ces petites soirées tranquilles
In keeping with tradition, may I now present my sixth (!) annual LJ Christmas update, this time with a veritable deluge of pictures. I had a lovely weekend skiing up in the mountains and at home and received far more than I was expecting Sunday morning. People were far, far more generous than I deserve, and I’m beyond grateful.
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L’aube. Dawn Friday morning, looking out the back porch of the cabin to the east.
The cabin. It belongs to a church family, friends of the Kiefers. Many groups and families have evidently visited–there’s a nearly-full guestbook in the kitchen. Downstairs from the main living area is another bedroom, along with a gameroom, complete with air hockey and ping-pong tables. Matt Kiefer ended up kicking my butt 4 games to 3 over the course of the time we were there. The boy is quick, ’nuff said.
Aaron + kitchen area.
A grainy fireplace picture. Matt and I slept on futons in the living room, right next to the fireplace. Falling asleep to smoldering embers is the best.
Beech Mountain. Looking up at the main common area and the slopes.
A view from the top. The weather was cool, clear and beyond compare. Ideal.
Another view. Every once in a while a plane would fly by, leaving a sharp contrail in the crystal sky. I felt much closer to them than I would have at a lower elevation.
Aaron’s ready to rock and roll after lunch.
Again, near the top of the mountain.
The wonderful Kiefer family. From left to right, Mr. Kiefer, Lydia, Hannah, Aaron, Mrs. Kiefer, Matt.
The boys, pre-departure on Saturday morning. I was loath to leave.
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And now for a Christmas gift gallery:
Modeling three gifts simultaneously, a dark blue v-neck wool sweater, my leather coat and my new headset for the airplane. All three should last me nearly forever.
My Leatherman™ tool in closed configuration.
The modern-day Swiss army knife. Very handy for on-the-spot fixes to the airplane during preflight inspections.
My VFR kneeboard. Will come in handy (knee-y?) for the upcoming series of cross-country flights. Organization is key.
Wholly unexpected–a new DVD player. I had been using the PS2, which would only play about half my DVDs half of the time and finally quit on me about three weeks ago. I can watch movies again :)
The requisite calendar. Astronomy-themed, with monthly star charts and astronomical events.
A new wall covering.
I love Shel Silverstein. This was a gift from my mom to whichever of my brothers and I wanted it, and I immediately claimed it (with no protestation from either of them). We used to play little word games like that all the time on road trips with store names and such.
My favorite in-car trip game. I have about two other editions which are getting seriously long in the tooth and scribbled over, so this is a lifesaver.
A very cool book my mom picked up during her recent trip to New York and MoMA. It’s about the art of Pixar, the animation company. Gorgeous renderings and industrial design sketches. Makes me a bit nostalgic for the design school.
And of course the stash of cookies my parents packed for me to save them from themselves. I could have taken more, but well, y’know.
I received several more books, an auburn scarf from David (just need the sunglasses now to complete the aviator ensemble!), more stocking knick knacks and lots of clothes, shirts and socks and the like. I’m so grateful.
Got to spend some time with more friends over the weekend too. Leslie and I went to Panera last night and talked about her recent trip to Asheville for Christmas, and David (not my brother) and I went to a great pub in downtown Durham called James Joyce. I relish the times I spend with my friends more than I ever thought I would. I’m really on the fence about whether to stay here in town or go back to Chapel Hill for New Year’s Eve. I have groups of friends in both places.
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Merci, Elyse, pour les disques compactes! Je m’amuse bien à écouter Les Wacky Chansons de Noël et j’adore Pauline Croze. J’ai reçu ta carte postale aussi! Merci pour tout, et rassure-toi que ton cadeau de Noël vient aussi rapidement que je peux trouver une boîte pour l’emballer. Je t’embrasse!
I have about 50 USD so can I get 10 airplane rides?
So did you get, like, everything you wanted?
Well, with a working DVD player, I guess you’ll want your DVD back now… Love the aviatory (Is that a word? Was it used right? Oh well, call Merriam or Webster!) theme! And I’m SO very jealous of your cookie stash… those are my favorite!! You got some good stuff!! Congrats!
Oh, last thoughts, stay in town! Stay in town! It’ll be fun (I won’t say “more”)!
I think that sign is, um, antiquated. So no.
:)
Yes, I got way too much.
edited to remedy crappy spelling
Only if you’ve watched it :) I do not accept DVD returns in the “non-viewed” condition. Keep it as long as you like.
Aviatory can be a word. Little known fact: I’m on the Board of Acceptance or whatever of Webster’s and I deem in worthy. So it’s in.
I’m leaning toward staying in town. Haven’t seen you guys in a while and New Year’s Eve would be fun…
Wah hoo! I was wanting to watch it again!
Wah hoo! I like to make up words! Glad I’ve got an inside contact!
Wah hoo! (Just because…)
bonjour…
hey, i added you too. i noticed you are in some kind of mission training? i am an mk from senegal and just got back from a year in the czech republic a few weeks ago. nice to “meet” you. ;)
joie
Re: bonjour…
I’ve just finished my first half-year training to become a missionary pilot (or just work with missionary aviation overseas in some capacity). It’s a fantastic course of study and I feel more of a connection with the former missionaries who instruct us pilots-in-training than I do with most folks. My family and I lived in France for five years (non-missions-related) and our best friends were–and continue to be–those we met there.
How long were you in Senegal? Nice to meet you as well :) Dis-tu ton nom d’après la façon française?
I’m glad that you liked :)
just out of curiousity, do you listen to music when you fly?
I LOVE those cookies.
Merry Christmas!!
No, I don’t. Some more experienced pilots do, but I don’t think I ever will. The whole activity just takes too much vigilence (especially re:communications) to be distracted by radio.
Interestingly, one of the navigation aids we use, NDBs (Non-Directional Beacons), are basically AM radio transmitters we home in on using an instrument in the plane called an ADF (Automatic Direction Finder). The ADF can also pick up commercial AM radio stations. So it’s conceivable that if I’m truly bored up there in the sky I could tune in and listen to Rush (or Al Franken) and home in on whatever antenna was transmitting his show.
Cookies are all gone :) As proof of their goodness, they were inhaled last night and today. Yum.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, stina!
ooo… scary….
please promise me that you will *never* listen to Rush whilst flying, please.