I have the last two winter blizzards to thank for these festive wallpapers. Please download them at your ealiest convenience.
I have them in different pixel screen sizes to hopefully accommodate my readers computer platforms and monitor widths.

Snow Ribbons

1920x1200 PC
1920x1200 Mac
1024x768 PC
1024x768 Mac


Snow Pines

1920x1200
1280x1024
1024x768

I found that someone had linked to a link that I had posted earlier this month from our List Gift Guide. Yummy Wakame has some other cool downloadable wrapping paper ideas and other holiday tag items. Happy Holidays. And the winterwonderland continues.

Pioneer Woman posted this about a toy poop-eating dog. This rings too true, and appropriate and too close to home. AND A TOY! Thanks.
For some reason the permalink is not working, so you have to scroll down to Dec. 27th Posting.

photo by Pioneer Woman

Weatherbug has given us this forecast again. Winter Storm Warning in effect until late Friday night with snow continuing into Saturday. Yippee! Rejoice!

Someone asked if I was getting sick of the snow yet. No, not yet. The city needs this. I guess, besides the poor snow removal plans in place from last week that actually the Mayor is addressing, it is beautiful! One time when I do not long for VT.

Hello devout readers. Happy Christmas.
I hope you are all spending this white (for us) christmas with the ones you enjoy.
We are having a wonderful Christmas time.
We got another inch of snow last night so it is even more white than usual.
Our hearts go out to everyone!

Dave

On Friday, Christy called work to say that there was "something" stuck in kitchen ceiling vent. I asked "is it a bird, or a squirrel?" she said, it sounds big. So I came home and turned on the fan so that the flus would open hoping he would just run out. Well he stayed. Oh by they way, it's a squirrel. Anyway, so, next, I waited a while to see if we heard anything rustling around and did not so we thought the problem was fixed. Studio Hampton had it's Christmas party at Avenue Grill tonight so Christy and I got dressed up, a little, and went to the party. We had a wonderful night, of eating, sipping drinks, and then went shopping at the mall. When we arrrived home, Christy lets out a big "Oh my God!" and we found that the squirrel had in fact not left, but chewed his way through the fan wires, and through the fan and through the face plate. There was plastic chards all over and some poop.

So that night we didn't do much more than just shut the flu and hope he decided to leave. Well Saturday comes and he is holding tight in his new warm home, the pipe. We put our heads together and Christy had this brilliant idea. Hang plastic Wild Oats bags from the hole where the fan used to be, and bait him into the bag with food, then clasp the ends together and run outside with the varmit. Well it almost worked twice but my legs got tired from standing, holding my arms for 20 minutes like trying to catch a ghost. So we stopped, but left the bags hanging. When we went to bed last night you could hear him trying to climb down into the bag for the food so I would race out of bed and try to catch him in the act. To no avail. Well, I was not sleeping at all, so I got up, shut the flu and called it a night.

This morning, Sunday, Merry Christmas Eve everyone! We woke up and the poor guy was still there. I had to come up with a new plan. Here is my plan. I got up on the snow-packed roof and based on something I read online about squirrel removal, removed the head of the pipe, dropped a rope down the pipe with knots tied every foot or so. I thought this would be a welcomed rescue to the poor dude but maybe he liked his new nest and wanted to stay. He got upset or excited or something and started chirping and chuckling or maybe that was squirrel yelling. I had read that most squirrels will just grab a hold of the rope and be drug out, but not this squatter. So after many scoldings from him, I decided I had to be more creative to get him moving. This was all being expediated by the fact that will be leaving for my sister's house tonight and cannot have a chew-happy squirrel loose in the house all night. That, and Gibson was going nutso! Poor Tica, usually the squirrel chaser of the family, was oblivious to the comotion. Here is the idea that worked.

