ITS ALMOST CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Only 3 days till the BIG day!!! Santa is pretty much ready at my house. Shopping is done, gifts are all wrapped, house is decorated and the carols are playing. The kids (and, of course, the grandkids) are coming to my house for din-din on Christmas Day this year. I am doing a 100% Italian dinner.....herb roasted turkey breast, butternut squash soup, dressing and cranberry relish from Corti Bros!(Ouch! Pricey...but it will be worth it!) The rest.....lasagna, Italian meatballs, cheese plate and a million and half appetizers....are all from my kitchen. I'm off to Patti's Solstice party tonite for a short appearance and then, early tomorrow morning, I'm off to the grocery store for all the fresh produce, etc. Then home and I start cooking. A little on Sunday, a little on Xmas Eve and alot on Christmas Day. Hopefully, I have all the cooking spaced out enough so that I can still enjoy it. At first, the kids were planning on spending the night on Christmas, but as it turns out, I lagged regarding a kennel for Princess and nothing is available. This means that Princess will have to sleep in my room (instead of Hailey) and Russell would have to sleep on a sofa. Of course, true to form, Russell has declined the opportunity and Brandi and I are playing it by ear. We think it might be possible to change his mind once he is here. We shall see.....

I went to New Orleans for a week earlier this month and, per usual, had a great time. Larisa, Katie, Monique and Anna also went. It was loads of fun but, at times, a little wierd. Anna and Monique mostly hung out by themselves......due a little to Monique's shortage of funds....which meant that Larisa, Katie and I hung out most of the time....which was very cool. It was Katie's first time ever in NOLA and, need I say, she fell in love with my favorite city. Fact is that she is planning on going back with us in April. I really hope she does....I love Katie....and she really likes to do the touristy stuff which, apparently, doesn't really appeal to Anna. Its tough to get Anna off the bar stool, which I love bar stools, also, but I also love to go see the rest of New Orleans. So I am really keeping my fingers crossed that Katie will go with us.....

I need to clue you in on what is going on with my book. I've kinda gotten away from it since I went back to work (working 3 days a week, most weeks). But I have promised myself that I'm going to get back at it once the holidays are out of the way. I have alot of good ideas regarding where my story is going....so if I want to get it done, first draft, by the time I go to New Orleans for my 6 months...I have to get at it. The plan right now is to go to New Orleans in October or November of next year for my long awaited 6 month stay.

Well, that's about it....Happy Holidays!!! Ho! Ho! Ho! (who ya callin a ho?)
Til next time......