I am having trouble getting into the Christmassy spirit this year. I think having Thanksgiving week and the week after killed by bronchitis put me way behind.

Here's hoping that holiday baking prep today does the trick.

Dillo is making the penguin ornaments kiss each other.

Aw! t contemplates sending Dillo a copy of And Tango Makes Three

I'm heading over to my parents' place today to help decorate their tree. A few of our friends will be joining us. When I was growing up, my parents always used to encourage my brother and me to invite friends over for the tree-decking, so now that they've moved out here near me, they've started up the tradition again. It's always fun, lots of good food and holiday music and an abundance of goofy ornaments (most shaped like animals of one kind or another). If I've got time afterwards, I may go buy a tree of my own, even if it's just a leetle one. I like having a tree around for the holidays, all bright and shiny and beautiful.

11:11: first ornament casualty. Something I thought was plastic was actually glass. Emphasis on "was." Ooops.

Ohh! Holiday baking prep sounds good. I should do some of that to get in the mood. But then I would have to follow it with the actual baking.

I did watch the food network's history of Christmas foods. This year I may do my holiday cooking vicariously through tv. Less mess and no calories.

Fruit for fruitcakes now soaking in rum. Frozen butter now sitting on counter in hopes that it will unfreeze by afternoon.

Oh, I get to post the first sekrit santa thank you???

Well, my sekrit santa was quite imaginative. I got kidnapped. Yes, kidnapped. My dear daughter put me in the car and drove me to a secret address in San Francisco. There, she handed me an overnight bag and sent me into a nail salon. Ok, she followed behind me but in that salon I met the mastermind - LEE!!!!!

It was such a treat. We got mani-pedi's, joined by juliana, JZ, and sweet Matilda. We shared some bubbly as we got pampered. Then there was walking around and lunching before K-Bug took off with my car.

It has been a lovely weekend escape from my life. There has been slounging, and drinking, and Buffistas, and Supernatural. There is currently coffee and eventually breakfast with pumpkin pancakes.

Lee - thank you SO VERY MUCH. Hopefully you will forgive that post in bitches, eventually.

Oh, and apparently Lee has been conspiring with K-Bug about this for a little while and K-Bug is a little too good at keeping secrets from her mommy.

It was a great weekend for me as well-- Many thanks to Juliana and JZ and of course K-Bug for making it work so well.

And there are pictures! [link]

Wow. That's the best Seekrit Santa gift ever!

2007 was definitely the most interesting year of my life, in full Chinese blessing/curse terms.

In January I lost my job of almost 10 years.

In February I celebrated my first ever 1 year anniversary with a girlfriend. I also found a contract-to-hire gig that fell through two weeks later.

In March my girlfriend moved in with me, a first, and my first time sharing my living space with anyone since moving out of my parent's house 10 years previously.

In April I started my new job.

In May we began final preparation for our son's arrival. At the end of the month my girlfriend went into labor.

In June my son was born in the wee hours of the 1st. 4 days later, the morning after my girlfriend came home from the hospital, our apartment flooded. When my son came home the following Friday, it was to my grandparents' house, where he stayed with my girlfriend until the landlord could get the carpeting ripped out and the apartment cleaned up.

In July we had to relocate to my grandparents' again while the new carperting was installed in our apartment. I also completed my 90-day introductory period at the new job.

In August we experienced the joys of family life as my son got sick and proceeded to share it with my girlfriend and myself. I also celebrated my birthday with my friends, a few more grey hairs and a new perspective.

In September I had my first (and I hope against hope only) night spent in the ER, worrying about my son. Thankfully it turned out to be something very minor.

In October, we closed on our new house.

In November, we moved in to the new house. My first time living outside of the town I grew up in, and even leaving the state. My sister also gave birth to her newest son, who after some scares and a lot of waiting late in the pregnancy, was born healthy if premature.

And now we're into December. The house is still in chaos, boxes adorn half the rooms and fill the basement. The holidays are approaching, and my life looks nothing like it did a year ago.

Times have definitely been interesting.

All, in all, I would say 2007 was a good year. For all the ups and downs, the scares, the setbacks, I find myself in a house to call my own, sharing it with the woman I love and the most adorable 6-month old in the world. (Even if he does like to scream until his daddy has a headache and make a giant mess when it's time to change him.)

While I still miss my old co-workers, and I'm still not exactly rolling in money, the new job is going well, I like my new co-workers and the pay makes the whole paying a mortgage and raising a family a whole lot more feasible.

So as much as it sucked at the time, and how frightening those 3 months after were, losing my job ultimately was a good thing. I'm significantly less-stressed, able to do work I enjoy again, and feel more secure in my life as a whole.

In the end, 2007 gets a "yay" vote from me. Though I really hope 2008 is a whole lot less interesting.

And that we can get the rest of the house unpacked before it's over.

Does anyone have Deena's current email address? I need her gift preference info on my Santee before I go shopping!