Christmas 2003. 12/31/03
Christmas was good this year. On Christmas Eve Steve and I, and our friend Karl, cooked a big dinner. Roast Goose with apples and rosemary, spaetzle (German potato dumpling stuff), broccoli in garlic sauce, lemon shortbread cookies, squash soup, and roldkold(sp?)--German red cabbage. I woke early to do a bit of last minute shopping and bought presents for Steve. Then the three of us spent the day cooking, baking, and getting baked. We also went through 3 bottles of wine.
The tree this year is beautiful as ever, and Steve had put strings of blue lights around the front fence and multicolored lights along the roof of the house a few days earlier. In my inebriated state I spent about an hour on Christmas Eve wrapping six presents, completely absorbed in playing with the curling ribbon.
The next morning we opened our presents from under the tree while drinking coffee and eggnog. I got a good haul this year, the best things being a dragon puppet and a Snoopy stuffed animal from Steve. And I got the impression that he genuinely enjoyed most of his presents. I remember how when I was a kid that I thought it wasn't a really good Christmas unless I got a stuffed animal. These days I enjoy receiving stylish clothing and cute jewelry just as much. Even a few inexpensive gifts apiece makes this Christmas so much better than last year.
We went to a party after opening gifts and waking up a bit, and spent the evening hanging out with our friends, playing an interesting card game and drinking cocktails. Crashed at the party host's house, had a great breakfast of homemade pancakes and quiche there the next morning, and drove home to relax and recuperate for the rest of Boxing Day. However two of our friends that had not been at the party wanted to get together with Steve that night (and of course I am always welcome to hang out with them as well) so we ended up partying yet again at the downtown bars and had a tasty Mexican dinner.
What a satisfying Christmas. We told his parents that we were going to my brother's house, driving many miles away. Then we stayed in town and let the answering machine screen all our calls from Christmas Eve until the following Monday. I doubt that we can get away with that scheme again next year, and I will have to suffer through a family gathering instead. But this Christmas was all the more sweet knowing where I could have ended up spending my holiday.
I actually would like to visit with my brother sometime this winter, but he might have to come here. Our car is still not all that roadworthy and the "new" car -- an old Toyota van that Steve’s brother gave him -- is practically useless since it overheats even when just driving short distances like from our house to the mall and back.
I have had a Jaguar Sports Coupe on my Christmas list for many years now but maybe I have to start believing in Santa again before I'll get one.
I am looking forward to tonight, New Year's Eve. Need to find a party or dancing or even just the annual downtown celebration could be cool.
2003 was a strange and eventful year. I'm hoping that 2004 will bring increased prosperity, the acquiring of greater knowledge, and more adventures in our own beautiful part of the world as well as traveling afar. All to add to the treasury of memories in my mind. And possibly to record here, as well.
