My holiday season of fun really started in February of this year, when the small company I work for was acquired by a larger international company. What once was the least amount of time off I have ever had since working full time, became the MOST amount of accrued time off. Not to mention offices that were going to be closed from Christmas Day thru January 1st. Adding on a few extra days and I suddenly was looking at two weeks off during the holiday season, something I haven’t had since joining the working world at age 16.
I decided that this year, was REALLY going to be fully dedicated to enjoying the holidays at a new level!
I started shopping and decorating before Thanksgiving. After a little bit of a slow start getting the house ready, I was pleased to feel I got it just right, not too much and not too little.
The first weekend of December, the D-Man and I took a trip to northern California to spend a wonderful weekend, just hanging out with good friends, enjoying watching some college football games in their den with good food, good wine and good times.
The next weekend, after a fun L.A. Lyon gig, the D-Man and I headed to the Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood for a wonderful Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. Christmas concert. I have loved the Fifth Dimension since I was seven years old and over the years, it has been a real pleasure to see the two lead singers live. They never disappoint and the music really got me ready for Christmas.
The next weekend was my official birthday weekend, starting with our annual trip to Magic Mountain to ride our favorite coasters. Despite the fact that the lines were increased due to most of the rides only running one car (WTH?), the D-Man and I managed to get in our favorites and spend some quality time laughing and talking in line.
Sunday was football day, then Monday, we saw a fantastic movie at my new favorite movie theatre, The Studio Movie Grill in Monrovia. “Bombshell” was more of the D-Man’s suggestion, but what a great choice! If you think you know Fox News, you need to see this film! If you are a woman, you need to see this film. I highly recommend it.
We followed that with BJ’s in Pasadena, where the Packers beat the Vikings! We got to watch it all and enjoy some great food and wine
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Christmas Eve was my annual open house. All twenty of the usual suspects were there, along with a couple of newcomers and it was a great time as always, for me to see my California family.
Christmas Day was spent watching “Office Christmas Party” and “It’s A Wonderful Life”, two Christmas movies that are really at opposite sides of the spectrum, but still equally fun! Then spending a wonderful afternoon with the D-Man’s family.
The day after Christmas is all about ME! I spent most of the day using gift certificates and getting great stuff marked down, hitting Home Goods, Target, Floor and Decor, Bed Bath and Beyond, Kohl’s and Macy’s and coming home with a ton of great deals.
Two great gigs with L.A. Lyon on Friday and Saturday, and the Packers won their final game of the season!
Coming up? A great NYE evening with L.A. Lyon at the Glendora Continental. New Year’s Day, a bucket list item about to be checked off! Taking the D-Man to the Rose Bowl to see the Wisconsin Badgers beat (hopefully!) the Oregon Ducks!
It was not a month without stress. Kato the cat had an unexpected stay at the vet, but he is doing great now! Kody’s Santa picture was stressful to say the least, with a long wait time and multiple dogs to make him crazy. Cooking and cleaning and organizing a small house for a big event is Crazy Town. I took a really bad fall, slipping in the Home Goods parking lot during my after Christmas shopping excursion that messed up my already messed up knee, costing me some gym time. But overall, all good. So many blessings and so much to be grateful for.
Honestly, I didn’t realize just how great the holiday season was, until I started writing this. It really has been one of the best! Sometimes we forget just how great it is and focus on what didn’t go right. So take some time. Make of a list of all the things that were great during your holiday season. You might find this was one of your best too!