Thank God

One positive thing about working in Massachusetts, where the majority of my co-workers are Catholic, is that Good Friday is a slow day at work. And everyone leaves early, including me!

Marathon Monday

Many organizations in Massachusetts celebrated Patriots' Day yesterday with work closures, community parades and other such festivities. Patriots' Day also is when the annual Boston Marathon takes place - and I'd been informed that it's a big day of celebration for Bostonians each year.

Since our workplace does not recognize the holiday, I went to work last year on Patriots' Day, just like any other day. This year, however, I decided to take the day off and join in the revelry, mostly because friends were in town from DC to run the thing.

Cheering for marathons is kind of crazy. I'm also very bad at it. I met up with my friend toward the end of the route, and we watched out for Poochie, whose pace we were monitoring on the BlackBerry. Before he passed us, I noticed all these hundreds of people, running, limping and crawling by. Some were being carried off on stretchers and others simply looked like death. It reinforced that I never want to run one of these things.

When Poochie came running by, I totally missed him (like I missed Puppy in the Chicago Marathon several years ago), but I did get to catch up with him at the meeting point at the end and congratulate him on finishing. And re-qualifying for next year's Boston Marathon, which I can't decide is a good or bad thing.

Happy 2011!

I have just spent the tamest New Year's Eve of my life! No big parties, no cute outfits, no booze-a-palooza and no trannies! Instead, DJ Mother Nature and Jimmy Jam came over for a calm dinner and television celebration.

Since Puppy was working on Friday, it was up to me to do all the cooking! I have a feeling our guests were nervous since Puppy is the one blessed with culinary talents, but I think I did a pretty good job, thanks to recipes on the internets.

The good thing about our low-key NYE celebration is that yesterday was hangover-free! We were able to get food, do some shopping, get a workout in and have a normal, productive day. Not the most exciting way to start the year, but probably one of the healthier in recent memory. I wonder if that's a portent for 2011. Or my life.

Sleighride home

On my flight yesterday, a portly old man with a white beard and long, curly white hair sat in my row. He was dressed in a bright crimson jumpsuit with "S. Claus" embroidered in white on the front. On the back was more white embroidery: "NORTH POLE FLIGHT SCHOOL."

When kids approached him (and why were there approximately 90 kids on my flight?), he entertained their questions directed at Santa Claus and he played the part of a Santa whose annual business has just ended and was ready for a break.

I wanted desperately to snap a photograph of him, but I thought it would be weird. He probably wouldn't have minded, but I wanted to catch him enjoying the rum and cokes he ordered.

Holiday sloth

You guys, I've been so lazy! During my two weeks in California, I basically sat in front of the television, ate a ton, saw a couple of movies and slept in. I tried to go to the gym once or twice, but really, the only thing I really managed was getting through some of my netflix queue.

And upon returning to Boston yesterday (thank goodness I missed the big blizzard), I decided to skip work today and use one of my vacation days. I could definitely get used to this.

Chasing the wild goose

Yesterday, my sister and I spent the morning running errands (groceries, Christmas gifts for our father, etc.) and doing a little shopping for ourselves. We visited a store where I receive a generous employee discount and she found a butter-soft leather bomber jacket that she liked. The only problem was that it was available only in a size 2.

So, the very helpful saleslady directed us to a nearby store that had a size 10 in stock, and thus began our dayof chasing the jacket around the country. When we arrived at the other store, 30 minutes away, it turned out the size 10 didn't fit properly, and neither did the 12 petite.

The salesladies called stores all around the country in search of a size 12 while we ate our lunches, but when we returned, all the other stores turned out to be liars and we weren't able to locate the elusive leather bomber in size 12.

So in the end, we traveled around the Bay Area for no reason, but we really had nothing better to do, anyway.

Holiday rush

Because I've accumulated a bunch of "comp days" due to work travel, I technically don't need to return to work until February, when our next Fiscal Year begins. So, I'm taking two weeks off to return to California tomorrow. You know, visiting the fam and stuff.

