As Far as Resolutions Go...

Happy New Year.
~MET

Gosh Darn It!!

So, I won't be going to the great white north this weekend. Too much snow (2-3 feet) in the forecast, damn it. I REALLY wanted to fish. I may try to get on the ice Friday around here if there is ice. If not look for posts on weekends later this winter.

~MET

This is What Burt Looked Like When He Came Home From the Doctor:

Poor little guy. He HATED the bandage, and would not leave it alone. So we took it off two days early, and he's been fine. He had a mole removed from his cheek, and a growth taken from his eyelid:

They actually took a pretty good sized piece of the eyelid. We felt ok taking the collar and bandage off because someone will always be with him through the weekend. He's a good dog and has left it alone.

I think it will only be a few days before he will be back to normal.

~MET

Post Christmas Card Game

The day after Christmas can only mean one thing: Tut's "Old Hell" card game. We had lots of fun - even though its always quite competitive:

Chris was the big winner this year. There is also a gift exchange where everyone brings a hand-crafted item and each person picks one blindly.

And what would a Thurston get-together be without too much food:

After we ate Chris and Grant tried to get a "menthos-soda" fountain thingy to amaze us. It didn't.

When M-S and I got home we found that Burt had thrown wrapping paper everywhere.

Even the dog had a lot of fun today.

~MET

Christmas Images

Lots of words are unnecessary in this post - we had a fantastic day:

~MET

Let the Holidays Begin!

I am FINALLY on Christmas break - although we ushered it in last night at the Liberal Cup. Pictured above is our trivia team. We didn't win, but we had fun trying. Lots of good food, good conversation, and very good beer:

We enjoyed trying all they had on tap with the Liberal Cup "paddle." My favorite this time was their porter. Its fantastic having so much family around. For the next several days I'll be eating well - laughing often - and enjoying the company of loved ones. I wish the same for you.

~MET

Holidays Events

Here's a look at my upcoming holiday season:

• I do have to WORK through Wednesday...yuk
• Getting Suz and Grant from the airport today - I think Sarah will be joining me
• On Thursday M-S and I will spend the day preparing - wrapping - getting food ready
• I'm sure we'll have visitors and do some visiting on Christmas Eve
  
• We'll also work in many walks with Burt during vacation
  
• Christmas morning will start with a long walk, then a delicious brunch
• The kids will arrive at mid-day for our tree
• We'll all go to Mammie & Tut's for the gift exchange with my family
• Delicious pot-luck dinner also - we're bringing seafood chowder
• The next day is Tut's "Ole Hell" card game and gift exchange
• New Year's Eve we'll do what we usually do...go to bed at 9pm.
• The last two days of vacation I'll be fishing in Houlton
• "Its the most wonderful time of the year"

~MET

Ouch

I have an appointment with my doctor on Monday, because my right knee has been bothering me for about a month. I hate getting old. I was using an elliptical machine at a gym and it started hurting. Its become increasingly worse since then...especially at night. I think I may have torn my meniscus. That may mean surgery, but whatever. The holiday season makes all of this much easier. Happy Holidays!
~MET

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUZ!

Hope your day is awesome. See you in a few days.
Love,
~MET

Who's Up for Trivia?

Lets get a team(s) together for next Tuesday's trivia night at the Liberal Cup. Jim, Suz, and Grant will be here - who else is ready? We'll want to get there early, as the place will be mobbed with everyone home for the holidays. It would be a fun way to kick off the Christmas festivities.
~MET

The Tree is Up...Waiting for Presents

I love this time of year.
~MET

A Part of Maine Ice-Fishing History

As if I needed any more reason to look forward to ice fishing soon, my dad and I went to his hometown (North Monmouth) to the Jack Traps factory and store for their open house. It was great for several reasons. Number one - the Thurston family traps:
My grandfather bought my father a set of traps around 60 years ago for one dollar each. They were hand-crafted by one of my grandfather's friends named Bill Dignard. They still work wonderfully well, and I've never used anything else. I have fifteen of the antique traps today. There was a collector of Maine ice-fishing gear there today who wants to buy one of them. I'm pretty sure I can't part with even one...too much history, and they are better than anything I saw today - old or new. Another reason today was fun: Jack Traps makes awesome equipment:

And it was a blast just looking at all of it. Pete Bolduc, another teacher from Winslow, and his sons joined us to take it all in:

I think dad had the best time. He met up with some old friends and saw a "Bill Dignard" trap that was older than ours:

He seemed to have a great time talking to the guy about his collection:

There were dozens of different designs from all kinds of eras. I was going to buy one of the new Jack Traps...but it felt like I would be cheating on ours if I actually put one in the water. Today was a lot of fun - can't wait to step on the ice.

~MET

A Little Holiday Fun - Enjoy

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Another Positive Mom Update

My amazing mother continues to defy the odds!! Her mesothelioma tumor - which she has named Tobey by the way - refuses to grow. Her latest tests provide more wonderful news: my Mom is sick, but refuses to get sicker. I can't imagine a better Christmas present. Keep fighting, Ma - I love you.
~MET

The First Snow Day Approacheth

A big storm is on the way - but the timing is making it touch and go. Could be a half-day tomorrow...or if they are cautious, could be the whole day. Thursday is also in play. I've gone to school every September as a student or teacher since 1968 and I still get excited for snow days!
~MET

I Love Christmas Shopping...

...with good friends. Fab and I shopped a bit for our wives, and we seemed to find time to stop by any and all bars that were within reach.
I got some great stuff for M-S...and had a chance to chill and talk with Fab.

We also made friends with some "older" folks who ventured to Augusta to shop. They were a hoot:

And seemed to enjoy talking to us:

I got to see Rocco when we were done. What a cutie:

Ok - these might be the two most handsome men in America today:

Kids love me. Today was fun and productive.

~MET