The Water, The Carpet & The Plumber's Butt

I guess I should have seen it coming. We made it through Christmas; everyone safe and sound. Everyone had a joyous and Merry Christmas. Then the silence. Oh it is always the silence that one should heed warning from impending doom. Of course if you're me, it always seems to hit right after some major monetary output, oh say... Christmas. It is cold outside, the fire is warm to sit by, but the gross, cold squishy feeling of the wet carpet under my feet as I walk to the kitchen was just not in the holiday plans. Yes, a pipe has burst. OMG, the horror...



So I call my pals over at my favorite plumbers shop, because I cannot handle a job of this magnitude. They send me a very nice man. Honestly, he is a very gregarious, 300+ lbs, red neck fellow from Roswell, NM and funny to boot. But, yeah, he has the ever feared butt crack thing working. No, this guy is not the plumber from Wisteria lane. Mind you, I am not looking, but every time he asks to show me where my problem is, he turns away from me, thus, up staging me with his size 56 inch (guessing), plumber's butt. My God man, can't you just verbalize the said problem, tell me my damage and maybe some options, and move on with the fix. This is definitely the elephant in the room for the day. But guys just do not tell guys to pull up their trousers. It is an unspoken code. I think. I just want the water to quit spewing from the side of the house and get back to normal. So, lucky me, I stare a $400 fix in the eye and my new plumber friend has seared this picture of near unspeakable horror in my mind for who knows how long? I am stuck alone this week to sit with my thoughts and let this one stew, as my kids have taken a very last moment trip.





All I want for my birthday is therapy, and lots of it. At least I saved you the horror. I do not dare ask, nor even wonder what else is in store for me this week.

Last Chance to Dance in 2008

A fun way some of my friends have chosen to alert you of some very worthy Blogs, for your enjoyment.



Hope you have fun.Thanks to Jay & Deb, for a fun fall of Mission Monday.

Happy Christmas Eve

So the big night is here. I am pretty sure the fat jolly dude has us on his route . I know the kids are excited about his visit and what may await them under the tree in the morning. They have been shaking presents trying to guess what might be inside. (Yeah, good luck with that.) I however, am wishing I could be with family. Gifts are so yesterday, but seeing family is very important. I will miss my dad's famous rock salt prime rib roast. I wonder what the Vegas line is on which brother will get the coveted left overs? I will miss seeing the faces of all the cousins as they interact with each other. I will miss the ageless jokes about my mother's awesome attempts to make dressing and fail painfully. (Honest, she had the best of intentions). The best was the year she made twice baked potatoes and when putting the cheese on top she forgot to remove that paper backing that separates the cheese in the package. Until my sister cut into hers, no one knew. I know it was not the eggnog because she does not drink. I chalk it up to the brain damage incurred from raising us five hellions. It seems that every year we revisit some of these and many more great moments in Elggren history. I am so very thankful for that which I do have.

I wish all of my family & friends and their families a very Merry Christmas.

For a good laugh go visit my friend The Mom for a very funny Christmas tale..



May God Bless you with warmth when it is cold outside. The warmth of good company in family & friends. And may the love and joy of the season fill your heart.

"She Said It's Cold Outside, and She Hands Me My Rain Coat."

So, 12 inches of snow throughout Saturday, now 23 degrees and we have a 1/2 inch of freezing rain as a nice layer on top. Like icing on the cake. Can you say drop the hockey puck let's play? This is the most wintry weather we have had in Portland for a very long time. I love it. It reminds of the wintry beauty of Salt Lake City that I miss so. You see, you can shovel snow and it looks pretty.












Like the kids' snowman...er...snow penguin?

Fanciful Funny As Hell Friday

So this will not have the same impact next week. That's why I thought I'd post it today. Enjoy! May your holiday gatherings be bright and may you all have a Very Merry Christmas. (I've been a very good boy Mrs. Claus)



I just share. I am a sharer.

A Thousand Word Thursday

I heard a wicked rumor that just had to be dispelled. Just watch, It will warm your heart and make you laugh. Merry Christmas to all.

There's Snow In Them Thar Hills

All told about 8 inches at 5pm. Beauty Eh? More to come they say.



Finally we got rid of the rain and got snow!!! With the daytime high expected to be around 31, which was at 7am this morning, our current temp is a balmy 28, headed for 18 with hardly any wind, making it toasty warm.

Anyone who knows me knows that I absolutely love the snow. Probably why my first job out of college was on the ski patrol at Park West, now The Canyons outside Salt Lake City. Snow provides such a beautiful blanket over the landscape, and is so peaceful. Hey Mom, note the snow wall that has begun from shoveling. (a family thing)



The kids have been out playing in the wintry wonderland for hours. When I asked if they wanted to come in for some warm lunch and take a break (dumb question for an 8 & 5 yr old) I got the look of disgust.