I dropped rope through the hole into the kitchen. Found a piece of cardboard and cut it into a circle as close to the pipe diameter as I could estimate and cut a hole in the center. Ran the rope through a hole and tied a big not. My idea was to basically pull the poor squirrel out on the hand-made platform. So I placed the cardboard back up into the hole where the fan used to be, ran outside, climbed onto the roof and grabbed the rope and started pulling slowly. Squirrelyman began to chirp, scream, bark or whatever emotion he was feeling, and it got louder as I pulled. BUT I could hear him coming towards the surface. As he was almost there, I backed up a bit to give him some room and wahlah! he poked his head out, looked around and then darted off into a snowdrift far far away from there. FREE AT LAST! So, if you ever have this problem, email me and I can walk you through it. Merry Merry Christmas Eve little buddy and Merry Christmas to everyone!

While we were in Vegas, we visited the Bellagio hotel. I guess they are known for their unique decor designs in the inside gardens. This year was no exception. I brought my camera but did not have it with me and the phone camera I used did not do them justice. So, I went out on the web and found a person living in Vegas that had taken these. She was sweet enough to send them to me in high res format so I cleaned them up a bit and here they are.
The details of this display are amazing. The cranberry bogs with big stars, the flying reindeer covered with real walnut exoskeltons, polar bears and some of the biggest Christmas bulb ornaments I have ever seen. The tree was magnificant as well.

To quote Death Cab for Cutie...

"The snow's coming down
I'm watching it fall
Watching the people around
Baby please come home"

It has been snowing steadily since yesterday at about 6:45am. We have 23 inches on the ground now and it is still snowing hard. The blizzard warning is in effect at least until Noon today. I cannot get to work. RTD bus and rail lines are closed. We have over 2 feet of snow in the street and our cars are buried. It is amazing and beautiful.

Snow! I'm gonna wash my hands my hair and face with Snow!

For the past two days I have been watching the weather reports because they posted a Winter Storm Warning in effect until Wednesday night. Well this morning I woke up and checked Weatherbug and too my surprise, the Winter Storm Warning had been cancelled and updated to a Blizzard Warning in effect until Thursday. They are predicting and expecting over a foot, yes 12 inches, of snow for Denver proper. YES! At least it will be a white Christmas this year! Our first year in Denver for Christmas since I have lived here.

I found this magazine in Hudson News while in Vegas.
It is unique in that subscription dues go towards helping good causes. They have chosen a different approach to publishing news and reviews on controversial subject matter. I personally love the design of the mag as well. Take a look. And if you like, subscribe.

Who is who?

We recently watched a great holiday movie, The Family Stone.
In it, Dermot Mulroney plays the boyfriend of Sarah Jessica Parker whom he is taking home to meet his family in a Massachusetts town for Christmas. Anyway, I have sort of followed his career in movies starting with Career Opportunities with Frank Waley and Jennifer Connelly. Awesome John Hughes movie. He was in Point of No Return with Bridget Fonda as well.
He is a unique and intense actor.
Then this week while I was home sick, I watched an episode of Will and Grace. The actor Dylan Mcdermott played an overbearing gay man taking care of his elderly mother. Will meets him in the park while pushing his mother in a wheelchair. It struck me as funny that two actors, similar in intensity and good looks, have such unique yet similar names. DM, DM. Hmm.
That's it. Thanks.

My company published a holiday gift magazine, The List. In it, we published 4 compilation Christmas CDs that you can download, the song lists, not the songs, and their respective covers. So go to: http://postnewsmarketplace.com/shoppingguides/thelist/ and you will find a homepage. Click on either the CD downloads or the Holiday Gift tag link. There are some very festive and funky gift tags to use while wrapping. I realize this could be a bit late, but I am sure there are some of you doing last minute gift shopping and wrapping. Happy Holidays. Spread the cheer!

I spent my 39th birthday in Vegas! It was my mom's idea, and what a great idea it turned out to be. Christy and myself, my parents and my bro-in-law and sister. All six of us. It was super fun. I had only been to Vegas one other time with my mom and sis, so this was well, not better, but different. It was also different being in Vegas at "Christmas." I put quotes around Christmas because Sin City is very much not a Christmas place. Other than the Belagio, which, by the way, had the most spectacular Christmas display we had ever seen. It is a close second to New York City.

We had three celebrity citings. First was Friday night at Tao in the Ventian. We had VIP tix into the club from a friend of Jin, so that helped. Lifestyles of the Fat and Famous's Robin Leach was drinking champagne with whom it looked like was his son and a bunch of fake-boobed older woman.

