Hooray for Christmas
The Philadelphia outside my window is dusted with snow. Seriously, nothing more than Frosted Flakes stuff out there, and it's already over. My brother's job already sent him home!
I've been off work since Monday, but haven't been on a computer much to say anything. Things are good, eating too much and doing my best to rest once in a while.
Christmas was good! Rosemary and I got up, put the yule log on TV and opened some presents. She got me: a herringbone Kangol, plaid scarf, V-neck sweater, plaid, oxford-collar dress shirt and fancy dress socks from Daswani Clothiers; and a Ryan Howard jersey with the World Series patch. I am not much of a sports jersey wearer, but this was cool. I took her Mike Schmidt-edition Louisville Slugger bat and posed!
I got Rosemary got a bundle of cute for Christmas: a photobook of sleeping puppies, “G-Force” on Blu-ray (nothing like super-spy guinea pigs). I also got her a book on art deco. And her big gift was a shopping spree to plus-size vintage and resale shop Re/Dress in Brooklyn. We went there Monday, and she came away with a skirt, dress and some tops.
I spent all day Christmas in the kitchen cooking dinner. Started around 11:30, and didn't step out until 6. Now I know what the holidays were like for my mom! I made a meatloaf of half ground beef, half hot Italian sausage; baked hamm; mashed sweet potatoes with baby bella mushrooms; and green beans.
Since we got back to Philly on Monday, it's been quiet but busy. We did gifts for our parents: precious-stone necklaces from Brazen Betties for our moms; a gourmet pepper collection with grinder and a DVD of “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” for Rosemary's dad; a collection of Obama's speeches for my dad. And my brother and I got my parents a new light for the dining area that they'd been coveting. My parents gave me a gift card to FYE, and Rosemary's parents gave me a digital photo frame.
Last night we went to my sister's house in Jersey for dinner and hanging out. I got my niece an “Akira” manga book and a Doctor Who magazine. My brother-in-law made a feast of light, small dishes, and we introduced him to “The Office.” (Do you know how much explaining “The Office” requires because of all the past histories and relationships?) The biggest thing that happened was that, finally, a photo exists of my brother, sister and me. It took more than 25 years, but it finally happened. Of course, my sister and niece had to keep making funny faces.
Today I've been hanging with my brother, and now it's time for a nap ahead of Sex Dwarf NYE tonight. It's been months since my last SD party, so it's time to re-emerge. Bye for now! Happy 2010, everybody!