December 15, 2004
Christmas Time Is Here...
Hello, and happy December!
I never seem to find time to post…my schedule has been go-go-go for the last two months. Every day I spend at work, and every evening I spend at a rehearsal or a meeting or a show or a dinner party. Sounds like fun, doesn’t it?
Well, it is fun!
Let me fill you in.
Turandot ended a few weeks ago, and I jumped into Christmas prep at the church and lots of rehearsing for my Christmas concert. The concert was two weeks ago, and it was fantastic. Every seat was filled and they seemed to really enjoy it.
The funny thing is, we spent ages and ages rehearsing difficult classical pieces (including Vaughan Williams' “Fantasia on Christmas Carols”), at which the audience clapped politely. But they went absolutely CRAZY for…yeah, “Little Drummer Boy.” And “Let It Snow.” Hmm. Still, it was fun to get glitzed up; the women all try to wear the sparkliest, shiniest dress they can find. (Pretty funny to hear Rob say, “Oh good, Ann’s brought the bling.”) I wore a rather staid outfit, comparatively, a beautiful blue velvet dress. I thought it was sexy; Martha said I looked rather like the Victorian pictures of the Virgin Mary.
Anyway.
Once that concert ended, my stress level went way down and the Christmas season officially kicked into high gear. Last week I went ice-skating with friends, went to a tamale party at Ricardo’s (which was incredible), went to a dinner party at Fashion Island and did the whole holiday shindig there, spent an evening at Disneyland (except the Electrical Parade hasn’t started yet, so I’ll have to go back), and had some friends over to enjoy my Christmas decorating (and help with it, frankly). Oh, and I also saw “Polar Express” last night, and loved it!
On Saturday I hosted my very first family holiday turkey dinner! And you know I don’t put anything on the table that isn’t homemade…which is very conscientious of me, but also kept me cooking for two days straight. I was exhausted by the end of the night, but it all went really well, and I got some lovely presents.
On Sunday I went to a holiday lunch at Las Brisas, which was brilliant! I really love that restaurant. Fantastic food on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean…it doesn’t get much better than that.
I am on my way out the door in a moment to attend a cocktail party at the Four Seasons. Yes, that’s correct, the Four Seasons. Pardon me while I polish up the Mercedes.
I get to wear a red cocktail dress and feel all grown-up. I’m going solo, as the invite said I could bring my spouse, fiancée, or domestic partner. Rather politically correct, aren’t they??
Tomorrow night is my choir Christmas party, and I spent SO LONG trying to decide on a present for my Secret Santa. (Actually, I guess I’m the Secret Santa; he’d be the, what, Secret Recipient?) I hope he likes it. I’m debating on whether a gift receipt is tacky with a Secret Santa gift…
Friday night is my department party, and Saturday I’m having a Christmas brunch. Phew!
And then there’s next week…!
So much Christmas joy! So much Christmas activity! This has really been an outstanding year for having fun in the Christmas season. The past couple of years I’ve been, I don’t know, too busy or something.
Still with me after that long narration of how I spent my Christmas? Look, I’ll give you a photo of the cake I made for my family party. It was dark chocolate and Kaluha.
I thought about posting the picture of me sitting on Santa’s lap…but nah!
Posted by Lesley at December 15, 2004 06:22 PM