Smorgasbord

We've continued to lose ornaments in record numbers. Not only is Anabelle a Fake-Christmas-Tree-Climber, but also an Ornament Killer. Last week I started collecting the downed ornaments in a bowl - just for kicks - and we've amassed quite a collection.

Some of them aren't broken, rather yanked unceremoniously off the tree. Not exactly the kind of Christmas they had in mind, I'm sure. Others have been cracked, and still one or two more are downright destroyed. A shattered butterfly and an angel that has lost its wings are the worst casualties. I don't have the heart to throw the angel away - it just seems like bad luck with Christmas just around the corner.

But we're all managing to cope just fine.

In other news...Nathaniel returned from 10 days in Yuma and its nice to have him home. Although his homecoming wasn't the glamorous one I had been imagining... rather than being all dolled up and waiting in my most elegant clothes (read: jeans and non-sports attired), I was taking a shower. I think I yelled at him 'DO NOT COME INTO THE BATHROOM', because really - there are just some things I don't want him to see.

I found him, twenty minutes later, drinking a beer and surfing the net. Some things never change.

What did surprise me, was his comment that he was, "really craving vegetables and healthy food."

Pardon?

"The healthiest thing I've eaten since being in Yuma - was Outback Steakhouse..."

I just stared.

He continued. "Yeah - and that was because I was trying to be healthy by ordering the 6 oz steak instead of the 10 oz or 14 oz."

"What else did you eat..." I asked, noting in amazement that the boy can consume whatever he wants and still not gain weight. Bastard. I swear that my stomach expands at the sight of milk chocolate and egg nog.

"We all split 4 or 5 appetizers between the 8 of us..." He went on to explain about the 2-pound burrito, the mid-flight snack of pop tarts and snickers, and the unusual mealtime hours.

"Wasn't there anything...good for you?" I interjected. This sounded like my own personal version of hell. Bad food and horrible hours; my GI system would rebel after two days, of that I was sure.

"Well, there was the 'Garden Burrito'...but that had spinach in it and I refuse to eat a burrito with spinach." was the only reply I got.

Oh my.

It knocked my socks off when he voluntarily chose to eat leftover Tofu Stir Fry. After enduring that particular meal for weeks during my Kona workups, I was sure he would never want to touch the stuff again. But he went after it with a vivacity that I rarely see.

Wow. It is nice to have him home.

On a different note: Is it wrong to admit that I actually like Russel from Survivor? The guy started out as a jerk - and still is in my opinion - but he's certainly making the game interesting. I actually cheered when he wasn't voted out last night. Brilliant strategist or classic asshole? You be the judge. All I know is that he's making the show more fun to watch.

And finally, we've got quite the busy weekend ahead; between Oscar's visit in support of his athlete racing the Footlocker National Cross Country Meet in Balboa Park, to the squadron Christmas Party (Nathaniel may be tasked to fly Santa in on the Huey - how exciting!), to rumors of an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party (think: Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy in 'Bridget Jone's Diary'), to our Wine Club Holiday Celebration, and my new book club on Sunday night, and Kim arriving for work on Monday (but we get to hang out for a few hours! YEA!)... I'm not really sure how we'll fit it in.

Thrown in the mix, I still need to complete my workouts, pick up a few Christmas Presents, READ the book club book (oops!), find an Ugly Sweater (because I've thrown all the old ones away...some things should just not be donated.), pack for Wisconsin and Minnesota (oh my god it will be cold cold cold), and keep the cat out of the tree.

I swear....

But hey - 'Tis the Season. And in spite the bustle and the chaoticness of it all, I love this time of year.

Now if you'll excuse me, I hear the telling chiming of ornaments. Time to prevent Anabelle from getting another one down. If she hasn't already.