It’s Christmas Eve and I doubt many will be blogging today; for whatever reason I find myself on the upstairs HP confuser listening to Porcupine Tree’s Stupid Dream album. I am alone tonight. My fiance had to work today, as this is her “Monday.” She works Christmas Day and to Wednesday. I have tomorrow off. She works and lives in Sacratomato. I live high in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

I went train chasing today and caught a beautiful UP consist heading downhill over the Long Ravine Bridge towards Colfax.

I came home after a bout of photography and began cleaning up after the Early Christmas. I put all my Christmas things away (on Christmas Eve, of all times!) but left my wreath on the front gate. I organized even more thoroughly for next year, placing all the Christmas items in my Grandmother’s trunk from Scotland, which rests in my living room. Everything fit wonderfully. I cleaned out more spaces around the house and vacuumed, oiled the antiques, reorganized the cupboards. As I write this I’m doing multiple loads of wash; I’ve already broomed off the decks in anticipation of more snow this week. I loaded more wood. The stove is already stacked with a load ready to light. My pantry is stacked with bottled water and canned food. The propane tank is up to around 70% — more than enough to get me through the worst of winters.

When I finished, I opened a nice Merlot, lit some candles, and reflected on the work I’ve done since 2004.

I exited one moribund relationship in 2004 and found myself with a vacant house minus some door pulls and other key items. Such it is with give-and-take. A few properly-written checks later I completely severed the exsanguinated relationship and began a full court press to redecorate the house. In a fashion that I, for once, wished.

First, I threw away an amazing amount of needless gurp. I will be the first to admit that my cabin is small; not more than 1,250 sq ft., though it has two bathrooms (one upstairs and one downstairs) and three bedrooms. The upstairs bedroom (not technically a bedroom since it contains no “closet”) is a loft overlooking the open bottom floor.

I repainted several rooms and purchased new applicances, a wondrous, rich leather loveseat and sofa from Breuners, a huge Toshiba 42″ HiDef TV, and had the exterior repainted in the fashion I’d not been “allowed” under the previous regime. Quite naturally, it looks great. I also spent $9,000 on a new Trex deck and, in 2005, spent $5,000 to have a massive 192′ pine removed from the property — its base had been damaged by lightning as I feared it would crack and fall in the coming winter.

In summary, my house is now precisely how I like it. Influenced and created and decorated by no one other than me. To me this means everything. I finally have control over my home and, by proxy, over my Life. Because, at work, I have No Control.

My home is now the Anchor I have sought in my fevered existence. Without this Anchor, a spot I can cleave to, Nothing Makes Sense. When I desire, I can retreat to my own personal Hidey-Hole, disappear down its shaft and pull the rock in after me. What I also discovered is that no one, besides me, has my taste in decoration. And I do have fabulous taste. This is not bragging; this is simply fact.

I tried to express the import of my feelings about this to the prior administration but they eventually turned a deaf ear. They are now on their own and God Bless their efforts. They are operating now within their own parameters and I am now on mine. To our mutual benefit.

And what has this to do with the current post?

Well, perhaps, a bit of reflection over the past year and back a few years to 2004, a turning point for me.

2006 will soon be gone. What do I envision for 2007?

Any prescient predictions on my part?

I’m thinking:

The GOP will continue to be dazed and confused; it will not much coalesce — it hasn’t the intelligence. The Dems will continue to fight each other, like the GOP. There will be no unified strata on either side of the aisle.

2007, however, will be THE year that Presidential Candidates MUST assemble their war chests, amass their troops, Fish or Cut Bait.

There are no real clear leaders on either side of the aisle just yet. But I might hazard this guess:

On the GOP side: Rudy Giuliani appears, to me, to be the most credible of candidates. Yes, he leans a tad Left on certain social issues. That’s fine with me. Considering the total of those who may represent the GOP, I’m finding I’ll back a Leader more than I will someone who weakly espouses something of the daily Talking Points. Yes, Giuliani will have a time explaining the issues with his wife and his affair; guess what? I’ll STILL take Giuliani because he IS a LEADER.

I suspect that, in 2007, Israel will have to make a massive military strike on either Syria or Iran. This will be backed my US military equipment but not by overt US action. Prior to this, Lebanon will be a source site of missiles into Israel which will be a predicating event for Israel’s action. Israel will NOT give up Gaza.

North Korea will continue with the sabre-rattling. Sensible Shoes will remember that NK still cannot produce glass without sugar candy imperfections. The Midget will be distracted by more and more internal strife and dissension — dealing with the lack of basics such as food, housing.

America will continue within Iraq. There will be a stronger and stronger push to completely abandon this country. Saudis will find themselves pushed physically up against the Sunni/Shiite wall — and it won’t be comfortable. Their power and comfort will still be the dollar-per-barrel charge they make. When the Shiites loom, they will cut loose with a deafening defense.

Iran will find itself more and more challenged from within. When the overall elections did not go completely towards Ahmadinnerjacket’s this year, that was a portent from Allah.

Europe will continue to be challenged by immigration. China will continue to rise boldly. The dollar will stabilize to a degree. At home, we may finally realize that our funding is finite. The Taxpayer may finally come to realize how inordinately He and She has been Fleeced.

This will continue to create dissension in the US ranks. We will be on the cusp of realizing how much and to what degree we ignore and sacrifice domestic issues for international issues.

