I got most of the decorations off the live (but now quite dead and dry) tree in the living room last night. As I suspected, I missed some and saw a Batman hanging this morning. I'll have Len do the last check after he gets one of the Wolverines and the tree topper down. I was too lazy to get out a step-stool out last night, and I was getting annoyed with being stabbed by needles to take them down myself. All of the lights are down and I'll have to test them before I put them away. No use keeping things that no longer work and at least one of the complex strands was not working on the tree.
Added to ornaments that need replacing is the NASA lunar excursion module--that little go-cart with an astronaut. The dish antenna broke off last night. I have a spare of the Eagle, but not the go-cart. I'll also be searching E-bay for a new Worf and a new Yoda, thanks to Riley. The blown-glass Dark Knight I dropped and shattered last night already had a duplicate (hooray.) Tonight I'll sit at the kitchen table and put things back into their boxes for the next 10 months. It is a time-consuming process to put Christmas away.
Does anyone know where I might be able to find the things that go into the top of a glass ornament which has a metal loop and collar. I have no idea what they are called, but we have a number of glass bulbs from Len's days with Disney that have lost those parts over the years. Not sure how that happens, mind you. And these are kind of large, so my plan to replace them with pieces from plain ornaments didn't work.
The horse tree has not yet been undressed. I'm still trying to purchase a Zenyatta ornament, but nobody has them and word is they won't be restocked until the fall. At least they'll be back in production so I don't have to spend $80 to buy one. My friends and I are planning to go to Santa Anita Race Track in early February for the ceremony where Penny Chenery, owner of Secretriat, will be giving the Mosses a new award because of the way Zenyatta had a positive effect on thoroughbred racing. She's been a personality directly out of the Secretariat handbook, so it is appropriate she gets the first one. Hooray for the Queen.
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Monday, January 3, 2011
Off to a New Year
We had a wonderful holiday, which did not include emergency visits to doctors for either Len or me this year. No broken bones, no organ failure. We plan to keep that the case for the rest of the year, despite the nasty cold Len caught.
I had 12 days off from work, which did not include riding Ace or caroling with the horses or getting much work done on the old house, all due to rain. Yesterday, we starting having trouble with our driveway gate. When I finally got the thing to close, I kept my car in the driveway so we'd be able to let the dogs out back It would be most annoying to chase them down the street.
This year, I decorated what I called the Chanukah bush, a white, artificial stick tree, with blue ornaments. It went up a couple of weeks before we went off and bought our real Christmas tree, aka "Geek Tree" (above.) That's the tree that's got ornaments related to true fan-boy geekdom: Star Trek, Star Wars, comic books, and various science fiction and fantasy works. We have the added delight of ornaments of characters created by my husband (Wolverine and Storm) and this year the Hallmark comic book ornament of Hulk #181 even has his name in it. (If you double-click the photo, it should enlarge to give you a better idea of the decorations.) I miss having high ceilings so I could have a 9 or 10 foot tree, but I love having more space.
In the after-Christmas sales, I purchased several more artificial trees, so now there is a tree with horses in my office (I'm desperately seeking a Zenyatta ornament, but would prefer to not pay a fortune) and a tree with some of our sentimental favorites is decorating our bedroom. It has many Disney ornaments, particularly from Beauty and the Beast, and things which we received for our wedding and anniversary, which is December 25. I found a lovely "First Year in Our New Home" ornament to hang on it. It made Len a little weepy.
That's the horse tree, above. Finding a way to secure the tree-topper was challenging. I like it, but it doesn't really work well. I picked up a number of the Breyer Thoroughbred ornament series over the past few years, and they survived the fire. I've picked up a few other Breyers, including the porcelain Arabian that looks like Ace, and some of the "Painted Ponies" ornaments. The stuffie on the bottom with the song book sings "We Three Kings" as "Neigh, neigh, neighayay...." You get the idea.
