Big White Karaoke Christmas 2010

Christmas Eve Skate

We had a relatively quiet Christmas Eve. Miranda, John and girls came over for a Swiss fondue (steamed veggies and baget) and games. Peter made his first batch of carmel squares and they were delectable. Christmas Day we went for another skate followed by a delicious Greek-inspired Christmas dinner at M & J's with a Swiss family and two Chinese PhD students from Beijing.
Mist, Tabs and Nemi are in Nelson with John visiting Auntie T's family and skiing. Peter and I and Pip are baching it until Wednesday as are Miranda and Artemis.
Miranda just picked up Pip. She is taking Pip and Artemis to "The Frog Prince" movie. Pip was so excited and is at the theatre as I write this.
A little unwell the past week. Upper abdominal pain and fever. Spent far too many hours in emergency to find out (to my relief) I am perfectly healthy. The fever must have been an intestinal virus and the pain most likely a ripped muscle from moving furniture all month. All the chocolate can't be helping either!
Happy tomorrow is Monday-a fresh start to the next phase of the holidays. I will get back to my work outs and planning how to refresh my personal mandala. I think a meditation class and acting class or skating lessons are in order and perhaps Wednesdays at Big White for "ladies day" skiing. I hate that title, it sounds almost insulting. So from now on I will rename it Women's Wild Wednesdays at Big White.
Peter purchased a tripod on boxing day for my camera. I am so excited to start tramping through the wilderness to photograph wild life and use my photos for my paintings.
Reading Jack London's biography--very inspiring. I share his sense of adventure, love of writing and story and his physicality--craving physical adventure challenges not just mental ones.

Never Say Never

My darling Tabitha. She could hardly wait to get outside and rake the leaves--she's such an organizer and incredibly self-motivated. I must say, when I saw her dressed as Queen Elizabeth I--her entire demeanor radiated someone who could indeed, successfully rule the world!
Just got back from the dentist--a cleaning. My teeth look fab. I couldn't believe the dentist though, he tried to push a professional whitening on me--HELLO! If my teeth get any whiter they'll glow in the dark! Couldn't he tell I've been using Listerene whitening pre-rinse for months?
The twins were wonder girls. They sat quietly watching a movie on my computer--I'd brought a blanket for them to "snuggle when we get scared." They are so cute, making pre-movie snuggle/cuddle contracts before the movie starts to ensure they'll be cared for during any forth coming scary "parts."
Then a quick stop at The Bread CO. for Vienna buns for the big girl's school lunches.
Tonight Mist has dance, which takes up most of the evening. Thus my date night will be pushed to Thursday--supper out or a movie. Friday evening we attend a pot-luck for Mist's Social Justice Club at school--raising money for a school in Africa. I will make a carrot cake to bring. I make great carrot cake with delicious cream-cheese icing. One of my signature dishes since I was a wee teen.
It is officially fall, so I  will start skating or indoor water park Friday nights with the girls. I will also try out a meditation group at Kelowna Yoga House on Monday nights. I like to plan ahead because I can get very bored in the fall and winter. The dark nights make one want to curl up in bed each night early. But if I do that, I'll go out of my head with boredom after a week. SO, instead--to save my mind--I plan at least three evenings out a week throughout the dark/cold seasons.
 I really try to get out snowboarding/skiing on Sundays to keep my spirits high throughout the season. This year I want passes to Crystal so Mist, Tabs and I and even Pip can ski each Sunday. We'll all ski this year--snowboarding on hold. I could send Tabs and Mist up to Big White at night with their school--but call me cautious--I know ski hills at night. I don't want my kids up at Big White without Peter or I. It is a very busy, enormous place.  Not to mention a very high risk sport. No, they'll ski with me until they're older. I'd love to get into the skate type of cross-country skiing--I 'd love it. However, there is only so much time in a season. I'll be lucky to squeeze in any downhill.
Peter is going to be away nearly all next week. First he'll be in Vancouver, then he's flying to Saskatoon to visit his mom. He'll miss a big party at Miranda's house. I'll tell you more about the party when Miranda decides which kind she's going to have: gigantic open house or smaller mafia party. I'm game for either. Either way I believe there may be wine tasting involved. I have a very sensitive wine palate--I'm a super taster. I just love a good party.
I'm really starting to miss my fiction writing and painting. I'd start them up again, but I fear overload until this degree is done. But never say never.