Happy New Years!

I'm heading out to Guelph for my New Years and just wanted to send out a wish to my friends. I hope they'll be spending NYE with people they love too.

It's been an interesting year. Full of change.

And you know what? I'm really excited about the year to come.

Christmas... the wrap up... or UNwrap

Did we really finish opening all our presents already?!

I woke up at 8am -- solely based on excitement -- and started on my stocking. Strawberry perfume and a book by Judi Picoult and Psychology Today and a red fleece hat (seen here), jewelery, underwear, socks, decaf earl grey tea (my fave), lip gloss, money... I could go on. I waited until everyone else got up. Watched them unveil their own stockings with as much interest as I unpacked my own.

That took us to noon. Seriously.

And then, aside from the awesome presents I GAVE (which is truly my favourite part), I got a white pashmina, nightgown, Lulu Lemon sweater, gift certificate for the Yoga Sanctuary (yay!) as well as for La Senza. And, of course, some chicken poop. I'm sure you got some too? It's the hot thing this year, according to my dad. My garden will love it, he says. I'm sure it will. And I'm not so sure that my belly is loving all the chocolate that I'm getting and putting in my face. I've already won $5 on a lottery scratch card. And there's still more to scratch. So I could be a very rich woman as I write this.

The best part of the whole day was when my mom got her sewing machine from my dad. She cried, she loves it so much. It made my heart feel good. She also really likes the gym membership we got for her. She's already planning the multitude of activities that she's going to partake in.

We finally stopped and made dinner. The usual turkey, potatoes, gravy and tutti fruitti (basically, stewed fruit). Soon I'm thinking that the ice cream sundaes are going to be broken out. MMmm. Just what I need. More food. While I finish reading that Psychology Today in front of the fire and winning more cash!

Tomorrow, we go shopping for some treasures at the sales. I can't wait.

Merry Christmas!

Last night, we decorated our tree... Will tried to sit it out on the couch again, but he finally broke down and put the most ugly decorations up, front and centre, and laughed. And of course, Jen took them down and hid them again.

We all took down our presents and laid them under the tree. There are less this year only because we're getting money for boxing day shopping. Still, having already opened my stocking this morning, it seems like the usual way too much fun stuff! (We've only gotten as far as our stockings this morning... and actually it's already noon. We have problems getting to the gifts. We like to drag out the pleasure.)

Then we settled down to a rousing game of Balderdash. Jen dropped out part way through, finding the fake-definition writing far too stressful for Christmas Eve. We ate ice cream sundaes and drank yummy liqueurs. And I continually picked Matt's definitions as the "right" ones. I'm a sucker and he won.

Did you know that a "stammel" is rough, dull red material?
And "fuscate" is to obscure with paint?
And that a "bibble" is someone who drinks too much?
Now you do.

And now we'll try to use those obscure words as much as possible. We're so cool.

And now off to open actual presents!

Snow day

Teasles in Snow
Originally uploaded by wmacphail

Oooh, I love snow days!

I especially love them when I don't really HAVE to be anywhere. Here at my parents' farm, it is gorgeous. Well, as long as you have a snow blower and a warm car and drive about 40km/hr on the highways.

The snow is so light and fluffy, it's like the fake movie confetti snow. Now that the sun is shining, it is so bright and sparkly. Every once in a while, the air stirs and a mound of fluff tumbles from the branch of a tree, drifting lazily down. I hate to move from this spot.

I even got to hang out at the local coffee shop, Groundswell, and read my book. My latte was thoroughly satisfying. Frothy and light, like the snow outside.

Now, finished working remotely from my parents' computer, I'm about to head out into the country roads and slowly but surely make my way to the local shops.

I hope my perma smile doesn't piss anyone off.

Winter wonderland

Winter wonderland.
Photo by my friend, wmacphail

I picked my parents up at the airport last night when they came in from St. Martin where they were staying at my timeshare.

They're all tanned and happy.
You gotta hate that when you've just battled the sloppy, slippery streets and highways at 3am.

And I stayed overnight at the farm and woke up to this winter wonderland. It's always so beautiful here when it snows. More quiet than usual. The pine tree boughs out front is laden down with snow. The flakes swirl around.

Beautiful.

Today I'm hanging out in front of the wood stove, reading my book, with my cat on my lap and tea in my hand. While the snow keeps falling out the window -- all framed and pretty just for me to watch from my comfy seat.

