Eseme's Den

That is what we are at, up here in Maine. Single digits, your eyes ache after a while. It was -6 yesterday.

On the plus side, that means that the amazing Gelato Fiasco was selling gelato for 38% off (1% per degree below freezing, with a caveat that if it is -68 degrees why will not pay us to eat gelato). We are thinking of going there today.

Gelato Fiasco

I have been super busy with holidays, snow, and birthdays.

We got a foot or so of snow the week before Christmas. It melted a bit. The weekend before Christmas was a 2 day ice storm, Sunday-Monday. The weekend after Christmas we got about 6 inches of new snow (it was about 8-10 where I work, and the drive home December 30th, Sunday night at 9:30 was not fun).

More snow yesterday into today. It is incredibly light and drifts everywhere, because when it snows at -6 there is nearly no moisture in the snow.

There has been much shoveling, and biodegradable kitty litter on the ice. More shoveling today, in half-hour increments, as it is still extremely cold.

I got, among other things, a zany fascinator for my hair, a lovely hand-made mug, and a book on the history of the Lego mini-figure for Christmas. My display of Holiday Lego sets won the cube-decorating contest at work and I got a $100 Wal-Mart gift card. I bought all the cleaning supplies that we use (ALL of them) and a new magnetic whiteboard/cork-board for a message center.

I crocheted 2 small Totoros, 2 tiny Totoros, a chibi Cuthulu, a chibi ninja, and I am at work on a Psyduck pokemon. I also made my niece a sweater and hat, and a hat and scarf for her Raggety Ann doll.

Visiting my sister, her awesome partner, and my niece at Thanksgiving was a truly wonderful vacation. My niece is the most cheerful, happy, and non-fussy baby I have ever met. She is also very friendly, gave me a head-but kiss as soon as she saw me.

Life is cold but good, and busy.

Yes, I know you are all waiting with baited breath for the second half of my trip to Old Orchard Beach.

I've got to go edit some photos an such.

In the meantime, here are links to a couple of very amusing holiday shorts written by John Scalzi.

Interview with the Nativity Inkeeper is hilarious. HOWEVER, if you do not like the idea of someone criticizing the parenting skills of Mary and Joseph, this is NOT for you.
http://whatever.scalzi.com/2010/12/21/an-interview-with-the-nativity-innkeeper/

An Interview with the Christmas Bunny focuses more on the commercialism of the season, and will not hit any religious buttons.
http://whatever.scalzi.com/2010/12/22/an-interview-with-the-christmas-bunny/

There, enjoy!

Merry Christmas! And Happy Yule! Enjoy Kwanzaa and Hanukkah too!

I have a pile of presents. They include: A painting by Garrett of a spaceship (to go with my spaceship sculpture from last year), three cookbooks from Mom, socks from my sister's university, a stainless steel drinking bottle (it turns out plastic and Nalgene bottles leech chemicals into the water, so Mom got us all stainless steel this year), and the big present:

A GPS navigation unit!

All further travel adventures should not involve getting lost.

I hope the holiday is fun for all.

Currently very full of food and listening to my parents watch Pirates of the Carribian for the first time.

I went to visit my aunt, uncle, and cousins today with my family (and since I dragged Panther along we outnumbered the other side of the family for the first time ever).

Happy Holidays to freinds - I've got many all over the globe.