And so another Thanksgiving weekend, and birthday week for me, has passed….all good things must come to an end. How was it for everyone? Did anyone brave the craziness of this past weekend to go shopping the day after Thanksgiving? I personally don’t have that much courage….or patience. Any horror stories out there?
After such a great week it is hard to think about returning to work. Birthday week started with us beginning the Christmas decorating. I think this is the earliest I have been able to convince Mary to let me put them up, but the time passes so quickly and I love Christmas so much that I want to squeeze every moment out of this year. We got the tree and the outside lights up by the Sunday before Thanksgiving (the weather outside was frightful…frightfully warm that is). I had considered not turning the outside lights on until turkey day but since several neighbors had theirs on I decided to go for it.
Monday night was guys night out to Bond (pun intended) and I got a couple of really cool books from Jeff: a hardback copy of Spectrum 7 (he’s been helping me complete my collection of hardcovers),
(I love the cover of this one)
The Fifth Head of Cerebus: Three Novellas by Gene Wolfe, and a Mike Shayne book by Brett Haliday that is definitely one of the models used for the faux pulp novels in the movie Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang.
James got me this really cool letter opener based on the ninja sword from Batman Begins…very cool:
Abby and Mike got me a great, comfy long sleeved shirt that says New York on the front which kept me cozy during the Bond film and during LOTR Trilogy Day. My parents gave me money that surprisingly I haven’t already run out and spent. My boss and administrative assistant got me gift certificates to AMC Theatres and Chili’s and a really cool candle holder that reminds me very much of LOTR and doubles as a candy dish (which was filled with Hersheys Special Dark Nuggets with Chocolate Mint Truffle filling..mmmmmm). My darling daughter brought my Peanuts Fantagraphics collection up to date with the latest:
and Mary bought me cologne, a sweater, a scarf, and something I originally didn’t think I needed but of course couldn’t do without:
Thirteen extra minutes of film edited in, 38 minutes of deleted scenes, 6 hours of special features…it all adds up to more Kong goodness. It was a good birthday! I say all these public ‘thanks’ not to brag about what I got but because I am so very thrilled with everything and believe that all of the above, plus everyone who sent cards and/or wished me ‘happy birthday’ on my blog really deserves my heartfelt thanks because you really, really made this a wonderful birthday. Coming on the heels of one of the worst stretches of work that I have ever had made everything even more meaningful.
Continuing on: Tuesday was of course Trilogy Day, Thursday was a day of gorging on excellent food, playing our annual game of touch football (in temps so warm that I was wearing shorts!) which was fun though I banged up my knee, and watching the Chiefs victorious return to turkey day football. Friday I did not brave the crowds…in fact we stayed at home all day and when Tori and her cousin went to a youth outing Mary and I kicked back with good food and watched Love, Actually. Saturday we took Tori and Brittnea to see Happy Feet, which was much better than I expected. A very cute, musical movie. If you love penguins this is a must see. Quite funny.
Saturday evening we went out with Tom and Karen and James and Jules to see the Bond film…even better the second time around. I have a feeling that a reading of Casino Royale (which would be my first experience of Ian Fleming) is on the way.
(The penguin trades of Flemings’ Bond books all have terrific covers)
Sunday was filled with football, finishing up Christmas decorating projects, and lounging around wishing that it wasn’t all about to end.
During the week we also squeezed in some Christmas movies, doggie-sat our nephew Motley for several days, and really had a relaxing time. I hope you all did as well.
I have decided that I will unveil the (very easy) Christmas Challenge on Wednesday, so look for it. One more month left in 2006. It is hard to believe. I look forward to sharing this magical month with all of you. Happy Monday, everyone!
This sounds like a super – fun birthday week. 🙂 (I agree, more Kong is just fine. I like both the old version and the remake, though I really wish they could’ve changed some aspects of the movie for its more recent iteration.)
And I too love Christmas, and thought I was the only person in the world who didn’t really mind all THAT much when the decorations started going up and the music started coming out… 🙂 Good to know I’m not alone.
Oh I’m jealous. We didn’t get our tree this weekend. All of my decorations are still in the attic. I need James for these activities and he didn’t want to busy up his time off with Christmas decorating. He promised we’ll do it next weekend, so I am looking forward to that! I can’t wait to decorate!!! I want my home to be a kids’ Christmas paradise!
It sounds like you had a terrific birthday week!
Everyone was grouchy this morning as I was trying to get everyone’s week started. It’s hard to go back to normal routines after a wonderful 4 days together.
I wasn’t grouchy this morning, but I sure wanted to be! I would love to get a real tree someday but I like putting things up so early that I don’t think a real tree would work for us. I may have to try it sometime anyway. I look forward to seeing your winter wonderland Jules.
And you are definitely not alone, RB! I’ve been listening to and singing the Christmas songs for a week now.
Well haven’t you been spoiled!
And did you deserve it, putting up the Xmas decoration so early?!