On Christmas Day, we celebrated the holiday and our anniversary with our friends Karen Bodner and Michael Olecki, as we have for most of the past 15 years. Karen and Michael O. (to distinguish him from my son Michael B-V) come over, we make brunch, we eat, and then we open presents. For the first time ever, we weren't frantically cleaning up to make space for everyone. And everyone could hang out in the kitchen for excellent conversation while bacon and eggs were made to go with the goodies Karen brought along.
Here's Michael O. making mimosas to go along with the sticky-buns Karen baked. She also brought the shrimp, lox, and poached salmon on the table.
Len's favorite part of brunch is bacon, which he probably should not be eating.
Looking at the back yard reminds me of getting letters from my pen-pal in Australia and being amazed at the idea that Christmas could include swimming and a green landscape. It was too cold for anyone except Ginger to consider getting wet (she did, causing Michael O. to dub her our "mermaid"), but it was shirt-sleeve weather. The rest of my family was getting snowed in back east. I think I've grown to like the idea of Santa arriving via surf board. I certainly do not miss driving in snow.
After our first anniversary, I declared I would never work that hard on my anniversary again and we would be going out for dinner the next year. For most of the years we've done this, we've had dinner out, usually with a movie before we eat. Often it has been "Jewish Christmas" which means going out for Chinese food. As opening presents crept later into the day (this year, brunch wasn't over until almost 2), finding a restaurant operating late got harder.
Last year, I decided if we didn't do a turkey, cooking Christmas dinner wouldn't be that complicated or take that much effort. Besides, Karen enjoys cooking as much as I do (she's a recovering lawyer who went to baking school in the past couple of years.) Last year, I did mussels followed by baked salmon. This year, I suggested lobster, which takes almost no time at all. It was fabulous, although keep lobster alive for 24 hours--Gelson's was closed on December 25--was interesting. Especially since the refrigerator in the kitchen died for the FIFTH time since we moved to the new house.
Unfortunately, Len won't let us do lobster again next year. He doesn't like food that looks like itself, even if he isn't the one wrestling with it. He thought he could deal with it, but he couldn't. Sigh.
Since the house was our big present to ourselves this year, we tended to give each other books and DVDs.
Here's my son Michael opening one of his gifts. The dogs got us a new video game system, replacing the blu-ray player that's not worked well. I don't know how the dogs got hold of a credit card, but they used it wisely. I'm not sure why they didn't let Ace in on the gift.
Riley, who turned 11 months on Christmas, kept trying to eat the tree. Except for chewing up the Hallmark Yoda, which fell on the floor, he didn't take down any ornaments. Ginger and Dexter just left things alone. Good dogs. (Ginger's on the chair and Riley's sleeping on the floor, probably because he couldn't find a human to curl up with.)
We're a few days away from our big holiday party and we are just ecstatic to have enough room for the folks who've accepted. One year in the old house, it rained and folks were squeezed in like sardines. Not this year. I've got a room for folks who want to play board games and one for those who'd like to play video games. Plus there will be lots of room for food on the kitchen table and counters and plenty of room for drinks on the patio (covered, in case there is rain.) The timing has worked out so several friends from other parts of the country will be able to attend, making things extra special.
Since I'm planning on a year that will be better than last year was, I wish the same to you as well. Have a happy and prosperous new year.
I had 12 days off from work, which did not include riding Ace or caroling with the horses or getting much work done on the old house, all due to rain. Yesterday, we starting having trouble with our driveway gate. When I finally got the thing to close, I kept my car in the driveway so we'd be able to let the dogs out back It would be most annoying to chase them down the street.
In the after-Christmas sales, I purchased several more artificial trees, so now there is a tree with horses in my office (I'm desperately seeking a Zenyatta ornament, but would prefer to not pay a fortune) and a tree with some of our sentimental favorites is decorating our bedroom. It has many Disney ornaments, particularly from Beauty and the Beast, and things which we received for our wedding and anniversary, which is December 25. I found a lovely "First Year in Our New Home" ornament to hang on it. It made Len a little weepy.
