Christmas, 1998
Dear Everyone,
This is our first official Christmas "newsletter". I was previously opposed to Christmas newsletters, feeling that they were impersonal and tacky. Besides, two of the smartest women in the world - my mother and Ann Landers - both object to Christmas newsletters. However, keeping in touch with all our friends and relatives is becoming more and more difficult. Indeed, hand-written personal notes in Christmas cards are a nice personal touch, but we find that it is impossible to inform everyone of how our lives are doing with short personal notes. Plus, many of our friends and relatives send Christmas newsletters, and we enjoy reading them. Therefore, we have decided to break tradition and write our first Christmas newsletter. We hope Mom and Ann Landers forgive us.
I was recently working in San Jose at a company that specialized in making other companies' computer programs Year 2000 compliant, but was downsized because of a lack of steady business. Most companies want to tackle the problem themselves rather than deal with an outside organization. I am actively looking for a new job and should find one soon. April works at a Chinese school in San Francisco teaching kindergarten in Mandarin. She doesn't teach Mandarin as a language; she teaches the usual subjects, like math and science, in Mandarin. It is a language immersion school, and only sixty percent of the students are Chinese. It is the only school of its kind in the United States, since it teaches students this way five days a week from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.
April and I started 1998 with a trip to Fort Bragg and Mendocino, two small towns on the Northern California coast north of San Francisco. We rode an old restored train into the redwoods and window-shopped at the gift shops. The Super Bowl was played in my old stomping grounds, San Diego, which thrilled me almost as much as watching the underdog Denver Broncos defeat the Green Bay Packers. For Valentine's Day, we took a dinner cruise in the San Francisco Bay. April liked it so much that she begged me to take her again for her birthday in April. For St. Patrick's Day, we wore lots of green, decorated our apartment, listened to Irish music, ate corned beef and cabbage, and went to the St. Patrick's Day Parade in San Francisco.
April was baptized, confirmed, and received her first Eucharist at the Easter Vigil this year. My parents, sister Patricia, and brother-in-law Joe all came to help celebrate this happy event. She had been going to RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) since September, 1996 at our parish in San Carlos - the same church where we were married. In May, and again in August and October, April and I went camping in the redwoods near our home. We are slowly but surely gathering camping equipment and hope to become "seasoned" campers before too long.
In June and July, April and I visited Taiwan. As expected, it was very hot and humid, but the mosquitoes weren't as bad as I remember; I guess they took a vacation too! We visited April's family and friends of both of ours. April and I traveled all over Taiwan, and went to Taitung, the small town on the east coast where we met at an English school in 1992. We stayed at a resort at Chihpen Hot Springs near Taitung for our first anniversary and the Fourth of July. The trip to Taiwan was certainly the highlight of the summer, and we liked it very much.
For my birthday in September, April and I followed tradition and went to my favorite barbecue restaurant. In October, I was very happy to see my old baseball team, the San Diego Padres, play in the World Series. They lost, but they lost to one of the best teams in baseball, so they have a lot to be proud of. For Halloween, I dressed as a leprechaun and April wore a traditional Chinese costume that she borrowed from the Chinese consulate. We went to an open block party in the streets of San Francisco. There were many exotic and creative costumes, and we had lots of fun. Halloween is a popular holiday in San Francisco, much like Mardi Gras is in New Orleans. For Thanksgiving, my brother Kevin and sister-in-law Tara came to the Bay Area to visit Tara's sister. We spent Thanksgiving with them and enjoyed seeing Kevin and Tara again.
For Christmas, April and I will drive to Southern California to visit family and friends. We will probably spend New Year's Eve on a dinner cruise in the San Diego Bay to kick off the year 1999. Maybe we will start working on our next newsletter from there!
We wish you and your family a very joyous Christmas and happy New Year.
Love,
Patrick and April
Christmas, 1999
Dear Everyone,
It's hard to believe that Christmas 1999 is almost upon us. We enjoyed writing our newsletter so much last year that we decided to continue the tradition. We hope you enjoy this newsletter as much as we enjoyed writing it.
In last year's newsletter, we mentioned that I was downsized from my employer in San Jose. In mid-December of 1998, I was hired as a contractor at the US Postal Data Center in San Mateo. There, I provide telephone support for a nationwide computer system used for bulk mailing. This system is used mostly by businesses and non-profit organizations. The users are from all over the country, and most of them are quite friendly. April still works at Chinese American International School, the Chinese school in San Francisco where she teaches kindergarten in Mandarin. She enjoys her work, except for the daily commute on crowded San Francisco freeways.
1999 has been a good year for us. April and I spent Christmas 1998 in Southern California, where we visited family and friends. We rang in 1999 in San Diego, and drove back to Northern California in early January. We enjoyed our trip to Southern California very much.
In February, after months of Sunday open houses and a few unsuccessful bids, April and I purchased our first house. We closed Escrow in February and moved in March. Most of February and March was spent arranging inspections, meeting Realtors, packing, and doing all the other tasks related to moving to a new home. We closed Escrow on February 13 and moved on March 13, so 13 was our lucky number for 1999! We like our new house very much. (It was built around 1950, but it is new to us!) The house is conveniently located near 101 and 92 in San Mateo, not far from the San Francisco Airport, so you know there is a place to stay while you visit the Bay Area.
This summer, April's parents visited from Taiwan. They arrived in early June and stayed until late August. We did many things with them, including a camping trip to the redwoods and a summer vacation to Southern California, where we went to Disneyland and Sea World and visited friends and family. We also saw my newest nephew become baptized in San Diego. Her father's favorite place in Northern California wasn't San Francisco's Chinatown; it was the campus of Stanford University. I guess Chinatown was too much like home.
Soon after April's parents returned to Taiwan, we had our housewarming party. It was nice to be able to have such a large gathering, since our apartment we had previously was too small for parties. It was a very happy occasion. We had a good turnout, I think, because it was at the end of summer, after vacations are over, but before Labor Day and the football season. It would be hard to compete with the 49'ers!
For my birthday this year, April and I went camping at our favorite campground in the redwoods near the coast. It is very close to our house and very convenient. My birthday fell on a Saturday this year, making it more convenient.
On September 21, we, along with the rest of the nation, were shocked to hear of a third major earthquake in the world, this one in Taiwan. There were also major earthquakes in Turkey, Greece, and Mexico this year. This one hit closer to home, however, since we have family and friends there, and Taiwan is April's homeland. We are very fortunate, however, since none of our friends or family were killed or injured in the earthquake. For that, we are very thankful.
In October, my father visited San Jose for a business trip. We spent some time in San Jose with him including a one hour tour of The Winchester Mystery House. He also had a tour of the Paulitz House on the Peninsula which only took about 45 minutes!
For Thanksgiving, April and I visited my family in Southern California. My newest niece was baptized on Thanksgiving weekend, and I was the godfather. It was quite an honor, and we enjoyed our Southern California visit very much.
For New Year's 2000, April and I will be somewhere in the Caribbean, in a cruise ship, ringing in the new millennium a year early. The third millennium really starts in 2001, but the year changes to "00", so what the heck? Hopefully, there won't be too many Y2K problems on the ship or on the airplanes, and we will get back safely to start the new year 2000.
