I started this post on the 26th and then for some reason... stopped. Plus, you may notice how I have changed the comment system back to normal, where the comments automatically appear with the entry. I didn't like having to go to a separate page to see what people said. Plus, I formatted the comments to have their own design element. So I think it adds some style overall.

But on to the original post that never was...

We had a non-traditional Christmas this year, and I have to say that I liked it best this way.

Things that were different (i.e. better) for X-Mas '05:

1. B worked: Okay, so that's not great, especially since he doesn't get holiday pay or anything. But he was done by 2:30 p.m., and we still had the entire day to do absolutely nothing. Plus, I got to go with him to work and see him do his chemist thing. I didn't realize how hands on chemistry was. B calls it a "blue collar science," and for some reason I find it more noble that way. By the by, he's really good at his job. He can hand tritrate like nobody's business. Oh, and run five tests all at the same time. It's impressive. And kinda hot.


2. Trickling presents: We did not open a single gift on Christmas day, and I know it's weird, but I actually liked that so much more. B and I exchanged (unwrapped) gifts two weeks earlier, so that we each could get as much use out of them as possible. I started working out 3-4 times a week again, and have gotten much use out of the awesome MP3 player he got me. Plus, I walk all over the place, and it makes walking to the library or 7th+Fig or RiteAid so much faster and so much more enjoyable. I've been listening to Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince when I've been walking and my fast workout music when I'm exercising. It's a nifty little contraption. Oh, and Brad got me Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly which is so scary, that I can only play it when he's home. Also, he got me some awesome So Bad They're Good horror movie collections such as Horrorlicious! and it is indeed. In addition to the gifts we received from each other, Brad's parents sent boxes that have been trickling in for the last couple weeks as well, not to mention gifts from our friends. Our haul has been awesome so far. To keep with some traditional gift-giving, my family came up on Christmas Eve--I cooked another fabulous 2 hour turkey, green bean caserole, mashed potatoes, crescent rolls and double decker fudge--and we opened presents. My brothers actually are getting old enough to give us gifts in return, which was really neat this year because their gifts were really thoughtful. I liked this trickling in of gifts so much better than opening presents in front of everyone. I really am self-conscious and I don't like opening stuff in front of people.


3. No freakin' airports: Okay, so we didn't fly anywhere for the holidays. We also didn't have to drive anywhere either, which was awesome. This means that my family came to me! But this also means we didn't see my husband's family, nor did we see any of our friends in Michigan. Which is sad, but honestly, we saved so much money in airfare. Especially since I am in two weddings in Michigan in next year, one in February and another in August. Plus, I don't care for airplanes. Okay, so I'm still not getting the 26 tons of hunkin' metal being able to sustain itself in the atmosphere, but that is not what bothers me about airplanes. I hate planes namely for four reasons.

• Turbulence + germophobia = there is no way I'm risking sitting on a toilet filled with perma-dye blue ink and having that splash on me. Think of the blue buttocks! Think of the millions of germs! Not to mention the fact that I wouldn't dare wash my hands with airplane water. A couple years ago, MSNBC wrote an article about the bacteria, parasites and rat droppings that were found in the potable water tanks on airplaces. I can't find that article since it was two years ago, but I did find this article on the topic if you're interested.


• I hate the soda service: would it really cost the airlines so much money to spare an entire can of soda?


• Cat arrangements. This is the most annoying thing about travel. When we lived in Maryland and flew back to California, we had to kennel our cat because we had no friends. Now that we're in California, my family won't let me bring Zhoul to their house. Oh, that's an exaggeration. I could bring her to their house--if I didn't mind her being caged in her tiny kitty carrier quarrantined in the garage all week. Last year, we went to Stratford, Canada for some Shakespeare action, and my family came up to our apartment to house/cat sit since we were only gone two days--because we couldn't bring Zhoul to their house! When we went to Michigan right after Christmas, we had to take Zhoul with us. It was cheaper to fly her out to Michigan than to kennel her in California during the holiday season. My uncle and his son recently moved in with my mom, my two younger brothers and my grandmother. So there are now six people living in this house. My uncle and his son brought their cat, and the cat lives inside the house! And yet, when I asked if Zhoul could stay with them when we fly back to Michigan, I was told that Zhoul would still have to be in her kitty jail cell. Ugh.


• No leg room: This normally isn't a problem because I'm 5'4" so my legs don't need that much room. But last year, we took Zhoul with us to Michigan, I was cramped roundtrip. I don't think I would have felt good sharing the duty of leg cramping with B. He's about a foot taller than I am, so it's less inconvenient for me.

So that's how our Christmas was so much better than any other so far, even though it meant we didn't get to see everyone we wanted to see. I wonder how everyone else's holidays went...

Labels: cat, tired, travel

( 1comments )

at December 30, 2005 1:15 AM  Princess Blogonoke said...

They don't give you a whole can of pop? The last two flying trips I've been on, each plane I was on gave me a whole can of pop. Then again, before that, I've gotten just those little plastic cups with 2/3 a can of pop. I'm going on a trip tomorrow, I'll see how it goes :-)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!