A New Year's Day shooting in which a subway police officer fired a deadly shot into the back of an unarmed man has the San Francisco Bay Area demanding answers as authorities appeal for patience.

On New Year's my friends and I were one train behind this awful happening.

I know that I'm rather behind, just now writing a blog about Christmas, but whatever. 

As Christmas approached this year, I felt myself getting more and more out of the spirit.  I had no desire to have a Christmas that I was stuck in Portland for due to a foot of snow, without my friends, and alone.  Much to my surprise however, this turned out to be what I can honestly say was the best Christmas of my adult life. 

Christmas Eve began with an invite to a co-worker's sister's house.  This was a a huge family gathering and both Peter and I went into it expecting some awkwardness, but amazingly we settled right in and had an amazing time.  Lots of wine, conversations, rock band, little girls and their toys.  The only bad part of the evening was the roads, which were like driving thru a war zone.

Christmas morning was a brunch that my wonderful neighbor Lee invited Peter, myself, and another neighbor Tracy over for.  We headed across the hall at around 11 and began a brunch that would last 5 hours.  The conversation that flowed that morning was so wonderful.  It had been such a long time since I felt such intellectual stimulation. Such incredible stories and points of view from four very different people.  If only everyday could include such a get together.

Lee provided me with the subject for this blog.  Peter, Paul , & Mary cause she couldn't remember Peter's name, Wasband = her term for her ex-husband, and white christmas because for a short time that morning it began to blizzard outside.