This photo showcases my two favorite Christmas gifts this year. I’ve wanted a Kindle for years and, for whatever reason, never pulled the trigger. My wife got me both the Kindle and the Canon 50mm lens used to take this shot. I’ll undoubtedly get a lot of use out of both!

Below are a few photos that Alyssa took during our prison tour this morning. She took several excellent shots. These are five of my favorites:

Over the past year or two my daughter Alyssa has developed a love of photography. What I find really interesting is that she likes to shoot up abandoned buildings and dilapidated old stuff just like me.

She’s been asking to go the closed down Lorton Reformatory to take some photos. This morning, we got up early and went. We had a blast on our shooting spree, so to speak.

Below are a few pics of mine and here are some of my daughter’s. (Yeah, I like her’s better too!)

On Black Friday I picked up a 15” MacBook Pro to replace my three year old 13”. Shortly thereafter, I had to take an unexpected road trip to Michigan. With judgement clouded by my new electronics high, I decided to bring my shiny new machine with me. That in and of itself was not the problem. The problem was that I decided to bring it with me prior to the arrival of my new Incase bag.

I didn’t have the right protective gear so I stuck the laptop in a small backpack, loaded it in my Suburban, and went on my merry way. My way became significantly less merry when I opened the back hatch and watched my backpack crash to the pavement with a horrible thud.

The backpack had some padding, but as bad luck would have it, it landed directly on the part of the backpack with no padding whatsoever. The resulting damage to my week-old aluminum Macbaby made me a die a little inside. Although the laptop was operational, the corner of the case, including the screen, was dented.

Apart from looking awful, the damage caused the base of the laptop to be uneven. Using it on a hard surface results in a teeter-totter type of wobble. It’s like using a keyboard with only one of the keyboard feet down. Savage.

I will be going in to the Apple store to determine if I can have the case replaced. I’m sure something can be done, but I’m not optimistic that it can be done for less than the price of a new MacBook. If you own the bag below, do not use it to transport your important gadgetry.

My wife told me that the damage gives the laptop “character.” I think she said that in the same spirit as someone who tells you that your huge, bulbous, misshapen nose gives you character. My first car had character too. It was an ugly, rust bucket, gas-leaking, death-trap. I do look back on it nostalgically, but at the time it wasn’t a joy to drive.

This morning my grandfather, the Rev. William C. Hamm, passed away.

To say he was a great man would be an understatement. Grandpa Hamm seemed to draw from an inexhaustible well of kindness, patience, and love. He always had encouragement to offer and laughter to share. He had a deep-rooted joy in the Lord, family, and life. He was the real deal.

He was (and is) a treasure to me, his family, and those who knew him. He had a tremendous influence on me and his example will continue to guide me for years to come.

Our loss is much, much greater than these few sentences convey. I will miss him.

“The Reverend William C. Hamm, aged 77 of Wyoming, crossed into The Kingdom at 9:17 a.m. on December 1, 2011. Bill is survived by his wife of 56 years Deanna; children, Debbie Schulz of Ludington, MI, Don (Melody), of Shipshewana, IN, Jeff of Wyoming, MI, Richard (Becky) of Niles, MI; brother Brewster Hamm of Ada, MI; sisters Cynthia Simpson of CA , Sara (James) Majeske of FL; seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Bill attended Michigan State University graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics. Bill then attended Bexley School of Divinity in Ohio and was ordained in 1962, serving churches in Michigan and Montana. He served the Episcopal Church his entire life until recently being slowed down by illness. Bill started building model aircraft during WWII, a passion for aviation that continued his entire life.”