Best wishes 2005!

Here I am... one of the last remaining employees still at work three days before Christmas. I'm helping to finish a few test-passes for the Team Foundation Server before the winter break. Here's a carol to celebrate.

Twas a few days before Christmas, and all through the halls, not a keyboard was stirring, not even a mouse. The closed signs were hung in the cafeterias with care, hoping the programmers' stomachs wouldn't go to bare. When out on the lawn, there arose such a clatter, I sprang from my office to see what was the matter. There what to my bloodshot eyes should appear, but Mr. Gates in his chopper, with eight security near. More rapid than eagles his product line came, and he whistled and shouted and called them by name. On Office, on VS, Ops Manager and Vista. On Server, on Hotmail, Active Directory and SQL.

The good news is tomorrow I'm headed up to Canada! Firsty, I'll be in Nanaimo for a few days visiting the folks, hanging out with Amanda on her birthday (Dec 23rd) and seeing some friends. Christmas day I go to Amanda's parents to spend time with her and her family. Boxing Day (Dec 26th) I hope to be boarding at Mt. Washington. Unfortunately I just realized that they are not yet open. This sucks! Another Christmas on the island with no snowboarding. I think I need to buy a mountain bike. Oh well... let's pray for a big snowfall!

My birthday last week was awesome. Amanda had a bunch of people over at our place and we went out for sushi at Rikki Rikki in Kirkland. They have some good quality sashimi! We played XBOX 360, foozeball, Settlers of Catan, and had a good time hanging out. Thanks to Amanda and everyone else who stopped by, called or sent me a card for a great time! I also got some nice gifts including an expansion pack for Settlers, a new down duvet and some reading material off my Amazon.com wishlist (it's already working!).

Friday night Amanda, Chris, Dana and I crashed Cam's MSN holiday party. It was nice to wear the suit and Amanda looked great in a pretty black dress. Cam has some pictures up. Here's a pic of Amanda and I together, and one of us playing craps.

I wish everyone the best over the holidays!