Let's see... So I figured instead of cleaning up the downstairs, I'd just decorate the bedroom for the holidays. What could be cozier than opening Christmas presents in bed? So our little 3' tree went on the low bench in front of the long, bay-ish window and a string of lights was thread through the upper bed rails (we have a sort-of canopy, the kind you're supposed to drape otherwise useless 30-foot lengths of gauze through). It looked very nice, especially when the presents were put under (or next to) our little tree. We have a 3 footer because it belonged to one of his aunts and was given to us when we began living together. We put it up every year - even the years we have live trees - to remind us of that first perfect Christmas in that horrid, cramped apartment when I was crying because I thought we wouldn't have a 'good' Christmas without spending huge chunks of money or seeing either of our families. Of course, we remember that Christmas most fondly.

The stockings got hung on part of the scrollwork that decorates the upper rails. They hung right over our heads, like fuzzy Swords of Damocles. I worried only slightly about the handcuffs hanging over his head. (heh-heh-heh) Anyway, we spent Christmas Eve (as we have for the past 5 years) at my Dad's place with his wife's family. My oldest brother Todd and his (2nd) wife Katie were there, as was my niece Briana (Todd's daughter from his first marriage). She's now 7 and is quite the talker. Katie told her I wrote stories, so she had to tell me all about the ones she'd been writing. It's kind of humbling to realize that, for all the work you may put into fanfic, your 7 year old niece's rip-off of a 'Mary Kate & Ashley Mystery' has just as much literary weight. It was interesting, too, to remember that I used to write similar stories when I was her age, although I didn't re-write the stuff I had read. In fact, I think I still have a copy of 'Tommy Tuttle Goes To the Circus' somewhere... (he goes to the circus with his parents, sees all the acts and goes home sick. I remember going back to add in all the food he'd eaten, somehow realizing that people might think the kid had a virus instead of a tummyache from all the junk food.)

Anyway! Sweet Husband spent the evening with the digital camcorder we bought for ourselves. :-) Amazing the kinds of things you can pick up once you start looking!! For instance, we had (as always) a Gift Exchange (everyone brings a present, draws a number, you choose a gift from under the tree or already opened, game continues until all presents are chosen - email me for further details). Watching the tape later, it was obvious who really hated their gift and who really hated my brother's penchant for giving imaginative gifts.

The theme this year was 'food.' There were 4 Hickory Farms gift packs (YUCK!!) and we ended up with one. (sigh) One person, who shall remain nameless, had complained bitterly about Todd's aforementioned predilection, so she forced it to be 'food' only. She still found it necessary to dis my brother no less than 5 times - on tape, that is. (Okay - last year, he gave what we now refer to as the Rumble Mug. It's a beer mug, open the lid and a computer chip plays the opening to those WWF shows. DING! DING! DING! Let's Get Ready To RUMMMMBBBLLLLLEEEE!!!!! So?)

So that was fun. Sweet Husband spent most of Xmas Day editing the film into a 16 minute montage of the party, complete with holiday music and title sequences! I spent the day cooking. I was exhausted by the end of it, but we had a good meal. I realize something. I can cook! Some people can't! Some people, no matter what you do, make everything dry and tasteless. Given the same recipe, my stuff always comes out tasty!! (I like this about myself.)

Opening the gifts was a LOT of fun. Sweet Husband giggled when he opened the cuffs. We tried them on each other, to be sure they'd fit both of us (they do). He opened the blindfold and said immediately, "Oh, I think this is for you." (heh-heh) Okay, he's probably got me there. *smirk*

I got Pooh Bear jammies, a Wilton Cake Decorating frosting tip holder, a program to make any scanned image into cross-stitch (I can NOT WAIT to try it on some Trixie designs!!!!! Guess what everyone's getting next year!!), the Dixie Chicks CD I strongly hinted for ('Oh, look, honey! They have Dixie Chicks CDs. Isn't that wonderful? And look, they have 'Fly.' I've been wanting to get that CD. Oh, look. It comes in 3 colors. I really like the yellow one, don't you? It's so cheerful. I'm glad there's so many of them here for people to see.') (Of course, it almost backfired. They were out of the yellow ones when he went back to buy it for me and he panicked. I got the black one instead - with a promise I could exchange it for the yellow one if I really wanted to)... and, oh yes. Judas Priest's greatest hits. Why JP? I think it's cause he caught me headbanging to 'Breakin' the Law' one day... I'm kind of tickled he also bought me a Bruce Lee calendar. He caught me staring at it in the display and went back for it later.