On Christmas Day, we celebrated the holiday and our anniversary with our friends Karen Bodner and Michael Olecki, as we have for most of the past 15 years. Karen and Michael O. (to distinguish him from my son Michael B-V) come over, we make brunch, we eat, and then we open presents. For the first time ever, we weren't frantically cleaning up to make space for everyone. And everyone could hang out in the kitchen for excellent conversation while bacon and eggs were made to go with the goodies Karen brought along.
Looking at the back yard reminds me of getting letters from my pen-pal in Australia and being amazed at the idea that Christmas could include swimming and a green landscape. It was too cold for anyone except Ginger to consider getting wet (she did, causing Michael O. to dub her our "mermaid"), but it was shirt-sleeve weather. The rest of my family was getting snowed in back east. I think I've grown to like the idea of Santa arriving via surf board. I certainly do not miss driving in snow.
After our first anniversary, I declared I would never work that hard on my anniversary again and we would be going out for dinner the next year. For most of the years we've done this, we've had dinner out, usually with a movie before we eat. Often it has been "Jewish Christmas" which means going out for Chinese food. As opening presents crept later into the day (this year, brunch wasn't over until almost 2), finding a restaurant operating late got harder.
Last year, I decided if we didn't do a turkey, cooking Christmas dinner wouldn't be that complicated or take that much effort. Besides, Karen enjoys cooking as much as I do (she's a recovering lawyer who went to baking school in the past couple of years.) Last year, I did mussels followed by baked salmon. This year, I suggested lobster, which takes almost no time at all. It was fabulous, although keep lobster alive for 24 hours--Gelson's was closed on December 25--was interesting. Especially since the refrigerator in the kitchen died for the FIFTH time since we moved to the new house.
Unfortunately, Len won't let us do lobster again next year. He doesn't like food that looks like itself, even if he isn't the one wrestling with it. He thought he could deal with it, but he couldn't. Sigh.
Since the house was our big present to ourselves this year, we tended to give each other books and DVDs.
We're a few days away from our big holiday party and we are just ecstatic to have enough room for the folks who've accepted. One year in the old house, it rained and folks were squeezed in like sardines. Not this year. I've got a room for folks who want to play board games and one for those who'd like to play video games. Plus there will be lots of room for food on the kitchen table and counters and plenty of room for drinks on the patio (covered, in case there is rain.) The timing has worked out so several friends from other parts of the country will be able to attend, making things extra special.
Since I'm planning on a year that will be better than last year was, I wish the same to you as well. Have a happy and prosperous new year.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Happy Holidays (There Are So Many)
Just in case I don't get another chance to post before Thursday (a distinct possibility), I wanted to wish all of my readers a very merry Christmas (a white one if you'd like it), a happy Hanukkah, a joyous Kwanza, a cool Yule, a silly Saturnalia, or whatever mid-winter festival you celebrate.
We will, as usual, spend Christmas eve going from a brunch at Emily's to a Polish Vigilia at Karen and Michael's, and to a gift exchange at Elayne's. On Christmas itself, we will do a big brunch and Christmas present extravaganza at home with my son Michael and our friends Karen and Michael (we have a lot of Michaels in our lives.) Then we'll either watch one of the many Academy screeners which has been bestowed upon us or head off to the cinema (not nearly as muchly anticipated since the Lord of the Rings finished its cycle) for something bigger than 46". Dinner will most likely be at Hop Li on the Westside, since Chinese restaurants are the ones most likely to be open (and a good choice for lapsed-Catholic/Jewish marriages, which we and Karen & Michael have.)
I used to do a big Christmas spread. That was before Christmas became my anniversary. I did it last for our first anniversary and decided I didn't need to work that hard any more. I miss the dinner, but not the stress.
This year marks our 17th anniversary. The modern gift is furniture. I started with that big dining room table and I'm looking at new living room seating.
I finished decorating the tree last night, making it the first time in years that the ornament boxes will be back in the garage before Christmas morning. My gifts aren't wrapped yet, but I've still got time for that.
Enjoy. There's so much to be happy about this year.
