ending the last year and beginning this new one

my last few days in southern california over the holidays were a whirlwind of activity.

this is my cousin, jack, and my dad, louie. my dad is very pro mater dei monarchs. (his alma mater. and mine. and my mom's. and my sister's...)


my brother-in-law, tom, recently acquired a small boat so that he and max can go fishing. one day, we took the boat for a pleasure cruise. it was a tad chilly and quite foggy. my sister does not do well in the cold.


tom, deirdre, and myself: the hat brigade


gotta keep that one ear warm, i guess.


the fog starting to clear.


baring our teeth


salty max


an homage to E.T.? perhaps.

new year's eve at gina farina's house in long beach. i would much rather gather with old friends like gina and deirdre than brave a large crowd. minutes before midnight, we're ready with our champagne.


my toupee must have slipped off when i removed the lampshade from my head. or maybe it was all the dancing on the tables.


a strawberry goes for a dip in my champagne.


ringing in 2009.


new year's day, sufficiently recovered from the wild party the night before, i got a visit from my comadre, jeanette, and her sons, jeremy and jonathan.

jeremy got a tattoo kit for christmas and was nice enough to apply one to my arm. my skin seems to be resistent to tattoos, henna, and golden tans.


at my parents' house, it's all about the eating.

maya loves the little christmas village that my mom put out on display. here she introduces a tiny snowman to baby Jesus.


maya took this photo. i love it!


then she played us her latest composition.


i spent my last night in orange county at their house. maya showed me how she packs her babies into a small compartment when she takes them for a walk.

the next morning, max wore a pair of goggles that he found in the park. it's all about safety when you're using hand tools.


oh dear.

he must've been lecturing me about my lack of protective goggles.


who loves to comb her own hair?

before i left, max gave me something that he built, but since it wouldn't fit in my suitcase, it now sits high on a shelf for safekeeping at their house. i told him i wanted to take a photo so that i could remember it always.

thank you, max. i love you and i miss you.