The Guardian for this meeting was Riddle Sideways. The comments are by Riddle Sideways.  Joined by great friends Eos, Adams and Stevenaia

                      --BELL--
Riddle Sideways: Hi Eos
Eos Amaterasu: Hi Riddle
Riddle Sideways: was just reading your email
Riddle Sideways: might not be here 12 hours from now
Riddle Sideways: "IF-iness"
Eos Amaterasu: Ah yes, I'm connected briefly this morning, but may not be this evening
Eos Amaterasu: Must be early for you
Riddle Sideways: as much as the future can be planned ahead
Riddle Sideways: yes, still dark
Riddle Sideways: but, for the last year have been getting up at this time
Eos Amaterasu: early bird
Riddle Sideways: good pay, but have to start East coast US time
Eos Amaterasu: have noticed that's not uncommon for west coasters, to be up earlier than east coasters (so they can be up together)
Riddle Sideways: are you headed to family gathering?
Eos Amaterasu: I'm in Montreal at family gathering
Riddle Sideways: Hello, Adams
Riddle Sideways: far too long not seeing
Eos Amaterasu: HI Adams
Adams Rubble: Hello Riddle and Eos :)
Eos Amaterasu: You look warm and snug
Adams Rubble: :)
Adams Rubble: Nice to see you both again :)
Riddle Sideways: Is this one of those mornings to jump out of bed early to see what St.Nick has left?
Eos Amaterasu: Can only be here a few minutes, but thought I'd drop in, share drop, and drop out :-)
Riddle Sideways: :) ty
Eos Amaterasu: We're in East European celebrate evening of the 24th branch
Adams Rubble: We
Adams Rubble: 're just celebrating with each other this year
Riddle Sideways: together alone
Eos Amaterasu: (this week's theme?)
Adams Rubble: I think Santa might be interfering with my internet connection
Adams Rubble: very slow
Riddle Sideways: because Santa can warp time and space
Eos Amaterasu: Ah, sorry, must go now - cheers!
Adams Rubble: bye Eos :)
Riddle Sideways: thanks for visitation
Riddle Sideways: the memories of getting up far far too early on Xmas morning
Adams Rubble: :)

                      --BELL--
Adams Rubble: Now I have learned something else about my parents
Riddle Sideways: /listens
Adams Rubble: why they could be content just having a quiet day
Adams Rubble: It is a gift
Riddle Sideways: ah, yes, a true gift
Adams Rubble: In fact, a whole long weekend of quiet
Riddle Sideways: you were forced to not work
Adams Rubble: I find December a nice oasis
Adams Rubble: hehe. no not forced but taking a break
Riddle Sideways: and the weather (or yourself) kept you inside
Adams Rubble: a time of renewal
Adams Rubble: we have had some nice walks
Adams Rubble: I love walking in the winter
Riddle Sideways: and deeply wrapped in quiet calm
Adams Rubble: On Saturday there were fierce winds and we walked between the canal and the river
Adams Rubble: (fortunately no one blew in)
Adams Rubble: :)
Riddle Sideways: :)
Adams Rubble: I always think we are a fortunate species that we can be out enjoying the beauty of the winter
Adams Rubble: the woods get so quiet
Adams Rubble: if one avoids the hunting areas
Riddle Sideways: the bears go to sleep
Adams Rubble: and the msquitoes
Adams Rubble: what do the animals do in California?
Riddle Sideways: the bears are up high in the mountains slepping
Riddle Sideways: the turkeys are still walking around
Riddle Sideways: the deer have found the new shoots of grass
Riddle Sideways: it has rained for a couple weeks
Adams Rubble: ahh, much the same as here
Riddle Sideways: the meadow has the yearly pond
Adams Rubble: :)
Riddle Sideways: 2 ducks cruise it
Adams Rubble: but it is getting colder
Riddle Sideways: yes, 33F
Riddle Sideways: if a car can be trusted to tell the temp
Adams Rubble: :)
Riddle Sideways: only get snow on house every 4th year
Riddle Sideways: hmmmm, can't remember which year this it :)
Adams Rubble: the snow makes it more difficult to get around
Adams Rubble: :)
Riddle Sideways: and holiday shoppers make it difficult to get around too
Adams Rubble: incredibly beautiful when it first falls though
Adams Rubble: the snow not the shoppers
Riddle Sideways: December snow is pretty
Riddle Sideways: Feburary (or March) snow is not
Adams Rubble: by that time it is getting tiresome

