Currently unwinding in a Las Vegas suite, a couple blocks from the strip, courtesy of Spinner’s side gig. Diego and I are watching the leaves blow around and cursing electronics with inadequate battery lives while Spinner does his thing. Enjoyed walking the strip today, and resting up for a busy Friday. Would’ve liked some pool time, but Diego’s doing his separation anxiety routine really well and my arm’s still in a brace and incapable of actually swimming.

Some attorney scheduled an emergency hearing for tomorrow that I’ll have to handle by phone, then we have lunch with some old friends of mine, and we’ll cap off the Vegas leg of the trip with a showing of La Reve in the evening. Been looking forward to that last one for weeks, and I’ll need the release after dealing with the so-called emergency in the morning. If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it too many times: Failure to plan (or show up at regularly scheduled hearings) does not contitute an emergency on my part. pffft.

We spent Friday night at a local restaurant that we thought was new.  Neither of us had ever heard of Stone Brewery’s World Bistro & Gardens until it started popping up as a recommendation on the Urbanspoon app on my iPod.  The waitress said they’ve been open two years, and Spinner’s lived in Escondido for five, which just shows that despite lousy marketing you can still have an amazing restaurant.  

Good drinkies, of course, but also very good food.  The Mac & Cheese was delicious, and Spinner raved about the pork roast.  Best though was the venue.  Tough to find and literally in an industrial park, but they’ve built a wall and set up an enclosed garden for their guests that completely blocks out the Escondidoness.  Foot bridges and a pond with fake frogs and some adirondacks so you can relax a bit before or after the meal. Totally unexpected.

Zip forward to Sunday, when we brought home our newest shiney, a new Wii.  I know we’re late adopters, and we certainly can’t use the excuse that it’s for the kids, but OMG it’s so much fun.  Nothing like a little tennis in the morning before work without ever being more than a step away from the coffee.  Diego seems to think we’ve gone insane, but he learned pretty quick to get out of the way, and hasn’t stolen the controllers (yet).  Lots to explore there.  Nice to have some new in the life.

Nothing like being charged by a stray while on the morning walk with Diego to get the adrenaline going.  Who needs coffee when you’ve got slacker neighbors?  Who-rah!

Diego’s eating his normal dog food for the first time in a week.  I guess the fact that he isn’t expecting more ham, or roast beef, or quiche, or bacon, or some other buttery/greasy food to ‘accidentally’ fall in front of him shows his acceptance of a return to the status quo.

It was a great holiday season, incredibly busy this year, but I’m happy things have slowed back down.  I’ve got things I need to get done, and really need to take a look at the practice and make some changes for an economy that looks bleaker and bleaker by the day.  Too many projects became involuntary pro bono this year.  Sorry folks, but I decide where I volunteer my time, not you.

At least it will be a short work week as I ease back into some kind of a pattern.  Spinner goes back to work on the fifth, so I won’t get much done until then, except maybe a little mental health roadtrip.  And, weather permitting, our local little

The ghost of Christmas Present has me in my comfy robe blogging while the husband makes himself more presentable.  The ghost of  Christmas Future has us going out to fawn over decorations and finish up the shopping.  The ghost of Christmas Past has me feeling like an unrepentent glutton about to burst at the seams.  And now Tiny Diego’s going to find a big bag of treats in his stocking Thursday morning.

 This is my submission to a project of Chad Darnell, 12 of 12.  Twelve photographs from my life from the twelfth day of the month.  This is my second submission, having done this once before in July 2006.

It was a pretty boring day, except for a Christmas party with some of Randy’s coworkers. Didn’t take my camera in for that though, so you’re left with the drives before and after.

Glad I remembered to participate this month because it let me two kill birds with one stone, so to speak, and finally get some photos of some of the decorations people have been asking about,

Some ideas look good in the planning stage but utterly fail when the essential personalities become involved. Similarly, some things look good in the store, then never get worn again in the real world.

Cutting to the chase, puppies are puppies and reindeer are reindeer. We’ve learned our lesson and promise to never try this again.

Win or draw next Tuesday (no loss because I still get to spend the rest of my life with the man I love), we’re planning a short roadtrip for the following weekend. A couple of days with Diego running in the sand and Chuck field testing the new wetsuit should do wonders for morale. This has been one of those elections where you learn who your real friends are, and who just nods and smiles. I’ll be glad to put it behind me. That also means I’m near the end of my run with KPBS too. Been fun, and a learning experience writing for a much broader audience, but I’m ready to put some of that time and energy back into Howling Point and Beachlaw. There’s a dog here that needs to be idolized.

Saturday’s just being kinda bleh. Even the zoo was completely boring except for a car fire in the parking lot. Spinner’s off being judgmental, and Diego’s finally tired with the puppy toys and is pushing my water polo ball around the room like the big dog he thinks he is. Maybe I should get him one of the hats for Halloween. He’s got the attitude to pull it off. Got some site maintenance to do, and some Netflix to watch, but having trouble getting motivated enough to get off the couch to do either. Wireless: a curse and a godsend.

I’ve been doing more yoga lately, both to stretch out various tight spots and do help detach from the annoying Business of Law issues that seem to be coming with the new economy. When I do it at home, with guidance from the dulcet voice on the DVD, Diego normally just sleeps right through it. Today was different. He seemed to be challenging me on every posture. Trying to outstretch me on downward-facing dog. Testing my balance on tree pose by curling up on the one grounded foot. Then, while laying down in the final relaxation pose he starts licking my face, then does his quick little check to see if maybe, finally, he’s loosened my nose to the point where it will come off. A quick snap back to reality and thirty minutes of zen abruptly ends with a nip from the big dog wannabe. Such is life.