Second annual

We hosted the neighborhood Christmas party again this year. It's the second year we've done this--it's now our party to host. Last year we had about 35 people at the house--lots of neighbors we didn't know came to the party mostly because of the curiosity about the remodel we'd done. This year, we had a smaller turnout--21 people or so which is a good number for our little house and really the number we'd expected last year--but they stayed longer. These were the neighbors we know and love and see frequently and it was a great party, if I do say so myself. At one point Paul and I were standing together in the kitchen, looking at all these neighbors--our friends--and it made me realize how fortunate we truly are to have found our home when we did.

When our neighborhood was being built about six years ago, Paul and I wandered over to look at a model home one Sunday afternoon. We were just starting the search for a house but we didn't think we were serious about our looking. We'd been married for just a few months and honestly, we just wanted to get an idea of what was out there. We had an idea that we wanted to stay up in the area of our apartment. It's a great neighborhood--quiet, not much traffic--and there were several communities being built with smaller starter homes. We looked at the model home in this community on our second Sunday out, still thinking it would be six months before we might be serious about buying. While looking at the various lots available, we met a few of the neighbors. All of these people invited Paul and me to walk through their homes and see what they'd done with their houses. I think that was a deciding factor for us to build in this neighborhood. That total strangers were friendly enough to let us traipse through their house meant they'd probably be friendly enough to let us borrow some sugar or pick up the mail. As it turned out, those first neighbors are that friendly and even more. Eventually, there were four of us with houses under construction at the same time--including one of our neighbors in the apartment complex--and we got to know those neighbors as well as we dealt with the stresses of building a house. Now, over six years later, we've celebrated weddings and babies, mourned the death of one neighbor, had impromptu cocktail hours after meeting at the mailbox, battled a pigeon invasion that unfortunately originated at our house, and planned dinner parties so we can have a reason to dress up.

Paul and I have looked at other homes in the past six years, thinking that maybe we'd like a bigger house or a bigger yard, but we can't bring ourselves to leave our block. One couple who let us walk through their house that Sunday afternoon moved to Seattle four years ago. Two years ago, they moved back. They didn't like Seattle and while they didn't have jobs in ABQ, they decided that they really wanted to be back in our little neighborhood. They weren't able to move back into their original home but they are back in different home just across the street. I completely understand that feeling of wanting to be here--it's why we didn't buy that bigger house that was a great price two years ago. It wasn't in this neighborhood. Eventually some of the people we know so well will leave and not come back. Maybe we'll be those people. But in the meantime, there is some pull that keeps us here. Something that just says this is where we need to be. Something that says this is home.

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When Paul and I went to the Tech game in October, we stayed at a hotel in Amarillo since Paul was sick. We couldn't stay at my grandparents' house because my granddad wasn't 100% and we didn't want to expose him to Paul's germs. Upon checking out, we laughed when we saw the receipt--it said we lived on "Soberly Trail." I guess they haven't been to one of our neighborhood parties. Here is a new recipe I tried out that was a big hit last night. Super easy to make and tasty to munch while sipping wine, which our neighbors do well.

Parmesan twists (from Real Simple, December 2006)

Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Cut one 17.25-ounce package thawed puff pastry lengthwise into 24 strips. Brush with 1 lightly beaten egg. Sprinkle with 1 1/2 cups (6 ounces) grated* Parmesan and 1 tablespoon poppy or sesame seeds** (optional) and twist. Place on 2 baking sheets.*** Bake until golden, 12 to 15 minutes. Serve warm.

*Tried it with grated and shredded; preferred shredded

**Paul was doing the sprinkling--I don't think we used this much cheese or poppy seeds but the twists were still tasty.

***Definitely grease the baking sheets; puff pastry sticks badly as I learned on my first attempt

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Before the party, Paul told me that he wanted to make certain that this year, we got more pictures from the party. He charged the camera battery and made sure that the camera was at the ready. Then he realized why we have so few pictures from parties--it's hard to be the host and the photographer. He managed to snap just a few.

