Another Milestone

Yes, it is a milestone day partly because Barack Obama has been elected - our first African-American president. It's nice to be part of history in this way.


Although here in Idaho our four electoral votes have been cast for the republican candidate since 1964. Still, I think it's important to vote for the candidate of your choice. Besides, the state candidates also need our support.











But another milestone has occurred here in Idaho, on a much, much smaller scale, and it was celebrated last night with another dinner out at Chandler's restaurant.

Kim and I have paid off our mortgage! No more house payments!

Feels great!

It wasn't a lot of money, and neither of us will be leaving our jobs. Most of the spare cash will go towards a much needed boost of our retirement fund. And then there's always taxes and insurance. But it sure feels good.

I remember my parents paying off their mortgage and how happy they were at the time.
How much would they be saving?
$75. That's right. They were spending $75 per month to buy their home. Unbelievable how such an increase in housing costs can occur in only one generation. Makes me wonder how my children will ever be able to afford a home.

Our dinner out was great as usual. Casey and Steph were able to join us and complete our table of six. Great food. Good wine. And complimentary chocolate soufflé for dessert.

Red Letter Day

A red letter day (sometimes hyphenated as red-letter day) is any day of special significance.

The term originates from Medieval church calendars. Illuminated manuscripts often marked initial capitals and highlighted words in red ink, known as rubrics. The First Council of Nicaea in 325 decreed the saint's days, feasts and other holy days, which came to be printed on church calendars in red. The term came into wider usage with the appearance in 1549 of the first Book of Common Prayer in which the calendar showed special holy days in red ink.

Many current calendars have special dates and holidays such as Sundays, Christmas Day and Midsummer Day rendered in red colour instead of black.

On red letter days, judges of the English High Court (Queen's Bench Division) wear, at sittings of the Court of Law, their scarlet robes (See court dress). Also in the United Kingdom, other civil dates have been added to the original religious dates. These include anniversaries of the Monarch's birthday, official birthday, accession and coronation.

The term "red letter day" is colloquially used to indicate any date of personal significance.

Oh, today is definitely a day of personal significance!
Look familiar?
Empty nest?





Our son Casey, his girlfriend Cassie and their TWO BIG DOGS moved out today!




They leased a house across town. No more sharing our small house with too many people and too many dogs. Now our dog and cat can roam free. And so can we!!!
I wish them many happy times in their new home. And also the same to Kim and I!