Friday, January 05, 2007

Christmas in California

As I mentioned in my itinerary, I had Christmas in California. It was a wonderful week! This year I was more than happy to trade a white Christmas for a green, sunny one. :) We (Ted, Chrissie and myself) spent the week with John and Maria (my brother and his wife), who live outside of LA, in the suburb of Burbank. (My parents were in Zambia, and Shirley-Anne and Bwalya were in Japan.)

Here are some pictures (with a bonus at the end) of our Californian Christmas. (Click for full size.) Enjoy!

At John & Maria's table, where we enjoyed many happy meals. (I realize I look like a bit of a half-wit. ;))



This is a panoramic picture of Burbank, taken and spliced by John.



Chrissie and me in a tree at the sea-shore in Santa Barbara.



Ted had difficulty climbing the tree. ;)



Eating our favourite food: Indian!



John and Maria live just around the corner from Hollywood. I'm glad they don't live *in* Hollywood, because Hollywood, in my opinion, is not a very nice place. It is run-down with many decrepit and low-moral stores, and the prominent religion seems to be Scientology.



This is the Chinese theatre in Hollywood, in front of which are the hand and foot imprints and autographs of many Hollywood "stars" preserved in cement.



This are Arnold Schwarzenegger's imprints. Wow, a perfect fit!



Ted always pretends to be taller than me in pictures. :)



Here we are at Universal Studios, where many films have been made. Universal Studios is just 20 minutes from John & Maria's place, and we got half-off tickets. :) In this picture we are saving John from the "Jaws" shark!



John insisted on taking this picture with Shrek. We had to line and up everything. Okay... we all wanted to do it, :) and I couldn't resist patting Shrek on the shoulder.



Here we are--Ted, Chrissie and myself--about to experience the "Terminator II" ride. We are still wearing our ponchos from the previous (wet) ride and are too cold to take them off.



Taking the tour of some of the Universal Studios film sets.



This is part of the set of "War of the Worlds", starring Tom Cruise. See another part of this set in the picture above.



Christmas morning. A most unflattering picture, but what is family for? :)



Finally, click the video below to hear Ted and Chrissie perform a beautiful duet. ;)

ar TORONTO, CANADA | 2023+

APRIL


MAY

27 Sat (1) 11am Commencement speaker at R. University, (2) ~3pm+ time w/ V/AR+
29 Mon (1) 9:30am VT prayer, (2) 3pm mtg DerCh - Mississauga
30 Tue (1) 10am ph call (AA), (2) 5:30pm video mtg (IsTan), (3) 8pm neighbourhood prayer mtg

JUNE
1 Thu (1) 11:30am Zoom mtg (LM), (2) 4pm mtg (VS,KBr)
2 Fri (1) 10:30am ph call (PVDW; SL w/ boys; ~J working)
3 Sat SL w/ boys and MG
5 Mon (1) 9:30am VT prayer mtg, (2) 2pm Europe call, (3) 5pm mtg/walk (YM)
6 Tue (1) 11:30am lunch (GD) - St. Jacobs, (2) 4pm mtg (AF) - Cambridge, (3) 7:30pm worship night
9 Fri ~J's b'day
10 Sat North Bay trip
13 Tue 11am mtg (DAy) (~J school trip w/ ~Co | text BD)
14 Wed 9:30am time w/ BD
15 Thu 4:30pm video mtg (Paul T.)
16 Fri (1) 9am video med appt, (2) 15-km run (Prayer Journey "warm-up")
17 Sat Prayer Journey (my own: 50km GTA bike-ride; Jessie's: 5KM) and speaking at GTA after-party
23-25 Fri-Sat poss. SL
26 Mon 2pm Europe monthly call
29 ... July 7 Thu-Fri poss. holiday in Arkansas

JULY
... 7 Thu-Fri poss. holiday in Arkansas
~8-17 SA+ in Toronto; P/H Bell likely visiting too
15 Sat aft+ baptism (Saj; NaB may be coming)
17-21 Mon-Fri Kids Kapers camp
24 Mon 2:45pm med. appt
26 Wed (1) 11am video mtg (SM), (2) 3pm Zoom mtg (SMa,SB), (3) 7pm ~J speaking at Greenhouse/Zoe - UofT downtown
27 Thu 10am video MVT board mtg
31 Mon 3:05pm med. appt
July/Aug CCWM board mtg / AGM

AUGUST
2 Wed 11am video mtg (SM+)
6-12 Sun-Fri Cottage w/ O/DN+ and UB/AC - Windermere; plus Muskoka
19 Sat poss. ~J fam beach day - Brighton area
25-29 Fri-Tue MoveIn staff retreat - southern Ontario

2023+
Sep 21 Thu - MVT board mtg
Sep 23 Sat poss. date of GV memorial
Sep 24 Sun ~Ch's b'day
Sep ~26-28 Poss. time in Lushnjë, Albania
Sep 29 - Oct 6 MoveIn Europe Conference+ - Durrës, Albania
Oct 21 Sat poss./unlikely date of GV memorial
Oct 21-27 Dollar-a-Day week
Early Nov Poss. fundraising event - Niagara
Nov-Jan Poss. time in India - Goa; Philippines - Manila+; Indonesia - Jakarta/Bali; LA/San Diego