Happy Holidays!

Welcome to my online Holiday greeting card. Feel free to pass along to others. I am sure I missed someone in my original e-mail.

Don't forget to give me your updated contact information in the form to the right.


Click the following for a family update.
http://kristiasher.blogspot.com/2007/12/family-update.html.


Find out what I have been up to in the past year for work by clicking here.
http://kristiasher.blogspot.com/2007/12/in-june-i-left-clarian-to-pursue.html.


My fun activities update...
http://kristiasher.blogspot.com/2007/12/fun-pursuits-2007.html.

Learn more about Metamora happenings..
http://kristiasher.blogspot.com/2007/12/metamora.html.

Read some funny Christmas poems by clicking here...
http://kristiasher.blogspot.com/2007/12/funny-christmas-poems-by-christopher.html.

Metamora

We still have the store in Metamora. Have you been to Metamora lately?

Jonna and I are working on a site and mailing list to keep people up to date on Metamora. If you would like to be added to the mailing list, please let me know. The site is http://www.metamora.info.




The crowds were a bit bigger this year, so we are hoping the people are remembering Metamora again so we can keep the history alive!

Fun Pursuits 2007

Well, I didn't get too travel to much this year, or pursue my hobbies, but I have a few updates.

I went to Iowa and visited the Pope's. April and the kids are very active in a local rescue group so I helped out and we had a fun time at the "Fur Ball." Note the pic with the kids and Renthia (leader of the rescue group).


I got to go to Chicago and see Karen a couple of times. We also had a girls weekend when Mary had her baby shower. Amy, Karen, Mary and I got pampered at a local spa.


Jonna and I both like to do dog agility and flyball with the dogs. Jonna is actively competing so at least one weekend a month I might be able to go to such exotic locales as Cincinnati, Dayton, or Indianapolis for agility tournaments.

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In 2008, I hope to get to travel a bit more and do a bit more geocaching and scrapbooking.

Family Update

Dad keeps hanging in there, but he likes to visit his friends with overnight stays at Major Hospital in Shelbyville. Dad likes to keep the doctors guessing. Jonna and I think he enjoys hearing "I have never seen this before."

Dad's love of his life, Ruthie, is constantly by his side. I personally do not know a more spoiled dog in my entire life. She is obnoxious. Unfortunately, Ruthie also has not met a treat she does not like! She loves going to Metamora and meeting all the people that walk through the shop. Her and dad are a typical site in town. Dad and his broomstick (cane) and Ruthie 6 feet from him with her nose to the ground.

For those that do not know, Ruthie is famous. She was featured in a book put out by http://www.petfinder.com. The following is the link to the Shelbyville News story that ran last year.

http://www.shelbynews.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=43015&SectionID=1&SubSectionID=93&S=1

I am mentioned in the Shelbyville News article because I was the one that did the interview. However, I must state that the story gets bigger and bigger everytime it is told (LOL). I also did not actually say a couple of the quotes that are in there. I believe that the news writer took some creative license. However, it is a sweet story and brought about an article promoting dog adoption.




Mom
Mom would tell you that she did not have a good year. She took a fall off a step outside and broke her shoulder. Unfortunately, since she needs a walker and/or wheelchair to get around she needed to stay in the Nursing Home until she was somewhat healed. She spent most of the summer in the Heritage House Nursing Home in Shelbyville. Now, she will tell you it was awful, but I can report she won several dollars at bingo and attended several music events. She was definitely glad to return home. Other than being frustrated with not being able to do what she used to, she is doing a lot better than even before she broke her shoulder.

Mom has a favorite grandpuppy, named Zorra. Zorra is infatuated with Mom. Jonna will ask her; "Where's grandma?" The ears go up and she BOLTS for mom. She rubs all over mom and just LOVES her. In fact, the day mom came home from the Nursing Home she sat on mom's lap all afternoon and would not leave!


Jonna is the Customer Service Director for http://www.aiportparkingreservations.com and http://www.parksleepfly.com. In reality, I think she runs the place. There are 4(?) owners that all depend on her. She seems to enjoy it, plus she gets to work from home.

As a stress reliever, Jonna has been writing a dog blog which has quite a following. It is REALLY funny. You must check it out at http://katiezipperdoodle.blogspot.com.

