White Christmas
Today is the day after Christmas for me. Technically the day after the day after but I haven't called it a night yet so it still counts. But yes, today is the day after Christmas.
Due to family chaos (death, significant others, friendmas, etc), my family didn't celebrate Christmas on the 25th or any of the near subsequent days. It happened on the fly at 7 pm 8 January, three days after my mom's birthday, a time where we're typically going back to our daily habits and splintering until the next holiday, usually Easter. Kit and I were dirty, sweaty and exhausted -- I had a sunburn and what felt like impacted sinuses -- from playing airsoft at the most challenging field in the area. I borrowed my mom's skirt because for some reason I just didn't want to wear pants anymore. Both of my brothers' girlfriends were there, a feat I never thought was possible but hey, Christmas is a time of miracles (one of which was having a conversation with Grant's girlfriend who is skittish around women -- don't ask). And for all of it being late and thrown together at 4 in the afternoon when my mom found out that everyone would be able to get together without work/school/friend/significant other conflicts, it was a good Christmas. Threats were thrown lovingly between all of us without a full-bore fight occurring. Off-color jokes were the entertainment of the night and I got away with swearing because Mom was laughing too hard at our jokes while still trying to scold us for having dirty minds.
I got the tea set I asked for. It is perfect, porcelain and from Japan, each cup different in color and glazing and utterly unique. The only thing the same about them is the shape. My teapot is cute and perfect for two. My mom went beyond what I asked for and even got me a lovely lacquer tray for serving. Of course once we had everything open I had to play with my tea set. It was funny because I realized that I was doing the same thing I did as a child: borrowing my mom's clothes (because they were flowing in comparison to mine) and having a tea party on my own. I also got some interesting jewelry, a cd, a beanie baby and toe socks. I've never had toe socks and I haven't figured out whether they're fun or weird, truth be told. My mom outdid herself trying to find places to hide money in the socks she bought for Kit. I don't know any other family more excited to get underwear for Christmas from their mom, but I doubt most mom's buy socks and thermal underwear made to withstand all sorts of weather and abuse. Grant got penguin-related plushies and blankets because years ago he was paranoid of them and we will never let him forget it. But that's why my mom rocks. And I will shamelessly brag about that all day if you let me.
What really made this Christmas perfect though was today. The day after Christmas is always fun because you can't really enjoy your presents on Christmas. You have to see family, go to church, travel, something that gets in the way of sitting down and just playing with whatever you got. So today I woke up early (even before Kit, which is a feat in itself) and played. I made tea. I hand-washed each porcelain cup and read every sheet of paper in the box. When Kit came downstairs I had tea waiting. It was the best tea in the world.
And then the day became perfect.
It snowed. Gigantic flurries as big as my fist fell from the sky. I got so excited I shoved my feet into my galoshes and ran outside in just my pajamas. My neighbors probably think I'm crazy. I dragged Kit outside and pelted him with a snowball. I caught snowflakes in my mouth until one fell into my cleavage which promptly reminded me that I was outside without anything sensible on beyond my galoshes. Right now it's 28 degrees (Fahrenheit) and it's supposed to snow all night while the temperature drops even more. I'm so stoked, I know I'm going to have trouble sleeping tonight. I feel like a kid at Christmas. Oh wait, I am. So, without further ado -- since I may still have to go to work in the morning -- I bid you all:
Merry Christmas.
Oh, and I have Macross Frontier music stuck in my head. Woohoo Sheryl Nome.
Due to family chaos (death, significant others, friendmas, etc), my family didn't celebrate Christmas on the 25th or any of the near subsequent days. It happened on the fly at 7 pm 8 January, three days after my mom's birthday, a time where we're typically going back to our daily habits and splintering until the next holiday, usually Easter. Kit and I were dirty, sweaty and exhausted -- I had a sunburn and what felt like impacted sinuses -- from playing airsoft at the most challenging field in the area. I borrowed my mom's skirt because for some reason I just didn't want to wear pants anymore. Both of my brothers' girlfriends were there, a feat I never thought was possible but hey, Christmas is a time of miracles (one of which was having a conversation with Grant's girlfriend who is skittish around women -- don't ask). And for all of it being late and thrown together at 4 in the afternoon when my mom found out that everyone would be able to get together without work/school/friend/significant other conflicts, it was a good Christmas. Threats were thrown lovingly between all of us without a full-bore fight occurring. Off-color jokes were the entertainment of the night and I got away with swearing because Mom was laughing too hard at our jokes while still trying to scold us for having dirty minds.
I got the tea set I asked for. It is perfect, porcelain and from Japan, each cup different in color and glazing and utterly unique. The only thing the same about them is the shape. My teapot is cute and perfect for two. My mom went beyond what I asked for and even got me a lovely lacquer tray for serving. Of course once we had everything open I had to play with my tea set. It was funny because I realized that I was doing the same thing I did as a child: borrowing my mom's clothes (because they were flowing in comparison to mine) and having a tea party on my own. I also got some interesting jewelry, a cd, a beanie baby and toe socks. I've never had toe socks and I haven't figured out whether they're fun or weird, truth be told. My mom outdid herself trying to find places to hide money in the socks she bought for Kit. I don't know any other family more excited to get underwear for Christmas from their mom, but I doubt most mom's buy socks and thermal underwear made to withstand all sorts of weather and abuse. Grant got penguin-related plushies and blankets because years ago he was paranoid of them and we will never let him forget it. But that's why my mom rocks. And I will shamelessly brag about that all day if you let me.
What really made this Christmas perfect though was today. The day after Christmas is always fun because you can't really enjoy your presents on Christmas. You have to see family, go to church, travel, something that gets in the way of sitting down and just playing with whatever you got. So today I woke up early (even before Kit, which is a feat in itself) and played. I made tea. I hand-washed each porcelain cup and read every sheet of paper in the box. When Kit came downstairs I had tea waiting. It was the best tea in the world.
And then the day became perfect.
It snowed. Gigantic flurries as big as my fist fell from the sky. I got so excited I shoved my feet into my galoshes and ran outside in just my pajamas. My neighbors probably think I'm crazy. I dragged Kit outside and pelted him with a snowball. I caught snowflakes in my mouth until one fell into my cleavage which promptly reminded me that I was outside without anything sensible on beyond my galoshes. Right now it's 28 degrees (Fahrenheit) and it's supposed to snow all night while the temperature drops even more. I'm so stoked, I know I'm going to have trouble sleeping tonight. I feel like a kid at Christmas. Oh wait, I am. So, without further ado -- since I may still have to go to work in the morning -- I bid you all:
Merry Christmas.
Oh, and I have Macross Frontier music stuck in my head. Woohoo Sheryl Nome.