I'll be home for Christmas...

I don't know if I can consider Tucson "home" since I've never lived here, but as they say, "home is where the heart is" and my heart is happy to be with my family for the holidays. Keith and I arrived in Tucson on Sunday and my Grandpa Irv was already in town. On Monday we went to the Catalina Room where they have a piano and sang Christmas Carols. On Christmas Eve we went to visit Tom and Kathy for what has become our traditional dinner of clam chowder and corn bread. It was especially delightful this year to visit with our childhood friends, Sean and Leslie, who were also in town visiting their mother. Sean was visiting with his wife Kathy, and their children Tyler and Sydney, and Leslie was visiting with her husband Richard, and their daughter Sophie. After dinner we went to Christmas Eve service at my parent's church.

Christmas morning began with the customary opening of our stockings and presents, proving once again that I have been more nice than naughty in 2007. I got a beautiful cream colored knit sweater and new trekking poles (can't wait to hit the trails in the spring!) among other things. Then we had mom's famous egg dish for breakfast and played with our new toys they rest of they day. Christmas dinner was a delicious standing rib roast with red wine gravy. Yum Yum!

On Boxing Day we spent minimal time shopping. Instead, the highlight of the day was seeing the new show at the Gaslight Theatre. Every year the Gaslight Theatre puts on a Christmas musical review that and this year's production was a hit once again (good thing mom got us tickets back in July, before they sold out!). The show is goofy, but they actors and musicians are very talented and we all (Grandpa included) enjoyed ourselves.

So far, this holiday has been great, but it is the time spent with family that is the greatest gift of all (that, and all the Christmas Cookies). I don't know what I have done to deserve such abundant blessings of love and family. Thank you all.

Out with the old, in with the new!

Christmas came early for Margaret this year! Of course this "gift" to myself comes with car payments for the next 60 months.



Yesterday I bought a 2006 Honda Civic EX. I've been shopping for this make and model for weeks; scanning the Internet, Craiglist, going to dealers and checking out private party sales. I even made an offer on one at the Honda dealer last week, but I'm a tightwad and my offer was rejected. Well, I found one at a local Chevy dealer and the price was right. They've been advertising it for at least 3 weeks at a very competitive price (like I said, I've been tracking these things for a while), but then yesterday, they dropped the price even lower. Bingo! Priced $2000 less than any comparable I've seen.



The salesman told us that at the listed price the dealership was only making $81 on the deal. That almost made me feel guilty when I pulled out the coupon I had printed from their website that offered "$100 off any used car for Microsoft employees." As you know, I don't work for Microsoft, but my brother works at Microsoft (close enough) and he was with me. Much to my surprise, they agreed to honor the coupon. The only bump in the road was my trade-in 1991 Accord with 270K miles. They would only offer me $100 for my car, which I rejected. Bah Hum-bug.


When all was said and done, the price I paid was below what KBB and NADA list as the trade-in value for the car. My tight-wadyness paid off. I may be one of the few people on the planet who's car appreciated the second I drove it off the lot.


When I got home, I posted an add on Craiglist to sell my old car and by noon today, my car was sold for $1500.

So far, so good. I have high expectations for this car since my Accord was such a good car. In the 10 years I owned the Accord, I put on almost 200K miles, had very few mechanical problems, and no major accidents (I have been rear-ended twice). I can only hope to have as much good luck with the new car. I woud consider that the best Christmas gift.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

This morning I woke up to the first snow of the season. With my Christmas tree trimmed, it's really starting to feel like Christmas. They say a Pineapple Express is heading our way, so all the snow will be gone by the time I head for work on Monday. Until then, I'm going to sit inside, drink hot cocoa, shop for gifts online, write my Christmas cards, and get in the spirit of the holidays.