December 10, 1993

I'm down to about a 2 pack a day habit.  It's still expensive but I find
it relaxing.  Trading cards, that is.  In August I started collecting
non-sports trading cards.  Jurassic Park was the bait.  The hook was
"chase cards".  That's where they randomly insert special cards (holograms,
prism cards, foil backed cards, etc).  Anywhere from 1 in 8 to 1 in 90
packs, or worse, odds -- and collectors chase around trying to find them
without going broke.  Chase cards sell for about $6.00 to $50.00 new and
some appreciate from there.  Alabama doesn't have a lottery, but buying
cards by the pack is a substitute.  I arrange trades through the computer
network then exchange cards through the mail.  I've traded as far away as
California and Canada.  Madelyn snickers at me and Nathaniel thinks I have
enough cards already.  I'd like to trade some of her shoes and sweaters for
cards....  And guess what (among other things) he's getting for
Christmas....

Nathaniel goes to pre-school 2 days a week for about 4 hours.  Today he's
giving his Christmas show,  his class will sing a song.  It's his first
time on stage.  He's doing fine with pre-school, except for the cycle of
colds and flus.  He also takes a gymnastics class once a week and enjoys
it quite a bit.  He's a shining light in my life.  We go for walks, play
games, he helps around the house, I read or tell him a story each night
before bed.

Madelyn of course burns brightly too.  She works at a Rehab hospital a
few shifts a month, usually every other Sunday at least.  She otherwise
takes care of Nathaniel (and me).  She exercises at home and at the gym at
Intergraph several times a week; and she took a signing for the deaf
course this year.

I'm still working away at Intergraph.  I still may get a trip to Saudi
Arabia first quarter of next year to support the contract I'm working
for.  My arms trouble me when I type a lot.  Repetitive Stress Injuries, but
not Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, although the symptoms are similar.  I'm not
playing any table tennis right now because of it.  I've got one more
week of "Program Management" class, then "Information Systems" in the
Spring semester to complete a Master of Science in Management degree.
Don't know what it'll do for me.

We're living a very pleasant life.  We make frequent day trips to
Nashville or Birmingham.  We went to the beach in the Florida pan handle in
September.  It was pretty good.  Nathaniel loved getting knocked down by 
the waves over and over and over.  Boy did he sleep well.  Hope you all are
sleeping well too.  Happy Holidays.

		-- Chip