I know I've written this before but this really is the best time of the year. Sure it's Christmas and there are the parties, presents and feasting to look forward to but I always like to take a little time to appreciate the simple pleasures as well. I have always loved these short days of fall and early winter when I head off to work before light and come home after sunset. Yesterday was one of those perfect mornings, a frosty 16 degrees when I left my house, the sky a deep blue/black with the stars and moon providing a soft glow. There is a surreal beauty to the desert landscape on a cold morning when the sun is yet to come up but the ground is bathed in starlight. There is a slight rise, no more than 200 feet at most that I crest on my way into work and yesterday, at the top I had a brief view that was absolutely stunning. The first hint of cerulean was beginning to peek over the Spanish Range out to the east and the blue/black of the sky blended deeper black of the Truckee Meadows below me. Across the horizon, a wide slash of lights outlined the cities of Reno-Sparks and the bright orbs of multicolored lights were a beacon to downtown and the casinos. It was one of those gorgeous views that just sticks with you and reminds you, you never could have enjoyed a view like that with enviromentalists controlling regulations and design. They would have choked on the amount of fuel burnt to keep those lights burning.

After a start like that it would have been near impossible for a liberal to ruin my mood yesterday. Instead I took a little time to think about another year passing and to remind myself of the many blessings and things we have to be thankful for. First and foremost, I am thankful for the men and women of our military forces combatting our enemies all over the world. I am thankful for our nation re-electing a strong leader who believes in America and the traditional values that made this country great. I am thankful for my family and friends and of course for all you regulars that for some reason or other, pay attention to my frequent rants, occasional sense and make this blog worth the time I invest. In fact I'm feeling so benevolent right now, I'm going to sign off wishing you all a Merry Christmas and save the lib-bashing for another day. Besides, thats another thing I'm thankful for, people like Ann Coulter, Laura Ingraham, Neal Boortz and of course big daddy Rush for picking up the slack on days like this where I'm giving the left a pass...

Smilin' Paul Villa U.S. Senate 2004
cyber-Congressman, R-Reno
Proud Member of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy and 2 SUV Family