Holiday Recap

It’s been a rather hectic week for Jon and I, if not all that busy.

Unfortunately, Jon came down with some sort of virus on the 23rd. Nothing too serious, but he was largely out of commission on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I went to my family’s dinner on Christmas Eve, but otherwise we stayed close to home. Jon is much better now though, and back to work.

I am enjoying my time off. Yesterday, we went to the Strocels and played a game of Cranium with everyone. It was a lot of fun, and it was good to get out of the house.

Today, we bought a new fridge. It should come in about two weeks, since it’s currently on back-order. Jon and I are very excited.

To see what we’ve been up to, check out our holiday pictures, here.

Holiday Brunch

Yesterday Jon and I attended the 2nd annual Strocel holiday brunch at Swan-E-Set, in Pitt Meadows. It was a lovely occasion, with 26 attendees in total. You can see some photos from that event here. The spread was great, the company was entertaining, and the room was beautiful. We’re looking forward to next year.

The countdown is on, with three days until Christmas. Tomorrow is my last day of work until January 5th, and I’m looking forward to the break. It is much-needed at this point, I assure you.

Travelling Salesmen

I’ve had the occasion to answer the door to a couple of door to door solicitors in the past couple of days. One for window washing, and just one today for Anducci’s pasta place. When I have answered the door, both have asked if my parents were home. I’m just guessing it’s kind of rare for these guys to meet someone of my tender age being a homeowner in these parts. Although it makes me wonder where all the other 27 year olds are. I think probably in hip downtown apartments, or as they would assume, their parents basements. The strange thing was the restaurant guy was probably my age.

I have to admit, I do get a kick out of it though

Bad Fridge!

Our refrigerator went on the fritz for the last couple of days, which culminated in everything in our freezer being ruined. Unfortunately, it didn’t become apparent until very late last night. Since today was the last garbage collection until Dec. 29, Jon was up at midnight clearing out all of the not-so-frozen food and hauling it to the curb. So disappointing!

We think that things are fixed for the time being, but getting a new fridge is now our new priority. After all, avoiding food poisoning merits a little bit of financial strain. That, and too many episodes like this and the spoiled food will exceed a new refrigerator in value.

Home ownership is so much fun! After all, who doesn’t enjoy unexpected expenses right around the holidays?

The good news is that we had a free waffle breakfast at work today, so even though I had no milk for my cereal, things all worked out. Yay for my company!

Carolling, Carolling

Last night was the last Brownie meeting of 2003, and we spent it singing Christmas carols at Seton Villa, a retirement home in Burnaby. We had a full house, which was good, and the girls did an excellent job. I, on the other hand, am still a little hoarse after my cold, so my singing wasn’t exactly up to snuff. My Brownies were sure to let me know when I was squeaking or off-key. Thanks, kids.

I’ve done this every year, and every year the residents have a great time and so do the kids. We’re not the best singers, but I think the most fun comes from the spontaneous things that kids do in front of groups. Last night, everyone particularly got a kick out of the callbacks during ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’.

“…All of the other reindeer, used to laugh and call him names – LIKE PINOCCHIO!…”

Getting into the Christmas Thing

We’ve been getting the Christmas tree up. It’s a very nice smelling tree, and kitten has not yet climbed it, but we have a long way to go before Christmas.

My Baby

I have posted some new pictures of Dorothy recently. Check them out here.

The kitten is just moving all the time. Always with the pouncing and the mewing and the biting. She can jump 4 feet straight up in the air, and pretty much no place is inaccessible to her anymore. She’s also very cute, which is pretty much her most redeeming quality.

The next challenge? We’re getting our Christmas tree on Saturday. My current plan is to keep my precious and highly breakable ornaments in reserve for a few days, to see how Dorothy reacts. I love the kitten, but not enough to sacrifice my grandmother’s 54-year-old bird ornament to her, you know?

And Tilly? She’s just happy to get hay, and to be able to run around in her own room where the kitten can’t bother her.

Under the Weather

I’m back at work today, after a day and a half off with a bad cold. Really, Monday was the worst, but I had to come in to work for the morning because I had to pack up my office. They’re doing a shuffle around here, and I was chosen to move. So, I did that, and went home to rest. Then I had to go to Brownies since I have the key, among other things. Anyway, I spent yesterday resting and now I’m much better.

Of course, all of this happened after I spent hours lecturing Jon about how he needs to take it easy or he’ll get sick. So, yeah, I showed him. Or something.

St. Nicholas

I attended a St. Nicholas day party today with my Brownies. It was held at our meeting place, St. Timothy’s Anglican Church in Burnaby. At the party, they told the story of St. Nicholas, the Bishop of Smyrna during the 4th century. As we all know, he was especially fond of children and concerned for the poor.

However, there was a little piece of the story that I had never heard. Apparently, in Smyrna there was a very poor family with three daughters. They were starving, and they had to make a difficult choice. That choice was stay together and all starve, or sell one of their daughters so the rest could eat.

They decided to sell the oldest daughter, and told her that in the morning she would be sold off so that the rest of her family could eat. Of course, she was totally distraught and cried herself to sleep. The bishop heard this, and came to her rescue by filling her shoes with gold, so that the family could eat and she could stay. The story goes on that the family ran out of money again, and decided to sell daughter #2. Again, St. Nicholas came to the rescue, filling the second daughter’s shoes with gold while she slept. Finally, this happened again with the third daughter, but this time the bishop left an additional two bags of gold so that the family would have enough money forever and this situation would not arise again.

This is a pretty terrible story, selling children for money. No mention is made of any sons, so I conclude that either there were none, or else only girls were bought and sold like property (not unlikely). Also, I wonder what this family is up to that they allowed themselves to reach such dire straits 3 times in a row. It’s almost as if the third time around they know that St. Nicholas will rescue them, and they are taking advantage. Perhaps everyone would have been better off if the bishop had given the father a good job in the first case, to create a sustainable income for the family. Too bad I wasn’t there to make this suggestion.

In any case, this is where the practice of leaving treats in wooden shoes and stockings comes from, and where the idea of a benevolent figure leaving treats for children began. Thank heavens I don’t have to eat chocolate out of my shoe, though.

Holiday Fever

The holidays are coming, very quickly. People are talking about their Christmas shopping, and I have learned that some prepared souls are finished already. In fact, some were finished as much as one whole month before Christmas. Is it just me, or is this rather excessive? It seems to reduce Christmas to a list of gifts to buy, instead of a holiday to be enjoyed.

At least, this is what I tell myself, because I have barely started my shopping. My excuse is that I enjoy Christmas shopping, and I will drag it out. Who can resist the music, decorations, and smells at the mall? Not I, so I will not even try. Even if I have to brave that parking lot to get there.