Silver Anniversary. Silver Fox.

Ellen and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary with a quiet dinner for two at a local fancy restaurant, the Silver Fox Steakhouse. You know the type: "an atmosphere of intimate dining surrounded by mahogany and marble, which sets the tone for an exquisite experience." 8 oz. petite filets, $36.95. With Bearnaise Sauce, add $3.95. The proprietor came to our table and introduced himself and gave us his business card.

Everything was perfect, except for the lack of a candle on our table. Not to worry. After a quick Google image search on my Internet-enabled smart phone, voila, the romantic anniversary dinner was complete. Ellen and I plan a Caribbean cruise in a few weeks for a second celebration. It had better have everything. I won't have cell phone service at sea.

Oscar Hindsight

The Academy Awards presentation is now behind us. As usual, I've yet to see any of the movies nominated for best picture and only one of the acting performances. I'm a Netflix movie-goer, so I'll be seeing the nominees as they slowly come out on DVD. Expect to read my own take on Oscar's choices then.

Best Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
Best Actor: Sean Penn, Milk
Best Actress: Kate Winslett, The Reader
Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona

I did see The Dark Knight, as it was released last summer. I even saw it in a movie theater. My opinion?

Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight

Ledger was dead and gone by the time this movie even hit the theaters. He probably had the Oscar sewn up before the first weekend's gross was even totaled up. But this award is not simply a sympathy vote. Without Heath Ledger's Joker, The Dark Knight would be wholly forgettable. Oscar will never look back and regret not giving the award to <fill in the blank>.

Early Spring In The Steger Garden (2009)

From Flowers

Spring has come to north Texas. Enjoy!

The mums are green but still hugging the ground. The Wandering Jew is only showing it's still alive. The Yellow Lady Banks Rose is dormant. The Bradford Pear is starting to bud but showing no flowers or leaves yet. No sign of life yet on the crape myrtles. Only the weeds in the St. Augustine grass in the front yard are thriving. They are starting to scream for attention. And the daffodils are in full bloom. Yes, it's early Spring in North Texas.

Bowl Trip

San Antonio Riverwalk (see more)

Northwestern University and Rice University are not known for football glory, but this year both schools were in bowl games. What's more both bowl games are in the state of Texas. Road trip! First, it was down to San Antonio on December 29 to see the Northwestern Wildcats take on the University of Missouri in the Alamo Bowl. NU lost an exciting contest in overtime, 30-23. Then, it was on to Houston on December 30, where the Rice Owls owned Western Michigan 38-14 in the Texas Bowl. Then, it was back to Richardson to celebrate New Year's Eve at home.

Beijing Journal

John spent the summer in Beijing, China, studying at Tsinghua University, seeing the sites, and attending the Olympics (as seen on NBC's Nightly News with Brian Williams).