We hop on a plane later today for Chicago and freezing temperatures. There might even be a dusting of snow by the time we arrive at midnight – officially Christmas Eve. We’ll leave behind some rain here in Portland that will generate some snow in the nearby Cascade Mountains. The skiers will be happy, while we’ll be driving by the flat, Indiana cornfields to our Indianapolis destination.

I’ll have an opportunity to do some writing during the boring 4-hour flight. Last night was our annual Christmas dinner with our good friends. We had quite the feast, topped off with Cherries Jubilee and Bananas Foster prepared table-side. These flaming dessert dishes are very festive, especially considering the occasion. However, the high sugar content, coupled with several bottles of wine prevented a sound sleep. I was wide awake in the middle of the night from the carbohydrate rush.

This was the first of many anticipated sugar rushes over the next week. There will be lots of rich foods and nightly wine overindulgence, as we get together with relatives (old & new), family, and friends. This will probably extend through our New Year’s Eve dinner at Portland’s Holdfast. It will then be time for resolutions involving dietary restrictions. I have been very good about controlling my intake of bread, pasta, and rice, so my weight is down about 15 pounds from this time last year. Likewise, my blood pressure and cholesterol levels are much lower. I’ve been a very good boy with my diet this year! However, I still eat lots of cookies and drink way too much wine.