Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

We Buffalo Bayers are without the Van Burens this Christmas Day. They are in Cancun celebrating with extended family so our traditional dinner get together on Christmas Eve has been postponed until Sunday. But the rest of us got together for drinks at the house followed by dinner at a favorite local restaurant. Real good time.

Here's a brief video we sent to the Van Burens through Snapchat.

I'm not fully conversant in using it so thanks, Zann for instructing me.

All the best to Chicago family! Thinking of you.

Smile! You're on camera!

Seems like everywhere we go some surveillance camera catches our movements. Never bothered me. Indeed, long ago I started playing with them at home. I've now evolved to the best camera and recording options I've found---Wyze. Look for it on Amazon---25 bucks. I've got three, providing me with various views around our house, primarily of the outside. Android and ios apps give you access to the camera from anywhere.

Here's a sample of what you get. I pointed my front door camera into the living room and set it to record motion as Joyce and I work on the tree. Notice me waving after telling the camera to start detecting motion as the video starts. Then I told the camera to stop. Happy Christmas Season!

Canisius In Chicago

My former employer (WooHoo! I now am a Professor Emeritus) sent the basketball team to my hometown, Chicago, last night to play UIC in Credit Union Arena. The team won big, 94-64, and number one fan Joyce Ann listened on the radio. Our family has two Canisius graduates (Zann and Amy) and two enrollees (Maddy and Grace) so I guess you could say we're a Canisius family. Dewey and Charlie are currently attending the high school of the same name. The Jesuits have a hold of this family.

I had never heard of the arena. It's near Little Italy. Looks like a very neat area of the city.

Happy Thanksgiving!

A new family member.

Join me in welcoming Agnes to the Van Buren family. Another labradoodle. No surprise given how important a member of the family KatyBelle was. So far she's been pretty laid back but no telling how long that will last.

We're not ready for this.

Winter. We once looked forward to it. Skiing, you know. Well, that's long gone. Now we want to spend more of winter down south. Last year was one month in St. Augustine. This year another month there preceded by 2 weeks on Amelia Island. Snow in Chicago last week and snow forecast for us this week. Bah, humbug.

St. Augustine           Amelia Island

Daylight saving time?

So really, why do we need it? Seems to me it's better to get the hour of sun in the AM all year long. If you live closer to the equator, you don't need it and we in the north don't care much any more. Spring forward, fall back has seen its time.

Grace had another meet this past weekend and earned some recognition. There's a limit of four events for each swimmer, and she's always at the top. You go, girl!

Obama on the mark

I enjoy Halloween. I'm in charge of giving out candy. It will be windy, cold and rainy tonight. Bummer.

Even Ann Coulter praised Obama for his comments on "woke." Me, I wish he were still president, But I guess I can live with him being able to impact our discourse.