20 posts tagged “christmas”

Well, I've fallen behind in Holidailies again, and I probably won't catch up, but it's been a nice holiday vacation so far, so I can't really complain too much.  I think my Christmas gifts were well received, and I was given a number of nice gifts.  And a good amount of money and gift cards, because people weren't sure what to buy me.  I know some people think that's tacky, as they would rather give you something to unwrap, but I (and my family) are of the opinion that you want to give a gift someone will like, and if you can't figure out what that is, give them the ability to go get something they like.  Of course, we do always pair it with something to unwrap, sometimes something small and simple like a coffee mug, other times something nice.  Or occasionally, gift cards get put into a box and wrapped.  Either way, I have a shopping spree ahead of me, which is perfect, because I desperately need work clothes. 

I also received a bunch of dvds.  Keep on striking, Writers.

And a prompt:  Does your family do anything wacky during the holidays?

I had to think about this one, because what one person might think is wacky, I might just think is normal Christmas.  I don't think there is anything particularly wacky.  The last one asleep always gets woken up by a dog climbing all over them in bed.  And given that my parents have Newfoundlands, that can be disastrous (conveniently, the 185 pound dog won't go up the stairs).

But other than that, nothing wild and crazy goes on here.  (Well, if Mom thinks you need socks or underwear or something like that during the holidays, you will get it wrapped and placed under the tree.)  And while I do think it would be fun to incorporate something totally ridiculous into our holidays, I think I like our traditions just as they are. 

I have to admit, I expected to see a bit more of my family while I was home for the holidays.  I realize this is only the third day I'm here, but I'm home alone, with no car to get me anywhere. 

It's a little weird to sit around in what is essentially someone else's house and have nothing to do.  Right now, I am watching VH1's 40 Greatest Reality Moments 2, and playing online.  Very festive.

I went over to Sts. Peter and Paul this morning for Meg's son's baptism (I'm not sure how many details she wants posted publicly, so Meg, if you want any of this pulled, let me know).  It was a sweet ceremony, and the thing I really miss about that church is how the parishioners really band around each other.  Someone needs help?  They're there.  Someone needs extra prayers?  They're there.  It's just a great thing, and I think it's something you don't see with a lot of churches anymore, especially Catholic churches.  A lot of the other Catholic churches that I've been to have been very anonymous - people come in, they shake hands at the sign of peace, and then they go home, without really talking to anyone.  Sure, at Christmas, they might smile a little more and wish someone Merry Christmas, but I think this church really brings the spirit.  I wish I could find a church like this closer to me.

Today's Holidailies post comes to you from the Pittsburgh Airport, courtesy of their free Wi-Fi.  "Tell us about your strangest or most unique holiday decoration."

That's an easy one.  Well, maybe not easy.  But the first one that comes to mind is the Dancing Santa that lived outside my dorm room sophomore year.  I still had it as of this holiday season, but I decided that since Mary Beth loved it so much in college (she would walk past our door and stop and dance with Santa), that it belonged at her home. 

Other than that, not much strange or unique.  I do love those light balls that you make by drilling (or melting) holes in the bottom of clear plastic cups, then stapling them together, and putting a strand of lights inside, making bulbs poke out through each of the holes.  They look especially awesome with colored lights that will ripple.  Tacky?  Perhaps.  Awesome?  Most definitely.

In less than 24 hours, I will be on a plane on my way home.  I'm not excited about the travel, but I'm excited to not be at work for an entire week, and I'm excited to bring home all the presents I bought.  I love watching people open presents.  I, of course, hate opening presents in front of people because I always feel like I have to have the perfect reaction.

Perhaps that indicates that I've not been getting good presents.

Not that I'm complaining.

So right now, I'm in my last 20 minutes of work, twiddling my thumbs until I can officially go home.  I've rearranged things on my desk, and I've packed away the work that won't need to be looked at til the new year.  I'm choosing to ignore the construction dust currently all over my desk, as I have a feeling that's only going to get worse in the coming days.  I may come back to a desk completely white with dust.

Sounds healthy, doesn't it.

