Christmas and thank-yous
I had a lovely Christmas. Not overwhelmingly spectacular, but that really wasn't what I would have wanted, either, I don't think. :-)
My roommate and I went to a friend's house in the morning, where he made us breakfast in his mid-Western tradition (yum), and we sat and talked and had fun.
Then there was the trip to the house of a family we often babysit for (4 kids they have now, all 5 or under). Several other friends met us there, and we all cooperated in playing with the kids, making Christmas dinner, and geeking out over things like the Fan Collective Star Trek collections (there was a viewing of "Yesterday's Enterprise" from the Time Travel collection at about half past midnight when we were all punchy from drink or from lack of sleep).
It was fun, and I enjoyed myself. I think one of our number put it best when he demanded that we drink to the same toast this year as we (randomly and without planning) did last year: "To the family whom we choose."
I had talked to my blood family by phone earlier that day, as had most of us, but really the feeling of the gathering was very much one of family--cousins, siblings, nieces and nephews, whatever.
Thank God I have these people, even if I'm not best friends with most of them. They're good for me, and I hope I'm good for them.
Lovely things I got for Christmas include:
--a Borders gift card (I have a copy of an out-of-print book, The Jewel Heart, being called in for me, yay!)
--The Hallowed Hunt, by Lois McMaster Bujold, from my brother whom I just introduced to her work
--some clothes and a silk scarf from my parents (plus the entire Chicago trip, paid!)
--also from the parents, a phone with a portable handset. I no longer have to sit at my desk to talk on the phone! :-)
--Doctor Zhivago, the book not the film, from a friend
--Doctor Who: Set Piece, by Kate Orman, from the author herself (thank you so much!)
--a warm fuzzy blanket from feliciakw, along with some music
--A hardcover copy of a new and awesome-looking translation of the Aeneid. Mmmm!
--Life After God, by Douglas Copeland; and Hot Zone, the book on which the film Outbreak was based, from friends
--from another friend, the curious incident of the dog in the night-time, which I have been planning to read and very curious about.
--His Majesty's Dragon and Throne of Jade, both from a friend in my hometown
--lovely cards from scionofgrace and maevebran! I was so excited to get them, thank you!
This shall be quite the year for reading, I see! :-)
I hope you all had splendid Christmases, as well.
My roommate and I went to a friend's house in the morning, where he made us breakfast in his mid-Western tradition (yum), and we sat and talked and had fun.
Then there was the trip to the house of a family we often babysit for (4 kids they have now, all 5 or under). Several other friends met us there, and we all cooperated in playing with the kids, making Christmas dinner, and geeking out over things like the Fan Collective Star Trek collections (there was a viewing of "Yesterday's Enterprise" from the Time Travel collection at about half past midnight when we were all punchy from drink or from lack of sleep).
It was fun, and I enjoyed myself. I think one of our number put it best when he demanded that we drink to the same toast this year as we (randomly and without planning) did last year: "To the family whom we choose."
I had talked to my blood family by phone earlier that day, as had most of us, but really the feeling of the gathering was very much one of family--cousins, siblings, nieces and nephews, whatever.
Thank God I have these people, even if I'm not best friends with most of them. They're good for me, and I hope I'm good for them.
Lovely things I got for Christmas include:
--a Borders gift card (I have a copy of an out-of-print book, The Jewel Heart, being called in for me, yay!)
--The Hallowed Hunt, by Lois McMaster Bujold, from my brother whom I just introduced to her work
--some clothes and a silk scarf from my parents (plus the entire Chicago trip, paid!)
--also from the parents, a phone with a portable handset. I no longer have to sit at my desk to talk on the phone! :-)
--Doctor Zhivago, the book not the film, from a friend
--Doctor Who: Set Piece, by Kate Orman, from the author herself (thank you so much!)
--a warm fuzzy blanket from feliciakw, along with some music
--A hardcover copy of a new and awesome-looking translation of the Aeneid. Mmmm!
--Life After God, by Douglas Copeland; and Hot Zone, the book on which the film Outbreak was based, from friends
--from another friend, the curious incident of the dog in the night-time, which I have been planning to read and very curious about.
--His Majesty's Dragon and Throne of Jade, both from a friend in my hometown
--lovely cards from scionofgrace and maevebran! I was so excited to get them, thank you!
This shall be quite the year for reading, I see! :-)
I hope you all had splendid Christmases, as well.