I had to work overtime before Christmas because I took a lot of days off in the early fall. I find it very difficult to go to work when my mom and dad are retired. They are always going off and having fun while I am slaving away at this job. I keep begging them to let me retire as well, but they say that I am too young to be retired.... I don't think that is true, Jeri, and I think that there ought to be an exception for important bears like me. After all, my mom needs me. She needs me to help her write letters and email, to go out for lunch, to play games on the computer, to help with special projects - making stuff and to practice the tuba........ Jeri, what do you think? Do you think I could quit my job with Santa? I think Santa knows I want to quit, and I don't think he is too mad at me, because Flagyl can do my work....!!!!!

I had a great Christmas. I got a new red LL Bean Parka with a fur ruff, an aluminum snow saucer, and a small little bird made of paper and wood. We also got a special year 2000 bear calendar. Now I am waiting for some snow so I can go outside and do some sliding. It's really a lot of fun. I am a bit frightened of the saucer, though, because Dad says you can't steer the thing. What will happen if I start to go around in circles? Do you know, Jeri? Do you have a snow saucer?

I had email from Anne & Joe. They signed the guestbook on my web page. Ann told me some important things. She said the fur on my new coat might be from a moose.... hahahahaha! She also told me not to put my tongue on the sled runner, and she told me not to put beans in my ears. I will remember her advice very carefully. I had never considered putting beans in my ears before. I wonder what that would feel like.......

I had a great adventure last week on Wednesday. I went on a hike with my mom and dad. We hiked to the site of the old Catskill Mountain House. It was one of the first resorts in this country. Folks from NY city and all around would take the steamboat up the Hudson River, then take the Catskill Mountain RR (narrow gauge), then take the Otis Elevated RR (up 2000 feet) to the site of the huge hotel on the escarpment. Both my mom and dad could see this hotel from their bedroom windows when they were kids, so...... they decided to get married there. The hotel was no longer there on the day of their wedding (thirty years ago), and there was a huge blizzard on that day. They were married under a pine tree just off the edge of the escarpment. They had to put ribbons on their rings so they wouldn't get lost in the snow. They invited 50 people, but only 25 hearty souls made it through the snow and then hiked up to the site.

After we visited the site of the wedding and then went up on the cliff to see the view, we went to the Alligator Rock and I went in the alligator's mouth. I didn't want to do it at first, but dad said I would be OK, so I did it. It was pretty amazing in that rock, let me tell you. It was dark and the teeth were really sharp. The alligator had halitosis, too. I really had to do it for them, but I was mighty scared!!!! It was their anniversary, after all. If they are always going to want me to do scary stuff, maybe I shouldn't retire after all.

Thanks for my new shirt, Jeri. I wore it to the Scottish Games at Loon Mountain in New Hampshire last fall. I went on the back of dad's knapsack. I met a lot of people there as well... and I got to drink some beer with some of ‘em. They all admired my shirt and kilt... some of them even touched me. Then we went for a ride on the chair lift and the wind blew up our kilts......... and made us cold!!!!!! I was scared on the chair lift.

The bear, Bonkers, had Christmas in Alabama, and he is now on the way to his new winter home at the southern most point of the state of Texas. He is very happy, and I know that he drinks "Wild Turkey" bourbon.... a little bit every day. He told me that "southerners" do that. I tried some once, and it tasted baaaaaaad. Best of all, I like to drink hot chocolate with bunches of whipped cream on the top. Sometimes I get to drink that when we go out for lunch.

Filamena is here with me and she has made friends with a black bear who lives here who is called Philomena. They sit around and giggle a lot. I don't understand girl bears, Jeri!

The long winter is ahead of us, Jeri, but don't worry, I'll be there with you before you know it. Keep warm and happy.

I love you, Jeri!!!!!

Filament