Just as I finished my ham...

... my phone rang! My cell phone, which, I should mention, is never upon my body when I am in my home (do all of you walk around with your cell phone in your pocket when you are at home?), rang and I went and found it and who do you suppose was calling? Eleanor!
Yes, dear friends, Eleanor was "ringing me up" to discuss our plans to meet.
Steps away from my office, Eleanor and her family are planning their month-long visit. That she is brave (or influential) enough to travel with two teenagers is impressive to me as I am forever making compromises/bargains/bribes to get my boys to agree to accompany me to the supermarket no less to the other side of the earth. But they are here and I'm pleased to report that Eleanor is working hard to make plans to entertain these Australian teens and that I'm going to sit with the bird boys today and see if they will make some further suggestions as to how to entertain visitors in our fair city.
Eleanor reported that they had just returned from cupcaking (my term, which I will copyright) and that the gents had made plans to see a hockey game.
I spoke to K and he agreed (though we would have to excavate the boys rooms as they are completely buried in laundry and other flotsam) that I should offer an afternoon outside the city limits. Perhaps the Commentboxes would appreciate a change of scenery? (Eleanor, dear, think about it...might B like to shoot alien space invaders on the PS3? Perhaps just one or two of you would like to visit? Chili for dinner? No pressure though - you might be "busy.")

And now, whilst Eleanor ponders (ridiculous of me to offer "no pressure" isn't it? I mean, the entire internet is waiting NOW), I offer a smattering of holiday photos...



The ever-adorable, rapidly growing, fellow who is Youngest, who received a cellphone so complicated that (as seen in this photo) he uses it to reposition a satellite just beyond Mars. There is no question that Youngest's cellphone is on his body at every waking (and perhaps sleeping) moment.



I gave K a new pair of boots which, if such a thing can be said, are so attractive to me that I cannot stop staring at his beautifully shod feet. And they are waterproof.



The Mug Boss. Google it as it is difficult to explain. Suffice to say that Middle asked for virtually nothing in this season of giving and was thrilled to receive not one but two sets of small clips that manage wires on ones desk.

I do not have a picture (and wish I did) of Oldest and his dearest friend Z sitting on my couch on Christmas morning enjoying a book of extraordinary tree houses that I brought him from work. Though in their twenties they suddenly seemed 8 or 9 years old.



I cannot encourage the purchase of one of these more heartily. Part of the purchase is a donation to the most wonderful educational cause, but the rest of the purchase is pure fun. The Air Cannon/AirZooka is a fabulously funny weapon that gently punches victims with a puff of, um, well, AIR.



Please ignore K's shirts awaiting the iron and the antique television and dark lighting and observe two young men in Air Battle (which is/was just too damn funny).
Alas, they were each given as gifts (the guns, not the boys) and live, now, only as good memories.



It's all down hill now...we are making plans for movies and visits and, tonight, the theater with the Mums.



We'll have some Croque Monsieurs first, though. As you can see, I'm putting on weight.