My 2007 Christmas

Now that you know what I think of the whole Christmas giving experience, this is how things worked out.

Everybody loves the Baby! (this is a good thing)

We did receive a lot for the baby. From some unexpected sources too. Mostly everyone in the family gave Rebecca a gift of some sort, the folks in the Users Group got together and we got some bonds from them (completely unexpected), neighbors gave her gifts, and we received gifts from people from out of state. Granted, Rebecca won't realize how lucky she is, but I sure appreciate everyone's support!

Various parties and gatherings

The first party of the season was November 28 with the Users Group Board of Directors. We got together at the Fisherman's Inn at Kent Narrows. Everything went pretty well, everyone enjoyed themselves.

The next thing that happened was on December 1. This was the video shoot of the David Wayne Band (see other entry).

On the 12th I had my usual users group meeting and this was our Christmas Party. I brought Teri and Rebecca this year. Everyone was very nice to Teri and Rebecca (I wouldn't expect any different). Everyone had a good time, except Teri who eat something that upset her stomach and she had to excuse herself from a lot of the meeting.

Heather's birthday is on December 7, but with everything else going on, we didn't get together until December 20. We had a nice dinner, and had a good time.

The next night, 12/21, Teri, Rebecca, and I went to Mike Regementi's Christmas Party. This we a good time and meet a lot of people we didn't know. It was also the first time we took Rebecca into a new social situation. I think everything worked out pretty well. Teri had to nurse for a little while, but this worked out fine. Everyone accommodated her and everyone was very nice.

Which brings me to the annual Young Family Christmas Eve gathering! There were some members of the family who hadn't seen Rebecca, they saw her on this night. In short, here is a picture of everyone who made it.


Finally Christmas Day arrives! This year wasn't too much for Rebecca, but I am sure next year it will be crazy! We got up (Teri didn't sleep very well), had breakfast and dived into opening gifts. I got Teri a massage chair. She kind of knew what it was since it has been in a box in the garage for the past week. But she (and everyone who tried it) really likes it. Then it was off to Teri's parent's house.

We were running a little late, but everything worked out pretty well. We hosted dinner, and had to get back home to cook. A lot of people showed up and dinner turned out to be a real family affair. My nephew Charles and his fiance Amy, came down from New Jersey. Everyone eat well, and had a good time was had by all.

Now I have New Years to look forward to. And we'll see what 2008 brings! I'll probably post something about what happened in 2007 soon.

David Wayne Band

My brother asked me to video tape the band that he is in, The David Wayne Band, for use on a web page. Basically the two original songs that they have written. This was an interesting evening, and everything seemed to work out fine. This is also a test to see how the video uploads work to the Blog. Below is the video of two of the songs. I had hoped to combine two sources of the videos, but this is just a single source and my brother thinks it's fine.
As far as how the evening went, well basically fine. But things just took longer to get going then expected. I was suppose to start shooting the band at 6:00pm. Long story short, they weren't ready for the shoot until after 8:00pm. You can see how it turned out.

The Holidays

Parties
It usually starts around Thanksgiving and runs through the first of the new year (actually it's starting to stretch to MLK Day in Govie Circles). That's right, it's The Holiday Season. This can go a couple of ways. You either don't do anything and now have 'parties' to attend or you are always the socialite and now have a bunch more parties to attend. And the party breaks down with these kind of attendees:

• Host - Going crazy to make sure everyone is having a good time (who would tell them different?)
• Host Friend - Supporting the host, but just not quite as crazy and is betting on the host helping them at their next party.
• First to arrive - These people are generally organized and will be the first to bolt because of the spouse, kid, pet, relative, whatever. Just get in and out.
• Last to arrive - Unorganized, but are still wanting to bolt quick!
• Homeless - Just looking for a meal. Will do minimal socializing, but eat everything in site! And gone as soon as the food is. But don't worry, you'll see then next party.
• Working stiffs - They have been assigned a job by the host, and damn it, it's going to get done no matter who they have to annoy.
• Social butterfly - The person's goal is to speak to everyone at the party for at least 5 minutes if they want to be spoken to or not.
• Wallflowers - This makes up about 80% of the people at a party, and you are probably one of them.

And are they really parties? Especially parties at work or sponsored by your company. Work parties are the worst! Because it's not really a party, it's really a meeting where they serve cold cuts and there is alcohol available. You end up hanging around the same people that you see all the time in the office and rehashing a TV show or maybe a funny thing that happened on they way to the party. Like, I saw this deer on the way in to the office today, it had to be 10 feet tall.... And you just wish the deer would have gored this guy Now that would have been interesting!

