I know, I know, I know.... but it's been a crazy week and tonight's New Year's Eve! I'll get something up soon.
Don't ever say New Yorkers are mean.... today I walking down the street and some random guy said to me cheerfully in passing, "Happy New Year!!" with a big goofy grin. Maybe he was from out of town. Then again, it was the Upper East Side. Anyway, it put a smile on my face for the next several blocks and was a lovely start to my day.
Well, the family's all here and it's Christmas in New York. We've been to Times Square and to The Tree twice already and I'm already sick of the crowds... but never sick of Christmas. There won't be a post for a bit (off work for a week!!!) but I'll get on it as soon as I can. Merry Christmas everyone... I'm thinking of everyone in Arizona that I'm missing this year and send love to all (and to all a good night).
Last Friday was the fete of the season, at least for all who work at PS260: our annual holiday party. Earlier in the day, Maury and I exchanged gifts... I gave him a McSweeney's book and he capitalized on my newfound record-playing opportunities by giving me three awesome albums, all first-edition: T-Rex, Led Zeppelin's Houses Of The Holy, and Andy Williams' Greatest Hits. He knows me too well. I seriously wanted to cry.
Brand-new assistant producer Kelley got things started off by popping the cork on our bottle of champagne.
We began the night with that staple of all office holiday parties, the Secret Santa gift exchange. Dustin, as in every year past, acted as emcee and gift distributer.
We received some great gifts.
Robert audibly gasped in an innocent show of delight the likes of which I'd never seen when he opened his gift... the DVD of one of his favorite bad movies, "Deep Blue Sea."
It was a generally awesome, fun-filled hour and a half.
Sarra was my Secret Santa. She gave me Cosmos, by Carl Sagan, after blatantly asking me what I wanted for Christmas (I foolishly never made the connection).
I had this shirt specially made for former rowing superstar Ned.
Stephanie received... lingerie. (?) Very soon afterward her Secret Santa got a good talking-to.
Barbara, our terrific accountant, proposed a toast and declared that in all of her working years, she had never worked for such a wonderful trio of men as our bosses, JJ, Maury and John.
Then we all gathered in the assistants' room to watch Robert's favorite scene of "Deep Blue Sea." (Hint: it involves Samuel L. Jackson and a shark.)
We all piled into the elevator...
... and walked a few blocks down the road...
... to our dinner at a Korean barbecue joint.
Barbara told some crazy tales of when she was our age.
We surprised Zarina with an early cake for her birthday (which would be the following Monday).
Then, for some unknown reason, the editors started looking a little crazy.
I dunno. Anyway, after dinner, we all headed to a karaoke place on the Lower East Side. When we got there, Ned was already trying to choose a song.
... and Maury & wife Amy were well into their first duet of the evening.
There's nothing like seeing your boss let loose.
... or the company accountant.
Ned finally found something suitable for his mood and voice... unfortunately, nobody knows what song that was.
Entertaining, to say the least.
Dustin joined in to sing "La Bamba."
It got everyone jazzed.
You don't think I would miss out on group humiliation, do you? Heck no! The first of my many songs was "Whole Lotta Love" by Led Zeppelin (typical).
The best thing about a private karaoke room is that pretty much everyone sings along with you, so you don't feel like TOO much of an idiot.
JJ and wife Lilia sang the theme to "Good Times."
You know that got people all riled up.
I got up for my 2nd round, to join Rob in a duet of Mr. Big's "To Be With You."
Maury and Sarra combo'd on "99 Problems."
And before the night was through, I got up (again, but this time on Zarina's urging) to perform a Madonna song with Sarra's help.
Dustin and I left before we got the chance to perform "Summer Lovin'." Thank God.
WARNING: The following post may contain the following offensively freaking precious images: couples kissing happily, children dancing, and white folks dancing uninhibitedly. If you have personal issues with any of the above-listed items, you are hereby advised to refrain from reading this post. Proceed at your own risk.
Last Saturday in Arizona the event of the local television news year was taking place: our cousin April, weather girl, was marrying Mark, sports guy. Yep, they're like Barbie and Ken and even nicer. I wish I could hate them but they're just too cool and nice and personable.
Anyway, so the boys and I got dressed up. I didn't feel that the dress that I brought was nice enough for the occasion, so I went to Target 2 hours before the wedding and got a new dress. Luckily Mom had an amazing pair of Mary Jane high heels that matched perfectly (and defied all laws of physics and shoe sizes). Somehow, of course, the boys and I ended up matching each other.
Greg brought his friend Courtney to the ceremony.
We all sat with Dad & Dana.
There were so many people in the wedding party, and tastefully dressed (no gaudy dresses for April!).
Soon she came past, looking more beautiful than any of us had seen her.
I snapped this photo of Mark the moment she appeared. He was grinning like a fool the whole day.
It was a lovely ceremony.
They said their vows, it was very sweet, and April teared up a bit... which made everyone else (read: me) cry a little too.
After the ceremony, we all went to April's parents' house at the base of the Superstition Springs mountains. The backyard was all gussied up. The cake was amazing.
Look at this detail!
I saw many relatives that I haven't seen in months, like Uncle Rob. When I was a little girl he used to ask me every time he saw me, "So how many boyfriends do you have now?" It was a little thing but it made me believe that someday I might be able to have a boyfriend.
Uncle Dave's and Aunt Nancy's arrival was announced...
... as well as the happy couple's.
We got another obligatory family photo (despite the harsh sunlight):
We got to see our cousin Douglas (Greg's car mentor) and his fiancee Austin.