Plans for tonight include packing and getting the house ready.  I've not left my cats alone for this long before.  I've got someone checking in on them, but it's not the same.  I will worry about them, I'm sure.

Next entry to be written from the airport!

Since I’m catching up on Holidailies, here’s a prompt from a few days ago – “Holiday traditions -- from childhood or established recently -- and what they mean to you.”

We have some very basic holiday traditions that continue to change and grow as our family changes and grows.

Every year, on Christmas Eve, we go to my grandparents’ house for dinner and presents.  We being my Mom’s entire side of the family, all the kids and grandkids.  Some people attend Mass that night, some people don’t, and it usually involves quite a bit of scrambling, but in the end, we all end up around one of a number of tables, eating and enjoying each other’s company.  And not enjoying the fact that it’s always about 85 degrees in their house.  That’s what happens with lots of people and lots of cooking, I guess, but I always feel like I should be wearing shorts and a Hawaiian shirt.

After dinner is cleaned up, we have presents.  We all sit around the living room and usually my grandfather and the two youngest grandkids (who are both in college at this point) are put in charge of handing out the presents we have all brought for each other.  Everyone opens presents and oohs and aahs over what they got.  Some people are definitely getting hard to buy for, but it’s worth it when you find that great present.

Christmas morning, Dad and I get up way too early and cantor 7:30 mass.  I bet we’ve been doing this for 15 years, and it is still not easy to get up that early on Christmas morning.  Grandma and Grandpa usually attend that Mass because they like to hear us sing, and then Dad and I head home and force my siblings out of bed.  This year will be different because my brother has moved out and has a house in the same town as my parents, so he won’t be sleeping there on Christmas Eve.  Who knows when he’ll show up.  But we won’t do family presents until everyone is there.   

Dad makes brunch and we all sit around, usually half asleep.  We usually end up popping in a movie for the afternoon and preparing for the evening.  On Christmas evening, some of the family returns, and we add in some friends of the family for Christmas dinner.  This is always a nice leisurely evening where everyone eats too much and has a wonderful time.  It’s a bit bittersweet because it’s the end of the Christmas season, in a way, but it’s a night I look forward to every year.

This weekend was probably the most social weekend that I've had since moving to D.C.  Thursday was Mary Beth's birthday, and so Friday, she came out and we went to dinner and out to the bar to celebrate her birthday and the birthday of a girl I didn't know.  I have to admit, I wasn't so sure that Friday night was going to be that great of a time, but I was incredibly wrong.  I ended up running into a friend from college and we spent the evening catching up, and we've made plans to get together in the new year.  I'm really excited to have someone else that I know in the area, and I think she and I will have some great fun together.

Saturday night, I spent much of the day being exhausted (three hours of sleep will do that to you), but then I went with some co-workers to see the White House all decorated for Christmas.  One of my co-workers got tickets for the tour through, and it was so beautiful.  The decorations were absolutely amazing.  I have to do some touch-up work on my pictures, and then I will post them.  I am amazed at the work that goes into decorating that building.  It was gorgeous, and all the fresh greenery made me long for the days of real Christmas trees.  Of course, real trees are probably a lot easier when you have staff to clean up the falling needles.

Today, I grabbed lunch with yet another friend from college, someone I haven't seen since we graduated.  We weren't tight in school, but we were more than acquaintances, and it was really nice to catch up with her.  We also have plans to get together in the New Year.

I love how the Christmas season seems to bring people out of the woodwork.  Getting back in touch with these old friends is a gift in itself.

(We will return to Holidailies prompts tomorrow)

Today's Holidailies Prompt:  "How is this December different from last year?"

I don't think this December could be much different from last December.  I'm working rather than in school, I live in the DC area rather than the STL area... okay, I guess those changes aren't so drastic after all.

While I was in school, I always felt like I didn't have a chance to enjoy the holiday season.  Finals kept me swamped and when it was all over, it was already Christmas.  It was like the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas didn't really even exist.  And considering how much I love the Christmas season, with the music and the lights, that was always a big disappointment to me.  I felt like I missed the whole season.  And frequently, by the time Christmas rolled around, I was still so tired from all the stress and the work that I didn't really get the chance to enjoy it.

