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We made it! After eight flights, our holiday travel is finally over and we’re home at last.

And home we will STAY, because the Rose Parade is on its way! We live just two blocks from the parade route, and starting tomorrow morning the traffic will become pretty much unnavigable by car. We’ll probably walk down and have a look at the floats tomorrow evening; last year, we watched them set up; it was interesting, beautiful, and not as claustrophobic camping out for an actual parade-route spot. Caltech has a float this year, and supposedly you can watch live video taken from the float during the parade at www.floatcam.caltech.edu. (I say “supposedly” because their test didn’t work on my browser; I’m working on it.)

I’ve still got lots of pictures to catch up on from Christmas! Here’s a shot of my sisters and me that Ben took.

We had a wonderful Christmas here in Massachusetts. Santa was generous, the food was yummy, and now (just a day late), it’s snowing!!!

Santa brought Chaco a “Bad Cuz” chew toy that he adores:

I received a pair of Alien Bee flashes (with a softbox and umbrella reflector to go with them) so I can take real studio portraits! Here is one of our first test shots. I’ve only begun to experiment with them, but I’m already thrilled with the soft, bright, diffuse light they produce.

And here’s the next installion in my series of family photographs. Becky looks gorgeous:

We took a family portrait today. Merry Christmas from the Scotts! (More pictures to follow.)

We also ate Chinese food, went to chruch, drank whiskey sours (some of us more than others!), played Cranium, and learned How My Mom Got Her Engagement Ring. :)

Have a very merry Christmas!

I retroactively posted my lengthy Bonaire trip report. Click on “December” on the menu to the right to get all the relevant entries (the main page limits the number of entries displayed, so you won’t see all the entries if you just read what’s here).

Currently, I’ve got a bunch of above-water pictures in the entries; however, as I extract [slowly] still images from the video, I’m adding underwater photos to the dive log entries. I’ll keep you posted when I add more of those.

Here’s one to get you started: Dive #22: White Hole, Bonaire, NA

Today’s been pretty laid-back. I went to Kim’s chemistry class this morning to meet the famous Dr. Rumsey, and I got to watch a pickle electrocution and a sugar + H2SO4 reaction. Unfortunately, I was immediately brought back to MY days of high school: within 30 minutes, I plopped my butt, robed in brand-new pants I found on sale at Outland, in something sticky and gross, and I was left with Sticky Butt until I got home! I don’t miss high school.

We made it safe and sound, and only a little bit late, to Boston on Tuesday night. The air is cold, the ground is snowy, the food it good, and it feels like Christmas!

Yesterday we just hung around. We wrapped some presents, took Chaco and Deke to the park, and some of us [Dad] went Christmas shopping after work. Today I’m going to meet Kim at Wellesley High School so I can attend “Demo Day” in AP Chem with her.

I’ve spent a lot of time writing about my trip to Bonaire, but I can’t get my laptop connected to the wireless internet here at home. My dad has about the most secure wireless network that I’ve EVER seen. As soon as I find a way to upload some stuff, I’ll start putting up some pictures from our trip. :)

The Caltech Graduate Student Council publish my letter to the editor in their December newsletter.

More about Bonaire later! We’re back safe and sound and we had a great time!

This morning we said our goodbyes to Menno, Esther, Sally, and Ernie, then headed to the airport. I hope we return sometime soon!