Gifts

So it's time to buy people stuff. Who do you buy for, how much, and who gets dumped. Parental units always get a gift. They made you, least you can do. Siblings, if they have bought for you in Christmas past (and vice-versa) they get a gift, if not, a hug and a Merry Christmas for you. Siblings children... under the age of 12, yes, 12-17, if they make an attempt to give you a gift, yes, over 18 they are an adult and should try to participate. If they are over 18 and not giving to you, they don't get. Obviously your own children get a gift. Friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc, get this straight early on. Now how much to spend:

Parental Units - Keep it around $100.

Siblings - Depending how many you have, plan on spending about $300-400 on the lot and break it up between them.

Siblings Children - Whatever is left over from their parent. Generally $20-50, if they fall into the category above.

Children - I'll let you know as time goes on.

Exchanging of the gifts

So you followed the above chart on who to give to and how much to spend. It seems reasonable, but this is what happens to me, I'm getting over it. We have our big family gathering on Christmas Eve night. I basically cut out my out of state sister, my other sister who never got me anything (I'm broke, boo-hoo for me), some older nieces and nephews who have jobs, but don't think they should get their uncle anything. I kind of feel bad about handing out gifts around them, but skipping them, but you know, from about the age of 11 on I always made an effort for give my siblings a gift, the younger ones should learn the same. Sorry to be the Grinch, but that's life. There is this place called the Dollar Store that you can make an effort to get people something. They don't get it.

New Years...

So with Christmas behind me, it's time to look forward to New Years. For a few years a bunch of neighbors and friends would get together at my house and we would play some non-drinking, boring, adult games until midnight. Watch Dick Clark, say Happy New Year, hug, and everyone would go home. But Gram basically kills this. She doesn't like any of my friends, and is generally a pain to deal with. Now with the baby, we'll see how bad it gets.

So that's my take on the Holidays in general. I'll post some specifics later.

Bruce in DC

I already posted about the baby being born, this happened in the early morning of November 10. Well, as things would have it, I had tickets to see Springsteen on November 11 and 12, in DC. Since Teri was in the hospital and being well taken care of, I didn't see any reason not to go to the shows. I went with her blessing, although I don't think her parents were too keen about it (add it to the list). In my defense, I did go back to the hospital each night to be with her after the shows. Now about the shows:

Sunday, November 11 - Veterans Day
I meet up with Chris and off we went. Once I got down there I realized I had left my building badge at home (DUH!). We circled the block a couple of times and found a spot that someone was leaving. We went to the Irish Channel Pub and hung out with some fellow fans. There was a couple that was there and I think it was his second or third Bruce show, and her first. I was kind of reminissing about some of the various concerts that I had been to. It was kind of funny to think that I am the old guy that the kids listen to. I remember when I would listen to the old guy spinning a yarn.
Everyone thought Bruce would do a couple of the songs that mention soldiers and wars. He did mention sending songs out to some folks at the VA hospitals, but that's about it. The show was pretty decent. A couple of tour premiers, and generally a good show. I didn't like the fact that before Reason to Believe got underway, and just as the crowd was starting to get into it, Bruce shhh'ed the crowd. BAD FORM! This song was a huge highlight at the shows in Philly. But now it sort of dies on the vine. Here are a few pix from the show:

November 12 Show

The second show of the set. This night was a little different group. I went to the show with my brother CJ, David Wayne (of the David Wayne Band), and Heather. This time I remembered my badge and parked in the GAO building as planned. I hoped to meet up with Chris again at the Irish Channel, but he went to the Green Turtle instead.

While at the Irish Channel I did run into a guy I knew, Magnus, and we haddn't seen each other in a few years. The story with Magnus, we drove to New York in 2000 to take in a couple of the shows at MSG. On the way there, just north of Balitmore on I-95, a jail break was happening! It was wild! People and cars were running all over the place. I never heard if anyone got away, but it was an interesting story that we talk about when we meet up.

We went in the show earlier then I usually go, but I had David and CJ with me, who didn't really know the routine. As we were sitting there, Heather and I started chatting with a guy sitting next to us. As it turned out, he works at GAO. I gave him a copy of the show, and he was happy to get it. Over all the show was good. CJ, David and Heather really enjoied theirselves and it was all good.

As I was leaving home for the evening, I noticed my headlight blew out. Everyone told me about it. After I came home, and everyone went their own way, I went back to the hospital. Sure enough a cop pulled me over for having it out (and speeding). I got a warning for the speeding, and an inspection ticket for the headlight. And wouldn't you know it, I lost the ticket for the inspection. I would think they would send me something in the mail, but nothing to this point.