The move is afoot. We're off to Victoria, BC in a week.

I got really excited about the impending move last night when I happened across this URL-- http://www.bearmountaingolf.com/news/news_nov26_2003.html--whilst looking at local real estate on the web.

I sent it to myself by email RE: What I did on my winter vacation

I'd bet it's one of the few times you've seen a 19 hole golf course, the 'house here must be referred to as the "20th".

I think "the Golden Bear's" concept is brilliant given the 3-Par 11th hole's island green. When deemed appropriate due to conditions or skill-levels of participants, skip the 12th and play the rest (of course the 19th is also a 3-Par) for your round of 18.

Click here for a hole-by-hole view of the course at the Bear Mountain Golf and Country Club.

Before heading to Victoria, I've got the following "to do" list:

• Tomorrow head to Montana with my buddy Phil in the morning to pick up my 4Runner in Kalispell, MT -- home Sunday
  
• Monday fly to Cinci, then drive to Cleveland for gigs through noon on the 9th
  
• Same day we drive to the coast: Victoria -- BC, that is.... :)
  

Here's a picture of Kalin and Martha, taken over Christmas in Whitefish, MT, during a rousing reading of Walter the Farting Dog.

The learning continues....

Yesterday I learned about "buckle" or "Torus" fractures in children. I had my two of my nieces out snowboarding with me and one fell and broke BOTH of her wrists.

We all had our helmets on and I'd made the mistaken assumption that we all had our wrist guards on as well, but....

See Figure 2 on this page for a picture of a Torus fracture.

The good news, if there is such a thing in such a circumstance, is that these types of fractures heal relatively quickly (the prognosis is for 4 weeks) and that "this is a stable, nondisplaced fracture."

As someone who spent months in a cast at one point as a direct result of not protecting my wrists while snowboarding, I'd also STRONGLY recommend that those out 'boarding WEAR HELMETS AND WRIST GUARDS.

Happy New Year to all.

As I reflect back on '03 I'm struck by how lucky I am and all that I have to be thankful for. Spending this holiday season with family was a great reminder for me of just how lucky I am. Here's a picture from a "jam session" my sister- and brother-in-law hosted last week. (that's Jeff third from the right)


It was a marvelous time. The music, the food and the company were all first-rate.

I've also had the good fortune to interact with a couple of "service providers" in the past week and would like to recognize them here:

Graydon and Mike and all the staff at the The Driving Force's offices in Calgary were particularly helpful and have gone "above and beyond the call of duty" in their dealings with me this past week.

Also a very special thank you to Greg Stewart, Service Manager at Glacier Toyota in Kalispell, MT.

Greg has single-handedly reaffirmed my faith in Toyota and has gone a long way toward overcoming negative impressions. I can say without hesitation that if I buy another Toyota it's due to the service I received in Montana, and that Mr. Stewart and his staff make some others pale by comparison.

Had a marvelous Christmas in Whitefish, MT with my family. Huge thanks to Jim and Janet for the use of their condo for the past week, we enjoyed the comfortable surroundings and the lengths to which they went to ensure our comfort.

Also really enjoyed our trips to Big Mountain.

You hear a lot about "family" resorts, with "something for everyone," but Big Mountain certainly meets the bill. There really is something for everyone and the staff are extremely accommodating and friendly.

Indeed, all the locals we encountered were particularly friendly and I'd certainly recommend a trip to Whitefish and Big Mountain.

Here's a picture taken on Christmas morning: