Noticing our humanness, Christmas 2012.

It started at a tree lot.

Micah and I actually went to a Christmas tree lot this year, instead of our usual grab-the-smallest-tree-our-grocery-store-has.

It was a weekday night, a week before Christmas, and the lot had only a handful of other customers. The little trees were up front, but we wandered to the back just to take in the sight of the big ones. They towered above us. I imagined the million dollar houses and fancy building lobbies that those big trees would end up in. They seemed as though they were created for greatness.

As we made our way back to the small trees, we were met by one of the tree lot associates. He was kinda rough around the edges, his sweatshirt worn, his pants dirty. His hair was a little unruly.

He was friendly though and offered his tips on what kind of tree we should get, and whether or not we should get a tree stand. But, as he did, snot streamed down his face. S.t.r.e.a.m.e.d. I tried to look away politely, not wanting to seem rude, but not wanting to look either. I really wished I had had a kleenex to offer him, although he eventually found something that took care of the job.

But, there was something that stood out to me was....he did not seem to care a darn bit. I mean, he was doing his job and colds and snot are probably just a natural part of it. And although I felt a twinge of sadness or maybe it was guilt, or perhaps it was some sense of pity, I also felt inspired. Here was this guy, working with his hands, in the cold, selling trees on an urban corner in San Francisco, with snot running down his face, and he was just doing his thing.

And, we talked and I purchased a tree, and while the interaction was mundane, I think it meant something. And not in a it's the holidays, so let's care about others kind of way, but a we're all human and interacting is something we do way. It's mundane and human interactions don't have to be life-changing, but they can be meaningful when we stop to notice the humanness of another person and the humanness of ourselves.

It started at a tree lot.

It started at a tree lot and has kind of stuck with me.

This noticing of my humanness, of other's humanness.

My client's kid literally speechless and hiding when he saw his Christmas toy: a new bike.

Hard conversations with people I love.

Rubbing my high school friend's pregnant belly.

My neighbor sending me a picture of my cat on Christmas.

Laughing with people I love and sharing food with people I love.

The American Airlines representative who told me he had been cussed out nine times that day.

The girl on the plane with the barking dog.

The homeless man selling the paper Street Sheet and looking him in the eye.

Seeing that our interactions mean that we are living, perhaps not joyfully all the time, but living.

It started at a tree lot.

a late christmas present.

For Christmas, Micah gave me a subscription to Food & Wine. It said my first magazine would take 6-8 weeks to arrive, and they were not kidding. However, the first one has finally arrived, and I was so excited when it did.



I spent the following morning looking at all the pretty pictures and reading over the amazing-sounding recipes. And, when I got up for a brief moment, Nora decided that she had had enough of me paying more attention to the magazine than her.



Magazines like this one are best when read on a full stomach! I'm hoping I can incorporate a recipe or two into this week's menu.

O Christmas Tree

O Christmas tree! O Christmas tree!

Much pleasure thou can'st give me;

O Christmas tree! O Christmas tree!

Much pleasure thou can'st give me;

How often has the Christmas tree

Afforded me the greatest glee!

O Christmas tree! O Christmas tree!

Much pleasure thou can'st give me.

Disney during the holidays.

(Yes, I know it's January, but I never got around to posting these.)

Over Thanksgiving, I got the chance to go to Disneyland for the second time. Seeing as though I've only ever been during the holidays, I can't compare it to any other time. But, for some reason, I'm under the impression that it's just a little bit more magical with all the lights and decorations and parades and

fake snow.

Mmm...Mickey Mouse beignets.

Of course we rode the much anticipated teacup ride.

It makes me nauseous every time (all 2 times I've been), but I can't turn it down.

The Dumbo ride was also on the agenda,

although you can't really tell that we're riding it here.

And when the sun goes down, it's time for the holiday parade,

which features a number of familiar disney faces.

And, of course, Santa comes at the end!

But if you think the fun is over once Santa's passed by, you'd be sadly mistaken.

Because, after all that, there's still fireworks, the lighting of the castle,

and fake snow to come.

And, if you think that it doesn't get cold in Southern California,

you'd also be mistaken.

You better have hot chocolate or coffee to warm your freezing hands

(just a heads up, both are terrible at Disney).

The Castle looks pretty mysterious all lit up and glowing from the smoke and chemical remains of the fireworks. But, magical all the same.

3 Christmases: Part 3, Denver.

The third and final Christmas was in Denver on Christmas day. It definitely wasn't what I wanted in that we weren't around my family. But, due to changing circumstances and ticket prices that were beyond what we could pay, it still turned out great. It was a low key holiday. Low key did not come without a lot of work...

We worked a lot in the kitchen. A Lot! We started Christmas eve eve with a brine and butter toffee.

I decided to try brining a turkey, pioneer woman style. I must admit that it did not turn out that great. It was dry. Probably had more to do with our lack of cooking skills and therefore over cooking it than the brine itself, but who knows. It was my first time cooking a turkey.

The little Christmas tree that could survive the wrath of our cat Nora.

After almost a full day of prepping, we started Christmas off the right way, with homemade sticky buns. I would eat these every morning if I could afford the time to make them and the time to work them off.

Nora was quite excited about presents. She got kittens of boxville postcards and cat treats!

I got an anthropologie sweater from my sister and brother-in-law.

Micah got a burr grinder from them.

