I had a great Christmas season that began with lots of parties including the 'Santa Brunch' and investment club parties with Sharon. Then I shuffled on up to Santa Monica to party with the STC crowd - they are a festive bunch!
Next on the Agenda was the Schacht Family Christmas dinner at the Prado in Balboa Park. Tyler and Monica flew out from Chicago and brought the cold holiday weather.
Ty and I snuck in a hike up the Mt. Gower trail - not a bad view of the Country Estates in Ramona.
Next it was off to Sacramento for Christmas. The Tango came along so we didn't overload Andrews' house. And since snow had been falling for most of the past 2 weeks, we headed to Tahoe for a little downhill skiing. Adam hot dogged on his board while Miranda, Andrew and I stuck to skiing. After 15 years, it all came back pretty quick!
We had a big crowd for the Eve dinner including the whole Vice Clan.
Miranda was the center of attention on Christmas morning...
And the whole family joined for a game of Horseopoly!
After the big day, the weather improved and we did a lot of stuff including dinner with Vic & Kev, wine tasting with Scott & Lyn and a fine golf outing. Not just another foursome, this was the gathering of an elite club. The four and only green jacket victors from the John Pechal Memorial Golf Tournament (L to R: Ed, Dr. DruP, Buddy, Stat).
Back to Southern California, I spent New Years with Sharon an the boys at Lake Arrowhead in the beautiful snowy surroundings. Lots of fun outdoors...
And in.
It wore everyone out, including Ruby.
Returning to San Diego to settle in for the winter, I have moved into Sue's nice condo in La Jolla.
I could get used to this... great digs, walking to the UTC mall, UCSD campus, and Torrey Pines. Ripley and I are putting in 5-10 miles a day.I also am taking 12 units at UCSD Extension in the Sustainable Business Practices certificate program. That is keeping me out of trouble.
The Anza Borrego Desert State Park is also getting a monthly visit. I have been roughing it at the Peg Leg dry camp for the last couple months. Bill joined in January for the full moon and a fire.
But last weekend I lived it up at the country club with the Payne's. Sharon's parents were great hosts. Bob treated me to 18 holes of golf and Patty shared all the stories of the house.Sharon and I explored 'The Slot' in the Samurai.
It was very narrow...
And I did some hiking with Ripley.
The views were spectacular after the wind and rain passed through.
And Henry celebrated his 2nd birtday!
To top it all off, we stopped to watch it snow in the San Diego mountains on the way home.
Whew! That was a lot of catching up. And a ton of fun!
Now a bunch of reading and homework awaits - I gotta crack the books!
And some rugged peaks.
The Chollo cactus are looking good.
And this Ocotillo is the first to bloom!
Did I mention how gorgeous the Chollos are? Look at this grove.
More.
We hit the trail to climb 1,000 feet in 3 miles on the way to Coyote peak. Lots of views that follow, and a tough spot in the trail that was unclear which way we should go.
And watched him climb the opposite wall of the canyon.
To see the South-east drop to Coyote Creek.
And the view of De 
The dessert sunset.
And a moonlit view of the Peg Leg monument. I'll have to give you a better look in the daylight.
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