Holidays are bittersweet. I get exhausted with all the shopping, decorating, cooking, and socializing. But mostly I feel kind of melancholy, remembering celebrations in the past with my family.

Christmas was always a big deal in our house growing up. Decorations went up early, Mom started baking hundreds of cookies for us and to give to the neighbors, there were tons of church activities (choir practice, caroling, parties), and of course the big day itself. Even after I was grown and out of the house, every year I would drive up to my parents early Christmas morning and join them for gift opening and the big prime rib dinner. The next day or so my sister and her family would drive up and we'd have more gift giving and another big dinner (traditionally Shake and Bake Chicken and Noodles Alfredo). We'd watch movies and play board games and the kids would run around.

After my mother moved to the nursing home when her Alzheimer's progressed, we still kept the tradition, stopping by the home first to see Mom and give her her gifts. When my father died in 1996 the day after Thanksgiving, we did it one more time at the house, mainly for the kids (my brother's this time--my sister's were all grown up). We made the dinner, decorated the house, exchanged the gifts--and knew it was the last time. One year later I was living in San Francisco and my brother and his family were in Alabama. My other brothers still lived at the house--I don't know what they did. My sister stayed home.

These days I celebrate Christmas with my own tiny family (me and Steve) and the larger chosen family of our close friends. It's generally happy, but I'm always haunted (in a good but sad way) by the memories of Christmases past. I miss my parents. I miss my family. I suppose I could move back East and reconnect with my sister and brothers and nephews and nieces and their kids, but it wouldn't be the same. And there would be snow and cold, which I think I'm allergic to now.

I'm very, very grateful for all the blessings in my life--my home, my job, my health, my husband, my friends, my family. I don't take any of them for granted. But I guess the holidays will always be a mixed blessing for me. And that's OK. It is what it is.

A very merry and joyful holiday season to you all. Off to make a tourtiere!

Friday Ray (profkampf) swept into town. Steve (rootbeer1) picked him up at the BART station (he railed in from the Oakland Airport), and we hung out and caught up before heading down to the Castro. After shopping a bit (we found some fabulous hats for Halloween) we met Kevin (simonbear) and Jeff at Starbuck's before walking over to the Crepevine for dinner. My back has been acting up, so I took Muni home while the boys walked around the Castro some more.

Saturday bright and early we drove to Oakland to get mani/pedis with the usual crowd. It was a continuation of the Tim (timmmmbar) birthday festival, and there was a great turnout. Then we went to brunch at Buttercup, where they gave us our own room. We watched women's gymnasitics as we ate. We split up and Steve and I went to the gym where I gave my back a good soaking in the jacuzzi. In the evening my back was still achy so I stayed in while Steve attended Paul (excessor) and Curtis' (dr_scott) cocktail party.

Sunday Ray, Steve and I met Kevin and Jeff at the new Walt Disney Family Museum in the Presidio. It was far larger than we expected, and really just spectacular. All our Disney fan friends must see it. Steve and I became members on the spot, so we can go for free now.

Tonight, The Amazing Race and The Next Iron Chef. And back to work tomorrow.

Taken from jrjarrett

Had the Chicken pox: Yes, as an infant
Ever gotten a scar: Yes
Had a broken nose: No
Had your tonsils removed?: No
Had ice cream in the morning: Yes
Had to give the heimlich: No
Dated outside your race?: Yes
Given ...a hickey?: No
Dated your good friend/best friend?: Yes
Sung in the shower?: Yes
Spit in someone's drink?: No
Dumped someone?: No
Opened your Christmas presents early?: No
Peed outside?: Yes
Seen "The Goonies" more than 10 times?: No
Had more than five REAL bf/gf?: No
Played a computer game for more than 5 hours?: Yes
Ran through the sprinklers naked?: No
Ate food that fell on the floor?: Yes
Went outside naked?: Yes
Made out with your best friends bf/gf?: No
Mooned somebody?: Yes
Been on stage?: Yes
Made someone cry?: Yes
Been in a parade?: Yes
Been in a school play?: Yes
Drank beer?: Yes
Gotten detention?: No
Been on a plane?: Yes
Been on a cruise?: Yes
Broken into a house?: Yes
Gotten piercings?: No
Cried so hard you threw up?: No
Gotten into a shouting match?: Yes
Been skinny dipping?: Yes
Spun yourself in circles to get dizzy on purpose?: Yes
Laughed so hard it hurt?: Yes
Tripped on your own feet?: Yes
Cried yourself to sleep?: Yes
Cried in public?: Yes
Thrown up in public?: Yes
Lied to your parents?: Yes
Skipped class?: Yes
Slept in class?: Yes

