Planning my party theme for Christmas 09

I think I'd like to have an ugly Christmas sweater party sometime in December. Hey, it could even be the theme for my 41st birthday party.

Tahoe or Bust

We finally made it to Tahoe. A large group is a slow moving group. Our plan was to leave San Mateo at 9 am on Dec 21. Didn't happen. We left close to 2 p.m. We thought one SUV and a van were enough. Nope. We had to take a 3rd car and I had to step up to the plate and be the third driver. Let me tell you, driving on icy, snowy roads=stress.

We finally made it to Tahoe Donner. The place is simply gorgeous. Our balcony looks out to the 3rd hole of the Tahoe Donner Golf Course. Of course there is nothing to be seen but snow during this time of the year. The Christmas tree is up. Tomorrow we will put up the parol that Teresa brought all the way from Manila.

The kids are having a grand time. I finally figured out how to get online. I will be uploading photos in Facebook and Friendster shortly.

It's the eve of my 40th birthday and the iPod is playing all senti songs from the 80s. Meanwhile, I am drinking wine, wine, and more wine.

Day 1 with the Guerreros

We took a short drive to Half Moon Bay and took the gang out for brunch at the Ritz Carlton. This is one of our favorite quick get aways. We've never stayed at the hotel since we live so close by.

The brunch was our anniversary celebration. Since it was a Saturday morning and we left San Mateo early enough, our reward was getting the best table in the house - a private room with the most awesome view of the Pacific Ocean and Hole #9. I ordered Coastal Eggs Benedict, which was topped with a mound of sweet dungeness crab. Yum. Mark had traditional eggs benedict, which was just as delicious as my "fusion" version.

After brunch, we took some photos then headed off to Vacaville to switch cars with Lilibeth. We've appropriated their van once again. After the car switch, we hit the outlet shops. Kinda boring. Vacaville has really gone by the wayside. I shouldn't complain since I scored anyway - found a $14 nine west, deep purple glittery high heeled sandals. Nice with jeans! Mark and Catherine scored at the Geox outlet.

Got home late. Traffic on the bridge was awful. Broke my shades. Need a new pair.

Merry Christmas

Dear Friends,

A very merry Christmas to you and your family.

This year went by so quickly. Catherine is in her second year in pre-school. She has made some really good friends at school. She's doing extremely well in a Montessori environment. Mark is busy at work as always. By a stroke of luck, he got an offer from TD Ameritrade the week before Merrill Lynch was purchased by Bank of America. He enjoyed his time Merrill, and was given the "welcome mat" any time he chooses to come back, but with Bank of America in the picture, going back is another story all together.

My own life has been crazy. While I am enjoying my work as an instructor at Stanford, balancing work, family, and student life is not easy. For those of you who have not heard, I am taking my masters - and will be in grad school until May 2010.

Lots of milestones this year... Mark and I celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary, which means that I've known the guy for 20 years now! How about that? In a couple of days, I will be 20 all over again ;-), which probably explains why I let my hair dresser cut my bangs short. I don't know what got into me. I kept thinking Myrza, Myra, Myrza, Myra...Anyway, funny things happen when one is turning 40, errr, 20...

Next year will be very different. I am cutting my hours at work to devote more time to Catherine/Mark and to my studies.

In the meantime, we are absolutely enjoying the company of the Guerreros who are in town for Christmas. We rented a cabin in Lake Tahoe, and we are all looking forward to wonderful White Christmas in Tahoe.

Have a blessed Christmas. May the true joy of Christmas reign in your hearts.

Lorraine

I've had this blog since...

I created this account in 2005 and did nothing with it until I was forced - by my professor - via a school project to write about something, anything.