Melodious Inkwell: Holidays

My Holidays have been perfectly delightful. On XMas Eve, Kevin came to my place for our Newly Traditional Hot Wings dinner. Then we hung out for a bit, and Kev gave my family some gifts - including homemade wine, which they drank like fruit juice because it’s apparently delicious. After a couple of hours, as it was nearing midnight, we made an appearance at the Big Gathering of his family where I got more hugs and kisses from strangers than I thought were possible. After that, we went to Kevin’s family’s house for their Midnight Opening Of The Presents. Aside from me and Kevin, his parents and his two sisters and their boyfriends were there. It was just lovely.

First of all, his dad went upstairs to “put on something more comfortable.” He came down over the stairs wearing red socks, and a pair of red long underwear. We laughed until we cried. I threw him my fuzzy red Santa hat and he put it on, and I think, between fits of belly laughs, that someone got a picture of him. And then he turned around and there was a flap, and we all started off again. And THEN he turned around AGAIN and MOONED us with the flap to show his red satin homer-as-santa boxer shorts. BWAHAHA. Hysterically funny.

And then the insanity began. The presents were piled seven or eight high and two or three deep and filled the whole end of the room. Plus there was some under the tree, and behind the couch, and upstairs and in people’s bedrooms.. insanity.

Kevin’s mom spoiled us all to the nth degree. She gave me two shirts, a gorgeous sweater, a pair of jeans, a whole stocking full of stuff (including an electric toothbrush! I woulda been satisfied with just that) and some other things I’m sure I’m forgetting. One of his sisters gave me a massager for my neck because I’m always using their mom’s to get my RSI kink out; the other gave me a black wrought iron stand that holds three iron tea-light holders with paper lantern outsides, in the exact orange of my living room chair. There were two playstations - one for a sister’s boyfriend and the other for Kevin - some toques, an enormous amount of clothes and tools and laughter and fun. I got to snuggle up with Kev the whole time - at least, when we weren’t covered in boxes and stuff - and his family is fantastic. Which, of course, I already knew.

Near the middle of the night, Kev handed me the giant - I’m talking 2 feet long - red stocking, which I’d been TOLD was for his MOTHER, and told me to start opening, because it was for me from him. There were fun things like knee socks and a knockoff rubik’s cube. And then a camera case, which was interesting. And then rechargeable batteries. And then a 128M Flash Card (!) and then I knew for sure what was in the box at the bottom - a digital camera!!!!! I think I cried. Canon Powershot A70. He researched for two weeks to find the perfect camera - and it’s so the perfect camera. He spent so much money, and I can’t even say anything, because, well, Gibson guitar. I thought I’d never ever ever have a digital camera and it made me sad, and my beautiful delicious hunk of a man knew that and got me one. I’m so happy I could bust. And don’t think I won’t inundate you with pictures of everything for THE REST OF YOUR LIVES. I haven’t got the thing set up at home yet (I’ve been living wif me mum and dad and brudder for a week), which is the only reason this entry isn’t crammed full of ‘em.

I gave Kevin a couple of DVDs, and a keychain I made from a rock I took from his favourite place on earth when we were there in the summer. I felt a little lame, but then he put a big bow on the guitar and I felt better.

After the opening frenzy was finished, we all hugged everyone (his mom said I give good hugs) and some people got emotional, and there was much love and thanks all around. And then his dad opened the 3x2x3 foot box that’d been wrapped and in the kitchen, displacing the microwave, for three days: Snowblower! He’s been singing “Let It Snow” and “Frosty the SNOWman..” ever since. We had a few flakes the other day - otherwise a very very record-breakingly mild holiday season - and I was pretty sure we’d find him chasing the flakes around :)

I left for home around 2am, maybe 2:30. I knew my crazy family would be up early. I couldn’t get to sleep for an hour or two.

At 6am, there’s a knock on my door. It’s Al. It seems he’s on speed and is not stopping for oxygen.

“Gayle, I’m sorry, I can’t wait any longer, I’ve been up for an hour already and trying to wait and I was already down for coffee with dad and I keep trying to wait but I can’t anymore and I’m full of caffeine and I’m really sorry but can we start now?”

Aaaaagh. I stumble around and get some juice, and drag my ass and my blanky downstairs (Al is still talking the whole time, of course. Too. Much. Caffeine). We had a beautiful xmas morning - no opening frenzy here, just reasonable and enjoyable. At times we were in tears with emotions - especially with the letter to my mom from my sister-in-law (who is expecting another baby in June! whoo!). And at other times we laughed and laughed - like with the harmonica I got for Al. *grin* Al got me my Anne Rice book, and I got more lovely socks, and sheets for a Queen-Sized bed (mine's a double) - I said, "Huh! Guess I'll have to get a bigger bed! Tee hee! Maybe I'll need to find someone to share it with! Guess maybe I'll have to live in sin for a little while! Tee hee!" Plus lots of other nifty goodies.

