Snowy Friday, the 13th

It's intermittent, but the snow they promised us has started falling. This should be the first significant white dusting of the now-brown turf for this year. I'm not complaining about it too much because the conditions are dry rather than soggy and gloomy.

It's the kind of winter weather that's easy on the animals, though. When we get the alternative nobody's too thrilled. We're supposed to have snow through the day, mounting up to about three inches and then drying out for a few days. I'll take that.

I'm much more tolerant than usual for another reason. Annie and I made a firm decision this week to go to Maui for a week in early December. I've never been to Hawaii; she's been twice but never to Maui. After we decided to go and made the news public on Facebook, we learned that my cousin Sue will be there at the same time.

Sue called me last night, and that's when I learned that her brother, my cousin Eddie and his wife will be accompanying her. So, this has definitely been the "Year of the Cousins." I saw Sue in August when all the first-cousin women, plus Eddie's wife Mary, came to Sandpoint for a rollicking, fun day.

I haven't seen Eddie, who operates a fruit farm in the Columbia Basin, since Willie and Debbie were married eight years ago. So, this will be a treat.

Sue has been to Maui enough times to pass along suggestions to Annie, the ultimate trip planner. Plus, we plan to get together one night for dinner and maybe even go geocaching together one of the days that we're there.

It will be nice to cast aside the flannel-lined jeans and barn boots in favor of shorts and sandals for a week. Of course, there's a lot to do in preparation for the trip----making sure all bases are covered here at home. Plus, I've got some work projects to finish and some Christmas stuff to attend to.

That's good, though, because it makes me have to move forward rather than procrastinating. If I do it all right, maybe I'll be more organized than usual for the holidays this year.

In other news, Willie's home today, enjoying relaxation after a tough nine-week grind into his first year of teaching. His parent conferences went well, so he's feeling pretty good about his new career situation.

He'll be finding out all the details of a possible home to rent this weekend, and he gets to do another writing gig for the Spokesman-Review tomorrow when he covers the Sandpoint-Hillcrest quarter-final match-up. If the Bulldogs win tomorrow, they'll be playing in the Idaho State Championship at the U of I Kibbie Dome.

Last night Bill attended the 75th Anniversary of Kiwanis Boy Scout Troop 111. He was their scoutmaster for several years. Each scoutmaster was given a special neckerchief, commemorating the event. Bill's scouts have gone on to become fine citizens, working at interesting careers throughout the nation.

He took a book along to share with the attendees. It was written by Eagle Scout Adam Cochran who traveled the world after leaving Sandpoint, encountering some interesting adventures. Adam now works in Washington, D.C. for the National Park Service. I'm sure last evening's event was very meaningful for all who attended.

We're excited about the sports action this weekend. Besides the Sandpoint-Hillcrest game, the long-awaited annual match-up between the Idaho Vandals and the Boise State Broncos is set for tomorrow. I have to root for both since I'm a Vandal graduate and the three kids are BSU grads. In my mind, Idaho wins no matter what.

Later, we'll resume our enthusiastic support of the ZAGS. They've played an exhibition game and won. We're all impressed with the new corral of players, and they'll play their season opener against Mississippi Valley State tomorrow at 5 p.m. The same team plays the WSU Cougars in their opener this evening.

Winter has come, and along with it, the great sports events that help us through the winter. A good weekend lies ahead, even if it is snowing.

TGIF to all. GO BULLDOGS! GO BULLDOGS! GO COUGS! GO VANDALS! GO BRONCOS! AND FOR THE MONTANA READERS, GO GRIZZLIES!