As I’ve said before, I love, love love love Christmas. Celebrating the holiday at my grandparents’ farm in upstate New York is my favorite day of the year, every year.
But first, of course, we had to GET there. Traveling on the 23rd of December? Notsomuch.
I left my office at 2:30 pm…
We finally pulled into my parents’ driveway in Massachusetts at 3:30 am.
And have I mentioned that the flight from Baltimore to Providence… is an HOUR?
It was so unbelievably painful. Our flight, which was supposed to take off at 6:55? Did not actually take off into the air until 12:45 am. Apparently, our plane was coming from the Midwest, which was getting hit with snow. There were two other flights leaving for Providence that night, at 9 and 10. They both left hours before ours did. *&*#Y%(Y*!(*@%PCY!(%*&
Yeah, we could have stood in the 50-person line and tried to get on one of those flights, but I already knew every flight out to Providence, Hartford and Manchester (all a similar drive to my parents’ place) was sold out. So, we did what any sane person would do…
Stooled up at the bar and got wasted.
It actually worked out pretty well- we met a really interesting guy, Dave, who was one of the security guards in the airport. He was on our flight as well, so the three of us spent 3 or 4 hours getting to drink each other under know each other over the large oak bar top. We seem to have quite a knack for meeting characters while traveling, although Dave never shot a 6 year old (whether they deserved it or not).
But of course, we did eventually make it home, and in the morning, I was absolutely thrilled to see that I was guaranteed to have a white Christmas:
My parents’ back deck:
At least, it all seemed beautiful… until we realized the ice on the roof was forming a dam, and water was leaking into the kitchen. So, against my father’s protesting, B climbed out on the roof (Dad can’t fit through the window) and chipped at the ice dam with a sledgehammer and rock salt. Thanks to him, not one drop of water dripped into the house while we were at my gramma’s.
I did get out there to help for a bit… and to photograph his plight. Have I mentioned that I’m a great girlfriend…?
Best. Snowball weather. EVER. Lemm, I brought this back for you…
Somebody had the right idea, curling up by the fire:
Then we finally got to grandma’s for the big day. Here’s our stockings pre, on Christmas Eve…
Stockings Post, on Christmas Day… Impressive, no? Christmas always has a theme. This year was penguins…
There’s been monkeys, howdy doody, flamingos, wax lips, you name it. And of course, there’s always the obligatory picture of the entire family wearing the ‘theme paraphernalia’… but I’ll spare you that. (Really, I’m sparing my fam the humiliation, but shh, don’t tell them.)
And finally, here’s the always-enormous Christmas tree, stacked to the hilt with presents (there’s usually ten or so people involved, so Christmas morning is kind of a big ordeal).
And under the tree after the pets got to it. (Definitely the pets, and not me…)
Sigh. It was a very Merry Christmas, y’all. I hope yours was just as much fun.
{ 26 comments }
June 20? It’s a Saturday, is there something you’re not telling us LiLu?
June 20th, 2008, my dear…
I’ll give you a hint
http://www.livitluvit.com/2008/06/eye-fucking-works-or-how-i-ended-up.html
My bad- MINE is the 18th. My grandparents’ 55th wedding anniversary was June 20th. Both very important. Don’t hate me, B.
I hope you are not teasing me with that snowball.
I have a sunburned nose. Christmas in Florida is weird.
Merry Christmas! We had a white Christmas, too. I’m the sucker from the Midwest who held up your flight – me and my wish for snow on Christmas Eve…..
So sorry. I don’t think about anyone other than myself.
Looks like you had a great Christmas. I do miss the white Christmas’s we had when I lived in the Midwest — just Christmas day, not the other days.
Sigh. I want snow. WANT!
I love the Christmas pictures! Especially the penguins.
But I’m also jealous. I really wanted a white Christmas, and instead I got a rainy one. Oh well…
So…how much of that snow did you bring back?
Pretty, shiney, sparkly! I’m glad you had a great Christmas, sweetie. It sounds like fun, minus the travel horror.
I friggin LOVE the penguins! Still laughing.
Your travel travails are why I stay put. Yes, I miss the snow in L.A. (though you could sorta see it on the tops of the mountains in the distance), but the absence of travel headaches and abundance of crisp, sunny, blue skies keep me smiling.
You know every time I think that there are no more ways for B to demonstrate his keeper status, he shows it once again. If you tell me that even the little micro dog liked him, then I am convinced that you have sold your soul.
So that’s what Christmas is supposed to look like! Maybe I like the holiday after all…
Glad you had a good one, Cookie!
I want those penguins!
It’s official. I need to move somewhere arctic again soon. I haven’t seen snow like that in, like, two years!!!
I absolutely hate snow, but mostly because of how shitty it is to drive in. Those pictures make it seem nice though
Good lord I miss Mass sometimes, just look at all that snow! and yesterday it was like 60 here…
The Midwest weather is a bitch! So happy to see you had snow. It all melted by the time I woke up on Christmas morning…well, afternoon. Safe travels back to the District.
Oh lawsie mercy me, girlfriend, that is a HELL of a trip. MISERABLE! I am so glad you made it safely though, AND that you had such an amazing Christmas! We should all be so lucky to have such fantastic traditions. LURVE.
Glad you had a good Christmas… mine was great… except the Sunday we had a major storm and the power went out… not supposed to come back on until tomorrow night around 10pm…. ever spent 3 days with no power… man it sucks!
SO jealous of your snow. JEALOUS.
Sounds like your trip up there made you appreciate your wonderful Christmas even more! Love the pictures!
Beautiful! Looks like a wonderful family Christmas
I love the penquins, and the pets ‘neath the tree… our tree had a large black Halloween cat under it, many times accompanied by a 5yo human kitten. Happy Holidays! Hope all the rest of your travel goes/went well. Air travel sucks.
Were the gifts of Anti-Monkey Butt well received?
Lemm: Are you home yet??? I misses you.
Kate: I knew it was you! J/k, j/k. I’m glad you got your white Christmas too
Jerry: Agreed- snow is only wonderful on Christmas. And when it keeps you out of school or work…
66: The snowball melted. Guess we need to do a snow dance or something.
Liebchen: Lem and I had a snowball fight and it’s all gone!
Lisa: The travel horror was much outweighed by the fun, thank goodness.
EmmaJames: Maybe next year, we’ll make everyone come to us. Sounds like a good idea to me!
Refugee: Stewart (Little- yes, I know my parents are redonculous) adored B. But he adores anyone with bacon in his hand.
Frecks: Thanks, darling. Hope to see you tomorrow.
Herb: Who doesn’t?? I brought one back with me.
Marissa: I know, right? It was gorj… until we were up on the roof with chisels trying to get it off.
Maxie: It was beautiful, but I know what you meant!
Draffish: I’m back in DC, and it is lovely… after being in MA, I’m appreciating the warm weather!
Penguins? How do I go about being adopted?
Miss Scorpio: We got back safe and sound. Thanks lady
FattyLumpa: The Christmas traditions will continue on as long as I’m alive. Love yoos.
Woolly: 3 days?? Effin redic. My parents lost power in MA a couple weeks ago- so glad we missed that!
f.B: *whooosh*!!! Got ya with my snowball! Ooo, that sounds dirty…
Cyndy: Thanks love! We had an amazing time.
Connie: We had 3 dogs lumbering around in all the wrappings. Talk about an animal’s paradise.
Gilahi: OBViously.
Katherine: She found penguin lights, too, and wrapped them around the fireplace. No joke.