We will, as usual, spend Christmas eve going from a brunch at Emily's to a Polish Vigilia at Karen and Michael's, and to a gift exchange at Elayne's. On Christmas itself, we will do a big brunch and Christmas present extravaganza at home with my son Michael and our friends Karen and Michael (we have a lot of Michaels in our lives.) Then we'll either watch one of the many Academy screeners which has been bestowed upon us or head off to the cinema (not nearly as muchly anticipated since the Lord of the Rings finished its cycle) for something bigger than 46". Dinner will most likely be at Hop Li on the Westside, since Chinese restaurants are the ones most likely to be open (and a good choice for lapsed-Catholic/Jewish marriages, which we and Karen & Michael have.)
I used to do a big Christmas spread. That was before Christmas became my anniversary. I did it last for our first anniversary and decided I didn't need to work that hard any more. I miss the dinner, but not the stress.
This year marks our 17th anniversary. The modern gift is furniture. I started with that big dining room table and I'm looking at new living room seating.
I finished decorating the tree last night, making it the first time in years that the ornament boxes will be back in the garage before Christmas morning. My gifts aren't wrapped yet, but I've still got time for that.
Enjoy. There's so much to be happy about this year.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Season's Greetings & Best Wishes for the New Year
I haven't had a decent Internet connection since I started my vacation, but today I managed to get Airport and our DSL provider to get up to a good speed. No waiting for the spinning wheel of doom up in the corner.
That being the case, I've only got a few minutes to post greetings and wishes before getting ready to go to Larry and Fuzzy Niven's house for a New Year's Eve party. It's a dress-up event and the food is quite good. I just hope I don't fade before it is over.
I had an unexpected expense when I found it necessary to move the Arabian Prince from where he was living to a new barn which is across the street from the very first ranch I kept him at when he came to California in 2001. The new facility has a lovely barn with big indoor/outdoor stalls. He's got as much of a run as he had at the previous barn, but in addition to the box stall, he's got a covered area outside and large uncovered area as well. So he can enjoy the sun or keep dry while it is raining. We're expecting a big storm by Thursday and I will be absolutely thrilled that he'll be able to keep his feet dry when it happens. I just wish I didn't have to come up with a deposit and the first month's board during the Christmas season. So much for a cash cushion! He has settled in quite easily (we moved him on December 26) and he is nicely protected from the awful winds which have picked up again today.
The holiday season has been filled with parties and the company of friends. We did Vigilia with the Bodner-Oleckis who then did Christmas day brunch, presents, and the movies with us. We also went to the present exchange with the Lasfasians on Christmas Eve.
On the Saturday before Christmas, we attended the party which Patric and Maiya Verrone throw every year. We weren't the only ones surprised that Patric would be up to it with the WGA strike in progress, but we were glad they had it. Favorite line overheard: "If they settle in the next three weeks, we'll know we didn't ask for enough money." Probably true, but no sign of a big settlement yet. We are happy to hear about the agreement with World Wide Pants, which agreed to all of the WGA negotiating points. Too bad the rest of the industry is ready to cut off their collective noses to spite their collective faces.
An ad in the industry trades has reminded me that I've had direct dealings with two of the studio heads. Barry Meyer was a Case Western Reseve University School of Law graduate whom I contacted and met with when I was looking for a summer job while in law school. He heads Warner Bros. Michael Lynton (I think I'm spelling that correctly) was Len's boss at Disney Publishing when Len was the editor-in-chief of Disney Comics. He is now the head of Sony Pictures. The AMPTP still hasn't gotten that they are dealing with a very different situation from previous strikes. Picket lines start up again next Monday. I keep hoping we can go to a dress-up picket line for the Golden Globes.
As the world at large continues to go to hell in a handbasket, I can only hope for a change in our government here at home. I really don't care who gets the Democratic nomination because I'll be out working for whomever does. Senator Dodd impressed me with his filibuster just before Christmas. I like that John Edwards has been out on the strike line with our writers and would be labor friendly. I like Senator Obama and I'm really pleased to see how well Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton is doing. However, only Dennis Kucinich really sounds like a good liberal on the campaign trail. Isn't that a shame?
