Christmas Eve Dinner

 

I spent Christmas Eve day w/ some very good friends: Susan, Jennie & Steffie. While Susan and Jennie live here, Steffie is only visiting for a week of two from California. It was a very relaxing day w/ great grub. We decided on a simple yet delicious meal: surf and turf.

The Menu

 

Surf and Turf was on the menu for the evening. Susan made rib-eye steaks, grilled eggplant and zucchini, and crab (see below). The food was divine.

The Surf

 

King crab legs, baby!

The Scarf

 

I think Steffie is bored...she started knitting. Here's the scarf she's making for her boyfriend, Josef.

The Cap

 

Here's Steffie modeling a cap that I made.

A Texas Pre-Christmas

 

For my mini-vacation, I flew to Houston to visit my cousin Carolyn. Instead of relaxing, we worked out until I thought my legs were going to fall off. Jeez...that woman walks about 10 miles a day. After our walks we went shopping and then came back for more walking. It was an absolutely fantastic vacation.

To New Friends

 

One of the good things about going to Houston was I got to meet an online friend, Bev (we belong to an online forum). It was so good to meet up with her after all these months of posts and emails. I got to meet Bev and her husband, Martin. It turned out to be the highlight of the trip.

Martin & Bev

 

The sweetest couple!

New Found Friends

 

Cousins

 

Fogo de Chao! Eating Brazilian Style

 

Martin and Bev took us to this wonderful Brazilian restaurant. Carolyn and I really tagged along w/ the grown-ups. The restaurant was stupendous. A fabulous salad bar followed by unbelievable amounts of meat. But the meat is cooked on skewers and when they are done, men pick up the skewers and walk around the restaurant serving it to anyone who wants some. There was beef (sirloin, rib eye, filet), lamb, pork, and chicken. It was a carnivore's dream.

Martin being Goofy

 

So there are these coasters at the table. One side is red, and the other side is green. If you want the servers to come around and bring meat, you turn your coaster to the green side. If you want them to stop, you turn it to the red side. Not a bad system, unless you forget.

Carolyn & Rosemary

 

School Christmas Party

 

Last week I got to attend a Christmas party for one of my PT jobs. I got a chance to reconnect w/ colleagues and eat some good food. Here's Bernice, the head of the school giving her address.

Crossing Paths

 

This is my friend, Amy. Our paths seem to continually cross. We met in Japan where I trained Amy. Later, Amy took a position at the Head Office and we met occasionally there. I left Japan and came back to the US and went to school. Then I headed back to Seattle where I got a part time job teaching. Who trained me at the new job? Amy. Amy then left to go to Turkey and then Japan to teach. When she came back, she took a position w/ a local tribe, where I was the consultant. Weird, huh?

The Boss Woman

 

This is Kim...Director of Admissions at the school and Jess' mom.

 

Here are Denny, Rebecca, Nan, Funda & Jess. Notice the white elephant gifts?

V's first Christmas

 

Here's a great shot of Christine and her son, V - the new addition to Christine's family.

Do we have to?

 

I make people sit for pictures. Joanne, Jo and Kaarin aren't all that thrilled.

White Elephant Treasure

 

We had a white elephant gift exchange...except that Amy and I got this great decanter and glasses set. Amy took the decanter and I got the glasses. Not a bad deal, especially since neither of us brought a gift to exchange.

Jess & the Gingerbread Man

Here's Kim's daughter, Jessica, at the craft table decorating a gingerbread man.

Growing up

 

My nephew, Conner, is growing by leaps and bounds. The last time I saw him, I swear he was still a toddler. Now he looks like a little man.

 

Colleagues

In November I had a staff meeting where I do some teaching on the side. Here's the pic of my colleagues. Notice how there is only 1 guy in the picture? Amy said that the picture looked like Denny (the lone male) and his wives.

 

Thanksgiving Recovery

Well, apparently I did some damage yesterday...3 lbs. so far. I won't know the full extent of the damage for another several days but hopefully it won't be too much worse. Everything was delish but it felt good to eat a salad today.

Anyhoo...still trying to decide where I'll be going for Christmas. Hawaii? Vermont? Stay in Washington? Too many decisions.

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

What a great day. I went over to see Steve & Heidi and their daughter (my goddaughter - Sophia). It was a small, relaxed gathering...just the way I like it. Here's a shot of Sophia taking her nap before the festivities began. Check out the rest of the pics below.

Eric & Susan