Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a nice New Year celebration. I know I did. Brett and I went to see John Heffron, winner of the NBC reality series Last Comic Standing, at the Houston Improv. Then we trekked downtown for a little mini-tour of the bars and pubs, including La Carafe (oldest bar in Houston), in-and-out at Warren's Inn (another bar), midnight Champagne toast at Flying Saucer, and back to La Carafe to sit on the balcony and people-watch with a strange forty-something couple who made references to "being high." It was great, but I think next year I'll opt for the all-inclusive hotel stay option, which seems to be the best way to do New Year's Eve right.

Let's all hope that 2005 brings great things for our family, financial prosperity, good health, and of course, lots of love. Cheers!

Houston's White Christmas

Sorry it took me so long to post these. Yes, we actually had a White Christmas in Houston! I had heard talk of it all week on the weather and didn't take it seriously. It started to come down in our area around 5:30 on Christmas Eve. I was walking in to Wal-Mart and saw the first few flakes come down. There were some people who appeared to be pretty ecstatic about it - like the Wal-Mart manager. He was on the loudspeaker every five minutes with an announcement affirming the freakish weather outside. "That's right, Houston, TX, it's snowing outside!" - followed by blah, blah, blah, and "Thank you for shopping at Wal-Mart. Remember that we will be closing in 30 minutes."

Here are some pictures that my friend Kelly took from his parents' house in Misourri City.



Even Mrs. Claus looks surprised.


Kelly, not concerned with safety, climbed onto the roof.


The bushes were full until they shed half their leaves in shock.