So for next year, I am wishing for a change for the better in our government, for people realize there is a reason for the separation of church and state and the separation of governmental powers, and for Congress to remember that the First Amendment and privacy are important civil liberties. I am also looking forward to the day when George the Third and Darth Vadar are hauled off to the World Court to be tried as war criminals, but that may take a little longer. I'll echo Viggo Mortensen on this one: Impeach. Remove. Jail. George Bush, Dick Cheney and their cohorts are criminals of the worst sort and it is now less than 400 days until they will be out of office. Unless, of course, they try some dirty trick to further destroy our Constitution.
On that note, try to have a peaceful and prosperous New Year.
That being the case, I've only got a few minutes to post greetings and wishes before getting ready to go to Larry and Fuzzy Niven's house for a New Year's Eve party. It's a dress-up event and the food is quite good. I just hope I don't fade before it is over.
I had an unexpected expense when I found it necessary to move the Arabian Prince from where he was living to a new barn which is across the street from the very first ranch I kept him at when he came to California in 2001. The new facility has a lovely barn with big indoor/outdoor stalls. He's got as much of a run as he had at the previous barn, but in addition to the box stall, he's got a covered area outside and large uncovered area as well. So he can enjoy the sun or keep dry while it is raining. We're expecting a big storm by Thursday and I will be absolutely thrilled that he'll be able to keep his feet dry when it happens. I just wish I didn't have to come up with a deposit and the first month's board during the Christmas season. So much for a cash cushion! He has settled in quite easily (we moved him on December 26) and he is nicely protected from the awful winds which have picked up again today.
The holiday season has been filled with parties and the company of friends. We did Vigilia with the Bodner-Oleckis who then did Christmas day brunch, presents, and the movies with us. We also went to the present exchange with the Lasfasians on Christmas Eve.
On the Saturday before Christmas, we attended the party which Patric and Maiya Verrone throw every year. We weren't the only ones surprised that Patric would be up to it with the WGA strike in progress, but we were glad they had it. Favorite line overheard: "If they settle in the next three weeks, we'll know we didn't ask for enough money." Probably true, but no sign of a big settlement yet. We are happy to hear about the agreement with World Wide Pants, which agreed to all of the WGA negotiating points. Too bad the rest of the industry is ready to cut off their collective noses to spite their collective faces.
An ad in the industry trades has reminded me that I've had direct dealings with two of the studio heads. Barry Meyer was a Case Western Reseve University School of Law graduate whom I contacted and met with when I was looking for a summer job while in law school. He heads Warner Bros. Michael Lynton (I think I'm spelling that correctly) was Len's boss at Disney Publishing when Len was the editor-in-chief of Disney Comics. He is now the head of Sony Pictures. The AMPTP still hasn't gotten that they are dealing with a very different situation from previous strikes. Picket lines start up again next Monday. I keep hoping we can go to a dress-up picket line for the Golden Globes.
As the world at large continues to go to hell in a handbasket, I can only hope for a change in our government here at home. I really don't care who gets the Democratic nomination because I'll be out working for whomever does. Senator Dodd impressed me with his filibuster just before Christmas. I like that John Edwards has been out on the strike line with our writers and would be labor friendly. I like Senator Obama and I'm really pleased to see how well Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton is doing. However, only Dennis Kucinich really sounds like a good liberal on the campaign trail. Isn't that a shame?
So for next year, I am wishing for a change for the better in our government, for people realize there is a reason for the separation of church and state and the separation of governmental powers, and for Congress to remember that the First Amendment and privacy are important civil liberties. I am also looking forward to the day when George the Third and Darth Vadar are hauled off to the World Court to be tried as war criminals, but that may take a little longer. I'll echo Viggo Mortensen on this one: Impeach. Remove. Jail. George Bush, Dick Cheney and their cohorts are criminals of the worst sort and it is now less than 400 days until they will be out of office. Unless, of course, they try some dirty trick to further destroy our Constitution.
On that note, try to have a peaceful and prosperous New Year.
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