Second, was Jeremy Sisto, who some of you will remember from the movie Grand Canyon with Steve Martin and Danny Glover among others. He played Kevin Kline's son. He also was in Clueless and Six Fee Under. Christy pegged him out of a huge Caeser's Palace Mall Forum crowd. Jinnie ran down the escalator after him but he dissappeared.

Thirdly, the citing was today, Sunday in the Mall next to our Paris hotel. It was Jaws from the James Bond movies. He was the freakishly tall guy with silver metal teeth, signing autographs. He did not have his teeth with him though and seemed like a very nice person.

I am sure you are asking yourselves, "why was dave in so many malls when in Vegas?" I was asking myself those same questions. This was in between all the craps, black jack and slots. I came home about $100 richer than when I left, so can't complain. Vegas baby!

There were many highlights, but one that stood out was our breakfast at the Peppermill, down the strip by the Stardust. It came from a recommendation from my cubemate Erin and her hubby, Michael. Thanks dudes. It was awesome. We especially loved the decor, rich in reds and cheesy decor. Loved the fire pit and $10 bloody marys. Not too mention the greasy diner food which each meal could feed two people, or at least one big hungry hungover person.

Other highlights were:

Bellagio water show! The fountains come alive and to syncronized water shows to music. Christy and I cuddled against the Strip wall and watched the fountains "dance" to Sleigh Ride. It was amazing.

The coffee. I think there was not one bad cup of coffee, be it the "free" coffee/drinks you get while gambling, or the little cafes and diners. It was all amazing. So fresh, so dark and so robust.

Pics to come.
Happy Holidays everyone!

This is a fun little exercise to make your own snowflake. Happy Holidays

I saw this story on the Boston Herald's website about this kid who let his 6 month old Dachshund outside to pee and a red-tailed hawk attacked the poor pup. The 11 year old boy kicked the hawk in the head and saved the dog. Poor little dude. Dog and kid are fine. Not so sure about the hawk. He may have a slight headache.

Chris Campo saved his dog Dimi from an attack by a red-tailed hawk at their home in Weston. (Photo by Marshall Wolff/Metrowest Daily News)

I have had numerous readers asking if the Billy Idol Christmas Album I posted about about last week is real. I am here to tell you, yes, it is real, and it is extraordinary.! Enjoy!
Winter Wonderland

Saturday night we threw our Annual Christmas/Holiday/Birthday Party. It was loads of fun.
Last year's party was highlighted by my Caroler proposal . So this year I had to try and come up with something new for a surprise. So, Santa dropped by for a visit. I found him on Craigslist. If you need a Santa for a party or family visit, write me and I will refer you to him. It was fun. We did a Quizmas and gave away gifts to the right answerers. Lots of wine and beer, and an outdoor heated patio with lights. The night was gorgeous, in the mid 40's so it was comfortable to stand outside. I had 2 iPods going at the same time. One out on the patio through the rock speakers and one on the donut in the living room. We have so much wine leftover from our generous guests. Please feel free to come by for a glass, or two.

In running news, I upped the ante for my half marathon training and ran 8 miles. Up from the 6.6 I have been running for 2 weeks. That is 2 x around City Park and to my house. It was killer. The air was chilly but refreshing. I love to run when it is around 40 degrees because you get heated up but not uncomfortable even with a long sleeved wicking shirt. Just enough good old Hoobastank, Decemberists and Jimmy Eat World to haul me around the park. What really helped and if you are a semi-runner like myself, is that when the unexpected perfect song song comes on at just the right time. For me it was Carry the Zero by Built to Spill. It is not even a hardcore fast song, but it has sentimental meaning and just when I was rounding out 1/2 of the second lap, this song came on acting like a jet engine propelling me into the final stretch with ease. Happy Holidays.

