-Winter Break Time Trials.

A Great Finish

All's well that ends well; so today ended up pretty great even with everything that happened.

"Fantasy" Football

Since the real world of football isn't great this year, might as well read a book that somehow involves wizards and football.