We wish you and your family a very joyous Christmas and happy New Year. Don't let the Y2K bug bite you!
Love,
Patrick and April
Christmas, 2000
Dear Everyone,
Well, it's Christmas 2000. We survived the Y2K bug, and we hope you did too. It's hard to believe the year 2000 is almost gone. Soon it will be 2001. HAL 9000, where are you?
We'll begin this newsletter in December, 1999. That was the day when Patrick found April in the kitchen hiding something suspicious in her hand. When asked what she was looking at, she held up a pregnancy test and said "I'm pregnant!". Our lives were never again the same.
The day after Christmas in 1999, we flew to Tampa to go on a Millennium Cruise. The cruise took us to the Cayman Islands, where we played with stingrays in the Caribbean. We also went to Cozumel, off the coast of Cancun, Mexico. We went to the Mexican mainland and saw ancient ruins. The last stop was New Orleans, where we visited the famous French Quarter and Bourbon street. The drinking and partying was already under full swing as we left at 3:30 in the afternoon. New Orleans is definitely a party town, and makes San Francisco look like the Bible Belt! Finally, the ship returned to Tampa, but not before Patrick won a few dollars at the craps table. On January 2, we flew back to San Francisco. Luckily, the plane didn't fall out of the sky or crash because of Y2K. We still have plenty of propane left from Y2K, which we can use for many years of camping seasons!
In February, we celebrated the Chinese New Year of the Dragon with a party at our home, where we announced to April's coworkers about our new family member. The new baby would be a Dragon, and Patrick is a Dragon as well, so it was a good year to celebrate.
In March, April dreamt we had a boy. Later in March, we found out (through ultrasound) that her dream was correct. (In 1999, April dreamt she was pregnant a short time before the pregnancy test; April's dreams are never wrong!). After finding out we had a boy, we already had his name picked out. His name would be "Shamus", the Irish form of "James". Also in March, we had friends visit from Australia. We met them on a train in Taiwan in 1998 and kept in touch through email. They were on an "around the world" trip, and San Francisco was their only stop in North America and their last stop before flying back to Sydney. Patrick took them to Golden Gate Park and other parts of San Francisco. It was fun having visitors from Australia. We hope someday we can visit them in Sydney. Australia certainly did a good job hosting the 2000 Summer Olympics.
In April, for April's birthday, we went to Fantasia 2000. It was a great film, and we liked it better than the original. We also returned to a favorite bed and breakfast on California's North Coast, north of San Francisco. We figured it would be our last trip with just the two of us - for a while, anyway.
In June, we drove to Southern California to pick up clothing, a bassinet, and other items donated by family members for Shamus. The bassinet we have for Shamus is the same one Patrick's mother used when she was a baby, so it has been used by three generations. Also in June, Patrick went on his only camping trip of the summer - an all-male combination camping trip/bachelor party. Needless to say, he had lots of fun.
In July, Patrick's sister Patricia and her family visited from San Diego to help us get ready for Shamus. It was a fun trip. They visited San Francisco one day, and we also took them to our favorite camping spot in the California redwoods. It was a very enjoyable trip for all.
On August 10, in the evening, April started to have contractions. After a drive to the hospital and a fifteen hour labor, little Shamus Lee Paulitz was born at 3:30 p.m. on August 11. He was almost nine pounds (8 lb., 15.8 oz.) and 22 inches at birth, the largest of the Paulitz and Lee grandchildren so far. Patrick's parents visited for a few days after Shamus was born to help the new parents get used to the new routine.
In September, Patrick's contract at the San Mateo Postal Data Center ended. In October, he started a new job supporting Pacific Bell operations in San Ramon, east of Oakland (the same place where "Dilbert" cartoonist Scott Adams used to work). To celebrate Patrick's new job, we went to a coastal resort between San Francisco and Santa Cruz. It was our first overnight trip with Shamus, and he behaved quite well. We even took him to the beach in a baby carrier, which he loved so much he fell asleep in it. Also in October, we went to the Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival, a food and crafts festival in a coastal city famous for its many pumpkin patches. There were many families with strollers and small children, so we felt right at home with Shamus! The two Bay Area baseball teams, the Giants (who have a new stadium this year) and the A's, missed playing in the World Series, both eliminated in the playoffs by New York teams. It was fun watching the first Subway Series in 44 years, although we were rooting for the underdog Mets. We are sick of watching the Yankees win! For Halloween, Patrick recycled a leprechaun costume from 1998 and wore it to his new job. Needless to say, he was the only leprechaun there!
November showed us the craziest and closest American presidential election in a long time. As of writing this newsletter, we still don't know who the next U.S. president will be. To keep this newsletter "non-partisan" , we'll refrain from making any political comments about the election. This year, we celebrated a quiet Thanksgiving at home with a few friends. Instead of the traditional turkey, we had a traditional Chinese winter meal. For Christmas, we will also stay home and have our first live Christmas tree. Until now, we have used a three-foot artificial tree Patrick bought when he lived in Taiwan, and April has been wanting a live tree for several years now. Shamus will be baptized on December 31 (the last day of the millennium), and Patrick's parents and some of his family will be here. Patrick's sister Patricia and her husband Joe will be the godparents. We look forward to a nice quiet New Year's Eve with family (no Y2K this year!), and look forward to the new year (and millennium!) 2001.
We wish you and your family a very joyous Christmas and happy New Year 2001. Beware of HAL 9000!
Love,
Patrick, April, and Shamus
P.S.
Patrick is working on a family web site. Its URL is www.irishdragons.com. As mentioned earlier in this newsletter, both Patrick and Shamus were born in the Chinese Year of the Dragon, and they are both Irish, hence the domain name of irishdragons.com. Feel free to look at it periodically, as we will try to update it with the latest pictures of Shamus as he grows older.
Christmas, 2001
Dear Everyone,
Well, it's Christmas 2001. HAL 9000 was nowhere to be found, and the reality of 2001 certainly differed from Arthur C. Clarke's version. Instead of a colony on the moon, an orbiting Hilton hotel, and a manned mission to Jupiter, we had rolling blackouts in California and a Presidential election full of recounts and hanging chads. (Actually, the election was in November 2000 �C close enough). 2001 was the first year since 1989 that a candidate that I voted for in the Presidential election was inaugurated, and only the second time in U.S. history that a son of a former President was also inaugurated President. 2001 also showed us the most exciting World Series in a long time, one that wasn't settled until the bottom of the ninth inning in game 7. Unfortunately, 2001 was also the first year since 1941 that the U.S. was attacked by a foreign enemy. Truth is stranger than fiction, I guess.
On a more personal note, 2001 was the year we saw Shamus transform from a helpless little bundle of joy who just slept, cried, and ate, to a bigger (and heavier!) bundle of joy who developed his own wonderful personality and wastes no time finding trouble. This first year of the third millennium was also a year of firsts for our family. 2001 was our first full year of being parents. It was also the year in which we celebrated our first Mother's Day, first Father's Day, and of course, Shamus' first birthday. It was also the year in which Shamus was baptized, with my parents and sisters as witnesses and my sister and brother-in-law as godparents (actually, the Baptism was New Year's Eve 2000 �C again, close enough). 2001 was the first year we rang in as a family at home, instead of as a couple at a nightclub. As Dorothy from "The Wizard of Oz" once said, "There's no place like home". Also, because of the events of September 11, this year we learned the importance of certain core values which we must always treasure �C love of God, Family, and Country. Needless to say, 2001 was a year of incredible change for our family and our nation.
