Christmas 2008 Recap
Hey, looks like I actually have a few minutes to type something into my much-neglected blog. How ’bout that? Well I’ve been busy with work, a business trip to Hawaii and general family/holiday stuff. Last weekend I don’t think I even turned on my computer! That’s really wierd for me.
Our holiday was great – here’s a rundown of what we did:
- Watched both White Christmas and It’s a Wonderful Life for the first time ever.
- Had a cookie exchange which was fun and fattening – the best kind!
- Spent Christmas Eve at Jim & Kathy’s with other close friends as well. Enjoyed a multitude of “pointsettia” cocktails with the girls.
- Spent Christmas Day at Kevin & Kathy’s with even more friends (and some of the same from the evening prior).
- Exchanged presents – The “big” present was a pair of diamond stud earrings that Terry couldn’t wait to give me, and I haven’t taken off yet. I’m also enjoying a fuzzy robe from Eric and some awesome iPod speakers from Justin. I gave Terry an iPod Nano which he loves. Eric is enjoying his dumbbell set and PacSun gift card and Justin loves his new Wii games. We also got Jus an interface and software so he can compose music on the computer – we just haven’t set it all up yet.
Temps here are actually colder than our hometown! It’s only 46 and Fairport is at 55! At least the rain finally stopped – it’s been doing that on and off for almost 2 weeks now, and in case you didn’t hear on the news North Phoenix even got snow! I changed out our sheets last night and we’re on the cozy winter flannel ones now – they made us not want to get out of bed this morning.
Today I’m looking forward to a mostly lazy day. We are going to pick up Terry’s new glasses at Wal-Mart later and then enjoy a nice quiet dinner at home. I’m thinking soup or chili or something warm and comforting.
Here’s some links to my latest photos:
PS – no we did not get a new dog (yet). The pooches you see in the photos are friends’ dogs that naturally gravitate to Justin. He has a way with the canines!
my new favorite holiday cocktail
The Pointsettia
3 oz cranberry juice
Splash Cointreau
Champagne
Chill all ingredients beforehand. In champagne flute, pour in cranberry juice and splash of Cointreau. Top off with champagne.
If like me your ingredients were not thoroughly chilled, you can start with a little crushed ice in the glass. I served this at my cookie exchange this week and it was a hit!
Post-holiday melancholy
Putting the Christmas decorations away gets me down each year. First of all, the thought of having about two hours of work in front of me isn’t so appealing. Putting away the ornaments, folding up the tree, carefully wrapping and packing the holiday bits and bobs spattered around the house, leaving no trace that Christmas even happened is downright depressing. Maybe it won’t be so bad this year because the holiday wasn’t the same for me, being jobless and all. It’s hard to be joyful and cheery when you’re wondering where your next paycheck is coming from. Still, I’d better hop to it before I leave for my trip or they will still be around when I get back.
Speaking of paychecks, I had a job interview Friday. It went well. It’s a very small company (only five people including this new hire and an intern) and I interviewed directly with the owner. I think she liked me, and she’s only meeting with two other candidates so I have a real shot at the position. I was also reassured when I learned that the pay I’m looking for is right in line with what they’re offering, so there is hope. Please say prayers, cross fingers, and send some good juju my way. I should find out the week after next.
Hey, I found a new blog I’m really enjoying. This woman named Ree used to be a working girl like me, in California. She traded in her “high heels for tractor wheels” and is now living the ranch life in Colorado with her hubby nicknamed “Marlboro Man”, their kids and other animals. I’m having fun living vicariously through her writing – it’s satisfying my country girl side without the need to actually experience what she deems the ”Pioneer Life”. Check it out at www.thepioneerwoman.com and if you like down home cooking, her recipes are fantastic www.thepioneerwomancooks.com. I’m also jealous of her photography skills, though the subjects I shoot aren’t typically as romantic as mustangs feeding at dawn on a Colorado mountain ranch.