This year, I'm working full time.  I'm currently at a point at work where I'm not in the middle of any hugely time-consuming projects, which means that I'm not working much over a 40 hour work week.  So I do have the freedom to enjoy the season.  I've got a number of holiday events to attend in the next few weeks, and then on the 21st, I fly home for just over a week.

Just the fact that I have to fly home makes this year significantly different.  I haven't stayed at my parents house during the Christmas season since Christmas of 2003.  I always had my own place to go back to.  That will be a change, but a nice one.  It is the first year, however, that we won't all be together on Christmas morning.  My brother will likely stay at his own house that night and then come over late that morning.  I think that might be the strangest part.  We won't all be sitting around in our pjs (and Dad and me in church clothes) opening presents and mocking my brother for how sleepy he is.

But just as some things have changed drastically, some things are staying the same.  We're still getting together as a family on Christmas Eve.  As far as I know, I'm still playing in the brass choir at Christmas Eve Mass.  That will be different this year, though, as the woman who organized it for years passed away this summer.  We're trying to put it together in her honor, but since I'm halfway across the country, I'm not really part of any of the organizing.  I'm just going to show up to play.  Dad and I will still sing at 7:30 mass on Christmas morning.  And it will still feel painfully early after a family gathering the night before.  We will still have stockings and presents under the tree, and we will have brunch and we will have a big dinner for friends and family that night.

It's nice to know that as much as things change, some still stay the same.  Maybe we're just forming new traditions.

As I mentioned, I'm doing Holidailies again this year, and today's prompt is:
"It's the first day of Holidailies, so introduce yourself."

Easy enough, right?  First off,

NaNoWriMo 2007 Winner

I guess Christmas is pretty much coming to an end.  I have to take down my Christmas tree this weekend.  I'll probably start on the ornaments tomorrow.  I'd love to wait, but my parents have offered to come over and help me get the tree down on the 1st after they drop my sister at the airport (she's going to the Sugar Bowl, lucky girl).  As the tree is too heavy for me to physically move on my own, I do need my Dad's help.  Mom will supervise.  She's good at that.

It feels like the Christmas season just comes and goes.  And yet, Christmas items appear in the stores as early as Halloween, sometimes even earlier.  I blame law school.  In grade school and high school and even college to a degree, the months before Christmas consisted of learning Christmas music for choral and band concerts, coloring pictures, hanging decorations, taking up collections for those less fortunate, etc.  And then, when I entered the workforce for that very painful 14 month period, Christmas again consisted of office decorations and music and parties and general festivities.  But in law school, the Christmas season consists of prepping for finals.  It's really not very festive.  Thanksgiving begins the mad crush of last minute work.  (Every semester, I swear I'm not going to put it off, and every semester, I delay more and more.)  Christmas sort of exists, somewhere out there.  Sure, there are decorations on campus, a tree in the atrium, music, volunteer opportunities, etc.  But arching over that is the general sense of doom that accompanies finals. 

I love Christmas.  I love the lights and the music and the stories.  I hate living so close to a major mall at Christmas, but I've learned alternate routes.  And I really miss getting to truly experience the season like I could before law school.  Thankfully, this is my last Christmas as a law student, so hopefully next Christmas will be much more enjoyable.  It will be nice to again look forward to December instead of dreading it with everything I've got.

And with the end of the Christmas season comes the end of Holidailies.  A few more entries, and then hopefully, it's not back to sporadic posting.  I'm going to try to post something of substance at least twice a week.  If not more.  Consider it yet another New Year's Resolution

Tired

I think this picture says it all.

Christmas was a blast.  I got so many gifts that were amazing and thoughtful, and others that were totally expected and just as loved.  New camera, new camera!  Which means many more pictures.  Aren't you lucky. 

And the gifts I gave were well received.  Sometimes, simple is definitely the way to go.  Put a little thought into it, and it will be worth it.  I realized it was a very book-y Christmas this year - everyone but my brother got a book as part of their gifts, and he didn't get one only because I didn't know what to buy him.

(I'm going to try to catch up on some missed Holidailies prompts tomorrow)