On a lighter note, we leave you with these lists of the things that Shamus, Patrick, and April learned this year.
Things Shamus Learned in his First Year of Life
"Da da" is the only answer to every question.
My middle name is "No No".
Daddy won't play with me when I wake up at 2:00 a.m. I don't know why.
Daddy's belly has more padding than Mommy's - great for sleeping on!
The bathroom is a great playroom - it's got this cool bowl with swishing water I can put my hands in and a huge roll of white paper I can unravel and play with.
Everything in life, edible or not, must be tasted to be truly experienced.
Dogs are only scary when they stand up.
Some of the cupboards in the kitchen have locks on them. I'm sure that's a mistake.
Everything belongs on the floor.
The wastebasket and diaper pail make great hiding places.
No matter what the gift is, the wrapping paper is the best part.
Daddy's sneeze is scarier than Mommy's.
Everything is a toy, including Daddy's dirty socks and junk mail.
Things Patrick Learned in his First Year as a Daddy
The definition of "onesie".
"Parents" magazine makes great bathroom reading.
I've learned how to say "Clap your hands" in Mandarin.
When Shamus does something mischievous, it's cute. When another kid does the same thing, it's irritating.
If Shamus is ever irritating, see previous entry.
When changing a disposable diaper, the cartoon characters (Mickey Mouse and his friends, etc...)go in the front.
Poopy diapers aren't all that bad, although they can range from "Oh, how cute" to "Oh my God!" By the way, prune juice is great for treating constipation, and raisins and corn don't digest very well.
I've learned the words to "Itsy Bitsy Spider", and how powerful that song about the persistent little spider can be for calming an upset Shamus.
I've learned who Clifford, Arthur, Franklin, and Moon Bear are. For those of you without little ones, these are characters of popular children's books.
I've rediscovered the joy of having a bath, complete with a rubber ducky and other bath toys.
I've learned that there is nothing in the world - nothing - as satisfying as having a child fall asleep on my chest.
Things April Learned in her First Year as a Mommy
Fashion trends for 2002 �C blue jeans are out, oversized leggings are in.
Dr. Spock is out �C Dr. Sears is in.
The best restaurants aren't the ones with the best food or atmosphere - they��re the uncrowded ones with an open area where Shamus can crawl.
Sleeping until 8:00 is a privilege. Sleeping until 9:00 is impossible.
When all else fails, give Shamus a key chain. Just make sure he doesn't lose it.
Having a sick, lethargic child makes me cry worse than when Bambi's mother died. Seeing him recover and tear the kitchen apart makes me happier than seeing Pinocchio turn into a real boy.
A car ride is Shamus' best sleeping pill.
If you step on a toy in Shamus' room at night when he is asleep, make sure it doesn't talk back. If it does talk back, make sure the volume is on low.
We wish you and your family a very joyous Christmas and happy New Year 2002.
Love,
Patrick, April, and Shamus
Christmas, 2002
Dear Everyone,
Well, it's Christmas 2002. At first it seems that 2002 is not a special year. It's not the first year of the millennium, isn't immortalized by a classic Stanley Kubrick film, and Y2K is yesterday's news. 2002 - not a special year...or is it?
As parents of a growing child, we have learned one important lesson - every year is special.
This is the year Shamus turned two, and had "Happy Birthday" played to him on a classic Wurlitzer theater organ almost as old as his grandfather. In 2002, Shamus and his parents discovered "Children's Fairyland", an amusement park just for little ones. I guess we are still children at heart, since we seem to like "Children's Fairyland" more than he does. This year, Shamus learned to walk, nod and shake his head, put his head between his legs like a quarterback, and, most importantly, finally learned the meaning of the word "no". Yes, 2002 was a special year indeed.
In 2002, Patrick threw a surprise party for April's fortieth birthday. The biggest surprises for April was that Patrick was able to plan a party without her help and actually keep a secret. This year, Patrick went to his twentieth high school reunion. He observed that most of his former classmates became fat and bald. He also noticed that most of them married and had children. Hair and slenderness for wives, children, and the wonderful family life they create... not a bad trade... not a bad trade at all...
This year, our beloved San Francisco Giants played in the World Series. It was the first all-California World Series since the Oakland-San Francisco series in 1989. Luckily, there wasn't an earthquake this time. This World Series was against our rivals to the south, the Anaheim Angels. Although the Giants didn't win on the field, they are still #1 in our hearts. Also this year, Patrick's beloved Honda, which he purchased new in 1987, turned over to 200,000 miles. The Honda, by the way, is the newer of our two cars. April's 1984 Volvo has yet to turn over to 200,000 miles.
In 2002, we spent our fifth wedding anniversary on California's Central Coast, and discovered the best southern barbecue restaurant on this side of Memphis. Patrick's sister and her family visited for their summer vacation, and, after eight years of living in the San Francisco Bay Area, we finally visited Alcatraz, and discovered what it feels like to be a real San Francisco tourist.
This November, we traveled to Taiwan, and Shamus met his maternal grandparents for the first time. Needless to say, they did their job well at spoiling our dear Shamus. He was the center of attention, being the youngest of the Lee grandchildren. Patrick traveled to Singapore to visit a good friend who teaches at a university there. It was his first trip to that beautiful island nation. His initial reaction upon arriving in Singapore was "Gee...it's cleaner than Disneyland!"
Patrick's parents will stay with us this Christmas. We are looking forward to it very much, as is Shamus. During the last two months of 2002, he will visit with all four of his grandparents. Considering that we live 400 miles from one set of grandparents and 6500 miles from the other, that is no easy feat.
Yes, 2002 was a special year indeed.
We leave you with these lists of the things that Shamus, Patrick, and April learned this year.
Things Shamus Learned This Year
If I don't like something on my plate, I can just feed it to Daddy.
Playground slides aren't so scary. Just sit down, scoot your butt, and go!
There's nothing more comforting than a hug from a Teletubbie.
If I beat my chest and howl, I can sound like Tarzan.
If I pull on Daddy's boxers, it makes a cool snapping sound.
It's fun to peek up Daddy's T-shirt. I think he's hiding something up there.
When Mommy is cold, I must wear a sweater.
It's fun to wear Mommy's slippers.
I dress up in a Halloween costume and go trick-or-treating, yet Daddy eats all the Halloween candy? What gives?
Things Patrick Learned This year
There's nothing sweeter than to receive a hug from a two-year-old.
I learned the names and colors of the four Teletubbies. Shamus' favorite is Po, the red one.
With kids, as with pets, your carpet will eventually be peed and vomited upon. Get used to it.
Dump trucks and jumbo jets, even toy ones, hurt like the dickens when dropped on your foot.
A pizza box makes a great makeshift umbrella during a Singapore tropical thunderstorm.
