Christmas Break So Far...

...has been great!

We arrived at the in-law's with no problem. My sister-in-law also has some friends over from Japan that have been really fun. I have learned a lot of Japanese so far and I guess I have good pronunciation. Who knew?

Yesterday we went to see a hockey game: the Sacramento Kings vs. the Stockton Vikings. The Vikings one. Here are some highlights from the game:

Thunder vs. Kings from fergie on Vimeo.

Today Kyle, our new friends from Japan, Kyle's dad, and I went to Yosemite. It was really snowy. I guess I really like the snow when it is not mine.

Here are some pictures from the last few days:



Click here to look at the pictures individually.

Tomorrow we are going to San Francisco and then whale watching on a boat in Monterrey. I am scared of whale watching, but I guess I have to do it at least once in my life.

Finally...VIDEO

I finally found a great site that uploads videos in a decent amount of time...like before I die, before Christmas, or before an avestruz raro crosses my way.

As promised, here are the videos. Bear with me though; these are the FIRST videos I have ever made

The first video is of Saturday night:

Snow Dec 20 2008 from fergie on Vimeo.

The second is of Monday:

Snow Dec 22 2008 from fergie on Vimeo.

Did I Mention It Snowed?

Just when I thought things were going to thaw-out, more snow gets dumped upon us. We got about 15 inches of it, too. That is the most I have ever had at any of the houses I've lived at (from what I can remember).

Some unflattering pictures of me standing in the snow. Now it reaches the top of my boots.
For some perspective-help, I am 6-feet-tall.

Our cars

View from the middle of the road to a major highway

View from the middle of the road into my neighborhood

About a foot and a half of snow on top of the mailboxes

View from inside the house looking out the front door

I made some videos that are taking FOREVER to upload. I'll post them when they are ready.

Even More Snow!

It keeps snowing out here! Everything has been canceled or is closed. Church was even canceled today... no arguments with that decision.

Now a weather report from Superman:



Here are some pictures that were taken yesterday evening and today.

Kyle's truck

We got about 10 inches of snow when all was said and done.

We helped our neighbors across the way...

...by putting snow 1/3 of the way up their door

Today it was 51-degrees INSIDE my house where we did not have a heater on overnight.

We got some freezing rain and sleet overnight.
All the snow that fell yesterday had a sheet of ice on top of it by midnight.

My neighbors' cars.

Me looking cool.

Cold weather makes my hair stick up.

The doppler shows rain over the coast, which will come to us as either freezing rain or snow. When we got some precipitation this afternoon, it can in the form of huge snow flakes.

This is the 10-day forecast. Looks cold, but warmer than now.

All the flights out of PDX have been canceled. Those who were supposed to fly out today have been told to plan to fly out on the 25th!

Snow= A Lot of Free Time

Free time lets me play with pictures.

I used Face of the Future for these pics:










A portrait of me by Mucha.


















A portrait of me by Botticelli.


















A portrait of me by Modigliani.



















"East Asian"


















"West Asian"


















"Afro Caribbean"



















Old

















If I was a man











I used Face in Hole for the following:









Kyle as Dr. House


















Me as Audrey Hepburn














My sister (left), mom (middle), and me (right) as mermaids.

Make a Cool, Easy Ornament

I found this cool ornament while surfing around online. You use origami techniques to make Kusadama flowers.











When you put a lot of the flowers together, it turns into this sweet ornament you can put on a tree or to adorn a gift.

Instructions for making the ornament.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

Oregonians wishing for snow were not disappointed today because the flakes are coming down.

The batteries in my digital camera a dead and I am too lazy to replace them and too lazy to draw a decent picture. Instead, I made a picture on Paint of how my backyard looks. Well, there really isn't a snowman out there, but I am future-casting with that.

I woke up this morning at 9:30 am and saw the flakes just blanketing the ground. Wooo! The local school district will not be opening their schools tomorrow, so that may mean I get a snow day too.

We're going to get the oven going to warm up the house. First, we are going to make a lasagna. Afterward, cookies and hot chocolate! I just need to find a recipe that looks good.

The BIG Question...

Where is my bailout plan?

Check these out

Time for some more crazy scooter pictures!




Snow Scooter


















For really long trips.














Sweet vintage pic.

















Does this really count as a scooter? I call it a 3-wheeled car.