Monday, December 29, 2008

last week of the year

the strangest week on the calendar. a mere skeleton crew at work. people nursing the post-christmas blues - all that build up and now it's over. the wad has been shot. gifts unwrapped, calories consumed, family tensions ignored. but we're not yet ready to take down the tree. we want to revel in the pretty lights a little longer.

new year's eve looms with promises of how we are going to be so much better given another year to waste. thinner, tauter, happier, with more money saved and higher FICO scores. maybe i'll finally lose those 15 pounds and make it to seattle. maybe this year.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

saturday morning before christmas

dan is out fetching breakfast at the good luck dim sum takeout joint on clement street.

parker is overdressed in layers upon layers of princess garb. now, she just got in to my favorite mac viva glam lipstick.

nino is alternatively trying to get at my keyboard or mastering his new shape sorter.

i'm still in my pjs getting ready for what will be a busy day of last-minute christmas prep, addressing of cards, stopping at the post office, wrapping gifts, shopping, getting organized. tonight derek and heather are hosting a southern-style christmas party.

the christmas plan?
we're having a crab and champagne gathering here on christmas eve -- hopefully there will be plenty of crab to he had. then a leisurely christmas morning with the kids before we head up to lake tahoe to hang with dan's family. i plan to do some lodging research for uptake.com while up there.

oy, so much to do!!

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

delancey street christmas tree

whether it's a douglas fir or a spruce, we always go to the same place to get our christmas tree. call it tradition.

there's a christmas tree lot on the edge of the bay at pier 32 run by the inhabitants of delancey street, a work-release program for addicts, felons and the like. it's right beneath the bay bridge. the dudes are usually burly and a little rough around the edges, which i guess goes with the addict/felon territory, but they're also helpful and sweet.

it's beautiful there at night with the twinkling necklace of lights strung across the bridge and the intoxicating scent of evergreen. i'll be on my way soon to find the perfect tree for our turret window.

we were going to stop last night at a different lot, but there's something about that location -- on the embarcadero at night by the glittering bay -- and supporting our favorite ex-cons in their big christmas fundraiser that keeps drawing us back.