Updated
December 2, 2001
All the Thanksgiving
leftovers are long since gone -- with just a little bit of turkey
making it into the freezer for later . . .
Now it's officially
the HolidaySeason -- We just had Katie's company party last night
at Tony's -- which has become a running tradition for them. This year
seemed somehow a little nicer, a little better, though. The food was
fantastic as usual -- I got the wild boar chop with a lobster bisque
to start. Everyone had a good time, and Katie and I enjoied the company
of, well, her company!
My company Christmas
party is this coming Friday at a place over on Montrose called Tony
Rupee's -- We've not been there yet, so I'm looking forward to seeing
the place and finding out how the food is.
Anyway, I'm starting
out on a new project here in Houston for a company called NiSource
-- working on getting them a new risk management system and integrating
all their operations, real-time stuff, etc. Looks like a lot of work
-- but good stuff. There's two of us that are developing an assessment
this month to determine what will be needed, then at the first of
the year, we'll start plugging away at the plan we develop.
I'm going to
have to burn a bit of vacation in the coming weeks -- I've got a ton
-- so I'm pretty much going to be off starting after the next week
or so. I'm sure I'll still be working from home, though . . . Heck,
mostly it's fun anyway.
[Just had a coughing
fit here -- hocked up a nice glob of phlegm . . . Dr. says it's bronchitis
(medical speak for bad cough they don't know the cause of). I should
be well in a week or so. Sinus headaches, too -- Oh, well . . .]
Wish List
So, now that
the periodic update is done, I probably need to get straight to the
Holiday Wish List for the family. I'm not looking for anyone to go
overboard, here -- just trying to put out a little list of ideas,
just in case you get stumped:
Katie:
Last year she was still full-up with Porter in the belly, so she mainly
did gift certificates. This year, though, she's back to her normal
sleek self -- pretty much a size 6, size 4 in some jeans, wearing
a small or medium top, depending on how it's cut. Shoes are still
a size 7 for everyday shoes and 8 for atheletic ones. This year she's
had her eyes on some tapered waist shirts from Anne Taylor, jeans
from Eddie Bauer and things like that. I know she may need a nice
pants suit for work, too. As usual, she needs her yearly new pair
of running shoes. She also could use some other casual shoes -- slides,
mules, whatever -- plus some trouser socks.
Jackson:
Well, what can I say, he's a toddler -- he likes all age-appropriate
toys, plus anything either Porter or I am playing with (including
my Palm, computer, etc.) He likes all kinds of books and is really
enjoing coloring, etc. The blocks I got him last year for Christmas
are finally being used and he's pretty good at building with them.
Legos are now an option -- he understands how to make things from
smaller parts. As for clothes, he's a size 2T and wears a size 7 (wide,
of course, just like the rest of the Lees). Videos are also a good
bet.
Porter:
He's going to be 11 months old when Christmas rolls around, and he's
quite active. Having Jackson around to serve as a roll-model ensures
that Porter's getting into something new every day. He likes basically
all age-appropriate toys, and is working on trying to walk. Most of
the things he'll play with in the next 6 months are things that he'll
find on the floor or around the house -- at this point, even my shoes
are fair game as discovery toys. He wears a 12 month size in most
everything right now, and really won't need shoes for a little while,
I'd say. As for styles, well, he's like Jackson and I -- t-shirts
and shorts and jeans. Pretty simple stuff found at Old Navy, the Gap,
etc. For Porter, all I can say is: be creative -- he'll like anything!
One thing the
boys really could use (together) and for the family, is a nice Radio
Flyer wagon. We found a super-nice one that we like and would get
lots of use out of back and forth to the park, zoo, etc. You
can see it here.
Me: Well,
again, what can I say . . . I am one of those big boys who want lots
of big-boy toys. Generally, they're the type of things big boys have
to give themselves, though, if you know what I mean. I don't really
think a home theater is really the type of thing that realistically
goes on these lists at my age!
Anyway, I really
just want Katie and my boys to have a good holiday. They really should
be the focus: Katie never really splurges on herself, so it makes
sense to do something extra for her during the holidays. And the kids,
well that's what makes Christmas extra special -- seeing them experience
it all fresh and new. Make it good for them, and it will be good for
me --
And just so I
know how things work in the real world, though, here's the basics:
I'm a size 38/30 pants; XL button-up shirt; XXL in pullover shirts
(including t-shirts); 8 shoe; and I never have enough aloha shirts.
Music is the same as I've always enjoied -- and the general Amazon.com
wishlist can be found here. (Ignore the DVDs for now -- I'm planning
on getting that home theater system sometime, and I'm using the wish
list as a place to remind myself of the DVDs I want to start my collection
when I get around to it . . .) Then there's also these shoes
I've been trying to find. (tan).
That's really
about it -- And I really mean it about focusing on Katie and the boys
-- that's where all the fun is in my mind. Truthfully, I'll be pretty
busy with the cameras during the holidays taking video and photos
of them!
So, now it' back
to the planning, decorating, holiday music listening and menu planning
. . . and a little bit of work before the winter break!