You will notice on her site that the dogs all compete in dog agility. I do not have a dog competing (just training), but it is good exercise and a lot of fun. All three of Jonna's dogs have some titles. The following is a short clip of one of Katie competing with Jonna.

Due to our busy schedule this year, Jonna does not have any artistic items for me to share with you this year, but I am sure she will make time for some creative pursuits next year.


Cousins
We got to see two of our cousins this year. Steve and Debbie stopped by to visit when mom was in the Nursing Home. Debbie is the one that got Jonna hooked on the Beatles at a young age. I had not met them before since they are a little older, but Jonna definitely remembered them! Debbie had some pictures of our paternal grandfather that I had never seen. It was exciting to see some more family photos and meet cousins.


In the coming year, I hope to sit down with Mom and Dad to do some family scrapbooking. I do not know who several people in the pictures are, it would be nice to get a lot of the family memories documented.

Funny Christmas Poems by Christopher Huff

"Jingle Bells"

Dashing through the tool, just two weeks away,
closing those requests, wanting not to stay.
All your gifts are bought, vacation time is near.
What, vacation days are gone? This is nothing you should fear.

Oh...cubicles, cubicles, cubicles no more
meeting rooms and popcorn fumes..just a few feet to the door.
Oh...cubicles, cubicles, cubicles no more
meeting rooms and popcorn fumes..just a few feet to the door.

A day or two ago, you stumbled on outside,
to Borders you did do, "off-site meeting" you had lied.
Books and disks you bought, a gift card maybe two.
Now explain yourself you sop. The State took you shopping, too?

Oh...cubicles, cubicles, cubicles no more
meeting rooms and popcorn fumes..just a few feet to the door.
Oh...cubicles, cubicles, cubicles no more
meeting rooms and popcorn fumes..just a few feet to the door.
Timesheets they are due, but better watch the time

you forgot your uncle Lou, so enjoy those shopping lines.
You might be staying home, might visit your close kin.
maybe it's the in-laws...nah, go visit with some friends.

Oh...cubicles, cubicles, cubicles no more
meeting rooms and popcorn fumes..just a few feet to the door.
Oh...cubicles, cubicles, cubicles no more
meeting rooms and popcorn fumes..just a few feet to the door.

Now the time is drawing near, for walking to your car,
driving through the snow but not driving very far.
Traffic will be thick..hey what's that smoke you spot,
your rear-view mirror shows your fear...you forgot the coffee pot.

Oh...cubicles, cubicles, cubicles no more
meeting rooms and popcorn fumes..just a few feet to the door.
Oh...cubicles, cubicles, cubicles no more
meeting rooms and popcorn fumes..just a few feet to the door.





"Twas the night before christmas…"

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the floor
Not a coffee pot brewing, no java to pour;
The lights on the west side, all dark and foreboding,
the microwaves silenced and security was snoring.
Virus scanners and firewalls, protected the 'puters
Spare change all spent on presents, so no worry of looters.
When up from the LAN, there arose such a clatter,
The tracking tool was changing, requests had become fatter.
Activities added, assignments had been made,
Estimates were growing and names had been changed.
The LAN slowly grew quiet; no hard drives were spinning,
these gifts had been given: auto-assigned (there's no winning).
The hallway was quiet, 'cept the printer was jamming,
the copy machine, like a duet, was a printing.
Then, just as quick as it happened, the printers and the LAN,
the lights flickered twice and it was too hot to stand.
Suddenly, I awoke in a sweat. A dream, nothing more.
My thermostat set too high, at a hot 84.
Then I heard from outside, a whisper like sound,
"IT6 ain't that grand…the tracking tool's down."
So as you think of the snow and the holiday cheer,
close all your requests and I'll see you next year.

Happy Holidays!

Welcome to my online Holiday greeting card. Feel free to pass along to others. I am sure I missed someone in my original e-mail.

Don't forget to give me your updated contact information in the form below.

Find out what I have been up to in the past year for work by clicking here.


Read some funny Christmas poems by clicking here... http://kristiasher.blogspot.com/2007/12/funny-christmas-poems-by-christopher.html.