John Ratcliff's Weblog

I am doing things. More info later.

Welcome to 2005. I am fine, how are you? I never finished my last blog post. I ran out of steam before I described my trip to Zurich. Well, I was in Zurich and it was very expensive. There, that is the short version. I had a fine holiday season, though I did succumb to temptation and eat far too many sweets. Now it is 2005 and back to dieting. I did not, however, give in to any temptation for alcohol. Alcohol, you have no power over me. I banish thee. We had a lovely Christmas at my parent's new home. They both seemed very happy, especially my Mom. The kids got everything they wanted for Christmas. Yeay kids! We refinanced our home and will be able to completely pay off the new house. In one sense debt has simply shifted from one place to another yet, in another sense, as we dip into the equity in our existing home we have realized something 'real'. My Mom and Dad have a lovely house to live in and I will hold the deed to piece of property in my