Dakota

I had dinner with Joyce tonight. The dinner was nice, despite the car ride that reminded me why I never liked her driving me anywhere (she gets anxious and tantrum-y when she doesn't know where she is). We spoke about things going on in my life, the most prominent of mine being the HOH disaster, the Matt fiasco, the work stress, and the true blessing that is WEBS.

Cheers to the Elephants, whether it be on stage or off; it is they that got me through 2007 when no one else could.

Dinner with Joyce was the first of the December Festivities of Uncertainty. The only thing I know for certain is I will be in Connecticut for Christmas proper, which I am looking forward to, predominately so that I can be catty with Amy, Michelle, and Wendy. I have invitations from Dad and Michele as well, and from Amy2 and Andrea for other December days. I don't know what to expect day-to-day anymore so I'm not sure exactly what Matt is doing.

Jamie is back in New Jersey after deciding that Guadeloupe turned out to be a lonely, frustrating, and barren wasteland. I understand this decision.

Work in the morning... much to do and worry about. In addition, I've got to score presents for the holidays and several of them have to be in the next week or so if I am in fact seeing other family members before Day.

I spent my holidays with my father, Michele, Daniel, Amy2, and Andrea. It was a fine, lo-key Christmas. I never really explained it all in my LJ, but I was not with Matt this Christmas; he was in Disney World with his sister, his mom, his sister's husband, and Jamie.

He is returning now; his plane is in the air. I have missed him (he was gone for 5 days, but it was a busy 5 days) and am glad he is returning. Very fortunately tomorrow is Friday which means I don't have too much stress until Monday.

Christmas itself was nice; I had my traditional 5+ hour conversation with Andrea, where we got personal and sociological. Always the best.

Matt and I are throwing a New Years Eve soirée this Sunday, which is sure to be the event of the season. Especially since we've finally hit a guest list of more than 10. Oi! Should be superfun, though.

I haven't been writing a lot, and I'm writing from the PC on the second floor, which I haven't gotten used to yet fully. I'll manage.

I still haven't finalized my plans for Christmas... It's not even a holiday I celebrate, and a lot of people want a piece of me. And I want to cram as much without driving myself crazy. With Matt gone, I was certain that I would be here, alone, and potentially happier for it (as opposed to doing something, anything else at all). Maybe I was punishing myself, or doing a quiet dramatic; it's still an option that I actually wish I could take. However because I do enjoy the time and company of others who will be available at that time, I don't think it's going to happen.

My ideal plans were to somehow get to my parents' in South Jersey, and then travel with them to Connecticut for the grandparents, and then go back to South Jersey and spend the time there with them and my step-sisters and get my sarcasm on, and to come back with Andrea. From the look of it, none of that fits with anyone else's plans. Dad and Michele are going to Connecticut on Wednesday (when I need to be back to the work). Andrea is going to be in South Jersey from Monday to Wednesday. The first visitation isn't the most important place (be it Connecticut or Cape May), but I don't know if I will be able to get to Connecticut at all.

I will disappoint at least someone. I already have.

Christmas has come and gone... It was such a whirlwind last year, that this past weekend seemed pretty tame. There were three different holiday events... Yule on Wednesday with Matt, Jamie, and Genevieve. Christmas Eve was with Matt's mom, Maria, Ed, Matt, and surprise guest Jamie (who didn't have anything else to do, so we insisted he come). Afterwards, Matt and I came home to exchange presents.

On Christmas Day, Matt and I went to Cape May to visit Dad and Michele. Andrea, Amy2, and Amy2's new beau, Jimmy (an Irish lad) were there as well. Of course, so was Daniel, who is a nearly 3-year-old ball of energy. Gifts were exchanged, meals were had. Food was very good, and I got some nifty stuff!

(selections)

- A Button Maker!
Matt got me a button maker! This this big, heavy, metal crank of doom! The buttons are a good in-between size, and even though I have to get used to it still (I fucked up a few of them, but have over 200 to start with!), it's damn awesome. Perhaps I will become associative partners with Genevieve and Danielle, 'cause I think mine's a bit more advanced than there's (crank of dooooom!), and I can now make Lil Attila buttons, in addition to the somewhat illegal, copyright-be-damn print outs and scans I'm also planning on making.

- Baby the Broadway Cast Recording
Matt also got me this: a nostalgic (very dated, and a little sonically harsh and brassy here and there) musical that Dad was in. In fact it's where he met Michele, who was playing his wife. Sho'nuff. I remember almost every word. I've also realized I've seen the woman who plays Arlene (the role Michele played) in The Boy from Oz, and it's one of Liz Callaway's (Anastasia, Aladdin sequels, Cats, Miss Saigon) first roles. Splendid, although sadder than I remember it. The songs really reflect the sad points of the show, as not as much of the spoken (and therefore off-record) comedy.

- Alias season 4!
Whoot! Can they top my favorite show's best season (#2) and it's other amazing ones?

- $100
Already spent on first seasons of Lost and Desperate Housewives, the third season of 24, and Alanis Morissette's best-of CD.

- Wirework necklace!
Genevieve gave me a very beautiful necklace made of stone and wire and cord. She also gave me a glass bottle, with was accented with beads and wire.

- Cthulhu Plushie!
Ok, this was a present to myself. He's tiny and green and soft and fluffy and evil.

- Reefer Madness DVD
Reeeefer madness, reeeeefer madness... Genevieve's awesome.

- Dar Williams' The End of the Summer
Great first half of the disc, a dull as fuck latter half-- but a damn awesome first half. Jamie's awesome, even if he didn't know what it was when he got it for me.

There were others, and they were all splendid. Yay, happy!

Going back to life as normal has hit Matt and I pretty hard. We both woke up very late on Monday (Christmas Day, Observed) and today. I took both days "off" (but on call if needed) 'cause I have them coming to me, and I don't really want to do anything. Since the phone lines have been silent, I'm glad our customers agree.

Now to make buttons!

Jamie actually had to remind me today that Sunday was Christmas.

I keep forgetting, really. Matt had asked about Sunday. Sunday? What's going on Sunday. Oh... Sunday.

It's like the quietest moving storm ever, this year.

My sleep schedule is really just more of a suggestion. For the last two weeks or so (not counting blissful weekends that end too soon), I have been getting up at 9 am, been exhausted by 5 pm, and stayed up til 2 am or later. It's not even that I'm doing anything at 2 am-- I'm just wide awake. I had nap issues some weeks back, so I stopped taking them. Now I'm just a zombie til about 10 pm where I'm good for another few hours. Sucks.

I think that I am finished with my shopping for Christmas. Which is debatable. I have a shopping problem. I love getting stuff for other people. I like presents, too, but it's the same reason that I want to make people CD's, or make icons that I'll never use but they will. It's this strange fascination I have with being the reason someone is happy.

I had to forcibly stop myself getting presents for Matt... I would like to have money after Christmas, too.

...I am so brainwashed by the white Hollywood Christian machine. I don't even celebrate "Christmas," but it's the all encompassing holiday I put all December events under. Fuckers.

Yes, Charlie Brown-- there will be a Christmas this year!