I've rediscovered the joy of carving my very own Jack O'Lantern and going trick-or-treating with the little lion cub in our house.
The best job I've ever had isn't being a computer programmer; it's being a daddy.
Things April Learned This Year
No matter how much time I spend finding interesting books for Shamus at the library, he only wants me to read "Good Night Baby" and "Max's Potty"
Buy toy batteries and diapers by the case. Can you say "Costco"
Daddy likes Shamus?toys more than Shamus. Who's the kid here?
If Shamus develops a cute habit, take a video. Before you know it, he'll outgrow it.
No matter how devilish Shamus can be in the daytime, when he is asleep, he looks like an angel.
The best job I've ever had isn't being a Chinese teacher; it's being a mommy.
We wish you and your family a very joyous Christmas and happy New Year 2003.
Love,
Patrick, April, and Shamus
Christmas, 2003
Dear Everyone,
Well, it's Christmas 2003. This year was a year of changes in the Paulitz household. No, we didn't get a dog, Shamus is still an only child, April isn't pregnant, and we didn't buy a new house this year. 2003 was a year of change nonetheless, and a year we will always remember.
In 2003, Shamus taught himself to do a somersault, much to our surprise. He also learned to ride a tricycle, bicycle with training wheels, scooter, and, of course, Daddy's back! Before you know it, he'll be asking for the car keys! Now, Shamus goes to school on a yellow school bus every day and wears a backpack with his lunch. As Patrick said to Shamus on his first day of school, "You're a big boy now!"
This year, for the second year in a row, Shamus spent his birthday with his Auntie Patricia and her family. When we found out they were going to Lake Tahoe for vacation, we promptly invited ourselves to join them. Of course, they accepted our invitation. Spending Shamus' birthday with Auntie Patricia is becoming a family tradition. Also this summer, Patrick's sister Carol and her family visited from Arizona. Their favorite part of visiting the Bay Area wasn't San Francisco, with its Golden Gate Bridge and cable cars that climb halfway to the stars; it was swimming in a creek in a Redwood forest near our home. Their least favorite part of their visit, being from sun-baked Arizona, was the cool summer weather for which the Bay Area is famous.
This is the year that Patrick was promoted to the role of full-time daddy. In most circles it would be known as a "layoff", but it depends on how you look at it. Patrick is fed up with the IT industry and is in the process of becoming a real estate appraiser. Hopefully, the real estate and refinancing industries will cooperate. April made the transition from full-time mommy to preschool teacher and is now the breadwinner in the family. The 1950's are officially over, I guess.
In 2003, our beloved 1984 Volvo station wagon finally breathed its last. It had over 200,000 miles. After breaking down twice in a single week and having a camping trip ruined, WE finally broke down and bought a mini-van (Honda Odyssey). Patrick's parents gave us their 1987 Honda Accord, so we are now a three Honda family. With packing the family into the station wagon now just a memory, I guess the 1970's are officially over as well.
2003 was the year of California's historic recall election, with 135 recall candidates. Much to Patrick's delight, California will now join the other three largest states (New York, Texas, and Florida) in having a Republican governor. We in the Paulitz household believe that Arnold Schwarzenegger will make a fine governor, and now we can definitely say that our governor can beat up your governor. Patrick only recently learned how to spell "Schwarzenegger", which is quite a feat in itself!
Late this year, we watched in shock and horror as Southern California burned. We heard firsthand stories from friends and relatives of the awful smoke and flames and the shock and anxiety of being evacuated, not knowing if their home was still standing. As we learned on September 11, firefighters are true heroes. Miraculously, no one we knew lost their life or home in these tragic wildfires. Even in the midst of tragedy, God has truly blessed us, for which we are eternally grateful.
With the energy crisis, recall election, and extensive wildfires, as well as the occasional mudslide, flood, and earthquake, California certainly gives the rest of the nation a reason to watch the evening news!
This year, we will spend Christmas by ourselves at home. After Christmas, Patrick and Shamus will fly to Arizona to spend time with Patrick's two sisters and their families, as well as Patrick's parents. April will stay home and enjoy some peace and quiet. Besides, she doesn't have much time off for Christmas this year. Patrick hasn't been to Arizona in several years and is looking forward to the trip. Shamus has NEVER been to Arizona, so it will be a new experience for him.
Yes, 2003 was certainly a year of changes.
We leave you with these lists of the things we learned this year.
Things the Paulitz Family Learned This year
Forget the carpet - when you have a child, eventually, YOU will be peed, vomited, and pooped upon. Get used to it.
John Denver, the Beatles, Cat Stevens, and Simon and Garfunkel songs make great lullabies. Who's the Baby Boomer here?
"Toys R Us" makes a great indoor playground for rainy or hot days.
We've rediscovered the joy, including the wonderful smell, of Playdough.
The NFL has a two-minute warning before a half ends. Shamus has a three-minute warning before a favorite activity ends. Also like the NFL, Shamus is very familiar with the "Time-out"
Shamus is a conservative Republican. When in the car, he insists on listening to conservative talk radio programs and gets upset if you turn off the radio without his permission.
If you don't want Shamus to know what you're talking about, S-P-E-L-L the word.
No one knows our names; only Shamus? We are now known simply as Shamus' Mommy and Daddy.
Privacy in the bathroom with a 3-year-old? Forget it! By the way, Shamus is our official "Toilet flusher"
When choosing between a "Green Machine" and a "Barbie" tricycle, our little boy chose the pink "Barbie" tricycle. Go figure!
If Shamus plays with a pay phone enough times, he will eventually dial 9-1-1. Sorry about that, Officer!
We wish you and your family a very joyous Christmas and happy New Year 2004.
Love,
Patrick, April, and Shamus
Christmas, 2004
Dear Everyone,
Well, it's Christmas 2004. Not much happened here this year. Perhaps in a hundred years, assuming our now 50-year-old house is still standing, there will be a plaque proclaiming "On this site in 2004 nothing happened". Or did it? We'll let you be the judge...
We always had a feeling that Shamus is a special child. Now we have also confirmed that he is also a "special needs" child. He has been officially diagnosed with ASD (Autistic Syndrome Disorder). (Don't worry; it's not as bad as it sounds). This year, he made major progress in terms of his language and social skills, and we feel fortunate to live in the Bay Area, where the services for autistic children are outstanding. Shamus receives various types of therapy, as well as swimming lessons, and also attends a special class specifically designed for autistic children. Among his issues are staring at fans and constantly holding an object, like a cassette tape or small plastic toy. One of his favorite expressions is "Idaho". No, that doesn't mean the state between Washington and Montana; it's Shamus' way of saying "I want to hold". When he learns American states in school, he'll have one down, 49 to go... When we watch video tapes of Shamus from only a year ago, we can see the incredible progress he has made. God has truly blessed us, and Shamus is truly a "special" gift from God. Please keep Shamus and us in your prayers.