She's always impeccably dressed with a rockabilly style, and Aunt Linda insisted on taking a picture of her and me together.
We both had black patent leather Mary Janes.
April and Mark came out and had their first dance as man and wife.
The groomsmen and pregnant bridesmaid(s) joined them.
Then everyone got on the dance floor (this is Aunt Linda and her beau John).
Even the flower girl and ring bearer got into it.
But the glory didn't last, as there was a game on and many males were in attendance.
Outside, I saw the amazing light hitting the mountains and scurried up to the deck.
There was a nice view from up there too.
The sun quickly descended into the horizon, the temperature dropped, and the party really got started. The matron of honor, best man, and Uncle Dave all gave speeches. Dave's speech was surprisingly tender and moving.
Dave and April, and Mark and his mother shared their dances.
Then the rest of the guests started dancing too. Just as I was telling Grandma Jackie that I do NOT fast-dance, Nathan somehow tricked me into dancing with him. We took pictures of each other taking pictures while dancing.
(White Man's Overbite) Everyone got into the groove.
The newlyweds shared a special moment onstage, booty-dancing to some good old-fashioned funk music.
The crowd just ate it up.
Uncle Jeff and daughter Lori danced together.
Even Greg danced, which I haven't seen happen in years.
Jolly good time.
Dad said, "Let me get a picture of you three" and my brothers and I instantly struck this pose.
A&M cut the cake and refrained from smooshing it in each other's faces.
... while we all looked on.
April threw her bouquet (which I would have caught if it hadn't been for the pregnant bridesmaid) and Mark tossed the garter belt, which Greg caught (making me glad I didn't catch the bouquet).
Aunt Carol helped him properly don it.
Then Greg did his famous "hold your arms out and just swing your hips in a giant circle" dance.
It became apparent that the boys in our family had become men.
While Dad and I... well, I don't know what happened here. I think we were making fun of a groomsman who was dancing similarly.
And, at the end of the evening, Scott shared a dance with his big sister.
A night of fun and family (wow, that was corny).
Congratulations and good luck to the happy couple.
This weekend was an Arizona weekend, and what a happy one it was. Both of my brothers and I were able to come down to AZ for our cousin's wedding, and, being the multi-tasking family that we are, packed even more than that into three days. It was Mom and Tom's 10th wedding anniversary so they threw a party for themselves... I'll break the blog into 2 parts, and this will be the anniversary one.
Nate, Greg and I got into town late Thursday night. After a brutal work week of staying late each night (till 10pm, 2am and midnight respectively), I was both relieved to have some time off and too tired to take a pic of the family that night.
Friday morning, I awoke at the refreshing hour of 1pm just as Nathan was coming home from buying Christmas and wedding presents. He shopped till he dropped.
Tom and I started setting up the kitchen for guests. He opened the dishwasher in mid-cycle and I couldn't resist this photo.
Before the other guests arrived, Grandma came over early to visit and give us Christmas gifts (as we will be in New York for the holiday this year). Nathan, the Good Grandson, gave her some gifts and showed her pictures of the turkey he fried for Thanksgiving.
She gave us each some great gift cards, plus the priceless treat of homemade Christmas candy. Greg didn't want to wait to eat them... he dove right in.
There was a whole lot of Grandma-loving going on.
We gave Mom & Tom a gift. Or, rather, we gave them a card and explained that "someone" forgot to pack our gift in his suitcase.
We had our obligatory family photo taken.
Mom showed off her fab design skills in all ways for this party and throughout the house in general. Look at these cakes she got for the party.
And all of this delicious food.
There were candles everywhere (even floating ones),
... and a general winter (rather than Christmas) theme, set off by pictures from their elopement and the ceremony with us kids.
The peeps started coming and it was great to see some of the folks' longtime friends. Marcy was especially boisterous.
We reminisced about when I used to babysit for her daughters. We would use the video camera and make our own soap operas (even then I wanted to be in the film industry) and I would send the girls on scavenger hunts using written clues hidden in door jambs and behind pottery throughout the house. "To this day I still find clues in the strangest places," she told me.
She and I now have matching hairstyles.
She gave my parents the most amazing gift. By chance, at both their elopement and family ceremony, someone played the Beatles' "In My Life" on acoustic guitar. For a present, Marcy & her husband Mike (at whose house the family ceremony took place) gave them a candle holder with all of the lyrics hand-painted on.
You can make up your own caption for this one. "Okay, 2 words, 4 syllables... 1st word sounds like...." Everyone had a fabulous time socializing.
In the middle of the evening, we had some special guests... Tom had a friend of his from the college bring over the choir for some carolling. It was just lovely.
They got us all to sing.
Even Grandma!
I tell you, my parents know how to throw a fete.
Steve was not as drunk as he looks in this picture. It was good to see him and Barb Curry and all the others.
Denise stopped by...
And gave Mom some terrific boots to take with her to New York.
Mom couldn't stop showing them off (they even matched her outfit that night).
By the end of the night, all of the ladies in attendance ended up in Mom's "Zen Room". It used to be my bedroom, but she recently redecorated it to be a sort of relaxation sanctuary, filled with family photos, books, and music. I think she inspired all these ladies.
But the party was just beginning for me. I was able to make it out to Tempe for some quality time with some fellow former (or not so former) Channel 8 peeps.
It was great to see friends I haven't talked to or seen in awhile, even just for a little bit.
Next I'll blog the wedding. But for now....
Happy anniversary to my wonderful mom and stepdad! Love you to bits.