Sadly, no one else is on the extended vacation schedule I'm on, so work continues to pile up and it looks like I'll be dialing into conference calls next week when I'm back home. Plus, I've been asked to work on goals for 2011, which seems to be a necessary evil of corporate America. We make these goals every year and barely look at them throughout the year, let alone review them at the end. And if we don't get a bonus, what's the point except to take up my precious time?

It's also been a busy few days on the social side. VALedictorian is in town and staying with us, so we've been hanging out in the evenings. Her late arrival into town forced me to miss a dinner party at Puppy's friends' home, which was sad mostly because he returned home with a santa hat!

Somehow, I've got to get through it all and pack all my belongings and figure out my plans for the holiday. This must be what people mean when they say the holidays are a stressful time of year.

Festival of oil

To celebrate the arrival of Jillian's new baby boy (and Hanukkah), some of us gathered together at her home on Sunday for a little feast. Jillian made potato latkes, Flabs and her clan brought some rotisserie chicken and dessert, and I was in charge of a side dish.

Since it's the Jewish Festival of Lights, I started to research some appropriate side dishes. I decided against kugel because Puppy doesn't care for raisins, but there weren't many other options. Especially ones with vegetables. One item that kept coming up, however, was the donut. This perplexed me, because I had no idea what donuts had to do with Hanukkah.

So, I asked around and no one seemed to have a definitive answer, but people guessed that it had to do with the oil. In essence, anything deep-fried is a Hanukkah-appropriate dish!

Well, I didn't deep fry anything, but I did douse some vegetables in plenty of oil before roasting them in the oven. It seemed like a healthier alternative to bringing a bag of Dunkin' Donuts over.

Stuffed

I have got to stop eating all the Thanksgiving leftovers in the house.

Panda!!!!'s best dishes

Our department admin has been on my case about having too many vacation days that won't carry over to next year, so I took today, Thanksgiving Eve, off from work. It's been a nice, leisurely day so far that began with a visit to my neighborhood Starbucks where I ran into two co-workers who were working from "home."

I visited my gym for a bit, went to the supermarket (horrors!), the post office and returned home to give the cats some treats. After checking in on some work issues, I started baking some pumpkin bars for tomorrow night's feasting. I hope they turn out or I'll have ruined Thanksgiving!

Thang Long 1000

My day in Hanoi coincides with the city's celebration of its founding 1,000 years ago. Today is the first of a 10-day celebration, which sounds like a fun and festive time to visit.

In reality, it's been a big pain in the derriere. There's been a huge influx of people from all over the country and the streets are even more crowded than usual. Major arteries are shut down and traffic is re-routed around celebration areas.

Instead of the usual 45 minute drive from the airport to the city center, it took approximately 1.5 hours. It's pure madness with people and motorcycles taking their time clogging the streets and traveling any way they please, regardless of traffic laws.

It's a shame, because Hanoi seems like a pretty city and I'd love to walk around the lake. But during this madness, I'm just glad to be back in my hotel room.

Laborious day

Most Americans are enjoying today as summer's last hurrah with cook-outs, drinking too much and probably some Ke$ha tunes. I, on the other hand, have been on the computer, doing work since 7:30 this morning.

Some of it is due to following up on a pretty crazy few days at week and the remainder is due to this afternoon's departure to New York for a meeting first-thing tomorrow morning.

So, it hasn't been the "day off" that most people get today, but at least Puppy made burgers on Saturday night when Jimmy Jam and SexMex visited for dinner.

Foolish fireworks

I'm all for celebrating on the 4th of July, but I think fireworks displays should be left to the professionals. On our way home from dinner last night, I noticed many people in our neighborhood launching fireworks from hand-held devices. These were people on the sidewalks, on doorsteps and just hanging around outside. They shot fireworks up into the sky, bursting over busy city streets or other passers-by. I try not to be a curmudgeon, but this seemed blatantly illegal and simply unsafe!

