Wow, Christmas was such a blur of activity, I don't even know where to start. But based on comments from my Grandmother and Aunt Diane, the family is waiting with bated breath for my journal's "review" of the holiday. I think my Granddad and Aunt Di both took some great digital pics, and I'll try to post them when I get them.

So here is the long summary<

TUESDAY, The EVE

Arrived in West Palm on Christmas Eve to Aunt Di & Granddad (thanks for not sending a car! It was so nice to be greeted by someone you love!) and fed a wholesome meal of my favorite salad.

WEDNESDAY, The Day

Christmas Day I woke up early enough to watch Allie and Lauren excitedly open presents. Allie got horseback riding lessons for Christmas. I am so jealous - that's second best thing to actually getting that pony that goes on the list every year. Then we had my favorite breakfast in the world (involving smoked fish and bagels - yum, Boca!). I got a hammock and a picture of the Yardley duck pond for my wall and many books for Christmas. And power tools (arg arg arg). No bras or spatulas. Just what I wanted.

For Dinner, we went to the Mai Tai - which is like the pinacle of tacky Florida tourist stuff. I had a SHRUNKEN SKULL as my pre-dinner cocktail . My mom had a flaming coffee and several had drinks in pinapples with little unbrellas. And yes, we watched a performance of hula dancers, flame throwers, and other random tales from the South Pacific. My family is so weird (in a good way!).

THURSDAY

The next day we were all recovering. And I saw a movie (Catch Me if You Can - which I enjoyed). It was a good day to sleep and read. Actually, I finally finished "His Dark Materials", the supposedly children's books by Philip Pullman (way too dark and allegorical to be that, but still). I highly recommend them, they were riveting (seriously, I had a hard time putting them down).

FRIDAY

I took Allie and Cody to Magic Kingdom at Disney World. I have never been in such huge crowds. Ever. But we got to go in the Haunted House and on Its a Small World, so life was good. And I had kids along so I looked like I actually belonged at Disney. I'm just a cool cousin - how many people get a trip to Disney World from their cousin for Christmas!? Enough Said.

SATURDAY

Saturday was hang with the friends day. Its always so great to see my high school friends. I wish I could spend more time with them -- maybe if I ever move to D.C. (which is now on my Top-5-places to live list) I'll have more opportunity. Anyway, we went to Italian for lunch and stayed for several hours (I was so full). Then went to Melissa's house (Sharon is in Tanzania - how random! She's on a safari looking at elephants Right Now) to see her ugly alien like cats and her mother's poodle (yappy and pampered - aptly named "Princess"). Then I went back to Maayan's house (oh my gosh - her little brother is so TALL) and we socialized (I need to call Maayan and chat with her more often - she rocks and she gets bonus points for reading this journal - how cool! I even saw Nitzan for the first time in years, and she's still too smart for her own good.).

I went home for a couple hours to spend quality time with my mom.

Then back out with the friends to a new coffee shop with live music. As it turns out the music was awful, and it looked like a gathering place for very unhappy divorcee couples (I doubled the tip for the waiter, cause he was cute and I figured if you had to work in a place like that every night you'd want to commit suicide). Then we went to play pool until midnight. Melissa and Nitzan and I were playing on the "lousy player" table - it took us hours to play just three games :).

SUNDAY

Sunday was one last family gathering then home. I totally didn't want to come home - I love vacation. But at least there is fun to be had this week, Irwin is in town, and we have 1.5 days off work and I have a new house to decorate. Yippee!!