" No way dad, we have way too much to do."

I feel sorry for those poor suckers that have no clue on how to drive/navigate in these conditions. Just don't hit me, you flat-land, no driving skills geeks. Even some of the news channels preempt regular programming for most of the day to cover the "Arctic Blast". The entire region comes to a halt...it kinda makes me laugh. What are we talking about here, snow? They are predicting that we will not break 32 this week in Portland and more snow on the way. Maybe we will have our first white Christmas since moving here. It's snowylicious!

Daddy's Beautiful Girl

I have been trying to force myself to slow down and smell the roses once and a while. As most of you know I live life at frenetic pace. This existence lends itself to missing some things. So today when Alayna came home from school and I saw how beautiful she looked, I first had to stop and compliment her, and then capture her on (OMG I almost said film) digital. Good thing she got her looks from her mom.



She has such a fun personality. She is so hopeful that we actually do get the snow they have been talking about this weekend on the valley floor. Hey, if it can snow in New Orleans today, why not here? I actually love snow and prefer it over the damned rain. Why do I live in Portland?? Hmmm, I guess I will have to reassess.

A Thousand Word Thursday

And for an ever so brief moment the fighting, shoving, chasing and name calling was at a cease fire, just along enough for these two shots.



Those are family heirloom stockings made with great love, by hand, by the kids Aunts. Chaos and disorder has been reinstated. To make the spirits brighter this season Alayna came home from school today with her "NEW" recorder. You know, those really obnoxious, ear piercing mini frigging flute things. All the dogs in the neighborhood were in tears tonight. I may not be far behind. Merry Christmas to All.

Great Book for Teachers & Moms

So I have to give credit where credit is due. My new friend,The Mom Jen came across this awesome book. Read her review and I am sure you would agree it sounds like a great book full of cathartic moments. If you're not sold then all the many reviews over on Amazon.com should do the trick.



Looking for the perfect Christmas gift for your child's teacher? Buy him or her

I Hate It When That Happens

Gotta watch for the metal wing of the toy plane you are playing with during free time at Kindergarten Godzilla.



Yowzers !!!! That's going to leave a mark.

Thousand Word Thursday

Every Year we put together 2-3 family collage pages of our immediate family activities fun, silly and or down right hilarious moments during the year to add to the new collective Elggren family calendar. This was one of our submissions last year.

The Marginalization of Christmas ??

So, I am taking on this topic today because it digs at me so sharply I could turn into the ghost of Christmas past. Not the Grinch mind you, no, a Christmas terrorist spreading the Merry Christmas mantra across the world with reckless abandon. As many of you may know I sell to the retail world. So, I spend a great deal of time during the 4th quarter going to stores to check on ads, competition and the like. I have been very disappointed the past few years to find a horrific tectonic shift taking place out there. Retailers have been using 'Holiday' instead of 'Christmas' in their stores and in their ads. Come on, really? Now in my mind this is as ridiculous as removing, "under God", as in,

"One nation under God"

from the Pledge of Allegiance. But I won't skip down that road today. We will leave that for another piss and vinegar session. I dare you to go into 5 stores of your choice; may they be Banana Republic, Target or Macy's or any others and just buy a candy bar. Then wish the cashier "Merry Christmas" and see if you get the same response in return. Sadly, I can tell you that you will not, at least half of the time. That to me is just plain sacrilege. Someone says something nice to you, should you not reply in the like? That is just the tip of the iceberg for me. Most stores do not even use or reference Christmas in their ads and/or on their in-store signage. Basically "Marginalizing Christmas."

Now I know we each have the right to our belief systems and all, but Christmas is about family, the birth of Christ, and giving. No time in the history of our lives do we need the feel good magical embrace of the CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY like we do now with the state of our country's economy. Christmas is not some unspecified winter Holiday. The Christmas tree is not the holiday tree for God's sake. Even the Hanukkah bush is not a Holiday bush. (see, I can play nice in the sand box.)

We need to take back Christmas!!!!!. Say "Merry Christmas" to everyone you encounter, and if they don't like it, well too freaking bad. Their souls must be frozen and they shall get coal. Put decorations up, watch "The Christmas Story" for good family laughs. Reach out to a long lost friend or family member. Even though times are tough, give whenever you can even if it is just from your heart. Remember the pay it forward principle. Embrace the true meaning of Christmas. LOVE.

Merry Christmas to all.

Oh yeah, Santa please don't forget my bottle of Macallan (Glenlivet) Scotch 21 Yr. 86

Lights, Tree & Stockings

So after much labor we can flip the switch and see if I blow all the breakers in the house.



Mr. Jordan Who


Mini villages on every table. Colleen's love and collection.



The stockings are hung with great care.



Now we just need to wait 23 more days for the jolly old guy to show. Happy Holidays