Day: December 25, 2003

Germany's top-selling newspaper has published nothing but good news, dropping its normal fare of crime, violence and scandal for stories about tax cuts, falling petrol prices and accelerating economic growth.

… cause I didn't get coal in my stocking.

In fact, I got some really cool things:
– a columbia winter coat (it rocks! and I know some friends will be ecstatic that I'll be getting rid of the McGill dead-cow jacket)
– a 25-piece sushi serving kit
– sushi making material and recipes (rice, seaweed, candied ginger and WASSABI!). I'm going to need volunteers to try out my concoctions. strychnyn and eniran, want to be my first victims?
– aftershave
– various pieces of clothing (it's not xmas unless I get at least one pair of boxer shorts from at least one family member – it's becoming a running gag)
– a fridge magnet (don't ask, another long-standing running gag)

Xmas is going well, which is a big relief (touch wood). Now, I plan to spend hours in front of the fireplace and do nothing except munch on tidbits of my mom's cooking, pet the dog and listen to music. It will be marvelous.

Hope you're all having a wonderful time.

I just got back from xmas mass. My mom sings in the choir, so we all went to hear her sing. It's really amazing the stuff you can remember. I was raised a roman catholic, and went to church every sunday until I was 11. These days, though I still believe in the idea of religion, I'm not the most devout of catholics, but that's for another story, some other time. So basically, the only time I've gone to mass in the last few years were for a wedding, a funeral and xmas mass. What's amusing is that I still remember all the right things to say at the right time. I was always amazed by the old timers, who mumbled their way through a mass service, and now, apparently, I'm one of them.

The service was nice. The parish priest is a nice guy, not the traditional pompous windbag I grew up with. He's a fairly down to earth man, who's not afraid to crack the occasional joke to make sure the congregation is still paying attention.

Now, more food beckons, and we'll be getting ready to go to an aunt's place fairly soon. After that, PRESENTS! :)