Good Riddance

  If it hadn't been for humor, I'm not sure as many of us who survived 2020 would have made it.  Let's hope 2021 will bring less to laugh at and cry over.
 

More Walking

   Gail completed a cool Covid project: she walked the length of all streets in the city.  It took a little over a month, interrupted by a persistent cold for much of the time, and then chipped a bone in her elbow and dislocated a finger.  But still she persisted.  Perhaps to many the most remarkable aspect of this is she didn't use an app, she used an actual map!

Checking on Six Mile Creek

The day after Christmas, when the water levels had receded a little, I explored some of the areas of Six Mile Creek natural area.  Plenty of high water.

 

On the 27th I went up the other side of the creek for more investigations.  The water really scoured some of the banks, and the temps dropped to freeze much of the spray.

  I risked life and limb to get this picture for you.
 

The Snowman Melts

 

  Our first snowstorm of the year all washed away in one dramatic melt-off.  Accompanied by over an inch of rain, the warm up took almost all the snow here and out in the hills and rose the creeks to near-flood levels, but for the most part there weren't any serious issues with flooding.  

  On top: Six Mile Creek from the pedestrian bridge near our house, the island was underwater which doesn't happen too often.  One of Cascadilla Gorge, another of Cascadilla in the flats.  Bottom- Ithaca Falls at dawn.

Sugarfest or Joefest

   Our friend, Amy, always has a blowout extravaganza when she does her Christmas baking and this year was no different, except it wasn't a blowout, it was outside during the day, and everyone got a box of cookies to go.

  I met two Joes, but I don't think the sign had anything to do with any of us.

Walking

 

  We don't do this to humiliate Nina, we do it because we care.  Thankfully, she's not as bothered by the salt as Bean was so she only wears them for extreme conditions.

  A wonderful student at the high school (or on the high school internet this year), Seohyun, has the touch when it comes to color drawing.  She did a few pictures of Bean that I gave Gail for her birthday in June, and she came through again, this time for Gail's Christmas present. 

Snow Storm!

   Seems like snowstorms are over-forecasted and we get less snow than was hyped.  Then there are times like this one (called Gail by some of the internet) and what's expected is much less than what's delivered.  Great skiing for several days, breaking trail wasn't as bad for us here in town where we got a little more than a foot.  Glad I didn't have to break trail in Newark Valley where 44'' piled up, or even Caroline where it was a mere 24''.  Remarkably, it remained unchanged for four or five days before we got any wind or warm temperatures.

December 14

 

  Got a nice picture from a sibling of Janet and me that I'd never seen before.  Westfield, 121 Bliss St sometime.  I recognized Janet's birthday by hanging the ornaments she gave me, including a fine collection of skiers.  Skiing was imminent, a big storm predicted.

Around Town

 As always, getting around town a bunch, with and without Nina and Gail.  Hard to keep up with Gail as she works on walking every block of every street in the city limits.  Lots of new buildings going up, a replacement for the Chicona Building is taking shape, Collegetown Bagels has moved across the street.  A muddy trail at the wildflower preserve entrance got a gravel topping, Nina conquers the savage beast and it looks like some more of the dam above Ithaca Falls might go soon.

  On a whim I took the Cascadilla Gorge one morning on my way to work.  I was surprised it was still open this late in the season.  Sure enough, they closed it later that morning.

Around the House

 

  I finally got to one of those jobs, about 15 years after I first considered it.  The top step was about 6'' and the bottom one was over 12".  They're closer to the same and much less surprising to people going up or down for the first time.  The bonus is a better tool arrangement under the steps, and a storm shelter for climate change.

  Gail didn't wait 15 years to knit our New Orleans transplant a comfy sweater.  Nina has not indicated that it itches in the least.  She also hasn't indicated she's cold.

  Soon after the completion of the sweater, Gail put a hold on her knitting, cooking, swimming and dog walking.  A simple trip over a stick dislocated a finger, injured a shoulder and worst of all, chipped a bone in her elbow.  She had outpatient surgery for the elbow, the finger is taped up for a month or so, and I'm rediscovering my cooking skill.  But in all honesty, they don't match Gail's when she's got one hand taped up and the other arm in a sling.

A Nice Walk

   Some graduates, and one current student, wanted to take a sunrise walk.  Gail and I were happy to sleep in so we took them to one of our favorite spots where they were relieved to hear me pontificate on something relevant instead of all that crap they had to learn in high school.

A New Look

   Xiao got new glasses.  And green hair.

All the Way from France

 A bright spot amidst the current education situation is Salome, a student with us for a year.  When a kid is this wonderful I hope to get to meet the parents too, and Gail and I made that happen by having them over for a post-Thanksgiving dinner around the fire on the patio.  Gail was nervous about cooking for a reputed excellent French chef, but we all knew how that would go over.  Mmmm.  Hope to get to sample Monique's cooking while they are here too.

From the Wayback Machine

 

  The search continues for a picture of the Kingan partners with spouses.  Brian came close when he found pics from the Hawaii trip they took in 1980.  How many balconies did Don and Bill have drinks on?  And why is my mom holding all the bags?  I know one of them contained the first fresh pineapple I'd ever eaten.

  Sue shared some classic Christmas photos from Bliss St.  It's rumored I'm the baby trying to get into the fireplace.