As is my habit I arose at 4:00 this morning so that I could head out to the barn and milk cows and gather eggs and patrol the perimeter of the compound, but then I realized I don't have a barn, cows or chickens. My compund away from my home compound is a townhouse in north west Calgary, which I can patrol in about 45 seconds. Seriously, why the 4:00 a.m. tap on the shoulder from God?

The good news is that I had a serious nap in early evening and now I actually have more energy than I think I'm legally allowed to have since the signing of the back of that napkin in Copenhagen. So what happens now that there is some kind of, ahem, deal? Do UN inspectors come and tell me that if I insist on being so well rested and energetic I will have to compensate Africa?

By the way I did make good use of my very long day. Especially pleasant was an hour plus hike through the burbs and along the base of the hills in Edgmont. The sky was so clear and cloudless that I couldn't help but think of the pictures of achingly rich blue skies in ancient back issues of National Geographic that sat in stacks in the Centennial Library in Rosetown Saskatchewan where I grew up.

I suppose that warm memory is natural enough. No season carries us back to happy times like Christmas. May this be the best Christmas ever for you and yours. Merry Christmas!