If your desktop needs a fresh, festive look, how about downloading this for your computer. Just click the link below to download it from here.
Happy Holidays. - Dave

We have all read that the pet industry is riding increasingly high due to our desperate attempt at making our pets more like us. Anthropomorphizing is the correct word, however, I am not sure that this is the reason we went to Target tonight and ended up with costumes and accoutrements for the dachsies. Christy, not to place any direct blame on her, was the one that was flipping for all the $2.50 costumes. She runs up to me with shiny eyes exclaiming "David, LOOK!, they have santa costumes! HOW cute would Tica look in this? And this, for Gibson!" It was endearing. We ended up with two holiday blinking collars and a cute polka-dot pink jobby for Tica. Below is the humiliation. However, Tica and Gibson loved them, but I think that had more to do with the treats given to try and take these pics.

• Frosty the Snowman
  
• Silver Bells
  
• Happy Holidays
  
• Merry Christmas Baby
  
• White Christmas
  
• Here Comes Santa Claus
  
• God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
  
• Santa Claus Is Back In Town
  
• Let It Snow
  
• Winter Wonderland
  
• Run Rudolph Run
  
• Blue Christmas
  
• Jingle Bell Rock
  
• Christmas Love
  
• Oh Christmas Tree
  
• Silent Night
  
• Auld Lang Syne
  

In honor of our putting up the tree, here is the latest web background pattern. Pine. What do you think?

We celebrated the season yesterday by putting up the Tree. It seems like every year it gets a bit earlier. I used to have a personal tradition of putting up the tree on my birthday, and that lasted a few years. But with the challenge of having holiday parties attendance level higher came the realization that we may have to be more flexible on what dates we used. So this year, since we are going to Vegas for my bday, the party is even earlier than last year. Blah blah blah, we got our tree yesterday and spent the evening decorating, listening to christmas music, and drinking wine and snacking. Christy showed me a new way to hang the lights, even though it was my year to decorate the tree. We chose all white lights and only red and white ornaments. She did a fabulous job with the lights. It is very professional looking. We have spent three years together, obviously we are still together 'cuz we got married, duh. But as I was going through iPhoto looking at past years Tree blessing pictures, I noticed a few fun similarities.

Here is a collage of the last three years with Christy.



The day could not have started off better. When I woke up and opened the door to get the papers, it was snowing. Big flakes were coming down, a little winter wonderland. It snowed until around noon, and like most colorado days, the sun made it's appearance. I had just received a new movie in the mail, 12 Days of Christmas Eve, with Steven Weber ( from Wings and more recently Studio 60). It was such an unpopular movie that not even Netflix carries it. I happened upon it last Christmas at Best Buy, but decided not to get it. Well this year, I thought, why not try it out, but since Netflix did not carry it, I ended up buying it. Christy thinks it views like an ABC afterschool special, a cheesy one at that. I, on the other hand, liked it's message a lot and the acting was not horrible. But I did notice that she did not complain much and managed to sit and watch the entire movie. I have a penchant for bad movies. Especially holiday/snow movies.

Basically it is about a guy that took his family business from Chapter 11, to the #2 discount chain in the country. After pitching to a Brazilian business woman about investing and opening up stores in South America, he spends the entire day with her showing her his stores. Like any story with a message, he puts his family on the back burner, choosing money first. The day ends and he feels superior and proud to have almost landed this account. As he is leaving his building, the sign malfunctions and lands on top of him. He awakens to a dark "hospital room" where his nurse, Molly Shannon gives him his options. He now has 12 days to make himself a better person.... you see where this is going. Anyway, it was a good movie, and I am watching it again right now.

I hope you are all getting your trees, either artificial or real, soon. We chose a Frasier Fir this year from the Optmimists Club tree lot, just like last year. They do a lot of good for the community so it is a win win situation.

Today we have a more subtle, yet festive, pattern. Would you say this one is better than the last? In what ways? I thank all my readers for their responses on the first pattern. I agree that it is a very busy pattern. However, I do like the way it makes you feel. It is comforting and soft, yet at the same time, very busy and distracting. I have two more waiting to be loaded and displayed, so keep an eye out for my new web background patterns.

In other news, Christy is a full-time telecommuting employee now. She officially closed up her downtown office and now has a different window view. I envy her ability to never skip a beat with the job search. She, in the past two years has managed to not really apply for, but get these great jobs, all the while giving herself a big raise each time. Congrats wifey.