December 26, 2002
I plan to finally get our Christmas cards out today. Here’s the fifth paragraph (written in third person of course) “Bob is going into the fourth year of owning and running True West magazine, which will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2003. He can actually read a spread sheet now and often spouts capitalistic phrases at dinner like, “pass the gravy or I’ll cut off your fully vested equity.” and “accrue this!”

Christmas day, most of Kathy’s family came out for dinner and my nephew E.J. was excited about seeing the javelina. At about six, we put a tray of dog food out in the driveway to entice them in and periodically checked it, but they didn’t come. After dinner I got the ladder out and EJ and his sister Cedes went up on the roof and waited for about a half hour but it was just too cold. So we gave up, went back inside and had dessert. At about nine, Grandma Betty and Don’s boys left and the kids were wrestling on the couch (that would be E.J., Cedes and me) when Brad came in from the kitchen and said, “They’re here!” We all ran to the door and peered out, but couldn’t see anything. Sneaking through the garage we could hear them grunting and chewing. Slowly we all got closer and there they were in all their stinky glory! Ten javelina, lined up and eating dog food which was scattered across the driveway because one of them had grabbed the tray with his mouth and tried to run off with it, but another hippo clotheslined him and it spilled out. I got a digital camera for Christmas so I ran inside and got it. Shot off about seven shots and if I can figure out how to interface with this computer, I’ll post them for all to see.

“Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.”
—Old Vaquero Saying