Santa Claus is coming to toooooowwwwwnnnnnnn . . . .

I know it has been a really long time. But thank you to those who have submitted playlists. I expect to be hearing from the rest of you soon. But I thought I should write up a post before the holidays in case I do not have time later. I leave Friday for RI. My parents Christmas Party is Saturday. And I have been told that there is a rapidly expanding list of things for me to help with while I am home before Christmas. We are having 14 for Christmas Eve, then 11 stay for Christmas Day, and then I am expecting 16 for Christmas Night. Of course that is just at my house. Matty and I will be doing the annual Christmas relay again this year. Christmas Eve I have the 1st 2 courses (of 6) at my house, then Matty comes, says hello, picks me up and we do Christmas with his brother and sister-in-law and parents. Then back to my house and he does Christmas with my crazy Aunt and Uncle. Then he leaves and I finish dinner, dessert and presents at my house. Christmas morning we do presents and then crazy Aunt and Uncle come for breakfast. Then I go to Matty's for Christmas dinner with his aunt and uncle. Then back to my house for dinner and my great uncle and cousin come down for dinner. Then we have the cookies. Oh the cookies. And we have usually between 2 and 10 over for cookies and dessert. Then Matty comes back and does Christmas with my family. Then the next day my mother and I usually do crazy day after Christmas shopping. But instead, this year we are all (13 of us) going up to New Hampshire to go skiing. Matty's first time skiing! I am very excited and nervous for him. We will be up there until the 30th. On the 30th we will head back with a day of outlet shopping in the middle. Then bright and early (actually it will still be dark) on New Year's Eve we fly back to Philly. Matty and I go to work and then a whiskey tasting New Year's Party. Then on the 3rd Matty and I will do our Christmas. So yeah. A busy busy time ahead. Oh and then New Years Brunch on the 10th.

Last Saturday was our Holiday Fete. It went really well. 23 people. 29 food items (plus 2 brought by guests) including 20 new recipes and 8 cookies/candies that are sent home as favors (along with handmade holiday magnets by yours truly). We had 7 out of town guests. 5 stayed at Hostel SmithGallagher and 2 stayed with Dan. Like I said it all went really really well. I am kinda sad it is all over though. Sigh. Oh and Dan got my Guitar Hero! Yay! We have no played it nearly enough yet since we only have 1 guitar at the moment and we have been super busy Christmas shopping this week.

Ok, well I have PCRs to set up, but I thought I would start a regular item on Random Musings. The South Street Bridge Project. The bridge, which used to provide me quick and easy access to work, was closed last Monday to be torn down and replaced over the next 2 years. So I thought I would mark its transformation. So Week 1: Hmm. I guess I am going to have to bring a real camera with me in the future. But really, there is not much to report. There are construction vehicles on the west end, the on/off ramps are closed and empty and that is about it.

If I do not get a chance to write again before then (if you celebrate it) Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy New Year's, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Festivus, Happy Winter Solstice . . . I am sure I am forgetting something. But Happy Happy. Remember this is a time to be happy and relax and be thankful for what there is, not buy presents and not be miserable and mean and ruin other people's happiness. This is not a time to have nervous breakdowns or beat small children over the last copy of a DVD. Ok? So everyone take a moment to smile for me. K? Do you need some help? This seems to work for Matty.