I got a video from Moms, a Moo-Cow from Shy Friend (she's going to make her video debut soon - watch your email!), and a beautiful handmade purse from Soul Mate - filled with candles, chocolates, some special stones and a letter. I'm going to try to get a picture of it, too. With the digital camera, it shouldn't be too difficult. I also got a basket of B&BW supplies (hand soap, body soap, bath bubbles, body splash, moisturizer) in 'Cotton Blossom' - Sweet Husband says it makes me smell like fresh bed sheets. I guess that's good. (He got something similar in mountain something-or-other, all wrapped up in a handy travel case.)

So it was a good Christmas. He has yet to try out the 2 PC games I bought him. He told me to get him one (Nox), so I did. Then I went back to the store to buy another and was scanning the shelves. I reached up for Darkstone (??) and tried to bring it down when it tipped over, fell, the corner bonked my head and it dropped to the floor. I took it as a sign. Turns out, both Nox and the Darkstone (??) game were recommended to him as games similar in one way or another to Diablo - our favorite addiction.

Next time I blog, I'm probably going to reply to everyone else's ramblings... but I make no promises. I have seen that everyone else's holidays are going in vastly different but incredibly interesting ways and I have a lot I want to say, but this is it for now.
posted by SPowers at 2:50 PM | Remember It!

Can you believe it? You'd think I'd have more time to blog if I ended up working half days... which I have since last Thursday. BUT - I don't so I didn't. Blog, that is. However... I have some stories to share, folks! (and there was much rejoicing)

Last Tuesday, I had to take Sweet Husband to & from work - his car was back in the shop, but just for the day to get re-aligned - so I did some quick Xmas shopping on the way to his office. I stopped in at Priscilla's - Where Fun and Fantasy Meet! I'd never been to any 'adult' store like that before, but I think I picked a good one. It was clean, well-lit, on a major street (Dale Mabry Highway) and it was just after 5 pm. A guy & a girl were behind the counter... I walk up and ask the girl where the handcuffs are. She turns to the GUY and asks HIM to show me! (If I'd've wanted the guy to show me, I'd've asked the guy!)

So this guy - about 10 years younger than me at LEAST - leads me to this one area of the store, saying: This is where we keep all the bondage stuff... He proceeds to point out the various style cuffs & says I can ask any Qs I want, etc. I'm thinking: BONDAGE stuff! I don't want BONDAGE stuff - I just want handcuffs! (Am I too naïve? *g*)

So I'm standing there trying to decide... 'police issue'? Nah - bare metal's too cold. 'Velcro'? The packaging looks interesting, there'd be no worries about losing a key, but the whole kit is .... $89.95!!!??? yikes. The furry ones look nicer, but what color fur? Pink? Zebra stripe? And what's on the store stereo system? Christmas carols? 'Do You Hear What I Hear'? Okay.. it IS Christmas, so the carols make sense (and it's better than 'bom-chicka-bow-wowm').... wait a minute.... that voice seems familiar... holy shit! Do you know who's singing? It's ELMO! ELMO and Rosie O'Donnell!! In PRISCILLA'S! WHERE FUN AND FANTASY MEET!! WHERE I'M STANDING STARING AT THE WALL OF BONDAGE TRYING TO DECIDE HOW BEST TO 'LOCK UP MY LOVER'!!!

I fought my insane giggles and chose the black furry cuffs. They're more masculine than pink, don't you think? I also got a leather blindfold, checked out the oils, the appliances, the blow-up dolls. I checked out and the guy told me to remember that "every Tuesday is Ladies' Day." (I got an extra 10% off my purchase.) I thanked him and went off to collect my Sweet Husband.

Those gifts, plus his red velvet thong undies, went into his stocking. More on his reaction to those gifts and where we hung our stockings, later. I do have to get some work done today!
posted by SPowers at 9:07 AM | Remember It!