So Steve (rootbeer1) picked me up after work and we drove to the gym. I had a massage appointment at 6:00, so the plan was I would leave the gym at 5:30 and drive to my massage and Steve would take Muni home. So far so good. I left the gym and started to back out of the parking space in the garage, being careful of the concrete column on my left. As I turned to look over my shoulder, some hoochie on her cell phone appeared walking right behind the car. I instincively cut the wheel to avoid her and BAM!--I hit the column.

The driver side mirror flew off and skittered across the garage. I got out and saw a biggish crumple at the front joint of the drivers door. The hoochie kept on walking. A kind fellow parker retrieved my mirror.

When I got to my massage therapist's place I reached down to examine the broken mirror and cut my thumb and index finger. Small wounds, but blood everywhere. My massage guy gave me band aids. The massage was great, but when I got home I took a Xanax.

Tomorrow we find out what the damages are going to cost us. Seeing as the car is 6 years old, maybe it's time for an upgrade anyway.

Today is our 15th anniversary of being together, and our first wedding anniversary. Every year gets better and better. Thank you Steve for being my Bear. And don't you worry, the living room will be back to normal before we know it!

When I was in third grade my school had a talent show, and I opted to perform my favorite song, Puff The Magic Dragon. I practiced and practiced, and when the time to perform came I got up on stage, the music teacher started playing the piano, and after the first verse I completely forgot the words and stood silent as the audience twittered and laughed. The piano played on, and I finished with the refrain, which I did remember.

Years later in the early 80's (I think) I attended a Peter, Paul and Mary concert at Saratoga Performing Arts Center. I was in the third row, and at one of the song breaks, Noel and Peter bantered on about getting older and losing their hair. Peter caught my eye, pointed to me and my bald head, and said, "This guy knows what we're talking about!" I was absolutely thrilled.

I have always loved, and will always love, PP&M. Mary's voice had a quality that just couldn't be duplicated (though Mama Cass came close). Rest in peace, Mary Travers.

Relaxing weekend. Went to a pool party yesterday and knew almost everyone there. Sort of a last summer fling, though it rained and thunderstormed (very rare for SF) but we were south in Santa Clara where it was sunny and warm. Driving home, seeing the fog bank ahead over SF was kind of like entering Mordor.

Spent the day ripping and editing video for my iPod/iPhone, and handling a few work on-call issues. Steve (rootbeer1) made dinner--Chicken Piccata as fine as I've ever had in a restaurant, and roasted haricots verts. A nice sauvignon blanc too. I'm very full and happy.

Steve's brother David and his wife Andrea are arriving tomorrow for a week's stay. It's always nice to see our family, and we'll be hanging out, playing canasta and catching up. We haven't seen them for a year, since our wedding. Our anniversary is the 17th. Fifteen years together and one year legally married. We have so many blessings, including all our wonderful family and friends, for whom we are so grateful.

Saw the ISS again tonight at 20:54 PDT right where it was supposed to be. Greg and John called and saw it from their house too. Tomorrow it appears at 19:43--woohoo!

We went over to our friends Dave and Cal's house for dinner tonight. After Cal's delicious baked meatballs and portobello ravioli, we tried out their new hot tub, on the back deck with a spectacular 180-degree view to the south--city lights, the bay, the ocean. As we enjoyed the evening air and clear sky, we spotted Jupiter and started talking about space, and eventually the current Space Shuttle mission and the fact that it is currently docked to the International Space Station. As we chatted, a bright star-like light appeared in the west and passed overhead. "Look, there's the space station now," I said, then laughed and added "I'm sure it's just an airplane."

When we got home I was checking the local newspaper online and saw an article saying the ISS was visible over the Bay area the next few nights. I went to the site they linked to, entered our location, and sure enough, it passed over right when we were in the hot tub and was really bright (magnitude -2.9).