Just before the party--Jubjub doesn't know what's about to hit him. He spends the better part of any gathering we have at the house upstairs under our bed, retreating to his hiding place as soon as the doorbell first rings. This year, he came out while there were still a few guests at the house--he slinked around the living room, not at all happy to have been duped into believing it was safe to come down. Jub even deigned to be petted by one of the guests (who claimed to be "loved by all cats"--obviously, he's never met Jubjub).
The hostess hams it up for the camera. I should have cleaned off the counters before this picture but I was still trying to get food and things ready. When I wear all black, Paul calls it a "ninja outfit." This was the "fancy ninja outfit." I love my shoes--pointy black toes with silver beading on the vamp (and I feel like quite the vamp in them)

Pictures of the neighbors (and yes, we're the youngest in the neighborhood by about 10 years)

Things one should always do on cold days

1. Book hotel room for 12 days in Hawaii next July

2. Book airfare for trip to Jamaica next September

Both of these trips are over seven months away but there is something terribly satisfying about making these reservations while wearing a turtleneck sweater and heavy socks. Just knowing that I'll eventually be warm again makes me happy.

Ho-ho-holidays

The holiday season is now in full swing around our casa. We hosted our church group's Christmas party on Friday night. Unfortunately, Paul had to go to CA for work on Friday morning. He learned of the trip only after we'd agreed to have the party at our house (because I love to play hostess). Even though he's mostly just a handsome nuisance when I'm trying to get ready for a party, it's nice to have him underfoot. It was as I was vaccuuming, while considering all the various other things I needed to do to get ready, that I realized how handy he is to have around and how much I really missed him at the party. Such is our life. I've come to terms with the abandonment issues and I know that he's not doing this to get out of anything or avoid me. But I do miss having him around.

But, before he left, Paul did make his "special dish"--a mainstay at our parties for the past two years after Paul heard about it while listening to a sports radio show. He is always willing and excited to make it. That is, if I'll buy the ingredients and find him a bowl. But it is his dish so he does the actual "work" in creating it. That work involves opening the bag of plain M&M's and Reece's Pieces and mixing them together. Quite the treat.

Last night, we went to a performance of th e Nutcracker Suite. The last time I saw this particular ballet was about 20 years ago. My dad was off hunting so my mom took my sisters and me out for a Girls' Night. We went to a fancy dinner and the ballet. No fancy dinner tonight but I did convince Paul to dress up. My argument lost quite a bit of validity since the people sitting on either side of us were wearing jeans and sweatshirts. :::sigh:::

At an adjoining theater, the National Institute of Flamenco was having their winter recitals. The intermissions of the two performance coincided so we were treated to tiny flamenco dancers running around the lobby, stomping on the marble flooring, and playing chase with brothers, sisters, and other tiny dancers. The NIF had several tables of silent auction items set up and I do love me a good auction. Paul and I "won" several items--6 acupuncture treatments (Paul), 6 couples dance lessons (me), and 2 tickets for any NM Symphony performance (gift for Paul's mom). I had to snipe the symphony tickets at the last minute from NM's Secretary of State. She has commercials that aired frequently during election season so she was easily recognizable (although much smaller than I expected). When she wandered back into the flamenco performance, I was able to raise the bid and win the tickets, happily marking one more gift off the list.

Tonight, I went through the gifts we've purchased so far, relieved to find that we only lack a few stocking stuffer gifts. Paul ordered the gifts for his parents. He's getting his mother an air-soft BB gun. I don't know why. I tried to discourage it. He thinks it's funny. I bought her the symphony tickets to try to distract her from the BB gun. I bought the few last gifts for friends and family--going to have those sent directly to the recipient so I don't have to worry about braving the post office (or worry about getting it to Texas). We'd bought a gift for friends but I changed my mind when it arrived. Not that it isn't a great gift--I just don't think they'll fully appreciate it. And this is definitely something that needs to be fully appreciated. So, instead we sent them a pasta dinner basket. I think they'll enjoy that more. I still need to wrap and mail a couple of gifts but only two boxes. So unfortunately, I will have to brave the post office or send Paul to do the dirty work since one of the boxes is to his brother and family. And I've got to get those Christmas cards mailed out but at least I'm 75% done with addressing the envelopes.

I'm definitely in a much better place this year than I was last year. By this time last year, I'd already become a Scrooge McDuck and was ready to just chunk it all and go into hibernation. I was already realizing by this time last year that I was on a downward spiral but it took another nine months for me to hit bottom and do anything about it. I'm worried about Paul because I recognize some of the same things that I was feeling in him. He's just so stressed and overworked and overwhelmed right now. Work is just crushing his spirit and it hurts my heart to see him like this.

