Can You Hear Me Now?

Another Christmas has passed and another Boxing Day sales week has begun!

I am soooooooo full! *burp*

Christmas Eve this year was spent at my friend Lisa’s house, and what a night it was! She is 100% Italian and it was a TRUE Italian style Christmas! (Not that I would know… but I am taking her word for it). It was a house full of people, laughter, love, food and drink… just what you imagine a big family Christmas to be like. My family here is very small, so it’s been a looooong time since I’ve experienced anything like this, and the fact they welcomed me (and Lisa’s boyfriend Russ) like family made it all the more enjoyable. I had met Lisa’s (gem of a) mother a few times before, but I had never met her Dad. What a hoot! He’s a true Italian and even pronounces my name like the Italian word it is (”Donna” is Italian for “Lady”, dontcha know). He sings like Pavarotti (yup, he broke into Italian opera singing at the dinner table. Just like in the movies!! Or those Italian pasta commercials!! Or is it pizza crust? Whatever). I felt like I was living a scene or two from “Moonstruck” only Lisa is blonder than Cher.

As Lisa mentioned in her blog, there were a few dishes broken prior to dinner being served. I had to laugh because I thought that was tradition AFTER eating, but then I remembered I mixed up my cultures and that is actually a Greek ritual. Heh. (So close though, really… large, tight knit families big on tradition, talking with their hands, food and wine. What’s the difference?? Hee!)

The food… Oh, my, the food… So many choices and SO MUCH!! I don’t like most seafood so I skipped over the shrimp and crab wraps, but I did get some fried cod. There were salads (including a yummy Greek one, I love me some feta!) as well as turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes (a bottomless gravy boat! Whee!) cranberry sauce, etc. There was a plate of cheese I really wanted to try (I loooove cheese!) but I was too… um… full (shhh!) I think it was called Bel Paese, (thanks, Google) an Italian cheese kinda like mozzarella. Dad kept handing me beer (”you’re not driving, are you?? HERE.”) and if ever my hand was not holding a drink, he made sure to keep me in a consistent supply of rum and egg nog or his infamous punch. I apologize for leaving empty/not so empty cups and glasses strewn about the main floor of the house, I am sure!! Who could keep track?

Lisa’s mom makes this FABULOUS cake every year for dessert… it is a chocolate cake layered with chocolate pudding, cherries soaked in liquor, whipped cream… mmmm… and she cuts these HUGE pieces for everyone. I was offered an Espresso and was warned of the strength (so Maria added cream and sugar) but you know, it wasn’t as strong as I expected so next time I can skip the sugar. I’m a black coffee drinker, and I can TAKE it. The cake, however, was too much for me to finish (I really wanted to! It was sooooo good, but there just wasn’t any more room in my tummy!) so Maria sent me home with some!

Then it was over to the music room where Lisa played the piano and Russ pulled out his guitar too. Christmas carols mixed in with Evanescence songs. Oh, and some Led Zeppelin thrown in for good measure. Heh. Lisa and I exchanged gifts; we are known for enjoying a little bellini once in awhile, so her giving me a martini glass candles set was just too cute! And Purdy’s chocolate, of course (caramels! She knows me!) From me, Lisa got a little red glass purse filled with Purdy’s and Lindt chocolates. Because we KNOW what we like! Tee hee! I had already given her a Polyjesters CD last week… and Russ got that too. Because everyone needs a little Ka-Chunk in their life!! Woot! (I’m listening to Don of a Family as I type this. Heh).

I got the grand tour of the house… and I have never seen anything like it before!! Lisa’s family has lived there for 25 years, and her mom has worked hard decorating and collecting a lot over the years. It is like a museum! There must be a magazine out there that can feature this house. You need photographs to tell the story, my words would never be enough. All I could think of was how much I would dread dusting everything LOL They have a beautiful home with beautiful things and I am sure there are many, many stories behind everything in it.

By 1:00 a.m. nobody looked ready to go anywhere yet (not even the young kids! They were still running around like little monkeys) but knowing I had to get up early to go to my mom’s, I figured I better head out. I said my goodbye’s, got my hugs and promises of having me over when it’s “quieter and not so many people”, and Lisa and Russ drove me home. It was SUCH a wonderful night, one I will never forget!!

The next morning was Christmas day, and my Stepdad Bob and my brother came to get me. After driving to Eric’s to get him, we drove out to my mom’s house in Strathmore to spend the day. Ahhhhh mom’s house! Always a place of comfort. Eric was welcomed with open arms and I think suitably impressed everyone by being the smart, well mannered 17 year old he is. We were greeted by a table of food, of course. Mom makes THE BEST cheese balls. Mmmmm cheese. We loaded up our plates and sat in the living room. Mom’s friend Lori dropped by with her little dog. OMG he is so cute!!!! An adorable Maltese who couldn’t help but take some of the attention away from mom’s dog Clancy for awhile. Eeeee what a sweetie!!!

We opened our presents, and my brother and I both received the same major gift - a “digital photography starter kit”, with a digital camera and colour printer. Woot! I’ve finally got a digital camera!!! Now I just need someone to come over and set all this up for me! My brother gave me the new Duran Duran CD and DVD (yaaaaaay!) as well as the movie “Elf“, which we watched before supper. I got chocolates, perfume, jewelry, and lots of little things that generally add up to another year of being spoiled. I got my mom the Maya Angelou cookbook and a change jar that says “Boob Job Fund”. She says she will take it to work to collect LOL Oh, and everyone got “Ka-Chunk” too. I bought a lot of those this year!!

Even Eric got stuff… mom put together a stocking for him filled with goodies as well as giving him a box of fancy cookies. No one goes home on an empty stomach or empty handed from my mom’s at Christmas! Eric still hadn’t listened to the Jakalope CD I gave him… I assured him that yes, indeed, they are a very cool band, and I did not give him some old lady music CD. I told him about the Nokia commercial that features “Pretty Life” and his eyes lit up… yes, he has seen that. Yes, Donna can be cool.

Dinner was excellent… allllllll my favourites!! And followed by a wonderful trifle mom made with brownies at the bottom instead of sponge cake. Mmmmm After dinner we all crashed in the comfortable TV room and watched most of “Grease” before Bob drove us all home. Eric had never seen all of Grease, so I took it upon myself to explain how it ended and act out the songs on the way home.

Now I am bursting out of my jeans (hell, I was bursting out of my bra last night… only my mom seemed to understand that. Come on, guys, you try wearing underwire for 14 frickin’ hours and not want to set those babies free! Geez).

Well, now I must be off if I want to make it over to the mall for some Boxing Day specials… I hear Wal-Mart has some pretty cheap DVDs!! OUTTA MY WAY!!!!!!!! Yeah, I know, I have a death wish. Heh.