WhittersCO: December 2005

Happy New Year

Matt and I are sick. Which is a real bummer because we were supposed to go up to Steamboat Springs to see Sally and Matt (K) and sit in the hot springs and go snowshoeing. Instead we are sitting down here in the basement watching football and playing video games.
I think that this is a pretty fitting way to end this year... 2005 was just too emotional.
Personally, my goals for next year are for everyone in my family to stay alive and healthy... and although this seems like a simple request, it is all I want.
For those of you who I haven't talked to this about, one of my cousins died on November 30th in his apartment in New York City. Then, on December 8th, my dear aunt whom I lived with when I first moved out here to CO also died very suddenly.
So, just keeping everyone moving and grooving seems like a good start to me.
On a more up-beat note.... check out this link!
http://web.icq.com/friendship/swf/0,,16961_rs,00.swf

Tax Break for Blood

I have come up with a great idea (or at least I think so)....
Why doesn't the government give us tax deductions for donating blood? Whenver there is a natural disaster, the suggestion for help is to give blood... why don't they just support having a continuous full supply? If people got $10-$25 per donation, I bet more people would give more often.... beyond the once a year blood drive at work. Plus, people couldn't really 'abuse' the system, because you can only give blood every other month anyway...so it can't get out of control.
It would be easy to regulate: just have the blood banks give the donor a form at the end of the donation that can be copied and turned in with all the other tax forms.
I have emailed my congressmen about this... anyone else have any ideas how I can make this happen?
I was also thinking about writing/calling:
The Red Cross
FEMA
Bonfils (the local blood people in Colorado)
Any helpful input is welcome!

Nugget sighting

An added note to the diner experience....
we saw this really tall guy and his dad there dressed in Nuggets gear. After looking up the roster online, it turns out it was Eduardo Najera, a Forward for the Nuggets!
here he is:
http://www.nba.com/playerfile/eduardo_najera/index.html

Holiday Party Etc

Friday night we went to Matt's holiday party at the Pepsi Center. Most of the pictures are posted from that. We had a good time with everyone there and spent the night at the Grand Hyatt in Denver.
The next day, after a great brunch at the Denver Diner, we went to watch the High School State Championships for football at Invesco Field in the company suite. The suite is right next to the owners box and this time I remembered to turn the flash off to get a few pictures.