My dog is a demon, and other Christmas tales...

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! I went home to WV and spent the long weekend trying to see all of my family and as many of my friends as possible.

For the trip home my car was packed so tight with gifts that I think it would have popped if I had tried to squeeze one more thing into it. As it was, I barely had room to sit and drive, and poor little Baci had just enough room to lie down in. We hit some traffic between Frederick and Hagerstown, which was expected, but the rest of the way was easy.

For the first time, I spent a good portion of Christmas Eve shopping. I have always been against doing that, but I gave in this year and went. It wasn’t quite as bad as I expected and I did have fun getting to spend some time first with Micki and her kids, then later that day with Tricia. This past Thursday was Tricia’s birthday, so we decided to go out to lunch at Rio Grande to celebrate. Lots of good food and drink later, we went to the register to pay, only to be told, “Thanks! Merry Christmas!” When I asked, “Excuse me,” the guy told us that he was giving all of his favorite customers free lunch that day! . It was so funny—the guy in front of us paid $47 bucks for his meal, but Tricia and I got out for free. It could have something to do with the fact that this guy flirts with me every time I am in there, I don’t know... ;)

My whole family got together at Cindy’s house later that evening to open presents, my goodness did we have a lot! The kids had so much fun, which just increased how much fun all of the adults were having. I ended up with so much stuff, that on the return trip to Maryland, my car was still loaded with as much as the trip to West Virginia! I have tons of new stuff for my bar, including an awesome drink mixer/shot set that is made to look like a chemistry set (complete with biohazard and radioactive labels), two coaster sets, a clock, and three or four wall hangings, a beautiful new sweater (strange enough, the only clothing that I got), a new set of pots and pans for my kitchen, and tons of other stuff that I know I am forgetting. I was still in quite a bit of pain from my ribs that evening and doped up on vicodin, so my mind wasn’t all with me. I really feel lucky to have remembered that much! I figure as I put everything away over the next few days I will be happily surprised once again as I look through all of it. I ended the evening by attending the Christmas Eve service at my church with my dad. It was a beautiful service as always, and it was nice to see my church family again.

Christmas morning I opened my stocking from Santa and then got ready and headed off to church again. I heard about some churches canceling services because it was Christmas morning, and I just have to wonder what they were thinking. I am far from being a religious zealot or anything, but isn’t the whole meaning of Christmas to celebrate Jesus’ birth, so why would a church decide that opening presents at home was more important that telling the Christmas story? But anyways, on with my day. Once we got home I directed dad in how to prepare the turkey and got it cooking. It has become tradition now for me to cook the turkey (cook one good turkey and you will never live it down), but STILL in pain from my ribs, I couldn’t lift it, so I had to have dad do the work for me. We worked the rest of the afternoon preparing a delicious Christmas dinner, then joined around the table and made complete pigs of ourselves! Micki and her family weren’t with us for dinner, but came over later to spend the rest of the evening with us, and we celebrated my aunt’s birthday. The only bad mark on the day was when my aunt decided to go in and pet Baci, who was locked in a bedroom to keep her away from the kids. I don’t know exactly what happened, but somehow Izzy ended up in there as well and before it was all over and done with, Baci had bit him and left a nasty gash on one of his fingers. I felt so terrible, the little guy screaming and crying, not wanting anyone to touch his hand. Chris held him and comforted him while I got a washcloth and cleaned it up. The poor little thing didn’t even want me to touch it to put a band-aid on it, and he LOVES having a band-aid for anything. As of today, it is all irritated and swollen, so Cindy is awaiting a call from the doctor to see if she needs to take him in, and I am awaiting a call from Cindy to see if the doctor wants my dog put down. With any luck, since she is a family dog and it was a minor bite, nothing will have to be reported. Wish me luck!

Monday I went out to lunch with one of my old coworkers, Carla. We spent two hours trying to catch up, but I think we could have spent the whole day. I didn’t have as much luck at the steak house as I did with Tricia at Rio Grande—Carla and I had to actually pay for our meals. That evening my family and I celebrated my dad’s birthday with dinner and cake and ice cream afterwards. Lots and lots of good food all weekend long! I guess that is one perk of having so many birthdays to celebrate right at Christmas! :)

Then yesterday I made the long trek back home to Maryland, but not before hitting Mi Pueblito for one last bit of good food! I got back here about 8:30 last night and spent the next half hour unloading everything from my car. And now the clean up and put away part of Christmas begins...with any luck, I just might be done with it before the New Year!

I hope everyone had as wonderful a holiday as I did!!! Now onto New Year’s! I am really thinking I might just stay in this year, see if I can’t rest up some and maybe, just MAYBE, get over this whole rib thing and start feeling better. It has been a month now, and that is more than long enough! Anyone got any good plans for New Year’s Eve? If I don’t post again before then, have a safe and happy one!

Party time!

Long time, no post. Sorry for that!

I had an amazing weekend! First, Shawn came for a visit Friday night, and as my loyal readers know, I always love getting to see him. We stayed in for the evening, and had a wonderful night. 'Nuff said. ;)

Then on Saturday I hosted my first party here in B-more and it was a resounding success! The Kabuki Rodeo impressed the hell out of everyone! I had I think 10, maybe 12 people show up and we spent the evening and well into the night drinking it up and having a great time. I got presents also, so that always makes for a good night--a few bottles of liquor, one bottle of wine, and two really cool pictures for the bar. I have met some really great people since I moved here, and they are quickly becoming some of my closest friends. In fact, everyone that was at the party was someone that I have met since my move. Most of the party we spent talking, eating, and drinking, but it just wouldn't be one of my parties unless something crazy happened. So, the night ended with one of the guys stripping for us, to "I Will Survive." Funny, funny stuff--a skinny, pasty white guy, that I had just met, (friend of a friend) running around my house in his boxers. Thank goodness he stopped there! He did moon us, but I, as I am sure everyone else at the party would agree, had seen more than we ever wanted! Interesting times, interesting times....

Unfortunately though, that was the end to my wonderful weekend. :( One of the reasons I haven't posted recently is that I have had a terrible cold and just truly felt like crap. Since Thanksgiving. Anyways, on Friday a pain started in the left side of my chest, but I really didn't pay too much attention to it. It got a little worse on Saturday, but I was so busy with the party, I didn't really worry too much still. Well, Sunday when I started coughing up blood and could barely get out of bed because of the pain, I decided that I had better get my butt to a doctor! He checked me over, did x-rays and told me that I have acute bronchitis. Luckily it isn't pneumonia, but it could still be a fractured rib. Honestly, I am beginning to think that one of my ribs has completely broken off and is floating around in there stabbing me, torturing me until I slowly die, as much pain as I am in. I have a high tolerance for pain, and this is seriously kicking my ass! Never in my life can I remember hurting like this, not even after knee surgery. Anyways, he put me on an antibiotic and vicodin. To give you an idea about the pain--the vicodin isn't touching it. Yep, it's THAT BAD! With any luck I will start feeling better in a day or two, but right now, I am wondering if I will make it that long. So, keep your fingers crossed for me that I live through this!

I think that is about all for now. Even if the vicodin doesn't stop the pain, it does make me loopy and knock me out, so I think I am going to go lay down for a bit.

If I don't get around to posting again soon--HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!