Of course, after the last present was opened, we all went back to bed. Up again for turkey dinner at 1pm, and Kevin came over, yay! After an hour or so, it was back to his place for another turkey dinner at 4. Aaaaack. I sat down wondering how on earth I could face more turkey, and was saved because Kevin’s sister doesn’t eat turkey, and so there was the most delicious ham prepared. Phew! Stuffed ourselves a second time.

Friday morning I woke up with a dry throat. Uh-oh. I’d been fighting off sickness for a week or so already, and dry throat invites bacteria. All that day I got hoarser and more sore. Taking homemade Fruit Smoothy to Kev’s and drinking it all night didn’t help, even infused with echinacea and calcium and Vitamin C (not to mention, y’know, a pile of fruit. And yogurt).

On Friday night (Boxing Day, I guess?) Kevin’s mom and dad hosted a buffet-style dinner so that his family could meet my family. Al was there, and his sisters and their men were there, and we chatted comfortably for several hours, played some guitars and sang, had some beers and some wine, and it was just lovely. His family of course liked mine (who wouldn’t!) and my dad said they were very nice people, and my mom said I’m a “very lucky girl.” *beam* Of course, I knew that, but it’s nice to know it’s not just me!

Mom and Dad left at around 10 (dad was tired - it was a last-minute thing and he hadn’t had a chance to get a midday nap), and after a while Kev’s Boys showed up and we had a little drinkin’ party, wif lots of guitars and silliness. After everyone else went to the bar, I snuggled up with Kev and napped for an hour. I really truly wanted to stay over with him - haven’t snuggled all night in sooo long - but I had allan’s car and the only house key between us, and I was supposed to go home and unlock the door so he could get in. So I had to extricate myself and go home. Boo.

Saturday, and I can’t believe I actually did this, we went shopping. Boxing Week Sales, biggest shopping day of the year, and I was actually IN THE MALL. It wasn’t too bad - kev is big enough to keep a constant stream of blockage and elbow room around me. We bought four games (Devil May Cry, Tony Hawk’s Underground, Grand Theft Auto III: Vice City, and Ratchet & Clank - that one I got. I haven’t played it yet but Kevin did yesterday and he says it’s much more fun than he thought, and I’ll love it) and a memory card for his PS2, and I got some Strepsils for my throat, which by this time was full of broken glass.

At about 6pm I called Al to see if he wanted to come to Kev’s and play some PS2. He was still in bed, so I got Dad to get him to call me when he got up. At 10, he still hadn’t called. I was getting ready to go home because Kev was going with his Boys to have a Street Fighter Tournament (hee). I picked up my phone and noticed that it was OFF. Oops. Turned it on, listened to my messages, and it said my message box was FULL. Odd. By the end, I was in stiches of laughter.

First Message: Shauna.
“Hi, it’s me, it’s 6.30, gimme a call let me know what you’re doing tonight.”

Second Message: Allan.
“Heyy, it’s me, Dad said you called, gimme a call back.”

Third Message: Shauna.
“Calll meee!!”

Fourth Message: Allan.
“Heyy, dude, gimme a call, I don’t know what you’re up to but call me back! (Shauna’s voice in background: 'On my phone') .. Oh yeah, on Shauna’s phone, ‘cause I’m at her place now.”

Fifth Message: Shauna.
“Where ARE YOU?! A buncha people are coming to my house tonight, ‘cause I have to work at 3 but we’re going to go out first, so you should come over, and Rob and Leann and Chris and my brother and your brother and a bunch of people are going to be here and if you don’t come out you’ll miss Rob, so you should call m---” Cut off. Shauna leaves loonggg messages.

So, I went to her place instead of home, hung out for a bit, and then they went to the bar.. so THEN I went home.

Yesterday, Sunday, I was planning to move back home, but I was so sick with a head cold by this time that I couldn’t even get dressed, let alone pack up all my stuff. So I stayed in and watched movies with mom. Al and Shauna and Kev came over later and we watched 8 Crazy Nights and most of Bad Boys 2 before Kev went home and I went to bed, and I think the other two stayed up to watch Chicago, as well.

I finally exchanged gifts with Shauna last night. She has negative money these days, so she made 5-layer nacho dip for her brother and her dad, a lemon meringue pie (my dad gave her the pie crust) for her sister, I helped her make chocolate bark for her mom and stepdad, and my brother and my mom helped her make the most delicious apple crumble concoction EVAH for me! Plus, she made me these totally adorable coupons for Free Dishwashing, because she knows how much I HATE it.

And that brings us up to speed! I’m at work, coughing and sniffling and tired, despite all of Benylin’s promises. Only a few more hours to go, though.

Kevin is going to go to my apartment around 3 to start making a spaghetti supper so that it will be ready when I get home from work. Could he be any more adorable? Could I love him any harder?

Happy Holidays, y'all.