Hi everyone! 
Happy New Year! I hope that 2009 is a year filled with joy, prosperity and good health for all of you.
I though I would let you know what's been happening around here the last couple of weeks. It feels like about three months since I wrote my last blog. I was joking with Caroline that it feels like last week was last year - and it was! 
Our original plans for Christmas were that my mom would fly out from Vancouver and spend Christmas with us. Unfortunately, with the snowstorm of the century (so far) hitting the Jewel of the Pacific, my mom decided not to come. She is elderly and quite frail these days, and she is also terrified of falling on the snow and ice so she just wanted to stay is the safety of her home, which is understandable. She was also scared that if she came, she wouldn't be able to get back home due to flight cancellations.
Midnight mass wasn't the same without her, but we did have a nice Christmas, just the two of us. It was only the second time we had spent Christmas alone in 13 years of marriage. The other time was in 2004 when my dad died. I just wanted to be alone with my wife that year.
One thing that simply cannot go unmentioned is that Notre Dame won their bowl game, 49-21 over Hawaii on Christmas Eve. Now besides the fact that ND is my favorite sports team, they hadn't won a bowl game since January 1, 1994 and were on a record nine game bowl losing streak. They ended up 7-6 this year, which is a lot better than the all-time worst 3-9 of 2007.
So on Christmas Day we opened gifts, called my mom, went out for a lovely Christmas dinner at the Calgary Downtown Marriott and drove around the city checking out homes with nice light displays and watching a heart-warming family movie called Joshua (not the horror movie).
Here is a picture of our Christmas tree. That's one of our three Christmas elves in the foreground. They are responsible for guarding the presents. This one can't sit up straight, so we call him Droopy! My Christmas card to Caroline is in the middle of the tree.
Anyway, back to mom: we had this unused plane ticket, which was purchased as non-refundable and non-changeable. I called WestJet to see if there was something I could do about this as I had promised my mom that if she couldn't come to us, I would fly out to the Coast to see her. They were incredibly gracious and switched the ticket to a return flight from Calgary to Vancouver for December 30/31 at no charge! I figured that they would be easier to do business with than Air Canada, but I didn't expect this. My Canadian friends can consider this a WestJet endorsement.
So, off I went to the Coast. Now, I figured there must be a lot of snow, but I had no idea that it would be what it was. 
I spent 28 years of my life in Vancouver and I have never seen anything like this. What was even more amazing is that people kept telling me there was almost twice as much before some melted. Anyway, here's a picture of my mom's house.
And here's one of the few I took driving around the city. The side streets were so bad that even with the melting, you could hear the snow scrape the bottom of the car as you drove.
My mom and I had a very nice visit. I drove her around so that she could take care of some personal matters and get groceries and such and we had time to visit and play some cards, which she loves to do. We also exchanged Christmas gifts.
New Year's was quiet, just the two of us at home and so far, the year is off to a good start. I hope all of you had a nice New Year's too, however you celebrated.
The Beauty of God's Creation
Many of you said such nice things 
about the last photo, which I took, that I decided to use another Karl taken photo for this blog. Here is one from Vancouver, on a Chamber of Commerce day. Not a bad place to have grown up, huh?
Quote of the Blog
Please indulge me one more from It's A Wonderful Life. I may have even used this one before, but it's very true.
Clarence: Remember, George, no man is a failure who has friends.
Wisdom From the East
The biggest room in the world is the room for improvement.
Japanese proverb
New Year's resolutions anyone? 
I hope it's a great weekend for everyone, especially all my wonderful friends who are going back to school next Monday. Enjoy!
Comments
No I'm sure you wouldn't want to shovel that snow. Thanks a bunch for your support though in empathizing with me having had to shovel it.
Vancouver can be a beautiful city, but I'll take Calgary and our 300+ days of sunshine. Today is not one of them.
Thank you! it was too much for my liking too. Especially since it was wet and heavy and I had to shovel it.
). I put on the decorations - which is a really nice job because it reminds me of all the people who have given us decorations for the tree over the years and all the ones we purchased for our own tree (plus I made some!).Droopy really is a cute elf! The picture doesn't do him justice. He has two other buddies, and Karl's mom has one in Vancouver - one day I expect they will all be reunited.
I do like that Japanese proverb!!!
After the christmas party blog, I gathered that you knew eachother- but I didn't realize. Wow. Another wow would be the snow. Wow!! I love the pic. Its great. I am awed. I have heard of that film- well, the book. My mom read it and told me that it was really great.
There is a lot of truth in that quote. I just did a similar blog with my own quote. Have a great one, Karl.
Happy 2009 to you as well! 
Ooh, a line break! Hey, last week WAS last year!
My friend likes to say things like yesterweek, yestermonth, and yesteryear LOL.That's too bad that your mom didn't come, but I'm sure it was just as good that you flew to Vancouver for her.
