As fast as this year has flown by, it makes sense that the one weekend I was really looking forward to was done seemingly as soon as it started. Family, friends, food, and fun… we should do this every month. The anticipation of this Christmas was big – I think because of the amount of Bing Crosby I’ve ingested lately.

Friday I got out of work around 12:30 and had to wrap Christmas presents… I got fancy paper and tags this year for some reason. I must have forgot that people just rip it off anyway… like my brother says, “tin foil will do.” It’s a good point really; forms to any shape, no tape needed, quick, shiny… I guess I’d have to look at the cost differences.

Saturday, Christmas Eve, was a long drive to Chippewa to meet Derek and Deann at Mom’s. The evening brought us to Grandpa’s house, where we haven’t all been together for Christmas Eve in many years… I was thinking it was 10 or so. Aunts, uncles, cousins, cousins-once-removed, and of course Grandpa. Still hangin’ in there… it’s always great to see him. His latest tid bit: when someone asks how you slept last night, you answer, “With both eyes shut. Don’t ya know that’s the best way to do it?” Gotta love him.

Christmas day came and gifts were exchanged between Mom and the kids. It was nice… stocking were hung by the chimney with care… Santa came for the first time in a long time.

Christmas evening was the most interesting though. Heather and I got together to exchange gifts… [back story] We were in Toys R US one day shopping for her son. We walked by the Cabbage Patch Kids and she told me the story of never having a “real” one… always fake. She never took hers to school while the other kids broght theirs to show off. She had a tear in her eye and I knew I had to get one for her. So, now she has Corinne Rae… a cute little red-head with dimples and all. She also got home designer software so she can design the home of her dreams…

On to the good stuff… about a year ago I started looking at getting Sirius Radio… I put it off, didn’t want to spend the money… then a couple months ago I started looking again, since the Howard Stern launch is coming on January 9. Well, what did my wandering eyes see appear? A frickin’ Sportster Replay from Heather! After trying to get through to the activation line (busy busy), we took my laptop out to my car and activated it online… :) It was great. The installation process (antenna and all) took a couple hours, but that’s cuz I’m anal – hiding wires perfectly… coulda taken about 15 minutes.

Unreal.

I still have one more Christmas to do… next weekend at Dad’s… I know one thing I’m getting (and giving)… the Magic Bullet! Deann and I decided to get that for each other after about 18 months of loving the commercial. As she says, “we could have a whole shit ton of good things to eat…and never dirty a pot or pan!” Shit ton. Interesting.

I hope all of your Christmases were as white and bright as mine.