Good Holidaze
Realizing just how very lucky/blessed I am to like and get on well with my fambily, and to get to spend good quality chunks o' time w/them now 'n' again. Have spent this past week chez my l'il bro 'n' his GF w/my 'rents (Mom & J) here as well.
It's been a mellow time, w/everyone pitching in on food prep and clean-up, lotsa tasty food and much fun story-swapping and reconnecting (both w/fambily and friends), visits to some of my fave spots (Huntington Gardens, Troubies Holiday Show, &c.), great presents exchanged, x-mas music played, &c. Some Pics from X-mas Eve & Day Here.
Gonna stick around now for an extra couple of days to doggie-sit for my l'il bro and GF as they zipzoom up to the Bay Area tomorrow 'til Sun eve. This gives me more time to visit w/folks here in SoCal, although less time w/Central Coast folks. Luckily it sounds like some of the Sta Barbie gang'll stop by and visit me in PDX for NYEve, so that works out well, as I plan to make it back in time to spend NYEve - and to start 2014 - at home.
Upcomings include an art exhibit (125 Years of Nat'l Geographic Photos), hiking w/friends, Southern Injun chow, an absinthe tasting, possibly spa-time, &c.
There's been an injection of some sadness 'n' somberness to the season, too, with the news that my former step-dad (father of some of my dearest step-sibs) has passed away. I'm glad to have visited him some over Thanksgiving, so I had a chance to say G'bye, as I figured (correctly) that I'd not see him again.
Meanwhile, a Dear Friend keeps creeping closer and closer to death, which hurts lots. So I keep on living well while I can, because that's how best to deal w/it all...
It's been a mellow time, w/everyone pitching in on food prep and clean-up, lotsa tasty food and much fun story-swapping and reconnecting (both w/fambily and friends), visits to some of my fave spots (Huntington Gardens, Troubies Holiday Show, &c.), great presents exchanged, x-mas music played, &c. Some Pics from X-mas Eve & Day Here.
Gonna stick around now for an extra couple of days to doggie-sit for my l'il bro and GF as they zipzoom up to the Bay Area tomorrow 'til Sun eve. This gives me more time to visit w/folks here in SoCal, although less time w/Central Coast folks. Luckily it sounds like some of the Sta Barbie gang'll stop by and visit me in PDX for NYEve, so that works out well, as I plan to make it back in time to spend NYEve - and to start 2014 - at home.
Upcomings include an art exhibit (125 Years of Nat'l Geographic Photos), hiking w/friends, Southern Injun chow, an absinthe tasting, possibly spa-time, &c.
There's been an injection of some sadness 'n' somberness to the season, too, with the news that my former step-dad (father of some of my dearest step-sibs) has passed away. I'm glad to have visited him some over Thanksgiving, so I had a chance to say G'bye, as I figured (correctly) that I'd not see him again.
Meanwhile, a Dear Friend keeps creeping closer and closer to death, which hurts lots. So I keep on living well while I can, because that's how best to deal w/it all...