Speaking of Idaho, this summer, the Paulitz family attended Patrick's niece's wedding in the northern part of that state, near Spokane. There, we celebrated our seventh wedding anniversary at a resort on Lake Coeur d'Alene �C without our little monster, who stayed with Patrick' family. We made the trip into a weeklong vacation, and also drove to Seattle, a city which Patrick loves almost as much as San Francisco. We stayed in a hotel near the Space Needle and did all the tourist things, including visiting the original Starbuck's location - and Patrick doesn't even drink coffee! The "Emerald City" is breathtaking, and is surrounded by water and bridges much like San Francisco. It also has many charming hills with picturesque views and unique neighborhoods with Victorian homes, like the City by the Bay. One major difference between the two cities, by the way, is weather. We wore T-shirts and shorts in Seattle in July, which would be unthinkable during a foggy San Francisco summer. If only we could have toured Bill Gates' mansion, our trip to Seattle would have been complete.
This year, 2004, Patrick is officially "over the hill", having turned 40 in September. April held a surprise party for him. To contact his friends, she peeked at address books on his computer and cell phone, and made good use of the Google web site. Patrick was indeed surprised, not only from the party, but on April's sudden improvement of her high-tech skills �C without his technical assistance. No, there weren't any black balloons or napkins with the slogan "over the hill". It was just good clean fun, since at our age, we can't take too much excitement. April has requested that I NOT give her a surprise party for her 50th birthday. I think she just doesn't want to reciprocate two years later.
Shamus also had a birthday party this year with three of his friends. His favorite present was a toy microwave oven. Much to our embarrassment, Shamus refused to open any more presents after seeing the microwave, so we commissioned other guests to open his remaining gifts. Shamus is now our official chef, and his specialties include hot dogs, corn, onions, peppers, steak, and carrots. All plastic, of course...
The Paulitz family has finally joined the 21st century. Our 20-year-old TV has finally been replaced with one a friend gave us when he moved to Korea. We were too cheap to actually PAY for a new TV when our 1980's model worked just fine. We're still too cheap to get cable; channels 2, 4, 5, and 7; that's it for us! Why would anyone actually PAY to watch television?
Patrick had planned to take the real estate appraiser exam this year, but was offered a contract at SBC, the telecom giant where he worked previously. It was to our financial advantage, despite all the griping about the IT industry, for Patrick to accept this contract and take the appraiser exam in early 2005. Patrick currently works in the same building where "Dilbert" creator Scott Adams used to work and received his inspiration for his now-famous comic strip. Somehow, that doesn't surprise us... Patrick recently joined a vanpool, and he spends the commute time engaging in his favorite hobby -napping. He has collected an assortment of items to assist him in this pursuit, including a blanket, two pillows, earplugs, eyeshades, and lip moisturizer. Patrick's vanpool seat now looks like a miniature campsite. Because of limited space, he was not able to bring his tent, air mattress, or sleeping bag, but he's working on it.
In 2004, George W. Bush was elected to a second term after an intense campaign. Watching the election returns, we can surely see our great nation as a sea of red and blue states, and we don't see this country merging into purple anytime soon. After the election, Patrick suffered from what he calls "Post Election Withdrawal Syndrome", having watched campaign and election coverage almost daily starting in January with the Iowa Caucus. Yes, Patrick, there is news besides the election... Just as Los Angeles is famous for, among other things, the OJ Simpson trial, our home county of San Mateo was the site of the Scott Peterson trial this year. No, Patrick was not called for jury duty in this trial, which disappointed him, since he wanted to make a fortune on the book deal. Maybe next time...
We leave you with these lists of the things we learned this year.
Things the Paulitz Family Learned This year
Shamus can pronounce Barney the Dinosaur's name better than his own father's.
TV's now have this handy gadget called a "Remote". You can change the volume and channel without leaving the couch. New technology is so amazing!
With our spiders, cobwebs, creaking doors, dust, and skeletons in our closet, we had no need to decorate for Halloween. Our house is Halloween-decorated year-round!
After four years of trick-or-treating with Shamus, we finally learned which neighborhoods have the best Halloween candy.
Shamus will ask, repeatedly, to be a bat for Halloween only AFTER the bat costume is returned to Costco because he wanted nothing to do with it. Maybe next year, Shamus...
Boston Market makes a great Easter dinner for our family of three.
Cell phones stop working after being dropped in a toilet, but miraculously come back to life a few weeks later. Go figure...
We wish you and your family a very joyous Christmas and happy New Year 2005.
Love, Patrick, April, and Shamus
Christmas, 2005
Dear Everyone,
Well, it's Christmas 2005. It's been a slow year at the Paulitz household. The recall election in California was two years ago, the Presidential election was last year, and besides the usual wildfires, mudslides, and earthquakes, nothing much newsworthy has happened here lately. I briefly considered forgoing my annual Christmas newsletter tradition, but didn't want to disappoint you, my loyal fans. So, I submit for your approval the Paulitz family Christmas 2005 newsletter.
The Paulitz household has seen many new faces this year �C some for a short visit, and some, like the adorable puppy that follows a little boy home from school, have settled in for the long term. And, like that adorable puppy, we love all our guests. Our summer visitors included company from Honolulu and mainland China, as well as an English student from Japan. Our Hawaiian guest was the first visitor from the Islands to NOT present us with chocolate-covered Macadamia nuts as a hospitality gift. We currently house a friend of April's from China, who has lived here since 2003 and supplies us with tasty leftovers from the Sichuan Chinese restaurant where she works. She can't speak a word of English, but with my broken Mandarin and clumsy charades, we communicate just fine. We also host a local university student from Russia. Shamus affectionately calls him "Earphone", because of the earphones he wears while listening to music. I commonly assist the Russian student with his English grammar and pronunciation, although I still haven't learned even a single word of Russian. So much for my audience with Russian president Vladimir Putin...
In the spring of 2005, Shamus started a horseback riding program. The horses are used as therapy for autistic children to help them with balance, coordination, etc... The treatment is officially called "hippotherapy", but so far I have seen only horses, not hippos, at the ranch. Shamus loves the animals, and they love him. He has an uncanny ability to recognize each horse by name, despite the fact that they all look alike.
This year, the Paulitz family has made numerous road trips to Southern California and points beyond. In April, we even drove to the Phoenix area to visit my sister for Easter, and made a small side trip to San Diego before the long trip home. While in Arizona, we visited the Phoenix Zoo and the resort town of Sedona, famous for its spectacular red rocks, scenic vistas, upscale eateries, and energy vortexes popular with the "new age" crowd. The vortexes were really far out, man! Arizona's weather was slightly cooler than normal for April, but towards the end of the trip it started to heat up. At least it's a dry heat...
Also this year, we found one of Shamus' toys, missing for almost two years, under our bed just a few inches from the edge. We thought the toy was lost forever. I guess that teaches us to clean under the bed more often! We also received a free DVD player from a friend moving to India. Now, with the remote-control TV we received last year from a friend moving to Korea, we are truly a family of the 21st century. We are also a family of cheapskates, never wanting to pay for anything that we can swindle out of our friends for free. Now, if we only knew why so many of our friends are moving overseas. Is it something we said?