In a Nutshell, there will be a greater push to make America more Isolationist.

I do not inherently disagree with this immediate policy.

We can start with the UN.

DO YOU HAVE PREDICTIONS FOR THE COMING YEAR, 2007?

BZ

I’ve been tagged by Sues at Sues Views.

But before I get into that I noticed, whilst perusing her profile, that she’s a fan of Disturbed, SOiL, Slipknot, Metallica, Korn and AC/DC. Damn. Some of my favorite bands too. A woman after my own musical heart — and, boys and girls, I’m pushin’ 60. Just a strange observation.

Trivia bit: Sues, were you aware that Angus Young is 51 years old now, 5’2″ tall and weighs 120 pounds?

So here is the tag:

“Ok, this is how it works: The player (me) must list 3 things that I would love to get for Christmas. Then I must list 3 things that I definitely do not want to get for Christmas. Then I tag 5 friends and list their names. The one I tag needs to write on their blogs about their Christmas wishes then tag 5 more people. They must also clarify all the rules. When you tag someone you need to leave a comment that says “you’ve been Christmas tagged!” in their comments and tell them to read your blog. Ok everybody..”

Three Things I Would Love To Get For Christmas:

1. A new car. Still haven’t settled on one specifically, but the Short List would be a 2007 Honda Accord EX V6 w/244 hp, a 2007 Honda CR-V EX-L AWD, in-line 4 w/166 hp, or a 2007 Toyota RAV4 Limited 4WD with the 3.5L, 270hp Lexus V6 engine. Zowee!
2. Five years of a satellite internet connection — primarily because my current connection is dial-up via a 56 modem working, on a good day, at 53kbps. I’ve got DirecTV or, otherwise, I’d be completely isolated. Even then, my view of the southern sky is kinda limited due to the fleet of 175’+ pine trees surrounding my property.

3. A State of Fornicalia PERS retirement — fully paid medical upon retirement until death. Yeah right. Fat fucking chance.

Three Things I Wouldn’t Want For Christmas:

1. Any Abba CD;
2. A subscription to any vapid magazine such as People, National Enquirer or Oprah;
3. A pair of Uggs.

But I’m such a jerk; this is where my meme ends. If you yourself wish to take up the challenge and post your own 3 Favorites and 3 Least, then please go ahead.

It’s 8:45 pm on Saturday night and I’ve got house-cleaning and wash to do following last night’s Early Christmas. My fiance has to work on Christmas Day (imagine, if you will, having to do that if you were 50 years old!) because she has little seniority on her job — so my family conducted our Christmas last night. Actually, it was great. We had a massive 20-lb radial-sliced ham, green beans, Brussels sprouts, red potatoes in Rosemary, fresh biscuits, and Lava cakes for dessert. My nephew even came from the Bay Area for dinner — through the horrific eastbound I-80 Friday-evening-up-the-mountain traffic. I handed out presents and acted the Santa Claus. Everyone had a great time. Dad was feeling well but I messed up: I gave him a quilted vest, just as he likes, with zipping pockets — only — dammit, in the wrong size!!

Ever conducted “The Search” for someone’s birthday or for Christmas? That’s when you offer a wrapped present that only contains a “hint” for locating the next message, so the recipient can find the true present? I did that for my fiance’s final present: a 2 ct set of Princess diamond studs with screw backs. The third and final set for her triple-pierced ears.

Last night was 19-degrees. No additional snow. But I know it’s coming.

BZ

We had a retirement dinner for a fellow employee last night. He was retiring after 28 years and we had gathered at an Outback to present him with a plaque, a certificate and to honor his work. No sooner had we sat down than another employee told us all that my good friend had called to say he was coming to the dinner. His mother had been given two weeks to live. We hadn’t expected him at all, for obvious reasons.

A few moments later, we learned that his mother passed away earlier in the day. Yet, despite that, he appeared at the dinner with Christmas cards for all, wishing us well. He said that his mother had passed in an incredibly peaceful fashion.

He still came to the dinner in order to honor his co-worker. My friend is an amazing man of faith.

Goodbye to you, Mrs. Murray, and God Bless.

BZ

Today is not a good day; I just heard that the mother of one of my friends at work is in the hospital, and shall be removed to hospice shortly. She has about two weeks to live.

I needed a bit of levity today.

Be thankful for what you have and hold close those dear to you.

BZ

From ABC News:

With European law enforcement officials warning of an imminent holiday terror attack, Web sites associated with al Qaeda announced today that the group’s second-in-command, Ayman al-Zawahiri, is about to issue a new statement entitled “the truths about the clash between Islam and atheism.”

In the meantime, British MI5 intelligence authorities admit there are “dozens” of Islamist suicide bombers rambling around Europe and Great Britian.

What do I mean by numerous (plots)? Five? 10? No nearer 30 — that we know of. These plots often have links back to al Qaeda in Pakistan, and through those links al Qaeda gives guidance and training to its largely British foot soldiers,” said MI5 Director General Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller in a speech at the University of London.

Secular societies are threats to Islam. Europe is the secular hotbed of western culture and, therefore, a massive, massive target. Yet Great Britain and other portions of Europe continue to cater to Islam.

A bit of what I call “Survival Hypocrisy,” that.

BZ