Mmmmm. Gluhwein. I am having many very Swiss Christmas thoughts. Let's start with Karen's journal today. Pictures from the Christmas market. I had so much fun at the Christmas market. But the real thing that got me in the mood was my after-work trip to Supertarget. Before I even realized what I was doing, I was loading tangerines, chocolates, and peanuts. Ok. That's just plain weird, and I remember telling a number of Swiss people last year how weird it was. That's when I realized - tomorrow is Saint Nicholas's Day. That's when he comes down from his home on the top of one of the highest Alps to bring children tangerines, chocolates, and peanuts.

I guess Switzerland really did grow on me if I am missing walking home from work in the chilly, damp air (much like the weather is in Houston today), through the random outdoor stalls that sprung up in late November, and eating chesnuts and having at least one cup of gluhwein before retreating to girls gossip fest at the "Nunnery" and then the pub. MMMM. Gluhwein and roasted chesnuts.

Don't worry, I'm definitely not a live in Switzerland convert (though I could be convinced to spend part of next holiday season in a German country and it wouldn't take too much effort). On the other hand, on the radio this morning, after they did the weather forcast for Houston (40 degrees, dreary and wet), they did the forecast for Cancun, Mexico (75 degrees, sunny and clear), and Mexico sounded awfully tempting too.

Or that song we sung in 5th grade choir - "I want a Christmas in Tahiti"