In 2005, I discovered a housekeeping aide in the form of a little five-year-old autistic boy. He "helps" me push the vacuum cleaner as it glides from room to room, sucking up leaves and small particles that the Paulitz family and their tenants constantly track in from the great outdoors. When I finish a room, I ask Shamus "All done or more vacuum". Without exception, he answers "More vacuum". We then move to the next room, working as a father-son housecleaning team, sliding the machine back-and-forth, making our aging carpet look as good as new. Vacuuming is a great father-son activity, and I recommend it to anyone with a five-year-old boy with a passion for housework. Next year, we will train Shamus to clean bathrooms, mop floors, and make him our official housekeeper. He can't be much worse than we are...
This year, for Halloween, Shamus was a pterodactyl. When asked what he was for Halloween, he continued to say "be a bat", recalling the costume he rejected last year, forcing us to return it to Costco. Perhaps, with his speech delay, he couldn't pronounce "pterodactyl". For that matter, April, upon seeing the word "pterodactyl" printed on the label, couldn't pronounce it either...
According to email I received in 2005:
I have won millions of dollars in various British, Irish, and Dutch lotteries - multiple times - having never even purchased a single ticket. Based on the numbers, I should be a billionaire by now. Look for my name on the Forbes 2006 list of Richest Americans...
Philanthropists in Nigeria, the Ivory Coast, and other African nations want to share a huge windfall with me - without even knowing my name. Am I lucky or what?
I must be bald and impotent, based upon the spam I receive touting hair loss treatments and Viagra.
We leave you with this list of the things we learned this year.
Things the Paulitz Family Learned This Year
Clean under your bed - you might find something important!
Never buy new electronic appliances. Instead, wait for one of your friends to move and talk them into giving it to you for free!
Five-year-old boys make great housecleaning partners.
Shamus needs to improve his bathroom aim. His father, of course, isn't much better...
For a five-year-old boy, Shamus sure does eat a lot. Again, just look at his father.
Shamus likes to sample "Daddy's juice" which the rest of the world knows as Pepsi. It makes him jump off the walls all night, however, so now Daddy must indulge in his sweet addiction in secret. Now, he even wants to taste Daddy's beer. Wait about sixteen years, Shamus.
Our garage is a perpetual "Black hole? It is said that nature abhors a vacuum, and our garage is no exception. For every one of yesterday's treasures that escapes our virtual graveyard of unwanted clutter, several more once prized-possessions rush in to take its place.
Shamus is my official "Shoe butler". He delivers my shoes before I leave, and puts them back after I return. Service with a smile!
We wish you and your family a very joyous Christmas and happy New Year 2006.
Love,
Patrick, April, and Shamus
Christmas, 2006
Dear Everyone,
Many things define Christmas. Blessed creches, towering Christmas trees, colorful wreaths, festive lights, spending time with family and friends, watching children's Christmas videos - over and over and over - and Mr. Claus' annual visit, are all a special part of this magical season. And, of course, Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without the annual Paulitz Christmas newsletter. We certainly hope you enjoy reading this year's edition as much as we enjoyed writing it.
The year 2006, quite literally, had a stormy start. After accepting a contract programming position in Los Angeles starting in early January, I trudged 400 miles through buckets of cold, relentless, pouring rain to my new job in the San Fernando Valley - in a beat-up clunker with a busted heater and stereo. For six months, I resided in a leafy suburban neighborhood, renting a second-floor bedroom in a stately home inhabited by a large frisky canine named "Lenny" and his devoted two-legged masters.
While living down south, I did the long-distance commute, flying to San Francisco twice monthly to visit April and Shamus, becoming an expert Sudoku player in the process. I snipped the puzzles from my landlord's daily newspapers and crammed them into my carryon luggage, being too cheap to buy a Sudoku book from the Valley's 99-cent store. On the weekends which I didn't fly to the Bay Area, I visited my parents in Southern California, as well as toured some of the local attractions, like Ventura, where I wolfed down chili dogs and chili cheese fries from a 1950's era hotdog shack, and Griffith Park in Los Angeles, where I rode an antique carousal and rediscovered my inner child. In Santa Barbara, I taught myself to kayak in a shimmering harbor, and on Independence Day, I visited Disneyland, which truly is "The Happiest Place on Earth.
While I was living in Southern California, April rearranged the family room, and all my treasures, including coconut monkey heads, fairy-tale and political books, garage sale trinkets, Star Wars cutouts, stuffed leprechauns, sun-catcher shamrocks, Irish flags, McDonald's collector glasses, and souvenir mugs and plates from San Francisco, San Diego, and Disneyland all mysteriously moved to boxes in the garage. As an added surprise, during my absence, the garage collected more junk.
In the summer of 2006, Shamus and his mother traveled to China and Taiwan for six weeks and visited countless friends and relatives. Daddy, of course, couldn't accompany them, since he was working to finance April and Shamus' Asian tour. Life isn't always fair, I guess... April, despite growing up in the tropics, still bitterly complained about Taiwan's heat and humidity. I think she is spoiled by Bay Area weather! And yes, Daddy really, really, missed them...
In 2006, our 1987 Honda Accord, given to us by my father, died - quite literally and not very quietly - on the streets of Los Angeles. It was towed back to Dad's house, where his trusty mechanic breathed new life into the twenty-year-old hunk of metal. And I thought I was cheap! I then haggled with a local car dealer for a large black SUV, now lovingly known as "Daddy's black car". It is, of course, Shamus' favorite vehicle. He especially likes locking and unlocking the SUV and making the horn blast, using Daddy's magic key.
In July, I relocated to Sacramento, California's capitol and the backyard of the San Francisco Bay Area - and learned how much junk can accumulate in six short months. Every corner of my spacious new indulgence was crammed with boxes, clothes, luggage, books, furniture, a VCR, and even a new computer I talked my father into donating to Shamus. Thanks Dad! On a scorching Saturday of 110 degrees, I cruised north on Interstate 5, past enormous cattle ranches and fast food joints, towards the political metropolis of Sacramento, where I currently call home - for five day a week, that is. Because of my busy schedule, I haven't yet had dinner with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger - much to his disappointment. April and Maria Shriver did have a few lunch dates, however...
April and Shamus have traveled to Sacramento to visit Daddy a few times, where Shamus enjoys swimming with Daddy - in an ice-cold swimming pool. Perhaps Shamus is training for the Polar Bear swim from Alcatraz to Fisherman's Wharf in a few years. Shamus and Daddy also attended the California State Fair on a sweltering Sacramento summer day, closing the place down and having the time of their lives. April, meanwhile, stayed home in Daddy's air conditioned bedroom and watched TV all day. I guess she doesn't like to sweat - she did enough sweating during her six-week vacation in Taiwan...
At the end of every weekend, before I return to Sacramento for the upcoming work week, April packs a week's worth of "care packages", like steak, lamb, spaghetti, cheeseburgers, mashed potatoes, steamed vegetables, and assorted other goodies. Either she is a loving wife who wants to take good care of her man, or she knows I won't cook and would blow our entire food budget on McDonald's, KFC, and junk from the vending machine. Take your pick.
In 2006, I took Shamus to his first father-son Saturday matinee, "Curious George". Having a son with autism, it was a real pleasure to share this experience with him - an experience that most parents take for granted. The monkey named "George" gave an excellent show, and the screen dazzled in brilliant and vibrant colors, like a painter's canvas coming to life. When Shamus was asked what movie he saw with Daddy, his answer was "Monkey Movie". It was a real treat for both father and son, and an experience I will never forget.
