GalesAZ: Year-end 2012

As in several previous years - I don't seem to post much stuff in the last month or so of the year. Mostly because of the typical year-end rush - work, visitors, holidays, fun. Or something.

Thanksgiving turkey in danger.

This year felt more rush-y than most; hard to compare from year to year, but probably also more fun. Some stuff that happened:

Herman in danger?

1. Thanksgiving break (extended version). If I'm remembering correctly, Patrick and Kerry showed up the weekend prior, and Kerry was able to stick around through almost all of the week after (per next paragraph). Typical fun, wonderful Thanksgiving cooking, etc. Nicole and POC back in Chicago for the holiday. Kerry's visit was a sneaky surprise, well executed.

Hmmm. Coloring contest, 4th place winner.

2. CPG goes to the doctor(s). CPG had his long-awaited jaw rework performed on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. It was a big process but all seems to have gone very well indeed. Kerry stuck around to support her big bro. She and PJ slept overnight in CPG's hospital room two straight nights (spartan accommodations at best). K helped PJ do some home nursing, then PJ took over; I didn't do much except a few things while PJ was away (next paragraph). CPG set himself up on a couch, complained remarkably little, eventually got back to eating somewhat normally. Success.

Nursing (or is it camping?) team settles in for CPG sleepover(s). Yup, that's all of their bedding.

3. PJ goes to Chicago. Second weekend of December: PJ traveled to Chicago and helped Nicole box up the stuff in the condo. They visited some of the local restaurants, etc. Reportedly got a lot done.

Crossing the U.S.A.; steely resolve in evidence. Like the pioneers. Inspirational.

4. Holiday concert. ASU Choral Union performed its holiday concert on the second Sunday in December - very good crowd at Gammage (it's been a few years since we did our Christmas concert there). We did a version of "In the Bleak Midwinter" that I really liked. Also liked our version of "In Dulci Jubilo." Concert was good. (But I had zero fans in attendance, between illness, travel, work commitments.)

5. Christmas break (extended version). Kerry and Patrick again were able to arrive early and stay late - nice! We didn't decorate the house (again) but may do so next year. (K did put a goofy Rudolph type mat outside the front door, however.) Christmas Eve dinner at Beckett's Table - worked out well. Our cooks did a great job on Christmas dinner. PJr/Nedda arranged Suns tickets for two nights in the GT box, fun. MB hosted a dinner one of the nights after Christmas. Steve, Laura, Gavin Buck stopped by a couple times. Etc., no doubt I'm forgetting a lot.

CPG at townhouse on
Washington St.

6. Movies. Went to the theater with groups twice - unusual for PJ and me, we haven't been to the theater since this one. Saw "The Hobbit" - first of three parts, Peter Jackson does a very fine job with these things. And I like 3-D. Saw "Les Miserables" - I think this version really worked. But I'm not very objective about this musical.

POC admiring kitchen/dining area.
Washington St. townhouse.

7. POC and Nicole arrive from Chicago. POC (with Kent) took a three-day joyride in a rental truck full of the condo furniture, arriving mid-day 12/29. "GroupMe" updates kept us informed. Nicole (with Erin) flew in on 12/28. Poised to move (with CPG) into a quite delightful townhouse right at 7th St and Washington in downtown Phoenix.

Drybar'd for NY Eve.

8. CPG and POC move downtown. While POC was on his joyride and the ladies were lunching at BJ's, we were working 12/29 to pack up CPG's stuff at 11419. On 12/28 we also were dealing with Nicole's remaining stuff at 11419 (K was useful with this). Rented a truck on the morning of 12/29 and got most of the stuff out of 11419, in truck (lots of help from EPG and Pat H) or carloads. PJ set up the townhouse kitchen, yeoman effort. This will be a great place for them to live. It was quite fun for the nine of us to work on this project together (with assist from Pat H). Lots of work, rapid move-in. It is exciting to have them finally settling into AZ (though Nicole has a bit of work wrap-up remaining in Chicago).

9. House to ourselves. Mark it down: 12/29/12 was the first day since 5/8/81 that PJ and I had all of our kids living outside our house and paying their own rent. We believe this is a permanent arrangement. (12/30/12 was a big cleaning day for us, as you might expect. And then we hosted the entire group for a PJ-prepared spaghetti dinner that same evening.)

10. New Year's. Dinner on New Year's Eve at Mary Beth's with a small group, very nice. Tom Lordan discussed his upcoming trip to Miami for ND's national championship game with Alabama. Next-gen had a nice time at townhouse and "Copper Blues." They showed up surprisingly early on 1/1. Had some kind of nice chicken dinner for everyone at night. Patrick drove back to Santa Monica evening of 1/1. Kerry left 1/2. Nicole left 1/3.