Christmas in Germany

So I recently got back from a trip to Germany to visit the Frankfurt Christmas market. Its not the most gemütlichkeit of markets (plunked right down in the middle of a busy shopping strasse) but hey, beggers can't be choosers. I did get my fill of gluewhein and sausage, tried some honey wine and schnaps and did some Christmas shopping. One of the main things I was on the prowl for was mulling spices for my wine, but apparently I was too early and the stores hadn't put it out yet. Luckily there is a German deli in DC that carries it!

My Christmas party last weekend was indeed as success. I was a little fretful when I woke up in the morning with sinus pain and thought briefly about cancelling. But a nap in the afternoon straightened things out. All in all about 35 people showed up and in the end only 1 bottle (out of 22) of wine was remaining along with a 1/2 liter of vodka. And there were no left overs to clean up!

So now is the run up to Christmas. I mailed all boxes last week and I have foregone cards this year. I just didn't feel like spending the money or time to do them. Maybe next year. If all goes well I'll get a standby seat on the last flight direct to KC on the 24th and then come back to DC on the 27th.

Christmas season is starting

and I haven't even gotten over Thanksgiving yet!
I woke up on Turkey day to cold but sunny skies. Elsa and I met John and Auggie for a walk around the cemetery and then Scott picked her up to take her up to Pennsylvania with him. I cleaned the bathroom. I spent the afternoon at the house of my friends Steve and Jayson and some of their friends. Had some great turkey and big slice of carrot cake for dessert. I could barely keep my eyes open at 4pm! Unfortunately, I wasn't in the position to just slide down to their basement for a nap. Things broke up around 5pm and I went home, where I promptly realized I was alone on a holiday and that was a bummer... The blues stuck with me all weekend during my trip to Calgary, but I'm perking up this week. Prior to Thanksgiving, I had called in sick with a headcold, and so took 12 days off. When I have too much time on my hands, I tend to over analyse things.
So now its time to look forward to a new month. So far I have 4 holiday parties lined up and decided to throw one of my own - why not! I'm hosting a gleuhwein (hot mulled German wine) party on the 14th. Now I need to figure out how to make it! For Christmas I am going to try and fly home to Kansas City (assuming my dad makes it back from Australia. He's flying on passes, so you never know....). I'll have back up plans in the event that I can't make it home since I don't want to sit around feeling blue all alone (Elsa will be in PA again).
Won't be doing any shopping this year. I'm keeping my $$ for myself! I find it amusing that the powers that be have just decided that we are in a recession... which started last December! I'm working tomorrow and then meeting with my career counselor friend on Friday to get started with a "networking" plan. Hopefully I can start networking at my first Christmas party!