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A Very Cali Christmas
Friday, December 29th, 2006
Okay, before I dive into the very cali Christmas, a short recap of “Mom Visits NY.” Mom came in for the ITP show, and stayed a couple days before we both took off back to California. Mom’s a big finance nerd, so I took her inside NYSE as a Christmas surprise. After 9/11 they stopped allowing the public to tour NYSE. I did an internship there this Summer, so I talked to my boss and arranged a special tour. Mom was super excited.
Wednesday my old roommate from Newport, Christina came in to the city with boyfriend Matt. I promised to take them to the *nicest* bars in town. Mom didn’t want to miss out on the fun, so we took her along too.
I started everyone off at McSorely’s.
Next on to “Welcome to the Johnsons.” Only the best for you mom.
I love how they decorated for the holidays.
I raised the bar a little bit with a short trip to Pravda in Soho.
I think this was a little more her style.
Flew back into Cali on Thursday. Here’s a view of Long Beach from the plane.
Friday I went to lunch with Brian. I wrapped up a rat from New York and gave it to him as a Christmas gift. As you can see, he loved it.
Next up, martinis with Kristin at Chimayo. We took this lovely couples shot by the Huntington Pier. (Kristin your boobs look huge is this pic!)
After that went to visit Matt and the Barnes family. I brought another NY rat to Matt’s dad, Gerald, my long time nemeses.
Gerald was so grateful for his rat gift, he took me to his garage and let me pick out my very own Ferrari for Christmas. Mostlytrue fact: G is the proud owner of FMSOCAL.) Anyway, thanks but no thanks G- I just don’t have anywhere to park that thing in NY.
Next up back to Matt’s house where I beat him at Wii Tennis.
He wasn’t too happy about that.
Saturday Jenny Shitter and Melissa came over. We started off the night watching Jenny’s wedding video (recap of Shitter’s wedding here.) Jenny was most excited to replay over and over the scene where I spill wine all down the front of my dress. Props to the wedding videographer for capturing that *special* moment.
Anyway, Shitter and Mel-dog, I miss you! Come visit suckers!!
Christmas eve day I spent cleaning out my closet. I found things like this old skool Palm Pilot. I thought I was soooo cool and high-tech when I had this in college. Hahahaha.
Also found this hot dress and necklace.
Here’s my first computer science test. (programming language = Fortran).
Remember blue books and writing for like 5 hours straight for college exams?
A C?!!! Looks like Poli Sci wasn’t my best subject.
That’s okay because according this paper, somebody loved me. (The professor perhaps? How inappropriate!) Anyway, it was fun to look back at all that old stuff.
And remember the many things I learned in college.
Christmas eve dinner was at brother Matt’s house. Here’s a pic of his wife and three kids (left to right, Britan, Scott, and Nina.)
After dinner it was a quick stop at 7-11 for their delicious coffee.
Then off to the late service at church.
Christmas morning we wait for the kids to come over. Grandma Santa sets up the presents real nice.
Mom was busy in the kitchen preparing one of my favorite hors d’oeuvres- parmesan discs. Yum.
Here’s the final spread. Now time for presents.
Scotty was another lucky recipient of an NY rat.
My brothers both got remote control cars.
And these “Sonic Blaster” rockets. Did I mention brother Matt is 35 yrs. old and brother Mike 37?!
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It’s all fun and games until everyone decides to shoot the camera lady. Ugh.
Exhausted from playing with rockets, Dad passed out.
Brother Mike passed out too.
Kitty hung out by the fireplace as usual.
Dad woke up in time to carve the meat for dinner.
Here’s er.... most of the fam. Christmas is one of the only times we all sit down together any more.
The kids table was all decked out for Christmas. Lucky Scott got the “Cars” theme this year.
Mom whipped up this amazing flourless chocolate cake for desert. So delicious.
After desert I went to Uncle D, & Aunt Sue’s house. This is a picture of their favorite child, Duke.
Here’s me and cousin Carly.
Carly got me this awesome gift. Carly, how do you always know just what I need?
We met some friends at a pub called Stubrik’s in downtown Fullerton. That’s cousin Christy in the back on the right in the green sweater. The next couple days were filled with lunches/dinners with old friends. I stopped by the shop to go to lunch with my dad. Took a few pictures for you, so you can see all the magic that happens at Bedard Automotive.
My dad hard at work.
Brother Matt hard at work.
Some engine that doesn’t work.
Cousin Chase, checking himself out in the rear view mirror of a customer’s car.
At lunch I tried to teach my dad the magic of text messaging.
He decided the best way to text message was to dictate to me, while I typed in the message for him. Sigghhhh. Some things never change.
Last night in Cali went to Islands which has the best cheese fries in the universe.
Yum.
Back in NY now. Tomorrow off to Austria for New Years with some ITP kids. I still can’t get over how cheap the flight to Germany was (less than the one to CA!) Anyway, this is a picture of St. Anton, one of the Ski resorts we’ll be at. Hopefully I’ll have some nice German friends to add to the Mostly True F&E page when I get back. Happy New Year everybody!