Christmas Eve and Christmas Sunday 2011 at Timberlake UMC East

We had a Christmas Eve Candlelight service at Timberlake UMC East. While the service itself was good, it was a technological nightmare. All the songs and readings were on the PowerPoint and shortly after we started it shut down on us. Joanne tried to keep the service going from her seat at the piano, while I tried to remedy the problem and I didn't have a clue what I was doing. When I finally got it back up, the screen had shifted to the right, leaving off words from the carols and readings. Everyone was very kind about all the problems, but Joanne and I were mortified.

Our Christmas morning service went much smoother than our Christmas Eve service, no techno-glitches (Have you ever noticed that when things go well they don't make for very good stories? Just a thought) We had our service a bit earlier than normal, so folks could leave to spend the day with their families. It was a beautiful morning to celebrate with a nice turnout and great fellowship.

 A Very Merry Christmas to you all.

Welcome to the Family

Two years ago this January, our dog Millie died. Since then I haven't really considered getting a new dog. Milie had been a member of our family for 13 years and it was to hard to think about having another dog.

http://mountairyjournal.blogspot.com/2010/01/millie.html

In November, a friend from High School had a picture on Facebook of a dog posted by the ASPCA in Bedford. When I clicked on the picture, a collection of pictures of a lot of dogs came up. The ASPCA had gone to the Bedford Animal Shelter and taken pictures of all the dogs there, in the hopes that someone would adopt. As I was going through the photos I spotted 2 dachshunds in a pen. I didn't think or hesitate, I called right away and I kept calling for 5 days, until I got an answer. When I finally got through, I was told that the female had already been adopted, but the male was still available. I told them that I would be there the next morning.

When they brought Tiger out, he wouldn't even look at me. If I tried to reach out to touch him, he drew away, hiding behind the leg of the girl who brought him out. They suggested that I take him out for a little walk. Even then he wanted very little to do with me and contined to draw away. Things were not going well for the relationship. But when I went back inside and they asked me what I thought, I said, "I think we're going home now".

It took us a couple of days to connect, but we finally did. For Joanne it took a few more days. I had to leave for a weekend class and while I was gone, Tiger was not very receptive. Actually, according to Joanne, he would go to the other end of the sofa and curl up with his back to her, ignoring her. But that night they bonded when he curled up next to Joanne in bed under the covers and slept.

In December we got a call from the family that had adopted the other dachshund. They were not siblings, not from the same litter, but they were a bonded pair. They asked if we were still interested in having them both. Again, without hesitation, my answer was "Yes!". When we went to pick her up, we were surprised to find that she was half his size. Tiger was 12 pounds, while Princess was a diminutive 7 pounds. (Our vet thinks that she'll stay about that size.) We were told that she was very sedate, all she did was lay around sleeping and want to be cuddled and that was exactly what she did all the way home in Joanne's lap.

When we got Princess home, we brought her in the house and brought out Tiger. They looked at each other and went nose to nose. After a few more strategically placed sniffs all pandemonium broke out. They were jumping all over each other and chasing each other all around the house. She hadn't been sedate, she was depressed. When we took them both out on the leash, they walked side by side, when Tiger turned Princess turned right along with him. Once they got back inside, they both curled up in the armchair and went to sleep. Together again, all is right with the world.

We have had a few people who have questioned our sanity at acquiring two dogs. But, its been about a month now and I can't imagine not having them both. They still romp and chase each other. They have this wrestle/fighting they do, biting each other, chewing on each others legs and ears, all the while growling ferociously with teeth bared. Every once in awhile Princess will yelp because Tiger hurt her, kind of big brother-little sister rough play. At first we thought that Tiger was picking on Princess. When we watched more closely, she is the instigator most of the time and when she yelps he'll stop, but she prods him to start up again.


 Joanne had mentioned that she was thinking about getting me a dog for Christmas. We decided that we weren't really ready for another dog. Then a friend posts a random picture of an ASPCA dog and I find Tiger and Princess. We get one and then the other. I got my Christmas present(s).

It doesn't get much better than this!

Family Christmas 2010

2010 Advent on the Mt Airy Charge

Visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in December

We hadn't been to Universal Studios in Orlando since 1994. We make a yearly trek to Walt Disney World, but have not had the desire to go to Universal again, until now. Now The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is part of the Islands of Adventure park. It is the only thing I can think of that would have gotten me back into Universal. Unless they come up with a Lord of the Rings section, but I digress.

When you walk through the entrance below, you are greeted by the scene above. The Hogwarts Express on you right, with all the hissing and steam you need, and the street of Hogsmeade before you. If you've read the books and watched the movies, it will take your breath away. Joanne had to keep grabbing me, because I was walking around like a dazed kid. She was afraid that I would walk into someone or a wall.

The engine of the Hogwarts Express is lovely in deatail. I was going to take a picture of Joanne in front of the engine, but she kept motioning for me to get in the picture, too. I said, "I can't, I'm taking the picture." She said, in her aggravated voice, "Not you, Him!" I looked to my side and there was the Conductor of the Hogwarts Express, looking very sheepish and questioningly asking, "Me?" Joanne nodded with a grin and he hustled over to get in the shot.

Looking down the street towards Hogwarts Castle.

At the Owl Post you can mail letters or postcards and get them postmarked from Hogsmeade. Honeydukes is the store with all the candies; chocolate frogs and cauldrons, sweets and sours, and every flavored beans.

Looking down the street from the castle.

Zonko's is the gag and gift shop.

This is the back of Hogsmeade, its not just a bunch of store fronts, the whole thing is done right.

The Hogwarts Castle is an incredible sight. It appears massive and is so accurate to the movie.

Joanne and I took the walking tour through the castle. We walked through scenes from the movie. When we finished the tour, Joanne went back outside and waited for me while I did the Forbidden Journey ride.

The stairwell of talking portraits

Dumbledore's Office

Defense Against the Dark Arts Classroom

Hog's Head pub

The hog's head actually grunts and snorts.

Unfortunately, the shrunken heads don't talk. I think their stitches are too tight.

Joanne and I slipped up to the bar for a butterbeer. We think its a mix of cream soda, butterscotch, and whipped cream. Its a tad sweet, but we wanted to be able to say we had one.

The outside of the Owlrey above and the inside below. The owls in the rafters hooted and flapped their wings.

Hagrid's Hut, unfortunately you can't go inside.

"He's a Hippogriff, isn't he beautiful."

Hippogriff, the ride.

The Three Broomsticks restaurant where we had lunch. Nothing particularly fancy about it, but it was a nice place to take a sit down. We sat at a table with a couple from Great Britain and had a great conversation.  

 

We were invited to be guest singers with the Hogwarts' Choir. Joanne was readily accepted into the choir. Unfortunately, I was relegated to "Toad Status".

Notice how we stood with the sides that we were color coordinated with; I stood with the ladies from Beauxbatons and Joanne stood with the gentlemen from Durmstrang.

A screeching mandrake.

Hedwig

Finally we have Joanne with the moving wanted poster of Sirius Black. It was a great day and I'd go back in a heart beat. The whole thing was extremely well done.