I'm sitting outside at my special place, but not on my special, comfy, seat between the 2 trees. The trees finally fell over in a storm and the elves removed them. In their place is a brand new, very hard bench. Mrs. Claus says that I will get use to the bench and it will mold to me. She says I sat so much on that bench, formed by the trees, that the wood molded to the shape of my backside. It knew every wiggle and jiggle I made and adjusted to it. She says in time the new bench will move to fit me just like the old one did. I hope so!

I just came back from the hospital and was feeling a little gloomy! The doctors say Loopy is getting better but he hasn't woken up yet. Now I am sad thinking about all the tragedy around the world since last Christmas. The tsunami in the 5 Asian countries on Dec 26th last year, the Earth quakes in Pakistan and Japan, the mud slides in Guatemala and the hurricanes and tornadoes that hit the United States. So much devastation and the lives that was lost. I think of the families that got separated and some that never got back together. It makes ole Santa very, very sad. Another worry was the American Space Shuttle. We were very worried that it had hit one of our secret boxes but after checking it's flight path and the position of our boxes, the shuttle was nowhere near any of them.

Oh my! I have just realized I have sat here all night writing and thinking. My hot chocolate is no longer hot and the sun is beginning to streak across the sky. It is absolutely beautiful! Here comes a sunbeam down the center of Chocolate Lake and across Peppermint Bridge. Now, that makes me feel good! Time to start another day.