angela_o

We got about 4 inches of snow today which is cause for great celebration here at Chez Z.  Everyone got to sleep late as school was canceled and there have been snowball fights, snow angels, and hot chocolate.  I'm pretty sure that a snowman is currently underway. 

One thing that has struck me repeatedly is how clean and pristine snow makes things look when it's new.  It seems fitting that it would happen today, of all days, as our country undergoes a sea change.  While the snow doesn't remove what's underneath, it gives you a space to reflect what beauty is possible.  Here's to new beginnings and starting afresh.

I've seen this one on my flist and thought I'd give it a whirl.  Here's one take on 2008.

My m-i-l got snowed in, so for the first time in several years it's just our family for Christmas.  She'll be coming in on the 28th and staying until New Years.  We're saving the presents to and from her to be opened when she arrives and we're holding off on making the sugar cookies to decorate until she gets here as well.  That's one of her favorite parts of the holiday.  And It's not like we're suffering the lack of cookies.  I've made six dozen today as well as a batch of fudge.  We've got peanut butter kiss cookies, gingerbread men, and coconut macaroons.  As well as banana bread.  I'm still deciding whether or not to attempt divinity.  I expect that I may make another batch of Mexican Wedding Cookies before all is said and done as well.

We're heading out soon to do our traditional drive to look at lights while singing carols.  Then it will be back home for the reading of the first Christmas from Luke, hot chocolate, and the viewing of "A Christmas Story".  Then the kids will get to open one gift before heading to bed in preparation for Santa's arrival.  It's nice that we still have people who believe in Santa at our house.

I hope that all of you are having a wonderful holiday.  Merry Christmas to everyone who celebrates and may wonderful gifts await you.

While I'm utterly disgusted that we're getting no winter weather for the holiday (the latest forecast is for the 60s on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day), otherwise things are going pretty well.  The kids had their last day of school yesterday, so my 100 to 150 miles of driving per day has been hugely cut back.  We managed to get some fairly decent cleaning done (though not nearly all that must be done before my m-i-l arrives on Tuesday evening) and I finished wrapping the rest of the presents this evening.  I even wrapped M's birthday presents (his birthday is the 27th).  Now, I just need to start doing some baking.  I'm thinking I'll finally try that lemon cookie recipe tomorrow and maybe some coconut macaroons.

And for those who might be interested, here's a shot of my Christmas tree.  I love ornaments and always buy new ones every year.  My best guess is that this tree has upwards of 600 on it.( Want to see the pretty? )( Read more... )

The boxes of gifts were mailed yesterday morning and the Christmas cards went to the post office this morning.  M and N are downstairs assembling a gingerbread house right now and J baked a batch of Mexican wedding cookies last night that are nearly all gone already.  It's starting to feel pretty Christmassy at my house. 

I'm not thrilled about the long range forecast though.  It's going to hit the lower 70s the middle of next week.  I want cold weather for Christmas.  I'd love snow, but I know the odds of that happening are slim to none.  Although Texas and Louisiana got snow this past week, so I suppose anything is possible.

I need to go nail down preparations for E's 17th birthday on Monday.  How is it possible that I'm the mother of a nearly 17 year old?  Talk about time flying!!

I'm pleased to report that I've made up a lot of the ground that I missed last week while I was sick.  Between Monday and today (with most of them happening in the past two days) I've:

wrapped 60+ presents
bought the last of the gifts on my list (which will be shipped directly to the recipients) 
written 60 Christmas cards (though some addressing still needs to be done)
got prints of the family picture that will go in most of the cards
written the draft of my Christmas letter
packed  and addressed the three boxes of gifts for out-of-state relatives that I need to mail tomorrow
and
bought the candy and a few small items for the stockings.

In the immortal words of Mr. Sandler, "not too shabby".   Of course my house is a disaster area, but I'm choosing to focus on the holiday cheery.  Possibly with more baking as a means of avoiding cleaning.  Oooh, maybe it's about time to make some mulled cider...

How are your holiday preparations going?

Hi all.  2008 continues to be challenging, but there have been positive developments on the Angela front.  G got a job which is a big plus.  He just completed his first week and lived to tell about it.  However, it's in a completely different field and that presents some unique stresses. Also, because of his schedule I get to do all the child-related driving now.  Last Tuesday, I'd driven 100 miles by noon.  The day before that I had to do 4 roundtrips to school.  Varsity winter sports schedules might drive me a little crazy.   N got her cast off, but E broke his wrist a few days before and is in one now.  His mental heath is better though. I'm also happy to report the kitty hasn't had a relapse and that's definitely good.  He's my baby.[Poll #1310811][Poll #1310811]

I knew it was a good augur when the first person that I saw coming off the train on the way to the Con was Dean Haglund aka Langly waiting by the phones for someone.   Some brief tidbits from the day:  James Marsters was charming and incredibly articulate, Michael Rosenbaum (who has hair again) riffed with the audience and was very funny, the BSG panel had some classic moments (the guy who was dressed as Saul Frakkin' Tigh complete with tanks, patch, voice, and flask and the story of how Aaron Douglas literally coldcocked a poor sound guy while he was being miked up), and I made it into both Doctor Horrible *and* the first seating of the Buffy Horror Picture Show.  I'm pleased.  We'll see what tomorrow brings.  Now I need to get some sleep.  It's going to be a loooong day manana.

Night all!

Am in Atlanta for Dragon*Con.  The line for registration took at least an hour and a half and trying to figure out the schedule listings is somewhat of a nightmare, but it promises to be an entertaining weekend.  My goal for tomorrow is Marsters at 1, Rosenbaum at 2:30, the BSG cast panel at 4, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog at 7, and a Buffy Horror Picture Show at night (there's one at 8:30, 10, and 11:30).  We'll see if I can make it all happen and where, exactly, food consumption fits into that picture.  Cross your fingers for me. 

Then I'll try to leverage my birthday for good pics and autographs on Saturday.

Which is almost literally true.  We're back from the beach (actually we got home on Saturday afternoon, but I've been playing catch up).  It was a lovely week.  Some occasional weirdnesses with the m-i-l, but that is par for the course.  We had wonderful weather.  Not too hot or humid, breezy, and blue skies.  It did rain one day, but that was okay.  We took the kids to the NC aquarium on that day.  My observations:  Skates and rays are cool.  Jellies look like something from outer space.  And huge spiny lobsters are apparently escapees from horror films.

The girls went back to Portland with my m-i-l, so I'm flying out tomorrow to fly back with them on Wednesday.  J is almost 15, but she hates to fly and I didn't want to make her fly with her 9 year old sister cross country with a change of planes at O'Hare without adult supervision.  Which means that, yes,  I'll do coast to coast, more or less, and back, in less than 48 hours.  Which brings us to my burning question.  How many books does one take on such a trip?  I think I have about 8 in my carry on bag.  I suspect that will be sufficient.

Look for more informative posting on my return.  Oh, by the way.  Have I mentioned that I'm going to Dragon Con?  My brother who lives in Atlanta bought tickets for me as a gift as DC falls on the weekend of my birthday this year.  It should be entertaining.  I may or may not be planning to go to James Marsters panel...