Geraldine

Kind of, sort of settled from the trip home. I think that I could have used another two days (maybe to decompress in Columbus before heading to the Flyer's parents) but all in all, it was a great trip home . . . except for the freezing rain in the beginning. That, I could have done without.

Since the girls are older, it is nice to be around little ones who still believe in Santa Claus. Gus and the Other Sister's kids were so sweet opening up their presents. Most of the presents were perfect (especially the free ones from the Flyer - light sabers for all and a bag of Star Wars toys to boot), but the spoon that Tuck got from our mom was a little odd (she forgot to wrap it with the bowls she bought him) as was my craptacular gift of a piece of cardboard for Betty. One of the bags I ordered never made it to Mom's house, so I wrapped up some cardboard for her;  I'm still waiting to see what response I get from the company. My own personal favorite remains the calendar that Mom makes for us every year. Yes, the begging and ever-more-strident demands for pictures gets to be a bit much, but the calendar is worth it in the end. The "big" surprise was the supposed eulogy that our dad prepared for himself; apparently he thought we wouldn't come downstairs to watch a Christmas movie that Mom made so he decided to tell us he made his own obituary. Only in our family would this be considered A) appropriate and B) not macabre. Lola put up a good fight but eventually we watched the video . . . I'll admit to a little bit of tears especially during the photos with Clark and when the girls were little (been doing that a lot lately).

Other than the usual slight arguments, nothing was out of hand. Sure, the Bro was excused from a lot and sequestered himself from the rest of the family (minus his wife) and there seemed to be a few miscues during the Gift Exchange (honestly, a summer sausage never will be an appropriate item in the family gift exchange . . . ever . . . neither will a box of mustard and crackers) but all in all, it was a very laid back trip to Mom and Dad's.

The Flyer was pleased as punch since he finally got his Coleman's Fish Market sandwich. The look of disappointment in his eyes last summer when he realized that they were closed was too much - the girls and I may have laughed a bit - so we knew that a trip was happening this Christmas. An hour later, and an unknown quantity of fried fish in our stomachs, we took a quick trip to the Highlands in search of the third book in the Twilight series for Veronica. Somehow, she managed to read all four during the trip and get her sister and her mother hooked into reading them. The thing is . . . they're not very interesting but, as Betty puts it, compelling. You kind of want to know what happens to Bella for some strange unknown reason even when you want to slap the twit across the face and tell her that her "boyfriend" is an ass. Nothing happens in the first book until you are about 3/4s of the way through. When the Flyer asked what the books were about, I told him, "Basically, he likes her because she smells good," to which the girls cackled with delight. As a teacher, I wonder if Stephanie Meyer's English teacher ever gave her a list of "Other Ways You Can Say 'Said'" or that strong verbs do so much more for the action as opposed to all the flowery crap that she layers on. Anyway, don't spoil the endings as I am still on the second one.

I'm really ticked that I didn't get an photos of the Dickens Village in the Flyer's hometown since they creeped me out in a very un-Christmas like way. Trust me, I've seen enough sci-fi thanks to my husband in which mannequins come to life only to cause seriously bodily harm. You'll have to do with the Flickr link or look it up yourself.

So, to read or to knit . . . that is the question burning in my mind. The February Lady Sweater is reaching the end (four more inches to knit and the sleeves) but Edward just left Bella . . . damn you, questionable literature . . . you've always been my weakness. Can this mean that Flowers In the Attic will stage a come back? On second thought, I'm more likely to go live amongst the Dickens Village people.

Champagne is a chilling . . . awaiting 2009!
Ava

PS - The Buckeyes turned out the second and a half time I tried to make them . . . kind of shorted them on the powdered sugar. Veronica and I didn't think we needed to Pam our hands so I added more - and they were perfect!

Comments

[Lauren]

Can't wait to hear what you think of the series when you're finished. I agree with you about the plot but if you think you're sucked in now...just wait.

Additionally, I loved Flowers in the Attic and for about 2 years read everything I could find from V.C. Andrews.

[Carrie]

Did you order from the Wilco website? I had some problems with an order from them over the summer (took a long time, then they forgot an item), but they did sort it out eventually.

[Lola]

Perhaps you could run some of the photo choices by me before posting? I've got crazy eye & bad hair. Maybe I'll put up the photo of you "enjoying" the summer sausage...

[Becca]

I love that top pictures of the 4 little ones!!

As someone who just got back from a late night run to Barnes & Noble for book 3 and was hoping no one saw her buy it, I totally agree with your Twilight assessment. I'll pass along the best advice I've got regarding the compulsion to keep reading this 70% crappy series: Just get in touch with your inner 15 yr. old and go with it.

[Ava]

To my sister . . . you look fine. No summer sausage photos unless it's the one with your husband balancing it on his head!

[cath]

OK, must know--is that a Bucknell or a Cornell sweatshirt??

Twilight. . .I can't remember the month of Nov--I spent it reading the set (and went to the movie too). Certainly not the best books ever--but somehow, I find a little teenage angst here and there a lot of fun.

[Betty]

Really? How come V gets a nice picture and I look like a crazy person with a smiling problem?