Is it Christmas Yet?

Today is my last day of work until January 7th. No big plans which is perfectly fine by me. After the winter concert we attended last night (The Boy was fabulous), we walked into the parking lot and was greeted by freezing weather and snow flurries! Very slight and it only lasted for a few minutes but it’s gotten really cold here. Tonight’s low is supposed to be 38 degrees which is pretty cold for these parts.

Later this week, we have a little surprise for the kids and then we take our annual Christmas light tour with some very close friends. I plan to make fudge and these giant ginger cookies. They were a big hit last year. This year, my friend is bringing a new guy so we need to make room for one more. We’ll be crammed in the van like sardines but it will be cozy. REAL cozy. Hopefully not as cozy as a few years back when The Boy barfed all over everything. He’ll never live that one down. Ever since that night, Dramamine is required and plastic bags can be found in strategic locations throughout the van.

Christmas Eve, we’ll be heading to my MIL’s house. She lives very close-by so it’s an easy jaunt across town. Christmas Day is still up in the air. Not sure what we are doing yet. What I do know, is that I don’t want to cook. I usually love to cook but I am not feeling it this year. I cooked too much at Thanksgiving and then promptly got sick and so food is still a bit of a turn-off for me. Not that I am still sick. I’m not, but when you cook that much food while sick, you just get tired of food. Period.

I have no expectations for Christmas this year. We’ve been trying to save money and with the events of last week, simple is fine by me and frankly, I think the kids are okay with it too.

I’m not going offline between now and the holidays but in case you are, I just want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Endings and Beginnings: What Book Will You Be Reading?

For some reason, the beginning and end of a year seem more important than the rest of the year. Fresh starts? Happy endings? I know for me, the end of the year is usually bittersweet. Another year gone, and usually so many wonderful memories to keep me company.

At the same time though, I am ready to put 2012 to rest. I know you know what I mean. But does it filter over into your reading choices? While other readers work on their “best of” lists, I find myself considering what my last read of the year will be.

It could be any one of these. Click on the covers for more info:

Flight Behavior

Dear Life

Sweet Tooth

Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World

I ended last year with a Murakami book and I may do the same this year. His work has a tendency to scrub me of the year before. If that makes ANY sense at all. My brain is numb by the end of the year so stimulating reading tends to put me in the right frame of mind for the next year.

Have you thought about this at all? If so, what book do you plan to end the year with? I have to decide so I can decide on what book to begin the year with. Of course, as fickle as I am, I could change my mind and not go with any of these. I’m just not sure. I have two books to finish right now and then maybe two more depending on how long and involved they are. First world problems!

Also, I have been thinking of hosting a read-along for The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami next year. Maybe April? Anyone want to join me? If there’s interest, I’ll get the details together.