My Christmas Wish to You...

The holidays remind us to think of our loved ones, so as we approach Christmas and this new year, here are my holiday wishes to you...

That your work days are short and your play days are long.

That you find the perfect pair of pants.

That you have good dreams that you don't realize were dreams until days later (as long as it doesn't make you look coo coo).

That any rashes or general skin maladies you have clear up in a timely manner.

That you finish that book you've been meaning to read.

That you have the time to appreciate sunsets.

That you skip work for no reason other than that it's been a while since you've had a (non-holiday) weekday off.

That you pick up a new hobby.

That your crushes don't crush you (pun TOTALLY intended).

That you see a really good movie.

That if you fall down, you get back up.

That your family brings you more joy than irritation.

That you have more coffee talk, drinks, and dinners with friends.

That you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

The different lives we lead.

It's amazing the turns and twists that take us on completely different paths in life. How people can start in the same place but end up with lives that scarcely resemble one another. I guess I'm noticing that a lot on this trip home.

Tuesday night was spent watching the babies' (a.k.a my niece & nephew, who are actually more people than babies at this point) Christmas concert. While they were on stage, donned in their best holiday attire, singing jingle bells and talking about frogs in the manger, I looked to my left and was a bit shocked as Iwatched my sister watching them; a grin strretched from ear to ear, snapping pictures, and waving proudly at her adorable little brood, it was at though it had finally been solidified in my mind...my sister is a mother. Of course I knew this before, but my only real reference point to a concert like this was when I was on stage and my mother was in the audience with a camera and a smile.

The next day was spent with my sister and the kids at the mall. It was definitely a new experience in buying jeans. Everything is a drama with children, and there's just no reasoning with them. Often times they burst into tears for absolutely no reason at all...what does one do with that? I want to sit down, I want to stand up, I want to be carried, I want to walk...seriously?!? It was really quite exhausting...it really put shopping into perspective.

That night I met up with Lori and Leanne over at Maya's house; as she gave us the grand tour, I couldn't help but think how much shorter a tour of my place would be...stand in the center of the room and turn around...tour over. With husbands and boyfriends and houses, I couldn't help but feel like the kid at the table leading my totally self-absorbed single life in LA amongst the two elementary school teachers and the accountant. The next day I got to play teacher's helper in Leanne (Ms. Bates') 2nd grade class. I helped out with the math lesson, creating geometrial shapes out of straws and sandwich bag twist ties, and laughed to myself when I saw a picture of us girls from a trip to Vegas we took a few years ago displayed on her desk, a far cry from the dignified classroom helper "Ms. Lasaki."

Rikki's was the next stop on my journey, visiting with my dear friend and her new son. I knew he existed, I have a photo of him on my fridge, but holding this living breathing (and totally adorable) baby in my hands was so surreal...my friends are having babies...apparently I am at a time in my life where babies happen...yeah, okay.

I guess these are the different lives we lead.

10 things you didn't know...for Leah.

1. Unless I clean my dishes right away, I tend to leave them in the sink for much longer than would be considered appropriate.

2. I talk to myself ALL the time.

3. I wash my face for 90 seconds...I count, and if I go past 90 then I don't stop until 120, and continue in 30 second increments until I stop on cue.

4. Sometimes when I'm on planes I pretend to be British.

5. I've always wanted to sing/play in a band, even though I have wicked stage fright.

6. I don't own a belt.

7. I spend more money on movies, dvd, and cds than anything else.

8. I won't eat food with funny texture, i.e., watermelon, chunky peanut butter

9. Sometimes when I'm bored I make up complicated math problems, and then solve them.

10. When I was in high school, I genuinely believed that I would be married with an Oscar by the time I was 26.

***Please don't hesitate to share your "10 things"

Thanksgiving 07.

I hosted Thanksgiving for the second year in a row, and this year I actually had a guest.

I feel more like an adult every day...

Me.

Pumpkin Soup.

Dinner.

Natalie.

Next year, I may make it up to three people.