Carnage in Goleta

Six people are dead and a seventh critically wounded after a former employee of a U.S. Postal Service processing and distribution center in Goleta opened fire with a handgun late Monday before fatally turning the weapon on herself. Fortunately, neither Jim nor I know any of these people. I have to visit this post office tomorrow to drop off a bulk mailing and am not looking forward to it. I'll probably bring donuts or something else to cheer people up.

This is just a year after the disaster known to locals as "La Conchita" when the hill over the small village of La Conchita fell on the homes killing about a dozen people. My friend Katie was killed in a car accident as a result of the aftermath.

Big Wednesday

This is a photo of the giant waves in Santa Barbara in December. See all of those little dots? Those are people. Surprisingly, only one person died trying to surf.

updated 2/25/06: 6 weddings and 6 babies

Jim & I were home for the holidays and were bombarded with babies! My brother and his wife are expecting their first little one in July, while my oldest friend (longest term not OLDEST) Abby is having triplets! Terra & Dave had their baby early and Doug & Faye just popped last week. Here's the revised baby list:

2006

Scott & Kim due in July in England
Abby & Scott due with triplet boys in July in Ohio
Heather & Deb in SB - due with baby Liam in May
Cory in SB - due with a girl in March

2005

Doug & Faye welcome Michael on 12/26/05 in SB.
Terra & Dave welcomed Talia (7 weeks early) on 11/26/05 in SB
Lee Anne in Australia
Jessica in Palo Alto
Rebecca & Michael in Washington
Chris & Kirk had Vienna in Denver
Rachel & Jon had Alexander in Ohio in July
Kris & Chris in Ohio
Mike in Ohio
Teri in SF

We also have 6 weddings/commitment ceremonies/re-commitment ceremonies this year. Sorry folks, but we won't be able to make them ALL. Carol & Marv on April 8, Ed in May, Rena & Robert in Mamouth in July, Erica & Seth in NY in August, Glen in October, Francesca in NY in November. There are 3 engagements too! David & Lacy, Tara & Andy, Amy & Eric are all engaged.

I also got to catch up with old friends. Here's a photo of me, Sharee, Abby, Rachel, and Autumn on 12/30. It turns out that Autumn lives 30 minutes south of me in SB! We are really excited to hang out and she might surf with Jim.