Family Time

Morning ritual, listened to Net Assessment episode on China. Fixed breakfast, packed camera for beach. Did two sets of planks. Exchanged text messages with Loni and Leland. Drove to the coast with Annette—weather was windy and rainy. Reminisced about drives we took as kids. She talked about her cat Rowan, exploring options for new place to live, Kennewick an interesting option. Ate lunch at the Blue Whale in Yachats. We came home, gave Annette the spider plant starts, she left, I took a nap. Discovered some photos I'd missed from Mexico trip. Worked on key wording in photo library. Sydne, Dakota, Deaken, and Koa came over, played the game 22, we ate Chinese food delivered by Doordash. Watched most of an Ancient World episode on the Maya. It's Christmas Day. The dawn is beautiful. It was a good day with family. I love them all.

From Beach Drive to Card Games

December 26, 2025

These notes describe the events of Wednesday, 12/25/2025.

I began my morning ritual, listening to the Net Assessment episode—What Does the United States Want From China and Why. The geopolitical analysis providing intellectual engagement on Christmas morning. I fixed a sandwich for breakfast and continued listening. I packed a camera to take to the beach. The photographer's instinct, preparing to capture whatever the coast might offer. I reloaded the beer fridge. The small domestic tasks maintaining hospitality. I did two sets of planks. The fitness routine continuing even on holidays, building core strength for New Zealand. I exchanged text messages with Loni and Leland. There were frequent tech exchanges with Loni throughout the day. The family connection across distance, the checking in on Christmas morning.

At the beach

I drove to the coast with Annette. The weather was windy and rainy. I took a few pictures of the surf and clouds. We reminisced about drives we had taken when we were kids. The patterns similar to our childhood drives, though the location was very different—we grew up in southeastern Washington state. She told me what's going on with her cat Rowan. She talked about exploring options for a new place to live. Kennewick is an interesting option with many things going for it. The sister conversation ranging across pets, possibilities, life transitions. The sibling bond that allows discussion of major decisions without pressure or judgment.

We ate lunch at the Blue Whale in Yachats. The restaurant was semi-open—kitchen open but only one person serving. They let you "camp out" at a table and served your take-out on plates if you wanted them. Basically full table service, but it wasn't very busy. The atmosphere was relaxed and comfortable, a good Christmas vibe. The flavors were a little off for me, likely because of my ordering, but the people there were very friendly and we were grateful that they were open on Christmas. The coastal town, the meal breaking up the drive, the continuation of conversation over food.

We came home. I gave Annette the spider plant starts. The plants I'd nurtured now passed to her care, the gift delivered. Annette left to go home—she needed to get back and check on her cat. I took a nap. The recovery time after the drive and the morning's activities.

I discovered some photos I'd missed from the Mexico trip. The digital archaeology, finding images that had slipped through the initial review. I worked on key wording in the photo library. I started by key wording some of the images from the Mexico trip, but this lapsed into working on cleaning up the keyword collection. I'm making steady progress but it's a lot of work. The metadata organization, the endless task of making thousands of images findable and usable. The kind of digital housekeeping that photographers know they need to do but never quite finish.

Sydne, Dakota, Deaken, and Koa came over. We played the game 22, which was fun. The family gathering, the card game providing structure and laughter. We ate Chinese food delivered by Doordash. The holiday meal that doesn't require cooking, the modern solution to feeding a group.

I watched most of an Ancient World episode on the Maya. The Mesoamerican civilization, the pyramids and calendar systems, the different patterns of human achievement in the western hemisphere.

It's Christmas Day. The dawn is beautiful as is often the case. The winter light, the quality of morning even on the shortest days. It was a good day with family. I love them all. The simple recognition, the gratitude for connection, the holiday measured not by gifts or traditions but by time spent together.