Jeremy Herndon

My wife told me today that she read an article that some scientists had created a part-cow/part human embryo and that the embryo lived for three days.  I was absolutely shocked to hear that, in fact I didn’t believe her at all!  Why on earth would anyone want to do that? 

But then she showed me the website she had read the article, http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23476268-38200,00.html?from=public_rss, and it sure seems that she was not lying to me!  According to the story, the scientists were NOT trying to create some kind of new creature that would be roaming around the earth; they were trying to find ways to further the progress of stem cell research.  So now that makes sense!

Last night I was out shopping and picked up a copy of the Dark Knight DVD.  I remember seeing the movie in the theaters when it first came out and really liked it a lot, and decided to add the flick to my DVD collection when it came out.  So last night was the first time I saw it at the stores and decided to pick it up when I saw it.  I’m going to invite some friends over this weekend to watch it with me and have a little pizza and movie party.  And of course, we’ll have popcorn and plenty of soda to drink.  After all, what’s a movie without popcorn and soda?

My parents held a tree decorating party tonight.  They invited a lot of their family and friends over for a large buffet dinner and then we all drank hot chocolate (or hot apple cider) and helped to decorate the tree.  Of course we listened to Christmas music while we decorated.   I went over last night and put the lights on the tree first – what a job that always is!  My mother wants every light exactly perfect!  It takes at least two hours to do it and get it to her satisfaction!  But the party went very well and the tree looks great!  Everyone had a great time.  The only thing missing was a little bit of snow!

My parents asked me to go with them to the tree farm today and help them to cut down their tree.  That is something they have done ever since they were first married, and now that they are getting on in years they need a little bit of help to do it.  Since I live nearby, I don’t mind doing it for them, it has been part of my heritage, to always go along ever since I was big enough to walk.  Bringing our own saw and going to the tree farm, picking out the “best” tree from the hundreds of “perfect” trees,  It doesn’t take long to saw the tree down, pay the farmer and tie it to the top of the car and tote it home.  That is a family tradition that means a lot to my parents, and I’m glad I’m around to help them maintain that tradition as long as they want to keep doing it.

As I’m writing this the house is filled with the wonderful aroma of the turkey cooking in the oven.  I helped my wife prepare the stuffing this morning.  I had no idea how much work making stuffing can be!  She wanted to just use a prepared box convenience stuffing but I told her that I wanted to use my grandmother’s “from scratch” recipe.  She told me that I’d have to help and I agreed.  I don’t know if we’ll ever do that again!  It took a long time!  My wife says that she could have doctored up the boxed stuffing and make it taste just as good.  Well, maybe we’ll try that next time.

Anyway, I’m looking forward to a wonderful meal with my favorite green bean casserole, sweet potatoes with marshmallows, and apple pie for dessert!  I hope you all have a great meal too!