I've got a busy week with a book fair at school and meetings several nights next week. It's also the last week of the semester so I'll be finished with school on the 15th. Paul is gone again the first part of the week but hopefully will have no more business trips until the New Year. We're hosting the neighborhood holiday party next Sunday (our 2nd annual). Then I'm dogsitting for a friend and we're off to Texas for the holidays in two weeks. I can't believe that Christmas is just two weeks away. Because for all the gifts I've purchased and other things I've accomplished this holiday season, I still don't have any wrapping paper.

Mail Order

After church, I spent several hours doing some holiday shopping. I rarely step foot into a store during the holiday season. I utterly dislike crowds and will try to avoid shopping during non-holiday madness because of the people. The crowds and craziness that come with all those extra Christmas shoppers is enough to make me want to collapse into a fetal position. But, it was unavoidable. We're hosting two different holiday parties this year. I needed to get paper goods and some other things for the parties. Just those two hours I spent in three different stores was just about enough to send me over the edge. Even though most of the other shoppers were still cheery and friendly, between maneuveering a cart through overly-crowded aisles and the masses of humanity, I left the last store with a splitting headache and not everything that I need. Hopefully I'll have some free time during the week to pick up those items before the first party on Friday although I'm tempted to just send Paul (who dislikes the crowds and shopping even more than I do but I can generally get one trip to the store out of him because he loves me).

People are always surprised to learn that I'm not much of a shopper (aside from those all-too-frequent trips to Target). There are times when I enjoy it--when I'm with a good shopping companion or just really in the mood. But normally, it's just a painful process because nothing ever fits me correctly or I can't find what I'm looking for at the store. I typically give up on the task at hand and end up buying a new pair of shoes. So most of the time, I stick to online shopping--I'm utterly addicted to the package tracking--and it makes for a much happier Carrie.

The upside of the season for Jub--lots of paper and boxes from all the gifts ordered online:

Warming Trend

This morning, I woke up earlier than I do during the week, bundled up in several layers of clothing, only deciding against the wool ski socks at the last minute (a decision I would later regret), and left the house just as the sky was beginning to grow light. I picked up a friend for our early morning volunteer session. This morning's destination was Old Town Albuquerque and the Posole Ole' Special Olympics Walk. As we made our way across town, Kim and I laughed that we really need to find volunteer events that occur later in the day--we both help with one of the breast cancer walks every spring, an event that also begins before dawn for us.

When we signed up for the event, it was unseasonably warm for November and it seemed like a grand idea to volunteer for such a wonderful organization as the Special Olympics. And it was a grand idea--just much colder than we'd anticipated thanks to the very cold front that came through this week. It was a brisk 23 degrees this morning when the walk began at 8:00. Unfortunately, the cold weather this morning did reduce the number of walkers. But the hearty souls that were in Old Town this morning, either as volunteers or participants, were cheered by the thoughts of the money being raised and posole and warm drinks at the end of the walk.

After our services were no longer needed, and we'd sufficiently warmed up at a nearby extension of a coffee chain, Kim and I headed to a craft fair at the high school near her house. It's amazing to me, having attended "craft shows" for many year, how much these have changed in the past 10 years. There were still the tissue box covers and other overly-tufted and tassled items I remember from childhood craft shows. But more common at this show were table after table of pottery, jewelry, glass and metal art, photography. Even the handcrafts available seem to have stepped up a notch. I picked up a few things--a stocking stuffer for my mother-in-law and a baby gift for friends.

I picked up several ideas of things that I need to share with the craftier among us--simple, cute, and not yet overly done by others. If I had any patience, I would tackle them since none seemed difficult to do. However, I also know myself and know that I would buy all the supplies and then tucker out before actually accomplishing the task. (I write that as I stare at the "learn to knit" kit I bought early in the year with every intention of learning to do this year that still sits on the hearth where it hasn't moved in several months except when I need to dust around it. I have worked on it--just not recently.)

The day isn't over yet--I'm heading up to Santa Fe with another friend for another volunteer obligation. This one will be less fun and more obligation (but still enjoyable since I'll get to work with someone I know/like). I think this one is indoors--definitely a plus.

(And the picture is the downspout at the front of the house--it had warmed up just enough when I got home at noon for the ice to slide out.)