Christmas Ten in Open Diary 2001-2018 (Pre-Prosebox)

10. Anna’s party in Laguna

So festive! Danced by the pool until all hours. And even though the photo below is a really crappy shot of me (hideous posture, horrible hair, etc. etc..), I just wanted to point out that Santa actually made an appearance. It should be noted that he also got drunk and a bit fresh (note the hand wrapped tightly around my hip). But I suppose that’s what happens when you ask Santa to bartend at your party.

It was wonderful to see Anna. I only see her once or twice a year, tops. So we have to really play it up when we get together…and oh! Did we ever!

There was ONE single guy at this shindig. A handsome attorney from Seattle or somesuch place in Washington, I forget now. And though he was really nice, hanging out with him got old very quickly. I’m not sure if that was the intent anyway. Personally, I much preferred dancing with the girls and making dirty gestures for the camera all night. [sorry, not posting those photos out of respect for the others in the shots].

Me and Pervy Santa (ho ho ho!)

9. Meeting with my newest friend in L.A.

Haven’t written very much about him because I’m still not quite sure what’s going on with this one, but last time I was in Los Angeles, I met someone very intriguing. I know this sounds so made up and schlocky, but this guy directed a couple of very successful movies (and a couple of not-quite so successful ones) and produced some big-time TV hits as well. We met by chance in August, and actually found out that we had a friend in common (VERY strange coincidence!). And he’d given me his phone number and told me to call next time I was in town. So I took a deep breath while driving north on the 405 after Anna’s party–still a bit groggy and out of it–and left him a sort of nervous, rambly voice mail, thinking that it was a huge longshot that he’d even be in town, let alone want to see me again (would he even remember?). But sure enough, the next day he returned my call and told me that my timing was impeccable and that yes, he’d love to have a drink or two with me.

Let me just say that I had the greatest time with him! He took me to a couple of amazing hang-outs and one drink turned into several and we laughed and laughed, and before I knew it I was back at his place kissing him! Now believe me, I do realize that it could simply be the fact that I’m awestruck by the Hollyweirdness of it all and that he could be out dazzling average and ordinary women every night of the week, but….what fun we had! And no, nothing happened. We kissed, we got sleepy, he told me I could stay over, but NO WAY could I have done that, so he called me a cab and I toodled my way back to my hotel room, where I called him to tell him I made it safely and we yammered on for another 20 minutes until neither one of us could keep from passing out. I haven’t had a night like that in forever. It was sweet.

8. Holiday Travel

Even though the flight from LAX back to the Great Midwest wasn’t necessarily my holiday travel, it was for thousands of others. The lines were insane. Lucky for me, I had a feeling they were going to be like that, so I gave myself plenty of time and had already decided ahead of time that no matter what happens, I was going to keep my cool.

Sure enough, the security line at my terminal snaked all the way through the terminal, outside, and actually all the way over to the next terminal! People were in a frenzy, freaking out, some yelling. But mostly, it was just the uncomfortable standing in line forever. So, I did what I’m getting a reputation for: I struck a conversation with the cute guy in line in front of me.

Turns out, he’s a writer (surprise, surprise!) who is getting his feet wet at a currently very hip movie studio and was headed back home to Chicago for the holidays. We hit it off from the get-go, and I don’t think I’ve ever had so much fun standing in line in my life. He was hilarious, and by the time we finally got through security, we decided that we had just enough time to slam a beer together to seal our friendship.

It was so cute. When we saw that my plane was boarding, he walked me to the gate and we hugged like we were long lost best friends! I even got a sweet voice mail from him on Christmas Eve.

Amazingly, my real holiday travel went off without a hitch, considering so many others had it so shitty. I’m thanking the travel gods for that one. Oh yes, and the weather gods. Even though the temps were bitter, I didn’t encounter any snow during my travels.

7. Last-minute shopping

When I got to Dallas, I actually had most of the day to kill because I was supposed to see Super T. early in the evening, and then possibly Dude that night. Not sure where I was going to spend the night because I didn’t want to make the hour and ½ drive to Mom and Dad’s while under the influence, ya know? But I knew I’d figure something out.

So I visited some of my favorite shopping haunts (gorgeous kelly green wrap sweater for moi, and a couple of little goodies for the fam), enjoyed a nice long lunch, and killed some time by going to see Finding Neverland (Johnny Depp, delish). But by the time late afternoon rolled around, neither Super T nor Dude had firmed up any plans with me. Super T was being really wishy-washy, and when I asked him to just meet me out for a drink, he said no…that he wanted me to come over to his place. WTF? To service him before his long drive the next day? Whatever. And Dude never even called me back.

6. Seeing Gregg and Matt/Dissing Dude and Super T

So. I knew I needed to call Matt and Gregg. I’d just been putting it off because they give me all kinds of crap every time I call (the “you never call…you never write!” kind). But this time when I called, I found out that Matt had just had surgery and Gregg was nursing him back to health, and hardly anyone even knew about it!! I ended up going over there to make sure all was well (it was…though Matt was in a lot of pain) and ended up spending the night after Gregg and I polished off a couple of bottles of wine.

I’m really glad I went. I was afraid I was losing touch with those guys (especially after they’d broken up for a while). We laughed and laughed until Matt asked us to please stop making him laugh because it hurt his poor wound where they’d stapled him shut. So Gregg and I went out to get some grub and more surgical tape and laughed even more.

We were in such a festive mood that we called Super T. and when he flat out refused to meet us out, I was kinda like, good riddance (for the umpteenth time).

5. Engagement Rings

Best Bud got engaged again. No, I’m not jealous. Not at all. Okay, maybe just a little, tiny, teensy-weensy, itty-bitty bit. Damn.

4. Seeing Mom and Dad (and yes, even bro)

You know how I feel about my mom and dad (even if they’re sometimes not quite so sure about it). But it was also good to see my brother too. He has a tendency to really frustrate me because he relies so much on our parents and he just dances to the beat of a very different drummer. I’d like to someday come to grips with that and bury the hatchet. I hate the fact that I have a brother so close to me in age (he’s a year and ½ older) that I only speak to during holidays…if you can even call our pleasantries really speaking. I’ve tried to work on this, but it’s so very difficult. I do love him. I know he loves me too. That’s as good as I can do right now.

Mom and Dad are wonderful. Sure, I realize that they’re not perfect, even if I do idealize them a lot of the time. But I do hope that I can someday find a partner who I can hang with for 42 years like they’ve managed to do.

They are the coolest. And one of their cats sometimes poses on command!

3. Food, glorious food

It was delicious, I enjoyed thoroughly, and I’m paying for it. Enough said.

2. Sleep, beautiful sleep

Aaah yes, there’s something drug-like about that La-Z-Boy that sits directly in front of the fireplace. It’s my favorite place in my parents’ house. It shows. I sit in that chair and I’m almost instantly asleep for hours on end.

1. Home, wonderful home

And now I’m back. It’s so nice to come home to a place that’s all my own. I’m rested and happy and I think I’m actually ready for a fresh, new year!