Day 11 – Miranda’s Horse (hand built by her Grandfather, my Pop, Hugh)

Day 12 – Reading

Day 13 – Flights of fancy

Day 14 – Bareback

Day 15 – Clean-Up (make-up)

Day 16 – Dinner (make-up)

Day 17 – Me

Day 18 – Whee

Day 19 – I’d like to buy a vowel

Day 20 – Playing Horsey

This time 50 photos, 50 days using the 50mm f/1.8. I started January 1st and will end…50 days after January 1st. Then I might try another shorter length project. We’ll see. Here’s the first eight. Already I have two days where I did make-up photos the next day.

Day 1 – The new book

Day 2 – Um, shouldn’t I be put away?

Day 3 – Camryn

Day 4 – Sharing her flowers

Day 5 – Tea time (make-up)

Day 6 – Wrist shot

Day 7 – Sunrise (make-up)

Day 8 – What’s happening on the other side?

December 19: Christmas with the Hitchcocks. As is our tradition, we do Christmas Eve with Mandy’s grandparents, however it does not always work out to be exactly Christmas Eve, as was the case this year. We went over early to spend the day with Betty and Bebe (Mandy’s grandparents), Cliff (her dad), and the Woodman clan (Tom, Christy, Hailey and Camryn). We had a great ham dinner (technically lunch since we at close to two) and then tore through presents. We visited and just hung out and enjoyed each others company. We departed around 5:00 PM and were then off to our company holiday party in Spokane while Miranda stayed with her cousins.

December 24: Christmas Eve at the Hitchcocks. Wait, we’re back here? Yup. The gifting of Christmas Eve was done early as the Woodmans had a scheduling conflict (which frequently happens this time of year) but we returned along with Cliff and his “gal” Mary Lou for another dinner, this time prime rib prepared by yours truly (although cooked by Betty). Again we got to hang out and visit and play cribbage and Uno. A truly fun time.

December 25th: Christmas Day Part 1: Christmas at Home. We woke (rather Miranda did) early Friday morning for our Christmas proper. We wore our Christmas pajamas (Mandy and Miranda in Mickey Mouse and me in Homer Simpson) and opened our stockings and then gifts. Miranda wasn’t quite into the ripping and tearing things open; she did a bit but for the most part let us tear into her gifts. Mandy was pleased to see her Back2Life machine and I was surprised to see a Kindle 2 (more on that when I get through the photos). It was a great morning followed by a big, homemade breakfast and then, packing. Wha-?

December 25th: Christmas Day Part 2: Christmas in Missoula. We packed up and loaded the truck and hit the road for Missoula, Montana, where we had a hotel suite waiting for us. We had made arrangements earlier in the month to meet my folks and brother and sister-in-law half-way (about) in Missoula for Christmas. With Mandy’s job it’s nearly impossible to get much (if any) time off around Christmas; December is the biggest month of our year and what time is available goes fast. On top of that, this year we just didn’t have any time off to take by then. Luther and Victoria have teachers time off and usually fly up from Atlanta to spend time in Monarch with the folks. To prevent any one group from having to travel the full distance, we met in Missoula instead.
We arrived early and checked in and settled into the suite. It had two bedrooms on either side (one with a king and the other two doubles) each with their own bathrooms. A smallish living room and kitchenette finished out the suite. It worked perfectly for the seven of us. After we were all there we spread out food everywhere (most of which Luther couldn’t eat) and we grazed most of the night. We did presents, naturally, in our fun slow paced way, watching each person open their present and enjoying the looks of surprise and pleasure on their face. We then watched the Hangover (Unrated) and stayed up too late. We had loads of fun.

December 26th: Post Christmas Drive. The next morning we all went out to eat breakfast together before we packed up to drive back to our homes. Mom and I had a circus of a time trying to get a luggage cart down to the first floor with the rocking horse Pop built Miranda. The cart had a wheel that wouldn’t turn and somehow we went up to the third floor rather than down to the lobby. We got a hell of a laugh out of that. Once loaded, though, it was time for the drive back. We said our goodbyes and went on our way, happy for our time together, however short.

December 27th: The final Christmas of the year was held at Mandy’s mom’s house where we again joined by the Woodman clan. A nice ham dinner (again at lunchtime) and presents of course followed. Miranda got to feed one of the horses a carrot and saw a deer as well.

All in all a successful Christmas season for us again this year. We were able to spend lots of time with our collective families, which at the end of the day is what it’s all about.

This year Christmas will be somewhat different as the Enloe Clan will be gathering not in Monarch, Montana, nor in Coeur d’Aene, Idaho, nor in Atlanta, Georgia (which we have never done but should do some year soon); instead we will be holed up in a hotel in Missoula, Montana. This will allow all of us (James, Mandy, Miranada, Hugh, Janet, Luther and Victoria) to be together this year for Christmas, and none of us have to make the full 7+ hour winter drive. We will only be together for about a day, but I’m looking forward to it as if we get to spend a week together. Luther and I don’t get to see each other but once, maybe twice a year (if we’re lucky). As such, I’m quite thankful that we will be able to spend Christmas day together.

