HoliDAZE
Christmas was pretty nice, all in all. I worked Christmas weekend, so once again it was a Christmas in Connecticut.
This was a special Christmas, though, since it was the anniversary of our engagement. I didn't have another sapphire ring to offer, but I did get Rosemary some blue topaz earrings that sparkle nicely. She got me a set of wireless headphones, which will come in handy on those late nights I want to play music. And Rosemary's uncle and aunt sent us a care package of Mickey and Minnie Mouse T-shirts and coffee mugs and tons of Hershey's candy (they live near the factory town).
We spent the rest of Christmas Day taking advantage of our friends' homes. First we saw Mike and Virginia, which was pretty cool because Mike's parents, sister, brother-in-law and their kids was in town. So off we ventured into a bustling house full of kids. Then we went to see Sylvie and Brad, who were throwing a party for their pals since both their families are in the South Africa home country.
I had to leave for work, while Rosemary got to stay and have all the fun. But it was all good, because I wanted to watch the NBA season openers, so getting paid for it worked out great.
And besides, I prefer going home for the New Year instead. We left on Dec. 29 and came back on Jan. 2. Four days of nonstop family and friends, parties and rich food.
We spent most of the time with our families, sitting around and catching up. A big part of coming home for me is being able to help my parents with whatever's going on around the house because I'm there all day.
I also logged a shitload of miles. Because on top of driving 200 miles to Philly, I gotta move around to wherever my peeps are.
Friday we drove 40 miles to meet our friends Scott and Kelly for dinner with their children. Of course, we brought the kids some presents, including a plastic toy alligator and a signed copy of a book titled "Dogs Don't Brush Their Teeth."
Saturday was a South Philly day. We met Dawn for brunch at Royal Tavern, where I sucked up the amazing tater tot scramble. By total accident, our friends Tim and Jennifer sat at the table behind us, so we made plans to visit them. But first we saw Pete and Marina and then picked up some stuff at Atomic City Comics, where we got to talk about how they'd met Rosemary's mom, who went there to buy us comics for Christmas.
Then we went to see Tim, whom we last saw on Halloween 2008 at the Phillies victory parade, and his new house in South Philly. Awesome renovated house, with the adjacent one for sale. If only I could move back! And bonus was that our friend Helen was in town with her husband Dean and their baby boy. We couldn't stay for long, but it was great seeing everyone, and now we have another place to stay.
After dropping Rosemary off at her parents' house, I went to see my parents, only to find my sister Nickie, brother-in-law Don and niece Destinee there! So my disco nap was obliterated as I talked with them for a while. Don and I spent a particularly long time discussing the DC New 52. Yeah.
That night we did Sex Dwarf for New Year's Eve. Nothing like dancing to hot New Wave into the new year. Saw a bunch of friends, got groped and smooched on by only a few women and men, so I call that being relatively unscathed! I also didn't drink very much at all, so I remembered the entire night and took plenty of snapshots. Good to see the "family."
Another good reason I didn't drink my face off was because I had even more driving to do on New Year's Day. We traveled 65 miles to Reading to see my friend Nick, his mom Debbie and his siblings, enjoying some delicious brunch and mimosas while catching up on life again. Everyone's all grown up, life marches on, but we're all still here.
We hustled back to Philly for New Year's Day pork and sauerkraut dinner from Rosemary's mom, and more Christmas gift exchange with Rosemary's brother, who was in town from Harrisburg.
And I spend Sunday night doing something I don't get to do often, sit down and watch a football game with my dad. We watched the Giants knock the Cowboys out of playoff contention. A very good night, and indeed a very good way to cap the trip.
Everyone kept asking when we were coming back to Philly. It would be nice to say soon, but I can't just yet. And, believe it or not, even Rosemary is warming up to the life we're building here in Connecticut. But one day, one day ...
Happy 2012, everyone. Time to plan a wedding!