This year, we celebrated Shamus' sixth birthday at a pumpkin farm near the Coast. The theme was, of course, "Curious George". There was the usual pony and train rides, plus the added attraction of watching Daddy struggle to light a charcoal barbeque while hungry guests anxiously awaited their gourmet meal of cheeseburgers, potato chips, and soda. Luckily, we had the foresight to invite other fathers who actually knew something about barbequing...
We leave you with this list of the things we learned in 2006.
It really does rain in Southern California. Sometimes it even pours...
Cars never die at a convenient time. But then again, when is a convenient time?
Sudoku puzzles come free in the daily paper, so don't waste your money at the 99-cent store. Don't waste your money on a daily paper, either. Borrow it from your landlord.
If you don't think you're a packrat, try moving. You'll be amazed at how much junk you accumulate, and all the nooks and crannies it hides.
Disneyland really does make you feel like a kid again...
If you don't think you will ever miss your family, try sending them across the ocean for six weeks.
Outside of the Bay Area, everywhere else is too hot, too cold, too humid, too dry, too cloudy, too sunny, too rainy...
Life in the 21st century: Every family member has a computer. Shamus has two.
If you really want to see what your wife thinks of your prized possessions, move.
Sometimes monkeys can give a pretty good performance.
Learn how to light a charcoal barbeque BEFORE planning a birthday bash.
There's nothing better than a squeeze-hug from a six-year-old boy and a loving wife after a long drive home on a Friday night...
We wish you and your family a very joyous Christmas and happy New Year 2007.
Love, Patrick, April, and Shamus
Christmas, 2007
Dear Everyone,
The year 2007 was a year of big changes in the Paulitz household. What were these changes, you ask? Well, keep reading...
After a year of commuting back-and-forth between Sacramento and the Bay Area, the Paulitz Family purchased a home near the Capital city, in a semi-rural community called Orangevale.
Our newly purchased home was previously a foreclosure and bank repossession, and yes, it is "that" house, with dried-up grass, dead bushes, and a broken fence. Every neighborhood has one, and on our street, we have the honor. It's our job to make all the other houses on the block look good!
While living on the Peninsula, we always wondered who, in their right mind, would live in Sacramento, with its notoriously hot summers and arid landscape, far from the ocean and big city amenities �C plus hoards of lobbyists and politicians. Now, I think we've answered our own question. Assuming we're in our right mind, of course. I wonder sometimes...
Make no mistake. Sacramento summers are hot. In fact, they're downright sizzling. In addition to arguing about heat in the winter, April and I also squabble about air conditioning in the summer. Luckily, Sacramento is a river city, so most summer weekends, Shamus and I "dunk" in the American River. He loves to swim with his Dad, and I am happy to oblige. With much trial-and-error, Shamus and I have found the perfect place to swim, away from the partying rafters, noisy jet skis, and drunks jumping off bridges. A place for boring family people - like us.
People often ask us how we like Sacramento compared to the Bay Area, and which one we prefer. And, the honest answer is, we like them both. The two cities are so incredible different, yet only two hours apart. Do I prefer pepperoni or sausage on my pizza? As April well knows, both! Plus lots of other tasty toppings.
As incredible as it seems, there were other events in the Paulitz household in 2007 BESIDES our move to Sacramento.
This spring, we visited sunny San Diego. Patrick's sister was out of town, so her townhouse became a luxury resort, complete with a master bedroom suite, fully-stocked kitchen, cable TV, Internet access, swimming pool, hot tub, and assortment of VHS and DVD movies. Plus, we didn't have to tip the maid...
While in San Diego, we visited old friends and reminisced about old the times - when I was younger, slimmer, and had more hair on my head than in my nose and ears. Shamus met some of his uncles and aunties for the first time, and everyone had a rocking-good time. On the way back to Northern California, we endured major Los Angeles traffic jams �C on a Sunday �C and still can't figure out why anyone would actually want to live there. It's one of life's great mysteries, I guess...
For our summer vacation this year, we ventured North-of-the-Border �C to the Beaver State, otherwise known as Oregon, where we toured the bustling river city of Portland, the scenic Coast, the lush Willamette Valley, and the Cascades with its myriads of mesmerizing waterfalls. We also visited Oregon's capital city, Salem, and soon realized that Sacramento is NOT the most boring capital city in the USA. While in Oregon, we had the pleasure of riding our first Kubota, making us officially "rednecks". "Kubota", for all you city slickers, is a brand of tractor.
Here are a few lists to complement the Paulitz Family Christmas newsletter:
What do we miss about San Mateo?
The Redwoods, those 2000-year-old giants of the Northern California Coast. Patrick likes anything that is older than he is.
Cool summers. Now Patrick hangs around the house in his underwear all summer - gulping an ice-cold beer.
Great Chinese food. But here we have great steakhouses and Texas barbeque joints. Patrick's stomach thinks it's a good trade. April's stomach isn't so sure.
Proximity to the ocean. But at least Sacramento has a river. Two, actually. And the ocean in the Bay Area is icy anyway, although that never stopped Shamus from wading in it before...
What do we like about Orangevale?
Proximity to Lake Tahoe. We've gone there a few times this summer, for a dip in the lake, dinner in a casino, and a few rounds of blackjack or craps.
Proximity to Gold Country. What's in Gold Country, you ask? Spectacular caverns, huge Sequoia trees you can drive an SUV through, wineries, quaint downtowns from the Gold Rush era, and even snow play in the winter. Plus a gold mine or two.
Lots of river and lake access for "dunking", with uncrowded beaches and room for swimming. Of course, it is usually over 100��, and Shamus and I are the only ones crazy enough to be outside. Even April won't venture outdoors in the summer. Unless she��s driving to an air-conditioned shopping mall, that is...
Our newfangled home. We have this cool device which opens our garage door! Now we're finally living in the 1980's! Plus, much to Shamus' delight, we have ceiling fans which spin around-and-around. It's his latest toy!
A short commute. Patrick now drives a whopping ten minutes each way to work. On the flip side, he spends less time being indoctrinated by right-wing talk radio.
You know you live in Orangevale when:
90 degrees is cool. Too cool to "dunk", at least. And when it's 90 degrees, you wish it were hotter, so you can swim with Shamus without getting a chill.
65 degrees is jacket weather.
Two of your car stereo buttons are preset to country western stations.
Starbuck's, Wal-Mart, a liquor store, an Irish pub, a horse supply store, and three churches are all down the street.
Pickup trucks blare country music in the Wal-Mart parking lot. And you enjoy it.
Rush hour really is an hour. Okay, maybe two. Three tops...
The Bay Area seems cold.
All your neighbors are white. Everyone at Costco is white. Everyone at the park is white. And everyone at church is white...
Chinese restaurants have mediocre food, no Asian customers, and no menus written in Chinese.
Television prime time starts at 7:00. So we farmers can hit the hay early...
The people in San Francisco seem weird. Actually, the people in San Francisco ARE weird.
The Japanese buffet restaurant is packed - with Russians.
You pass a barn on the way to church.
The only Swedish restaurant is at Ikea. Swedish meatballs are now a staple in our home. Along with Swedish sausage, chocolate, and potato chips...
