Happy Christmas...

It's Christmas Eve here in "northern" California. It's been an interesting day, to say the least.

We got up this morning and did our usual dinking around. After showers, we went to Costco to pick up lunch (pizza) and a couple long folding tables. We needed to move the model trains to another room and needed something large enough for them to sit on. Hence the tables. Costco was, of course, insane with last-minute shoppers.

Upon our arrival home, we had some lunch and I wound up cleaning around the house (picking up toys, sweeping, etc.). It needed to be done.

Around 4pm, our friends arrived and we had fondue for dinner. The kids had PB&J (and stole some of the veggies and hot dogs for the fondue).

And then, friends, we went to church.

Now, a disclaimer (of sorts). I grew up going to the Methodist church down the street from my childhood home (which is now Christ the King). My mother went to the same church growing up. My grandparents...well, there's a different story. My maternal grandmother was born and raised Lutheran in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. My maternal grandfather was born and raised Catholic in Elk Mound, Wisconsin (which is about midway between Eau Claire and Menomonie, Wisconsin). Upon my grandfather's divorce from his first wife, he was kicked out of that particular church. He and my grandmother were married in St. Paul, Minnesota...I think at a Lutheran church but I don't know for sure off the top of my head. Anyway, when they moved to Stoughton in 1951, the Catholic church wouldn't take them because my grandmother wasn't Catholic. None of the Lutheran churches would take them because of some asinine reason or another (one was because my grandfather was Catholic, another was because neither of them were Norwegian, and so on and so forth). The Methodist church was the one that took them. So, that's where we went. Around 8th grade (when confirmation classes started), I started to have some serious disillusions about church, not specific to the Methodist church. I think what sealed the deal was when our youth group leaders were caught in a huge scandal involving keeping our fundraising money as their own. I basically said I was done after that. I was never confirmed. I'm not even sure if I was baptized, to be honest. I don't know much about my father's family but I do know that my paternal grandfather and my paternal grandmother's brother both had their funerals in the Moravian church in Madison...

Husband, on the other hand, was born and raised a Jesuit Catholic (Irish Jesuit Catholic, specifically). His disillusionment came about the same time mine did, for other reasons. He basically quit going and never finished Catechism. Thus, he is not a member of the Catholic church.

Anyway, the last time I actually went to church was while I was in college...so that's been at least 10 years...and the last time I went to my church was sometime in high school...so at least 15 years ago. Husband hasn't been to church in at least that long.

So, we went to church. With Little Man (who has never been to church). And our friends and their kids (who have been to church). I don't know if we'll be back in church again anytime soon but I don't necessarily want Little Man to grow up a godless heathen. I think he needs to have some understanding of religion (in a very broad sense) in order to fully appreciate so many things including music, art, history, architecture, civil rights, etc. So, we'll see.

Like I said...interesting day.

Many presents were opened and I think the Tardis blanket, Angry Birds bed sheets set (with comforter), and the Thomas the Train ball pit were probably the big hits. But, not everything has been opened. There's more to see...and Santa hasn't arrived yet. I expect there will be Legos and Play Dough involved there...not that I know anything about that.


So, you you know, Happy Christmas and all that :) And if you're not of the Christmas persuasion, Happy Holidays :)

Also, our neighbors have the entire family over...and the last time that happened, it involved well over 100 people. It's currently 10:30pm and I hear people screaming through our closed doors/windows, loud music, and lots of people.

::sigh:: Am I going to hell if I call San Mateo's Finest to tell them to knock it off?

And survey says.....

3.625 semester GPA (and a 3.364 overall). Yeah, I rocked the semester. I had two "A's," an "AB" (whatever the bob that is), and a "B." I think that's a pretty good semester, right?

In other random events, the event known as "The Death of My Youth" (i.e., the day I turn 30) is occurring this Thursday. We're not doing much for the actual day but we're headed to Chicago for the weekend to partake in some Medieval Times and probably go to Ikea (if only because we really like that place).

Christmas came and went...we spent the day with Brian's sister and brother-in-law and then we went to Brian's aunt's/uncle's house for the rest of the day. New Years was spent at work (for me)...not that I minded. Extra money is always good, right? Now, if only I could manage to keep a hold of it. Hrm.

Oh, and knitting? You want to know about knitting? I made a hat over the weekend. I'm still working on that sweater. And I put a lifeline in the shawl that I'm making for Sherri...which I'm damn glad about because I had to rip back about 8 rows the other day. So, this was a good thing. I just wish I had used a better yarn for the lifeline...oh well.

I think I should wander off...I need to get some sleep because I'm getting old. Or something that resembles that.

Hooooray!

I received my SIL's Christmas present in the mail today. I have to wrap it and then I'm ready to go.

I also received PLUCKY today in the mail. I have to hide it so Brian doesn't see it :)




That is all.

Finals and knitting and Christmas (oh my!)

*sigh*

Have I mentioned that I hate finals? I have a test today, in a little over two hours. I have a paper to write that's due on Monday. I have no idea how I'm going to do on my test. I've studied. I think I know the general points. But, am I really ready for this test? Probably not. Should I be studying? Probably. I've been studying all day, thus far. So, studying at this point probably won't help (especially as I'm planning to leave in the next half hour to get to said test on time).

I'm also having knitting woes. I need to tink probably three rows on the shawl I'm making for Sherri. But, I'm scared about dropping stitches and having to attempt to pick them up or having to frog the entire thing and start over.

Oh, and my back and knee are killing me right now. They're better than they were yesterday (and they were much better from yesterday to the day before)...but they're still hurting. Walking has been okay, sitting has been difficult, and getting in/out of the car or up/down from sitting (or laying) have been extremely painful.

*sigh*

Why now? Why all at once?



Oh, and in other news/events: we've decided to do Christmas with the part of Brian's family that aren't being jerks.