I secretly hope some of those hooligans injured themselves. Kids these days!

Celeb sighting: Charisma uniqueness nerve and talent

On the Sunday of a three-day weekend, I kind of expect for things to be, you know, going on. Typically there's all sorts of city-type rejoicing and people out and about celebrating the fact that they can get drunk and not go to work the next day.

Well, Boston doesn't seem like that sort of town. At least, not from what I've seen (and I admit that I'm not "in the know"). Last night, Puppy and I went to the local bar (totes empty), downed a couple of drinks, then went to an advertised weekly night called "Hot Mess." Puppy led me a few blocks away and we arrived ... at a Courtyard Marriott.

Skeptical, I went in with pretty low expectations, and we descended a few flights to the basement level, which was rather stylishly appointed (but it still felt like the basement of a Courtyard Marriott) and quickly filled with people of all shapes and sizes. And I do mean all sizes!

The DJs played fun mash-ups (and one dared to play "Money Can't Buy You Class" by the Countess LuAnn DeLesseps from the Real Housewives of New York) and people all let loose. I was sort of mesmerized by a petite fellow with a very defined body because he seemed to be of indeterminate age. While his body looked like that of a young twenty-something, his face may have belonged to a fifty-year-old. And with his Guy Fiyeri/Zac Efron hairdo and raggedy goatee, it really was tough to tell.

But bopping around the crowd was Mystique from the most recent season of RuPaul's Drag Race. She was a large lady with quite the entourage. She didn't seem at all happy to be there and I certainly hope she wasn't getting paid much for her "appearance."

I have to say, however, that I think it was my favorite night out thus far, possibly because there was a dancer who had a rubber chicken strapped to his head.

It's Mario time

Puppy impulsively bought himself a Wii for a new year's gift yesterday and we've been back in the world of Super Mario Brothers. Not only did he get the new Super Mario Wii game, but he also downloaded the classic games, which look like stick figures moving across the television screen. As if I needed another reason to park myself in front of the TV!

Time goes by

Here we are at the end of 2009, and I can't really believe it! I've been on forced vacation for the past few days and my time really has filled up quickly with errands and such. It's pretty amazing that time can move so slowly while at work and go so quickly when you don't really have specific things to do!

Happy new year, Internets!

To grandmother's house we go

I brought the kitties back from their grandparents' home today and, despite their loud protestations, they're adjusting back to life in the city. I met up with Blanca, who's in town from Hawaii, Mattress, Roommates A&J, had a few drinks and returned home to play with the cats. I'm totes boring but I enjoyed my mom's succulent wreath!

Kitty yule logs

The cats and I traveled to my parents' home yesterday and they've spent the past 24 hours creeping about, being inquisitive and exploring their new surroundings. One of their favorite new hangouts seems to be the fireplace. This isn't something I'm happy about.

Kissy kissy

Someone has hung mistletoe all around San Francisco in random spots: street corners, awnings, etc. I've noticed a few bunches in my 'hood and some even in other areas of the city! Cute.

Holiday shop talk

Last night was Puppy's annual department holiday dinner, again hosted by one of his firm's partners at an historic San Francisco mansion. Contrary to last year, the mood was decidedly more festive and there was no football game on television to distract everyone.

More members of the department were able to make the dinner this year, and I wasn't meeting most of them for the first time, so it wasn't quite as awkward as last year. Plus, there were very delicious little lobster puff appetizers that apparently are sold at Costco!

Dinner, like last year, was very delicious and everyone spent time bagging on absent attorneys, former colleagues and opposing counsel. Mostly, I just tried to remain polite and awake (It's been a busy week!) and appreciative of the selection of desserts.

I opted for a nice fruit tart, but in retrospect, I probably would have enjoyed the traditional Swedish princess cake much more.