Days of excess
Here it is, the day after Christmas, and I’m still stuffed! I guess when you grow up, Christmas isn’t so much about getting your favorite toys, but instead eating your favorite foods! Between a Christmas Eve dinner of lasagne and “real” Italian meatballs at Jim & Kathy’s, Christmas brunch of an egg casserole and apple danish, and a Christmas dinner of turkey and all (and I mean all) the trimmings – it’s a wonder I haven’t gained 50 pounds! I didn’t think I was going to have to worry about a big weight loss resolution this year, but this season has been really brutal on me. Last year at this time I was at my thinnest, this year I’m ten pounds over that. At least it’s still 20 pounds less than my worst, but still…. Time to get back on the elliptical and also train for that 5k coming up in a couple weeks! Maybe I shouldn’t have a weight loss resolution per se, but instead a fitness resolution. We got the fitness DVD catalog in the mail today, what a coincidence!
I won’t bore you with a list of the gifts we all received this year, but my big ticket items were a new and upgraded digital camera and a scanner/printer that I’ve been wanting for a while (these from Terry & the kids). Of course the big hit with the boys was the Wii. I think they really do appreciate all the trouble I went through to get it and Guitar Hero III. It’s really a cool system – at first I loved the bowling, but now I can’t decide whether I like the tennis or the baseball better. The kids also got a street racing game, Tiger Woods Golf, Showtime Boxing and a few others. Plus, they’ve already spent their Target gift cards on new games. I also like that they can use their old GameCube games on the Wii, something I didn’t know until recently. I had a blast playing with Justin this afternoon and both boys have really been enjoying GH3, though we’re going to have to curtail it soon so they don’t pull a Joel Zumaya!
It was really chilly here today and it’s causing the leaves to fall off the trees behind our house, giving us a full view of the retirement facility they’re building across the street. They sure are loud during the day – and distracting! I hope the exterior work is done soon so it quiets down a bit over there, and once the landscaping is complete then we can finally get our house painted.
On Friday morning I have an interview with a company in Scottsdale so cross your fingers. It would be a good job, but I’m not sure if it would pay what I’m looking for. But I suppose if it pays more than unemployment I’m ahead of the game!
Anticipation…
Well, it’s the day before Christmas Eve – or “Christmas Eve Eve” I guess. It took me a long time to get into the holiday spirit this year, for a few reasons, but I suppose I’m really into it now. I’m at that point where I say, “Everything that needs to be done, has been done, so it’s time to just relax and enjoy.” Of course “everything” doesn’t include the cooking!
Last night we went to a holiday party at our friends’ the Millers. It was really a lot of fun – all our neighbors were there, along with a few other people. Today was a typical “football Sunday” but only a few neighbors came over, and there was no drinking involved, primarily due to the excess of last night. I darted out to get the turkey from Sprouts – a fresh, free-range bird which we’ve never had before. Should be good!
I promised Justin we would decorate cookies tonight, which should be fun. We have a few different shapes, including a basset hound one which is probably our favorite. Tomorrow we’re going to the 4pm Mass at St. Anne’s (and so are most of our neighbors, I hear) then we’ll be hanging out at Jim & Kathy’s. It’s weird because it’s the first year since moving here that we haven’t had any family visit for Christmas. But Jim & Kathy are the closest thing to family we have here, along with our other neighbors (Todd & Barb, Meechaw, Monica & Matt and Lauren & Matt) so who better to spend Christmas Eve with?
On Christmas morning we’ll open our presents and see what Santa brought, then enjoy an egg & ham casserole and apple danish braid for brunch. For dinner we’ll be joined by Barb (whose hubby will be busy protecting our streets from Christmas criminals) and Meechaw. We’ll be having turkey of course, along with mashed potatoes, glazed carrots, crunchy cole slaw, and a few other things, most of which I’ll probably prep tomorrow morning.
With everything going on, I probably won’t post until after the Christmas stuff has died down, so best wishes go out to you for a spectacular holiday, whichever one you celebrate. Stay safe, warm, dry and enjoy time with your family and friends!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
driv·el /ˈdrɪvəl/ [driv-uhl]
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