When Gibbs isn't busy with a pressing case, Abby takes a well deserved rest with her pet hippo.  She's the lass who puts the 'cute' in Forensic Science.  Where, I wonder, would NCIS be without Abby?  Gibbs relies on her to find the answers to difficult questions and somehow she finds those answers.

It's not all forensics in her lab either - even Christmas has it's place as well it should.  Christmas is a time of peace, a time of light in the darkness and not just a time for the stores to make profits - even though they often do.

Well I suppose someone has to play Santa!  For this Elf it's probably her best choice; Gibbs? Definitely not! Dinozzo, I doubt it. McGee, Naa!  Ducky, I think not. Director Vance? Er... Not a chance.  No there's only one Santa, skinny though he is... may need some meat on his bones but then what else can she do?

When the cast are through for the day they will no doubt have a few laughs before going home to their respective families - where they should be.  That's the thing about Christmas, it brings people together while celebrating the birth of a man who made a big impact on the world - and for good reason.  His teachings still hold true, let's face it.


My thoughts are that soon we face the austere season of Lent, then Easter - a time of new life, the rising of the Son of God.  Winter is behind us, summer ahead along with the promise of a brighter future, providing we let it happen.  Be not ashamed of Jesus. Christ because he really did have the words of life - the teaching of love and the extent to which is should be expressed.  We should keep him in mind when we think of our neighbours, beyond our own city or nation.  We should keep him in mind when we think of our planet and it's needs.

Maybe that's what Abby's dreaming about when she takes her nap, a better world in which love replaces hate and it's people care about their planet.  If its not worth dreaming about, its worth praying about I think.

This is what it looked like way back in November 2010... All that white fluffy stuff just seemed to pile up and pile up with each successive snow storm as the weeks and months rolled by.  Well it's now starting to melt and with the melting snow the ground is starting to look ugly - leaves, cigarette buts and bits of trash covered by the white stuff are starting to show.

First we have the back-breaking work of shoveling the snow (if we haven't got a snow blower to hand) and then when it's gone we have the back breaking work of cleaning  up the yard!

In an email addressed to Karin was the wise and true saying, "Life is like taking a hot bath... the longer you're in it the more wrinkled you get."  Maybe we do feel our age and maybe we do show our age with each passing winter, spring, summer, and fall (or autumn as it's called in Britain) but one thing is certain: getting old is bloody hard work!

If you are young and you think life is one big party - or should be - just remember this: after each party you will experience  that hangover that will make you feel more miserable than death warmed up!  Headache pills will not cut it and there's no cure.  Age will eventually bring about the realisation that going to church rather than to the bar not only frees you from the promise of a hangover, it really does give you a feeling that your life means something.  With Jesus Christ right there in the center of things, your life does mean something and you can do something with it.  Sod the party, really live!