I thankfully don’t ever get what I deserve…life might be quite miserable if that was the case! I have enjoyed it though and I think my family is pleased with the new things we’ve done this year to make the house festive.
sounds like a fantastic long weekend! I got the tree up yesterday, but it’s sittin’ there nekkid, waiting for it’s decorations 🙂
great haul!
sounds like you had a great weekend!
i went and saw Casino Royale for a 2nd time, with my dad & uncle this time. i caught stuff i missed the first time around. just as good!
Carl, real trees last for a long time. We often put ours up the Saturday after Thanksgiving and I don’t take my tree down until after New Years. As long as you cut it down yourself and get it into water as soon as it arrives home, they are fine. (You can also buy stuff to put in the water to make them last, but I’ve never used it.) They usually stop drinking a lot of water after three weeks or so but they continue to stay green. I’ve never had an artificial tree. Maybe some day when I’m an old woman I’ll have to have one. Going to cut down our tree is one of my very favorite days of the year. We ride on a tractor pulled wagon out into the tree fields and pick out and cut down our tree. They come back and load it onto the wagon for us. It’s so fun! They shake it on this machine to get all the loose needles and stuff out. They have a gift shop and hot cider and Santa. You guys should come with us!
I have several years of pictures with Tori in them posing by our tree in the field. It was fun having her come with us.
Did you say you FINISHED your Christmas decorating?! Ack! Well, at least I can say I’m finished with my shopping. Nope, didn’t head out on Friday unless shopping online counts. Sounds like you had a wonderful birthday and Thanksgiving. The weather up here was unbelievable, too. Now we’re at 31 with freezing drizzle. Why can’t it just snow?? Can’t wait to read all about your upcoming challenge. I’m in!
Nope, didn’t shop. A couple of fellow old ladies came to make gingerbread houses, which took us about five hours. We ate turkey soup and polished off a couple of bottles of sparkley. Best we could do!
Making gingerbread houses sounds interesting, and much more fun than shopping on Thanksgiving weekend!
I wish it would snow as well Les. You’re much more likely to get it up there than we are down here.
Thanks Jules, I didn’t know that. The other problem is that every year we’ve went away for Christmas. This year we aren’t so maybe one of these years that we stay home we’ll have to get a real tree. Have to admit though that I like not spending that money every year either.
Oh, naked Christmas trees…the horror!
I saw things I didn’t catch the first time as well Angela. Did your dad and uncle enjoy it?
Of course they enjoyed it!.. and we over-analyzed it to death afterwords as well..
It was a lovely week! I am glad I was able to enjoy it with you!
Ohmygod, the complete Peanuts, that rocks!
Glad you had a good holiday — now for the next one!
Funny you should ask…I REALLY should start to write a book about family drama on thanksgiving. This year was no exception. My brother-in-law invited a guy (Luki) from Figi who is on his rugby team. Luki had too much to drink and went totally bonkers towards the end of night. He fled from the house in a druken rage and was later arrested and will probably be deported. My brother-in-law feels terrible….Luki was the best guy on the team…
Yes, the collection really does rock, LK. It will be 25 books in all covering all of Schulz’s career…and hey James and Jules, did you see that this one has an intro by Diana Krall?
Sheri, that’s terrible! Makes a fun story but wow! I hope he didn’t hurt anyone in his rage.
I’m glad to hear you had such a wonderful birthday. And I, for one, most certainly think you deserved it. And, of course we (thirteen of us) went shopping the day after Thanksgiving. Usually we stay out of malls, but decided to check out Legends. It was cool. I’m anxious to hear about your Christmas challenge. I already have three books picked out.
Glad you had a good birthday, and I’m sure you’ll have a great xmas 🙂
I still haven’t seen Bond yet, was going to go last night, but then I spotted that Pan’s Labyrinth was out so decided to go see that instead. Fabtastic decision on my part I think 😉
I am soooo jealous Fence. I cannot wait to see that. I don’t think it comes out here in the states until the middle of December, but it is a must-see once it is out.
I noticed the picture you used when commenting on another blog and clicked to see what your blog is about..
Oh..goodness! right off I love your LOTR header of your blog! lol..
Then I read your childhood book thing and now this birthday one.. Happy belated birthday!
Wow.. you made out like a champ for your birthday! lol.. and funny my neighbor loadned me King Kong and I watched it just today.. got to admit that when it comes to fantasy fiction I don’t think anyone will beat Peter Jackson for some time to come! (did you hear he wasn’t going to get to do the Hobbit?.. well today there was a news piece I found that says he’ll be offered it!)
I think I will bookmark your blog and return when I have some time to read some more.. you are the same age as my youngest son, and you write very well indeed!
Thanks Deslily, I appreciate the kind words, belated birthday wishes, and your visit. Yes, Peter Jackson is amazing. I am with many others in holding out hope that they all act like adults and get this petty stuff worked out for The Hobbit. I hope you come back!
The picture Deslily is referring to is my avatar that comes up on some blogs: