Last Friday's Pictures and Distractions post was supposed to be the last one ever, what with the world ending and all. I'm happy to report that the world did not end, however. I know you were all waiting on pins and needles to hear it officially from me.

This was a good week. Except that, this was supposed to be the week that I started getting up at 6:00 AM to go running. Instead, the following conversation happened every single morning when Daniel came into my bedroom to wake me up:

Daniel: Hey, it's time t--

Eli: NOOOOOOO!!!!!! GET OUT!!!!!!!!! GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!!!! I HATE YOU!!!!

Well. There's always next week.

Opening a Christmas gift from Anna on Christmas Eve.



Daniel, opening another gift from Anna next to the Christmas "tree."


I was sitting at my desk at work when I got a phone call from Daniel. He got me talking about a delicious fruit salad I had made the night before. Finally, I said, "I really wish I had some right now." He responded, "if you want it bad enough, I could make it appear in your office." I told him I did and he said, "poof. Check your bottom drawer." I opened it and just about fell out of my chair laughing when I saw this. Somehow he hid it in there when I wasn't around and was waiting all day to do this "magic trick" over the phone. And that my friends is what happens when you live on a tropical island with nothing to do.


I carved this for a church Christmas party. I can feel Cathie's pride all the way from SLC.


Child hitting a Santa pinata at church Christmas party.


A Q of C Christmas ornament, sent by Anna Swayne.


My parents sent me a nightlight leg-lamp like the one from A Christmas Story. Sadly we have only horizontal outlets in the apartment.




Crap to distract you from whatever you're supposed to be doing:

Santa dragon terrorizes Salt Lake City. Thanks, Matt.

Moments that restored our faith in humanity this year.

Weirdest world records. Thanks, Brian.

Oh my word. A whole site dedicated to trashing Glee. I think I found my Internet soul-mates.

~It Just Gets Stranger