brilhante

I was in Arizona a few days last week to spend Christmas with my parents and my niece. I got up early on Wednesday to get there in time to see my niece sing in a Christmas pageant. My mom conveniently forgot to mention that it was actually a church service. I don't believe in God and I haven't been to church in years... and I don't sing hymns. Of course, my parents wanted to sit in the front row. Oh well, it nice to see my niece sing, anyhow, and it made her really happy that I was there. And I have to say, the minister was pretty funny and delivered a good and not too churchy-sounding sermon.

My mom was baking pretty much the entire holiday. She made lemon bread, pumpkin bread, peanut butter pie, popcorn balls, chocolate covered peanuts, ginger bread cookies, and a whole Christmas dinner with turkey, cream corn, green bean casserole, rolls, and a bunch of other goodies, all for just the four of us. She usually makes a few things, but this year it was nearly out of control. At first I thought she was trying to keep her mind off the loss of my brother a few months ago, but as someone pointed out to me, she may have been trying to sabotage my dad's fitness regimen, as he's preparing to pass a physical before he flies helicopters again in Iraq. It's a dangerous job and he'll be gone nine months out of the year, so no one is thrilled with this decision. Whatever the case may be, I was sent home with a cooler full of lots of good food.

In case you're wondering, my favorite gift for Christmas this year is this a-go-go:


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and now I am ready for some 09...