                      --BELL--
Adams Rubble: You have experienced the extremes in your life
Adams Rubble: whoops
Riddle Sideways: a year were we could not get the car out and down the road to pickup grandma
Riddle Sideways: a year nearly naked on a beach in Florida sweating
Adams Rubble: :)
Riddle Sideways: Hawaiians singing very different words to Xmas carols
stevenaia Michinaga: greetings
Riddle Sideways: Hi Stevenaia
Adams Rubble: Hello Stevenaia :)
Riddle Sideways: a year when Chanukah gifts came on christmas
Riddle Sideways: so many different extremes
Adams Rubble: you could be writing a book about memories :)
stevenaia Michinaga: if you notice, hannukka is eather early or late, never on time :)
stevenaia Michinaga: *early
Adams Rubble: :)
Riddle Sideways: so are most of us jews :)
Adams Rubble: it has its own time
Riddle Sideways: well, almost never early
stevenaia Michinaga: nods, even when Easter (usually) follows passover, it;s passover that is at the "wrong" time
Adams Rubble: of course there is more than one Easter time :)
stevenaia Michinaga: so dificult to have the sence of 2 concurrent but different time measurements
Adams Rubble: I believe eastern Orthodox is closer to Passover
stevenaia Michinaga: nods and Eastern Christmas is usually in January
Adams Rubble: January 6 - Ephiphany
Adams Rubble: Epiphany
stevenaia Michinaga: We ahve a Greek and Ukranian churches a few blocks away, no one seems to care about the other
stevenaia Michinaga: we had a neighborhood "get together" at the Ukranian church, they were happy to discuss the more closely they are aligned with the older jewish traditions
Adams Rubble: :)
stevenaia Michinaga: same with the local Lebanies Maronite communities
stevenaia Michinaga: Lebanese
Riddle Sideways: same with Salt Lake City
stevenaia Michinaga: and their more "ancient" basis of their services, alignment of the churches direction to the East , etc
Adams Rubble: we all have much in common when we stop focusing on our differences
Riddle Sideways: ain't that the truth
stevenaia Michinaga: yes, except the need to be diferencetiated and more self important creates a special division that many need
Adams Rubble: their illusions
stevenaia Michinaga: scratching head... wondering what human flaw exists for such a need
Adams Rubble: see above :)
stevenaia Michinaga: why don't we want us all to have everything in common?
Riddle Sideways: Imagine
stevenaia Michinaga: as if what we possess that some one else does not is an important difference

                      --BELL--
Riddle Sideways: isn't it a pity
Adams Rubble: When we focus on our selves rtather than others, we build up the differences to show we are unique
stevenaia Michinaga: well it is certainly is a waste of humanity
Riddle Sideways: and it builds and builds until a way starts
Adams Rubble: we have been doing it for millenia :)
Adams Rubble: nice to know we can stop it anytime though
Riddle Sideways: is also a very great gift to ourselves (to be able to stop)
Adams Rubble: :)
stevenaia Michinaga: a day of humility
Adams Rubble: a recognition that we are part of all around us
stevenaia Michinaga: I suspect there will be many against it because..... few would understand what they would "get" out of it
stevenaia Michinaga: that sad part
Adams Rubble: yes, we can wish them better
Adams Rubble: many open their hearts briefly on a day like today
Riddle Sideways: some still want to know what is in the gift box before openning
Adams Rubble shakes the box
stevenaia Michinaga: :)
Riddle Sideways: yes Adams, Tis the season when many of those busy busy shoppers smile and hold doors open for strangers
stevenaia Michinaga: for at least one day
Riddle Sideways: it is a start
Adams Rubble: and think about the poor
Adams Rubble: Shantideva talks about our condition as weather related rather than hopeless
Adams Rubble: we can catch glimpses thrugh the cclouds
Adams Rubble: yes, Riddle, it is a start :)
stevenaia Michinaga: the first step on the journey
Adams Rubble: yes Stevenaia, at leaast for one day :)
Adams Rubble: Peace on earh, goodwill toward men
Riddle Sideways: will not get there without starting
Adams Rubble: hey, the sunshine was nice, I'd like to see more
Adams Rubble: what fun it is to be here with you guys :)
Riddle Sideways: give that gift to anybody you meet today

                      --BELL--
Riddle Sideways: this smile feels good
stevenaia Michinaga: smiles, thank you
Riddle Sideways: just saw Bleu's email Best Wishes holiday gift card
stevenaia Michinaga: a good way to start any day
Riddle Sideways: and the sun just came up
Adams Rubble: I must be going. Thank you both
Riddle Sideways: and thank you
Riddle Sideways: pass the gift along
stevenaia Michinaga: bye
Adams Rubble: nice to see you both. Haave a good day :)
Riddle Sideways: ba bye
stevenaia Michinaga: bye Adams
Riddle Sideways: This has so nice. Think some of it should go to RL now
Riddle Sideways: *been
stevenaia Michinaga: Enjoy yur day
Riddle Sideways: you too