I'm up in Mammoth, California for a week's ski vacation with my wife and son. Got two great days of skiing before a huge storm almost literally has trapped us. The two photos below give you an idea of what it's like here.

For me, it just means more time to write. I'm polishing the first draft of my book, which I expect to have out in time for Father's Day, and I've written a couple more of my "A Dad's Point-of-View" columns, to get ahead. I'm going on an extended cruise to Hong Kong, Borneo, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and the Philippines beginning in late January so I like to get ahead. Actually, I like to be ahead most of the time anyway. I was always that kind of kid in school. I never liked all-nighters, even in college. I preferred not having the hassle of worry or last minute rushing in school and I feel the same now with my writing.

So, being "trapped" by the snow only disappoints me that I don't get to ski which I thoroughly love. Otherwise, it's kinda cool. Watching the elements outside is wild, really, and you get a "picture" of it by these two photos. One is the pathway from our condo and you can see a few vehicles in the background. The other is a closer shot of said vehicles. That is just the snow from last night until this afternoon! They say they had "World Record" snow here last week. I believe it!

This is amazing for less than a day of snowing...look at the wiper blades sticking out of the cars!

This is the same view as above, a day later, with the sun now shining and it's been a "little" clear - car still buriend in snow in the background!

*So, the story goes something like this...some sort of illicit affair was going on and the couple were "going at it" in a car, during a very cold spell, with the heat running.  As a storm hit, the car was getting covered in snow and the exhaust got stopped up, but they were "busy."  Naturally, keeping the car running meant the exhaust fumes went into the car.  The illicit lovers were later found, "in the act," and very dead, when their car was dug out several days later...someone please play "The Twilight Zone" theme now...

My 14-year-old son said he wasn't feeling in the holiday spirit yet? Are you kidding me?

Everywhere we go we hear Christmas music. We play it non-stop in the car, whether it's the Xmas channel on XM radio, my own XM Radio Show Special, or our own Holiday CD that we sent out a decade ago.

Plus, I just made this video, a slide-show, to go with the decade old Sallan Boys sing-a-long we did to The Drifter's version of "White Christmas" and he says he's not in the mood?

Gimme a break?! My wife goes with him to buy a Christmas tree. He complains and bellyaches about getting the lights around it - a regular scrooge, but she perseveres and then gets it fully decorated. He likes that part...lol.

Then, my wife wraps ALL the presents and it's really gorgeous. I still act grumpy 'cause I'm Jewish and I still struggle having a tree in the house, period. But, it's beautiful and it makes her happy so, as they say, "Happy Wife, Happy Life." As for my son, if he's not in the spirit by now, I guess he'll just have to wait till Christmas Eve or Day!