The camp is in good order as we begin 2005. We had several strong wind storms in December, but there were no trees or large branches down anywhere near the camp. The road had just a bit of snow and ice. There were tracks on the road from at least one truck and a couple of snowmobiles. The ice is generally safe, but there are weak spots where the springs have eaten away at the underside. With the ice, there is no sound of water against the shore and the whole lake is very quiet.

We were invited to an open house at friends of Mike yesterday afternoon. We stopped in briefly between a visit with my father and the trip to the camp. One of the people at the party, also a friend of Mike, attended Notre Dame, a nearby Catholic high school. He and I were on our high school debating teams and had debated against each other a few times. He's Joe's godfather and his son has worked for Mike for several years. We had a good long talk about caring for parents. His father died at home not long ago and both his mother and mother-in-law are living close by.

Sandra's mother has had a bit of a setback. She woke on Saturday morning with a great deal of pain in her back. We suspect that it may have been triggered by sitting in the movie for two and a half hours on Friday. She's ok when she's lying still, but it hurts a lot when she stands and walks.

After we got home, I received a call from Michael Francis. His voice is getting deep and at first I didn't recognize his call. He asked if he could get a ride. His parents and siblings were still at the aforementioned party and he had made plans to see his girlfriend at her house. Lynn and Mike got home just as I arrived to pick up Michael. I drove him across town to a nice-looking home. I'm glad that he called us.

Sandra and I are taking a quick trip into Boston today to see The Lion King at the newly renovated Opera House.

Bringing a bit of fresh air to new year, we clean out 2004 with Dave Barry's year-in-review, Arianna Huffington's things to forget, and the list of banished words from Lake Superior State University.