Your Christmas dinner sounded like fun! A heart-warming family movie and a horror movie have the same title? Oh my! Aww, Droopy!
He's not too droopy. Hey, I have those weird angel face thingys on my tree too. Did you take it down yet?Yay for WestJet!
Good to know that the commercials weren't lying. I just went to Costco and the snow kept scraping the car.. not a pleasant noise.Haha, I see GM place!
Have a good weekend.
Hope it’s a great one for all of us. I’m sorry that your mum couldn’t fly and spend Christmas with you, so it was great that you could exchange the ticket and go to her. The snowfall is really awful, I bet it was blessing for your mum that you could drive her around so she could do her groceries and all kinds of errands. I like playing cards too. You sound like a really good son Whoa! That’s a really nice tree. You and your wife have quite a taste to decorate it, it looks really great, the ornaments are very cute. Oh, and so is Droopy!
That picture of Vancouver is beautiful, the mountains in the sun look amazing. I absolutely agree that no man is a failure who has friends. Luckily enough, one never runs out of good ones in here. Many hugs
....have a great weekend!
Happy New Year Karl!
Not that some of you care any, but there it is anyway.
I'm glad you liked the proverb - I did too.
We'll look forward to your blog.
Always nice to hear from you. A blog wouldn't be complete if you didn't stop by.
Wow, 20 years worth, what a lovely collection of memories.
So get over it already!!
It must have understandably got lost in the euphoria of the Eagles' big win. Have you put in a request for that Congressional Medal yet? I'd do it myself, but I'm not a U.S. citizen.The snow is truly amazing and I'm glad you like the picture. Hmmm, maybe a budding photographic second career is being born here!
Thank you! I appreciate the support. Feel free to pick against ND any time you like!!
Happy New Year.
Great to hear from you! This time I'll remember that you have commented and not poke you about it.
And line breaks even. What more can a man ask for? Wait, chocolate hedgehogs would be something.
Christmas dinner was really nice as was the visit to Vancouver, although I'm still a bit shocked at the volume of snow; and a bit sore from having to have shoveled it. Just kidding about being sore. I actually got to really good workouts in doing that.
How can you see GM Place? It's not in the picture!
No, the tree is still up and likely will be until at least my birthday, which is May 27th. Just kidding!!! My wife would probably shoot me. My birthday is later on in January.
Droopy is actually pretty droopy! That picture doesn't do his droopiness justice.
You have a great weekend too!
Thanks! It's an artificial one we bought last year at Costco. We love it! I think it has around 1,000 lights on it.
That's a great resolution by the way. I could do with that too.
Awww, thank you.
I really appreciate that. I do try. I'm her only child. I'm glad you like the tree and Droopy. He's unique to say the least. I agree about the friendships here. I've sure made some wonderful ones. That picture of Vancouver is pretty spectacular. I had a good vantage point.
Hugs and all the best in 2009 to you too.
I'm guessing the majority of Vancouverites have probably had their fill of the white stuff for a few years. Then again, February 2010 would be an opportune time, wouldn't it?
You enjoy your weekend too.
I'm glad you like the picture. Well,the majesty of the mountains does give us some perspective, doesn't it?
I like your add-on to the quite. That's good! Happy New Year!
Thank you, I was too. She was indeed glad to see me. Well, what mother wouldn't? I'm glad you like the tree.
Well, if you want proximity to mountains, try Denver. I remember the first time I drove out of the airport heading west. Whoa!!!
I grew up there, so I guess I'm used to it. There is something about being nestled in a mountain valley. It feels like you're protected.
GM Place, the hockey rink is to the immediate right of it (hard to see) and B.C. Place dwarfs it.
Thank you so much!! I hope my dreams come through too, and yours too. I'm glad you enjoyed the blog and thank you for stopping by.
My uncle goes to a gym near there and I went to a Costco there once too. I believe it was the one with elevators and underground parking.
Have you ever been to either one?? I've been to both. I don't know about a Costco there. I never went to to a Costco until I got to Calgary.
I did apply for the medal. However, I am sure it will be sometime before I get an answer. I am drawing a blank here with a witty reply. :O
Wow, look at all that snow…must be the effects of global warming! What a good son you are to your mom, flying out there and helping her out. Hope your New Year is off to a great start.
How about "How about those Eagles!!" I think that fine victory in front of such a hostile should bode well for the medal's chances. If they win this Sunday, it should clinch it. It should be a good game, unlike the other NFC game. I think Carolina has a virtual bye into the Conference final.
Thank you! I thought it was a nice place for it.
Awwww. Thank you. I try to be a good son, especially since I'm the only child. Happy New Year to you too.
Well, it's about time! Thank you for my 40th comment.
I guess now I have to write a new blog. Uh-oh. I need a topic. I guess I should just talk to Gabriella - she always seems full of ideas for me to write about!
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