Relaxed already and knowing that next week, I'm off. I don't go back to work until the new year, in fact. I figured out on Friday that I needed to use up all my vacation. So it's an impromptu vacation. In Toronto. So I can concentrate on getting Christmasy. Having lunch with friends, Christmas shopping, going to a Christmas party, ice skating at Nathan Phillips Square.

What could be better? I'm so excited.
I should "forget" to take my vacation more often ;)

Christmas holidays start early

Mother and Child
Originally uploaded by CaptPiper

So I discovered today that I have about a week left of vacation in 2007 and that I can't carry that vacation over to 2008.

What does that mean?
It means that the holidays start early this year! I think this is my last day of work! YAY!

Tonight, I'm hanging out and possibly watching more BSG (see previous post).

Tomorrow, shopping! Then possibly again some BSG. Then picking up my parents at the airport and going home with them through some likely crappy weather.

Sunday: home on the farm.
Monday: the farm and then dinner with friends
Tuesday: lunch with Sarah!
Wednesday: Sara, possibly
Thursday: Jane
Friday: My sister arrives and I'm back to the farm.

All in all this is looking like I have lots of time available for Christmas shopping and reading my book at Starbucks.

Sigh...

This is the best Christmas present I think I could have gotten myself!

Battlestar Galactica

Battlestar Galactica
Originally uploaded by isriya

Oi, have you SEEN Battlestar Galactica?

I almost wish I hadn't. It's like when Raye and I rented that first season of Lost when I went to visit her in Halifax. I was a bit in love.

This weekend, after Dave has told me FOREVER to watch the stupid show, I finally broke down and watched the mini series. And loved it. Dammit.

Now what?
I can't watch it on TV as it's WAY ahead and I'll be lost. It means now I have to watch each of the seasons and it's going to take forever.

Also, great. One more TV show to watch. Just what I wanted.

* * *

On another note, I did get to see Dave ever-so-briefly. Which was wonderful and too short. And I did make it to Anita's Christmas party. Very nice to see people there too. And I did make it to see Scott and Kat and my little boyfriend, Max. Too cute. I could just eat him up, he's so darling.

So it was a weekend full of friends.
And Christmas shopping! YAY I love the Christmas shopping!

busy week

It was a busy weekend, which I love. And a busy week, which is sometimes also good. Right now, this is a good thing, since I don't want to be at home a lot.

Tonight, making merry in the office, putting up Christmas decorations then off for some super yummy Mexican food and fantastic conversation. (Although I had another "Cathy, shut up!" moment, but that happens, inevitably, when someone is listening.)

Tomorrow, lunch out, a physio appointment (finally) for my shoulder that's been sore for almost a year now then dinner out to celebrate the completion of a successful event. Hopefully home at a reasonable time so I can start crunching some more numbers. Again.

Wednesday is yoga day, I think.
Thursday is my company holiday party.
Friday, I see DAVE! Super exciting!
Saturday, I meet my parents at the airport and grab their car for the rest of the week. Head off for some holiday shopping before I head to Anita's Christmas party and then possibly a sleep over.
Sunday to Oakville to visit more friends and their adorable baby.

Seriously, does life get any better?

christmas baking

truffles
Originally uploaded by aus_chick

I spent the day at my friend Sarah's mom's house, Christmas baking. I was in charge of chocolate-dipping the chocolate peanut butter balls.

I remembered when I was a kid and I used to help my mom with the Christmas cookies. It always made it feel so much more like Christmas.

It was so much fun running around the kitchen, chopping, mixing, rolling, tasting. Joking, storytelling, teasing, laughing.

I still have a few more things I'd like to make, but it's amazing how much more quickly everything happens when you've got a couple people pitching in to make it happen. I guess it's what makes any community work better.

I even enjoyed the quiet subway ride out to Kipling station with my London Fog and my book. I didn't have to talk to anyone. The walk to the subway station was quiet as the snow dampened the sound of the traffic.

I passed neighbours helping each other clear their sidewalks and walkways. It warmed my heart.

fun

I have been having a lot of fun lately.

It's been a long time since I've felt this happy.

I'd been so angry for so long, I forgot what it was like to be happy-Cathy. (Or, what I like to refer to as "the real Cathy.")

Long live the real Cathy.