We're going to watch for it tomorrow. Apparently after the shuttle undocks tomorrow night but while it's still adjacent to the ISS you will see them both, one behind the other.






The chart is from the site http://www.heavens-above.com

Productive day at work, lovely mai tai cocktail, delicious meatloaf dinner, watching TV with amiable husband.

I am content.

A pelvis from a skeleton.

We drank the kool-aid...or the apple juice, I should say. Yesterday we both got rid of our crappy old cell phones and got iPhones.

I'm amazed how much I love mine already. I actually plan to keep it turned on and carry it with me, unlike previous phones. The only other Apple product I own is my iPod, which I also love, so who knows? Maybe my next computer....

Ganked from fuzzygruf, who invented it, I think. It's fabulous!

Neat freak (no)
Gym bunny (no)
Computer geek (yes)
Sci-fi geek (yes)
Comic book geek (yes)
Fabulous cook (yes)
Showtunes (yes)
Opera (yes)
Midler (yes)
Streisand (yes)
Cher (yes)
Madonna (no)
Pull off drag in public (no)
Pull off pants in public (no)
Able to quote fabulous movies (yes)
Witty repartee (yes)
Fashion-forward (no)
Well-groomed (no)
Perfect hair (no)
Good dancer (yes)
Disco bunny (yes)
Bathhouse buddy (no)
Wine connoisseur (no)
Fine dining connoisseur (yes)
Green thumb (no)
Judgmental queen (no)
Buy Perfect gift for perfect occasion (yes)
Interior decorating (yes)
Protest queen (yes)
Sew/knit (crochet)
Dated Leigh Chapman (no)

Swankify yourself at www.madmenyourself.com

Ganked from hotelbearsf, originally from Vanity Fair.

Name: Jack
Home: California
Sheets: Flannel or jersey from Target
Towels: Some from college; all shapes and sizes
Stationary: Mozilla Thunderbird
Pets: Uniblab, our Roomba, and Marvel Anne, our tribble
Necessary extravagances: Weekly trips to Costco
Favorite gadget: iPod
Favorite neighborhood restaurants: Tower Burger, Pomelo, Old Kracow (RIP), The Anchor
Favorite cocktail: A dirty Tanq martini or Seagrams 7 on the rocks
Shampoo:Aussie Moist
Conditioner: Herbal Essence
Haircut: every 4 weeks or so, #1 buzz, do it myself
Cologne: Cool Water (Davidoff)
Face products: Zit cream when necessary
Bath soap: Lever 2000
Body Moisturizer: Vaseline Intensive Care
Jeans: Levi's
Boxers or Briefs: Boxer briefs
Watch: Timex Expedition
Dress clothes: Casual Male XL
Ties: Haven't worn 'em for years
Shirts: Casual Male XL
Sportswear: Casual Male XL
Cuff links or button cuffs: Tshirts don't have cuffs
Wallet or money clip: Wallet (Velcro)
Favorite hotels: Disney Grand Californian, The Flamingo in Vegas, Days Inn
Music: Early music up through Classical, 70's rock/pop, world music

Ganked from dewittar, who ganked it from elsewhere.

A - Age: 53
B - Bed size: King
C - Chore you hate: Mopping the floor
D - Dad's name: Alfred
E - Essential start your day item: Coffee
F - Favorite food:Chicken
G - Gold or Silver: Gold
H - Height: 5'8"
I - Instruments you play(ed):Violin, Piano, Guitar, Recorder
J - Job title: Software Engineer
K - Kid(s): 0
L - Living arrangements: Own house with rootbeer1
M - Mom's name: Martha
N - Nicknames: Jack, Jacko, Bouncer, Meatball
O- Overnight hospital stay other than birth: None
Q -Quote from a brilliant person: "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." Dr. Seuss.
R - Right or left handed: Right
S - Siblings: One older sister, one older brother, two younger brothers, one older half-brother, one older half-sister.
T - Time you wake up: 7 AM or so
U- Underwear: Boxer briefs
V - Vegetable you dislike: Canned peas
W - Ways you run late: Getting out of the bathroom
X - X-rays you've had: Dental, knee, back
Y - Yummy food you make: Chicken and sausage jambalaya
Z - Zoo favorite: Meerkats, anteater.

...in Switzerland, feeding money into a gas pump. I had never seen such a thing!