All I'm thinking about today is the tropical paradise my backyard is becoming. It doesn't snow in paradise!

With a little luck, I'll be able to enjoy an Ottawa driving range this afternoon (and the rest of the season, a birthday gift from my family). This pic is the Calloway Golf Center in Vegas with the Mandalay Bay and other hotels in the background.

As I noted on Northern Perspectives, Toronto is starting to resemble the cities of China, in this case Shenzen.

Where did these cold temperatures come from???? If this doesn't stop, I'm going back to California!

Since nobody else is posting pictures of the ice receding from the lake, allow me. I wonder if I can get book deal?

There was only one of these guys left to guard the steeple. Downsizing?

Can anyone tell me what time it was in Kemptville? It seemed like time was warped for most of the weekend. This might explain the on ice performance....or it could have been the lack of good margaritas.

I played my second round of golf at the Steele Canyon course outside San Diego hosted by my buddy Rod and his golfing bagmen. After scaring the hell out fo them for a few holes, the dramatic elevation changes got the better of my 'winter' game. Still, a wonderful afternoon and a perfect reason to demand a rematch in the future.

Lesia and Jean enjoy the wine in Laguna Beach under the glow of the propane heaters.

We drove on to warm sunny California and spent a couple of days with Jean's friend Lesia in Laguna Niguel. Dinner was overlooking the beach, the steak was as good as any I've ever eaten, the wine, exquisite and the friendship superb.

Jean and the kids get comfortable with the dog.

We continued south after the Hoover Dam and drove to Phoenix where we spent the night with Shannon, Melanie, Aiden and Avery, my former neighbors in California.

I

On Tuesday, we headed south to the Hoover Dam. From the canyon walls, you can see how low the water level is (60 feet minimum by my guess). It is really difficult to get a true sense of the scale in these photos everything is so large. The top picture is the new suspension bridge being built over the gorge. The people in the picture are almost imperceptibly small.

Jean and I are just back from a week in Vegas and points westward. On our final night, we had dinner with business coleagues from Montreal on the patio at mon ami Gabi across the street from the Bellagio and its wonderful fountains. Overhead, the Eiffel Tower....sort of.

Just for Rob, I'll end with this one. The bar was packed with a large group from somewhere who were so loud you could hear them across the street so I can't tell you whether their margaritas are any good but I must say that every one I did have in Vegas was a good one.

On the weekend, I built a fire in the chimenea, sat in the warm sun and watched the snow melt.

OK Rob...here's my best HOT (non winter) picture. Jean and I are off to enjoy similar climate in two weeks.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, MR. P!!!

Jackson doing what he likes best...playing in the snow with his stuffed toys.

Happy New Year!!!!

Merry Christmas everybody!!

It's a snowy morning with another 10 cms overnight. I'm so happy to be walking instead of crawling to work in traffic. All we want for Christmas is an end to the bus strike.

Combine the weather and a strike by the Bus Drivers Union and you have a wonderful way to build up those pre-Christmas stress levels. I'm so thankful that I walk to work each day.