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Holiday pool time with Kasen.
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Day 1 of the Taskmaster advent calendar.
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Day 1 task: "Sort Alex's bookcase out. You have until tomorrow. Your time starts now."
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The dining table all dressed up for the season.
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Indio International Tamale Festival.
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Trying a "Painted Dough" bottled drink at the festival. Thai Iced Coffee - yum!
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Casa de Silvia — multiple-time Best Overall Winner at the Tamale Festival.
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Escaramuza performers in traditional charro dress.
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Doug with a very successful tamale haul.
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Canasta game on the patio.
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The Plaza Theatre dressed up for Christmas.
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The Plaza Theatre neon sign.
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Stopped into Brandini Toffee.
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Palm Springs Santa Run prep — the mirror check.
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Very important beard verification.
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Doug and I, ready for the Santa Run in Palm Springs.
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Mid-century modern homes on the Santa 5K route.
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Mile 1.
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Post-Santa run IHOP. The knife was already in there when it arrived.
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Coachella Valley Men's Chorus — "Cool Yule" holiday show at The Plaza Theatre.
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Wonderful soloist and friend Stegar in front of the full chorus in holiday dress.
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The sky outside The Plaza putting on its own show afterward.
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A rare gray December day at home.
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The Taskmaster advent calendar delivered Little Alex Horne on its final day.
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The backyard all lit up for Christmas.
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The pool at night — floating Christmas tree is extremely important.
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Dad opening his Christmas present — a new HP laptop.
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Dinner at Paul Bar.
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A very good frozen sidecar.
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Doug approves.
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Doug and Dad out for a holiday dinner.
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With Mom at Paul Bar.
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The cocktail situation at Paul Bar was excellent.
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Neighborhood holiday decoration of the year.
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Mom, Dad, Doug and I had some amazing food at Clandestino too.
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Mom and Dad with the neon cactus installation.
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The Kellers joined us too -- here is Kandis outside the Emperor Buffet.
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Wild Lights at Living Desert — the giraffe approves of the season.
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Model train scale display at Wild Lights.
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Bighorn sheep spotted on the hillside.
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A perfect lunar halo over the desert.
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The resident giraffe out for a late-night snack.
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Two giraffes doing their thing at 9pm.
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Tapir perched on a rock like he owns the place.
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Scott, Jordyn, and Kandis in front of a very impressive Christmas tree.
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On December 31st, Doug closed the laptop on his old job, and is officially retired.