I found this little gal stuffed in my stocking. She's this year's new ornament.

Since we weren't going to be around family, we invited some friends over for dinner. It was nice to have people to spend part of the day with.

I wanted to spruce the dinner up a bit, so we got some white spider mums and I printed out a menu of all the food we were having. Here's the table setting, complete with the Christmas menu,

and salt and pepper shakers (Christmas present from my parents).

I think the simplistic decor looked nice.

Overall, we had good food,

and GREAT company.

And that concludes the 3 Christmases of 2010.

3 Christmases: Part 2, Birmingham.

Birmingham was the second stop for Christmas celebrations. I had scheduled to go early to help out my parents when my dad went back into the hospital for the second part of his cancer treatments. Unfortunately, it was postponed yet again, but on the positive side he was feeling much better while I was there. My dad and I went shopping for a christmas tree together on the Tuesday after I flew in. We went to I don't know how many places and walked at least a couple miles in the mall. We eventually found one with my mom, when she joined us later that afternoon. It's a pre-lit one, and amazingly not that difficult to assemble. I think it looked nice.

When I first got to Alabama, it was freezing. And, I mean really cold. For example, here is a picture of one of the fountains at the Summit (an outdoor mall). If you can't tell, it is thickly coated in ice.

Further proof that this fountain was actually in Birmingham. Here's Heather posing in front of it. Too bad it's blurry.

These pictures were taken at our annual Christmas dinner (wish I had taken more). It's a tradition that Heather, MK, and I have kept going strong since we graduated from high school 9 years ago. It first started out with us actually making the food, but a couple years in morphed into us just going out for food. Much easier. This year we went to Flip Burger, a fancy new burger place in Bham. Burgers: I'm sensing a Christmas theme this year. Anyway, the best part was their milkshakes. The four of us (Heather's twin sister joined us this year) split 2: Nutella & Roasted Marshmallow and Yule Cake. Both were delicious, but I think my favorite was the yule cake. Every time this tradition roles around and "survives" another year, I feel so thankful for long-lasting friendships. I'm the type of person that doesn't have tons of friends, but I have a small group of really close friends. I like it better that way. I am grateful for the richness that they bring to my life, for their laughter and encouragement, and simply put their presence.

Changing topics. This is Jav. He's been around for a long time too. 15 years (I think) to be exact.

He's a bit of a grumpy old man.

He pretty much sleeps the day away.

But that's ok. He's old, so he gets to do that.

The night before we left, Micah and I celebrated Christmas with my parents. My mom set up the table all cute and we made tons of food, including my favorite sweet potato dish.

We shared favorite Christmas memories,

and then popped opened some champagne before opening presents.

The next day, before leaving, we went to a new(ish?) Greek restaurant, Do Di Yos. I was actually impressed by the meal (maybe it has something to do with the fact that Denver restaurants are so terrible, they've lowered my expectations.) One thing I did find odd though was that they bring out hummus for you to mash up yourself. Huh? You want me to do your job for you? They claim that this way you can make it as creamy as you like. I can't puree garbanzo beans with a mortar and pestle. And who likes their hummus chunky? Enough people to warrant a do-it-yourself experience? I seriously doubt that. Anyway, here's Micah trying to smooth out our hummus.

Oh, and the pita chips were incredibly OVER peppered. It was way too much!

But my salad and main entree was tasty. It definitely kept me full for the flight back to Denver (which was delayed and lengthened by about 2 hours.) Southwest makes me want to pull out my hair sometimes, but yet they have the best deals and everyone knows I'm a sucker for a low price.

Mom. Dad. I had a great time!

3 Christmases: Part 1, Los Angeles.

Part one of Christmas was really Thanksgiving in LA, but we did celebrate by decorating the tree, drinking hot chocolate, and opening presents. For some reason, every s.i.n.g.l.e time I visit LA, it is unusually cold. For some unknown reason, it is in the 70s before I come and in the 70s after I go, but while I'm there it is always much cooler, or overcast, or rainy. It's a mystery, but I've concluded that LA just doesn't like me.

I guess I can't really complain, because even bad weather in LA, is nothing compared to other places. I mean, we still went for a beautiful walk on the beach, while spotting dolphins and admiring a perfect sunset.

One thing I unfortunately did not think of doing was taking a picture of all 6 of us. But, at least I got everyone is twos. So, here's Tana and Crystal.

Thanksgiving was bursting with food, and the leftovers were still in abundance when our Christmas celebration came around. Everyone thought it was time for a little something different in our diet, so we got in-n-out. Oh, in-n-out, how I miss you. I'm not even ashamed to admit that I ate in-n-out twice while in LA. Best fast food place ever!

After eating our Christmassy burgers and fries, we gathered round the tree, all lit up and decorated with memories. My mother-in-law loves Christmas decorations. She bargain hunts for them in the off season and takes joy in each piece that has been gifted to her. I loved listening to her share memories that are wrapped up in the different ornaments and figurines and holiday dishes she owns.

We opened presents (me, moreso than anyone else because I had birthday presents as well!). I made a couple of the presents we gave, clutches for my sisters-in-law and a table runner for my mother-in-law. I think they liked them, but I know I had fun making them. Piecing the fabric together and creating something out of nothing (ok, there might have been a few moments when I cursed the day I thought taking up sewing would be a fun/easy hobby). But, I'm glad I did it.