Your camping trip coincides with the first weekend of deer hunting season.
Everyone in church wears shorts, a T-shirt, and flip-flops. In the summer, anyway...
The local strip mall has a gun shop.
You watch the Country Music Awards - and know all the performers.
Everyone in town �C except us �C has a kayak, river raft, motorboat, or a set of jet skis.
You hear redneck jokes, and they remind you of your neighbors - and yourself.
We wish you and your family a very joyous Christmas and happy New Year 2008.
Love,
Patrick, April, and Shamus
Christmas, 2008
Dear Everyone,
As incredible as it seems, the dawn of 2009 is fast approaching, not unlike a speedy locomotive barreling towards the station. In this eighth year of the new millennium, we witnessed an American Presidential election and the first Summer Olympics in Asia in two decades �C and the first ever in China �C which commenced at 8:08:08 on 8/8/08. And you thought Americans were superstitious...
As mentioned in last year's newsletter, we recently purchased a newer home in the Sacramento area �C a home that we have recently improved with a new front lawn, complete with gardening service �C because Patrick just HATES mowing the lawn. Needless to say, our home is no longer the eyesore of the neighborhood. At least not for now...
How, you may ask, can such a perfect home be improved upon?
Get a dog.
Not just any dog, mind you, but a loveable, fifty-pound, shedding machine who chases tennis balls, romps through Sierra snow, dog-paddles in the American River and Lake Tahoe, gives slobbery doggy kisses, and shadows his owners throughout the house like the giant black hairball that he is �C even into the bathroom...
Deep underneath the Paulitz' backyard deck lies an ocean of filthy, slobbery tennis balls that "Ziggy" habitually drops into the dark abyss below. The family room carpet, installed soon after we purchased the home, is now blanketed with a layer of short, black fur. Late at night, April sometimes stumbles over the dark, lifeless body of our sleeping four-legged friend. Our SUV smells "doggy". Our backyard is a minefield of Ziggy's "deposits", and when traversing the wasteland of weeds and dirt, one must meticulously watch his step, not unlike the childhood game of Hopscotch.
And we wouldn't have it any other way...
Besides adding a fourth family member, increasing our total leg-count to ten, there were other happenings in the Paulitz household this year.
In February, we visited the Hawaiian island of Oahu. It was Patrick's first trip to the Islands, not counting a trip to Catalina Island in the 1970's and Alcatraz in 2002...
While in Honolulu, we continued our tradition of staying in homes while the owner is absent. As always, it wasn't intentional, but it worked out for the best. Our Hawaiian hospitality included not only a master bedroom suite, fully-stocked kitchen, cable TV, and Internet access, but a panoramic view of Honolulu and Waikiki, plus use of an SUV, snorkeling equipment, and beach chairs.
The only missing amenities at the luxury Honolulu resort were room service �C and air conditioning. Since Patrick can't sleep when the trade winds die, he took ice-cold showers before bedtime. It's a trick he carried to the mainland and still uses on sweltering Sacramento nights when April is too cheap to flip on the air conditioning...
Shamus attended summer camp in the Santa Cruz Mountains this year, and while he was romping in the Redwoods, we made an adults' trip to nearby Reno, where, besides rolling dice and tossing cards, we discovered Reno's best ravioli, away from the glittering neon of the Strip in a seedy industrial district, surrounded by auto repair and sheet metal shops. The restaurant was a dive, but the ravioli was SO scrumptious!
Patrick's father, brother-in-law Joe, and nephew Christopher dropped in on our Orangevale home this summer, where Dad spent a relaxing weekend doing yard work. Why, you ask? Trimming trees and bushes is therapeutic for Dad, the yard was an unkempt wasteland of scraggly trees, shrubs, and weeds, and do you really believe Patrick will work in the yard? Yeah right! Thanks Dad!
And, with Murphy's Law smiling upon us, those few sizzling Sacramento summer days when Dad, Joe, and Christopher visited �C our air conditioning died. Thank goodness for ice-cold showers...
What did we think about the November Presidential election in our politically divided household? April liked the results, Patrick didn't. Let's leave it at that...
Some Christmas newsletter lists for your reading pleasure:
A typical 2008 weekend in the Paulitz household:
Karate lessons. Shamus is now a yellow belt karate champion. His kicks are swift and his chops are deadly. Don't mess with him!
Horseback riding. Shamus is an equestrian master. He loves the horses, and they love him. Unlike his parents, whose horseback-riding experience is limited to painted ones that march in endless circles to the beat of calliope music at amusement parks and county fairs...
Weekly visit to In-N-Out Burger: In-N-Out Burger makes the tastiest, freshest burgers around �C and claims a cult-like following of diehard fans �C the Paulitz clan included. In-N-Out Burger hasn't changed its menu since 1948, and in this age of political-correctness, dares to print Bible verses on its cups and hamburger wrappers. April and I always order a "Double-Double" with grilled onions, fries, and a drink. As for Ziggy �C he joins us �C at an outdoor table, of course. And no, we don't order any burgers for Ziggy. Sorry Ziggy!
Sunday Mass at 11:30. We're too lazy to wake up any earlier. Patrick recently became an usher, and constantly finds new and creative ways of screwing up the simple tasks of passing collection baskets and queuing parishioners for Communion. Shamus attends a Children's Faith Formation class on Sunday mornings. April is late to Mass every week, but dresses elegantly, like the queen she is. As for Patrick �C he still dresses like a slob, but recently switched to collared shirts to satisfy the parish's usher dress code.
DVD night on Friday, Parent's Night Out on Saturday, and board games or a backyard bonfire on Sunday. Shamus' favorite board game is "Don't Wake Daddy". With all Patrick's weekend naps, he has lots of practice...
Various trips to local sites, depending on the season. Dog parks in the spring, swimming in the American River in the summer, pumpkin patches in the fall, and Christmas light viewing in the nippy month of December. Lake Tahoe is a year-round destination, where we dip in the lake in July and sled down a hill in December. And yes, Ziggy joins us on all these adventures. We wouldn't have it any other way...
Speaking of Ziggy, what did we learn from our four-legged family member this year?
Ziggy hair on the carpet is nothing. Try having his hair on your clothes, on the kitchen table, on dishes, in your food - and even in your mouth...
Patrick no longer complains about April's hair in the bathroom.
In Ziggy's mind, our outdoor grill, chairs, and woodpile all have a target painted on them, as they are his favorite items to "mark". Much to Patrick's embarrassment, Ziggy once "marked" someone's soda at a local park. Luckily, the soda-owner had a good sense of humor.
Endlessly chasing a tennis ball is the world's most exciting sport.
Ziggy is the best swimmer in the Paulitz family. Shamus and Patrick wade in the American River, but our furry friend puts us two-legged creatures to shame...
Dyson really does make the best vacuum cleaners for pet hair.
Never leave Ziggy alone in the kitchen with a juicy steak or a box of cookies.
Patrick and April get more kisses from Ziggy than from each other.
We wish you and your family a very joyous Christmas and happy New Year 2009.
Love, Patrick, April, Shamus, and Ziggy
Christmas Graphics courtesy of