Singing Christmas Songs... la la la

Holiday Parties and Dinner
This year seems more festive then most. We've gone to more parties then last year and hosted a small dinner for some friends on Saturday. Missing were Spooky and Allison :( they just recieved bad news on Fridays and regrettably could not attend. I dont know whats come over me but i'm really jazzed about Christmas this year. I play the annoying songs, and they don't annoy me. I LOVE looking at all the great homes decorated with tonnes of lights - in fact the old man and I are planning yet another pilgrimage out to the famed Elvis House in NJ

We did however enjoy a rather swanky party at a fancy nyc rooftop nightspot last Wednesday courtesy of the Parent Corporation complete with top shelf open bar. hmm. A drunkard would have loved this. I stayed pretty moderate as usual, but did manage to enjoy apricot mimosas and some Ameretto Sours. The place was way too gorgeous to ruin it with blantant drunkeness~ I had a great time joking around with people and enjoying the wonderful view of NYC and the empire state building. Had I known, I would have taken my camera and used that opportunity for an impromptu photo shoot. I only had the 'travel' cam with me so it was pointless.

Friday there was an office party gone out of control~ For every one person invited, three showed. It got really manic really quickly and wanted to leave early but I kept seeing more and more people who wanted to chat! It's not a bad thing but all that was on my mind was work - since I was at the office, and also baking my pies for the following night. Bands showed up, managers showed up... We had several of our co-workers DJ'ing and it was so great - the music went from 80s New Wave to Modern synth-esqe to 50's rockabilly and 60's Motown. We ended up walking to the PATH with a coworker at about 10ish, so we put in a good four hours of schmoozing - not too bad. ;)

It was nice to be home. seriously. The old man and I sat on the couch and hung out with eachother alone (**finally**) and our babies (the birds) in front of our beautiful 7 foot tree and chilled, enjoying eachother, quietly chatting. quite lovely actually. It's all about the little moments with me - i've always known that to be true, just that it had been happening less frequently lately.

Saturday - Holiday Dinner Party
I didn't invite the normal list of 20-40 folks this time and I have to say at first I was torn over it, cos part of me used to love huge events but this time, the small intimate dinner just worked out way nicer. Plus, it's not like we live in a huge house where we can seat so many people - It was way more manageable this year I have to say, no panicked clausterphobic anxiety for me. Plus everyone did a little something to pitch in and help so that rocked! The old man, Pam and I all decided a while ago that the big drinking parties aren't our thing these days - not that I don't like all my friends over, but there's something about a little quiet dinner party with holiday music on that just does it for me! So the three of us put our heads together and came up with a great menu, hell, maybe we've just started some new holiday tradition! All together there was just 7 people invited, not counting us and Pam (who did such a great job on cooking the main entrees).

Saturday morning I got up pretty early took care of some stuff and did a good cleaning around the apartment; then went across the hall to go over menu planning with Pam. The old man made sure the deck was cleaned up and got some pretty flowers for the apt. That night - we had some drinks and snacks out, for when our friends got there, then we starting pulling out all the food~ a Brie in puff pastry, pork loins, roasted turkey Breast, green beans with red pepper, roasted garlic potatoes, croissants, rolls, and a couple more sides we didn't need!!! We made food for an army of people~ For dessert there was Dunkin Donuts Doughnuts, all kinds of cookies, an apple pie & pumpkin pie, that I personally baked that afternoon, a cheesecake Pam made and chocolates! Not to mention, early Saturday afteroon, just after I got done straightening, I made homemade Mulled Cider with fresh oranges, cinnimon and cloves, simmering all day when you walked in our place just smelled gorgeous, like Christmas! There were lotsa jokes! (some groaners, some really hysterical), presents! (I'm so jazzed that Tim and Amy loved thier gifts. I love them both as if they were my blood siblings) and even Kara and Charles' new puppies Dax and Neo who are pretty much the cutest, most friendly cuddling puppy dogs i've ever met!

My holiday merriment isn't far from over... there's going to be at least two more Christmas dinners as well as our plans for new years eve (still up in the air).

I never cared for Christmas so much until I hooked up with my old man... aw, I know that was a groaner - I'm usually not that sappy but it's true. I know we have our fights but we gotta love eachother.