Christmas is coming

 I have no big story to report but here are a few of the things that have been going on since my last post.  

Kathleen and I have been fishing and hunting a few times.  We really like the Delta but we are not good at fishing and the weather has been against us regarding water fowl.  On our last trip we caught one little striper, maybe 10 inches long, and set it free.  Then when we got back to the dock a sea lion swam up to us with a BIG striper, about 22 or 26 inches long, in its mouth.  It threw its head back and swallowed it.  Then it dove two more times and swallowed even bigger fish when it came up from each dive.  I really think it was taunting us.  It caught those three fish before we even got the boat out of the water.

As for waterfowl hunting, well, except for one canvasback that was on the water (legal but not sporting to shoot) all the birds have been flying too high to shoot.  We need blustery, overcast, and rainy weather for good duck and goose hunting.

We've launched onto the main channel at the City of Antioch's Marina but because of wind, boat traffic, and currents we prefer the Holland Riverside Marina.

Oh, Kathleen bought me an early Christmas present: A membership in the CWA and entrance into the hunt lotteries!

The Christmas tree up.  The wreath is above the door.  Kathleen, the boys and I have been reading one chapter of Luke's Gospel each day since the start of the month.  We've been doing the advent wreath services I compiled a few years ago.  All the present have been wrapped.  I have two turkeys (One for Christmas Dinner, one for 12th Night), three hens (for Poules du Provence on the 3rd Day of Christmas),  8 pounds of homemade Italian sausage and 7 pounds of homemade Greek sausage (for Christmas breakfast), a double crown roast of pork (also for Christmas dinner), and a big beautiful ham (For St. Basil's Day) in the freezer.  I still have to mail out Christmas cards and fruitcakes.  I found an address for my son Devon.   I haven't seen him or talked to him in 10 years.  I'll mail him one and see what happens.

I'm surprised I never mentioned it on this blog but a couple of years before the divorce I began buying Lemax Christmas village pieces for Anselm and Basil.  After the divorce I was too poor.  I started up again this year.  It has been fun giving them another one every few days during Advent.  I don't buy them new but I look for deals on eBay.  It's a lot of fun.

Something I did not do this Advent is read the Advent Storybook to my boys.  I'm a little bit sad about it but they are too old now, I think.  They are reading Luke now.  Oh well, if I ever have grand children I'll get to read it aloud again.

Did I tell you that my old boss at the Census Bureau asked me to apply for other position with the Bureau?  She emailed me a few weeks ago and asked me to submit my application before the opening was announced.  I have an interview scheduled tomorrow afternoon.  If they hire me it will be at 4 grades higher than I was at when I worked for them back in August, September and October.