One Week...

We played that BNL song enroute to work tonight. Somehow I have a feeling I'll be checking email even after leaving for Christmas.

It's been a year. Several trips, including Oslo. Several frustrations at work. Luckily, the family is healthy and we have another nephew. We have not had to suffer much.

It's two weeks and one day to my 39th Christmas. And you know, I'm not even feeling that spirit this year. We haven't decorated at home, we haven't even gone to the mall to go shopping. What's been done is all online. We haven't even bought a tree.

Some of it is preaching that kindness and that coolness that I feed myself. Some of it is just being tired and need to give myself a true break from trying to do it all. It's something only women try to do: it all. And there's always an element of second guessing.

So one week. And there's a lot ahead this week, something almost every day. So here's to making it a good week. 

Happy 2013

The last two weeks away have been good, and needed, yet they've gone by much too quickly. The time in the Bahamas, the time with family and the nephew, the time at home and lazying around on the couch. The time reading The Sun Also Rises and the Paris Wife and re-discovering Ernest Hemingway. The time watching a four year old discover "wine," playing with his police car, playing Apples to Apples and anticipating a new little brother or sister.  The time in church, the time laying on a beach and reading and eating and singing with Pianoman Leo Jones and singing along to the Elton John and the Billy Joel and the Journey and the other songs you just sing (badly) at a piano bar. Time moves much too quickly, doesn't it? We also had a great NYE, with good friends and a delicious filet of beef and copious amounts of wine.

I guess I will have more to say, but today we heard that this kid that S grew up, whom he graduated high school with, killed himself after posting a suicide note on Facebook...and that his son will grow up without a parent now. And that's tragic, no matter what.

Christmas 2011

The years I don't go to Michigan, Christmas is always a little different. I don't know if I don't look forward to it as much, or just try to be not be as excited because I am not seeing "my" family. It is bittersweet, I guess. And that does not mean I don't enjoy being in Texas with my "other" family. It only means that it is different.

Anyway, ten memories I will take from 2011..

1. Ping pong kitchen island.
2. Forgetting two sticks of butter in the dressing.
3. A million and one pictures of baby Ethan in the basket.
4. Cooking December 26 dinner of Shrimp Scampi.
5. Rob getting trashed as he asked us to be guardians.
6. Running into Adrian at BW's during Football Saturday.
7. Lots of Starbucks, including Christmas morning.
8. My pretty new sweater.
9. A longer, horrible 10K at the gym on December 26.
10. That crazy flight home, particularly the BWI-DCA leg. Ugh.

Of course, I will remember time with family. Including feeding baby Ethan. Such a sweet boy, and how much do I want one of my own!!!

Merry Christmas

Christmas Eve and we are awaiting...pizza. I am sore from falling. But It's a Wonderful Life is on, I have wine, and I just got back from a week in Jamaica.  Could be worse.

Holiday Season

Happy Holidays...I guess I will always associate Christmas music and the season with that Andy Williams Christmas album with this time of year. And it's on Spotify! His version of the 12 Days of Christmas, The Christmas Song, and It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year are some of the most iconic Christmas songs. But I digress...

We had our first holiday party last night, and another reception tonight. And several next week. And then it's on to Jamaica and then on to Christmas. And how did it get to be December 8? I know that it is a recurring theme. Today, now that it is finally cold, makes me realize that it is the holiday season. And Christmas. And I need to get in that spirit, do more shopping, and celebrate a great weekend with friends coming up. How can I not be in the spirit?

Christmas 2010

So many memories...dinner at Louis', Mexican, shopping with mom at Target, lunch at Panera, lasagna on Christmas Eve, shopping at Partridge Creek, scotch, Joey's train table, canceled flight, working out, the non-blizzard, seeing a movie "How Do You Know," lunch at the Hyatt...I can write more later. But it was good to have time with the family. 

And I do still miss the class of 1990 reunion. 

Welcome 2009

Well, I survived another family Christmas. Literally. Everyone was sick with the stomach flu, so I got roped into helping cook for the crowd. Cheesy potatoes, sweet potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, the works. Poor mom. Nothing must have been worse than not seeing us and little Joey on his first Christmas. Of course, Paul was hit worst of all with the plague, and at the worst conceivable timing: a few days before his wedding.

Luckily, we all made it to St. Augustine healthy to witness their beautiful New Year's Even nuptials. It is a strange feeling seeing your little brother get married. A part of me was playing the comparisons game, but they had so many nice touches: advice to the marrieds, sushi, terrific sea base and filet, cookies and milk shots, a great two piece band, a fantastic color scheme, etc. The day started with a run, and there was something particularly poignant for me to go for a run with my brother on the morning of his wedding. And to outpace him but getting sick will do that! I really enjoyed those moments with him.

Megan was a beautiful, happy bride, and they make a great couple.

Other moments from last week I will remember:

--Little Joey's stylish outfits: His Little Mr. Detroit t-shirt, his Preschool t-shirt, his pudgy arms and legs, and his ability to open up gifts and then promptly stick the paper in his mouth.
--Steve beating everyone, literally, at Seinfeld scene-it.
--My new Old Navy coat.
--Noisemakers and hats and Journey at the stroke of midnight.
--Searching for chik filet and finding it!
--Never-ending trivia pursuit.

Total Time Waster

A BeTaMaXMas.

Vintage commercials, old cartoons, early 80s hairstyles...love it.

And I am watching Christmas Eve on Sesame Street!!