A Good Shopping Day.

I think - dare I say it? I'm done Christmas shopping! Wait, I'm not - still have to deal with the Boss, but that's easy and can even be done after the 25th, since we will see each other again on, I think the 28th? Parents: Done. Boy: Done. Girl: Done. L: Done. L's Daughter: Done. Boss's Son: Done. Girlchild's Boyfriend: Done.
It's a blessedly short list this year, because I was spared participation in any godawful gift exchanges of bottles of Bath and Body Works lotions among not-so-close friends and co-workers, and the rest of the family just doesn't bother to do gifts. We are that way. It's a good way to be. Years ago I worked for a great lawyer who said, around Thanksgiving, the first year we all worked together: "We've all been in the workforce long enough to have suffered through too many Secret Santas. Let's donate what we would spend on gifts for each other to a charity." We took up a collection among the regional staff and donated it. God Bless that Man. I think all offices should do it that way - I hate exchanging token gifts with casual friends, or feeling obligated to do something.

The Girlchild is on the road and should be here within the hour. The guest room is lovely and tidy and comfy. It's a real guest room now, with the comfy futon bed and a dresser and tv and cable and drawer space, not an air mattress in an empty room. It's going to turn seriously cold tonight and stay that way for a couple of days, so it really feels Christmas-y. Yentala's latke recipe is on the menu for tonight, along with baked chicken. I read her latke recipe and started craving them. Had to have them. Now. So we're having them tonight, and tomorrow we will start Dr. Perricone's 3 day diet. Leftover Latkes will go to the Skinny Boychild and his roommate, who is the size of a Clydesdale and eats like one. We will be on salmon and salads and steamed veggies and tea. Yep. Because for me and the Girlchild, our spending holiday is Boxing Day - when we hit the after-Christmas sales and load up on clothes. But tonight is not about dieting. Let the holiday begin!