October 2009

Mandy saw a mouse in the garage this morning. It scurried out from under her car and towards the refridgerator/freezer area of the grarage. Crap.

I made a quick trip to Home Depot to pick up $11 worth of poisons and traps which I’ll set out when I get home tonight. Hopefully I can get the little bugger before he makes his (or her) way inside.

We (Mandy and Miranda and I) went out for the day (I don’t recall for what) and all the while I kept checking Twitter via my phone or iPod Touch. About two hours later I had a reply from Tina, “@jamesenloe You’re on!” Amazingly I had replied in enough time to get the tix to her show. Naturally, I was quite excited to see her live.

I first came across Tina via my favorite group, Zero 7 where she sang on their second album, “When it Falls”. I fell in love with the song “Home” which Tina sings. After I learned who she was, I started picking up her albums and enjoying her songwriting and voice. So the chance to see her live was an exciting one, needless to say.

Once I confirmed I had the tickets it was a matter of getting the time off (done) and then finding a hotel and making arrangements for Miranda. Priceline.com provided the hotel – we got the Westin Seattle for under $85 for the night. We’d stayed at a Westin before and knew the quality of the hotel (even though they nickle and dime you to death – $9.95 for internet in the rooms? Seriously?) and were happy with the price. Our friend Sean (Miranda’s “uncle” Sean) said that he would be happy to watch her for us while we were at the show. Luckily the hotel was about a 10 minute walk to the venue so we would be able to park the car for the time we were there and not worry about it.

Wednesday morning, Oct. 7th we set out on our journey, a quick 34 hour trip to Seattle and back.

The drive over was good; although five hours it went by quick for me. Miranda caught a 40 minute nap – a fair bit shorter than usual, but as much as she fought off sleep, we were both happy when she finally crashed.

We checked into the hotel, with just a bit of confusion about where to go and our luggage. The room was nice, roomy, with a king bed, sofa and chair, and a table for work (even with the aforementioned pricey internet). The three of us hit the hotel pool for a bit of fun (Miranda remembered her swimming lessons!) before Sean came over. I joked about taking a Heinekin from the mini-bar – only because it was $8.50 (which they still charged me for, since I took it out). Sean came over early so he could hang out with us and Miranda could remember him; which apparently she did well. After we dressed and left she was a perfect little angel – no crying, no fuss, no muss. She played with Sean and fell asleep in his arms at 8:30.

Mandy and I walked to the Triple Door where, after checking the guest list, we were seated. The Triple Door, I have to say, is a wonderful concert venue. It does not appear to have a bad seat in the house. We were seated a few rows back on the right, next to an aisle. The restaurant associated with the Triple Door, Wild Ginger, had amazing food. We had Crab Cakes (about the size of a half dollar, but still good), Pad Thai, and scallops and shrimp in a curry sauce (don’t recall the name). Desert was based upon Oktober fest and included a cake and a beer float. The cake was awesome, the beer float – well, beer and ice cream, not the best combo.

The opening act was a duo called “Fences”. The vocalist was challenging to understand. His mic had too much bass and he mumbled a bit. I am not sure if they were a local band or if they toured with Tina.

After the brief break after Fences, Tina took the stage for a solo number. Her voice was crystal clear and wonderful. After the first group I was afraid I would not be able to understand her but that was not the case at all. After the first number Helgi Jonsson came out to join her and they performed the rest of the set as a duo.

Tina clearly has a fan base in Seattle; a number of people would applaud when she started a familiar number and a group at one table held up Denmark flags.

The show was great. She sang songs I knew and several I did not, but it didn’t matter. Her voice was so clear, so confident that I was able to hear the lyrics for each. Helgi is one of those rare multi-talented individuals that drive normal musicians nuts: he sang, he played the piano, the guitar and the trombone, each masterfully.

At the end of the 90 minute set I could hardly believe that it had been an hour and a half. They did a two song encore and then the show was over. It was one of the best shows that I have seen, in all honesty. Mandy and I had a great time and it was nice for us to be able to get away for a night out (odd that we had to drive to Seattle to do it). We walked back to the hotel and discussed the show. Sean was there watching Sports Center, Miranda sacked out.

Here are a few clips that someone took at the show, so you can see what we saw that night.

Tina said that the Triple Door was becoming one of her favorite venues that she would be back. I hope so – next time I won’t hesitate to buy tickets so we can see her again.

On September 19, we returned to Silverwood. This time it was again Mandy, Cliff and I, along with our daughter Miranda and Cliff’s friend Penny and her son. We again rode roller coasters. I again looked scared shitless.

August 16 – Mariner’s Game

August 17 – Woodland Park Zoo

August 18 – Seattle Pier and Downtown

August 19 – Pacific Science Center

I am hoping that will be the last one. It’s been at least three weeks that I’ve been getting these on and off. Probably the longest spell yet.