Christmas Memories

1. Wrapping paper or gift bag? Wrapping paper. But I like gift bags, too. A lot of gifts get put in gift bags because I get tired of wrapping.
2. Real tree or artificial? Artificial all the way! I’ve heard it takes months to vacuum up all the pine needles. And I’d forget to water a real one.
3. When do you put up your tree? Around Thanksgiving.
4. When do you take down your tree? Usually the week after Christmas.
5. Do you like eggnog? Yes!
6. Favorite gift received as a child? A huge three piece Barbie house and a She-Ra fountain/pool thing
7. Do you have a nativity scene? Not right now.
8. Hardest person to buy for? Jeramy and my Dad.
9. Easiest person to buy for? Me. J
10. Worst Christmas gift you’ve ever received? My 2005 & 2006 Christmas gift from my Grandma was to give me $20 dollars in November 2006 to send a gift package to starving children in Africa (yes, two Christmases, one care package) No word on the plans for this Christmas, I’ll keep you posted.
11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail
12. Favorite Christmas movie? Mystery Science Theater’s Santa Conquers the Martians! No seriously, it’s White Christmas.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Beginning of November, unless I see something someone would really like.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Not that I know of.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Egg nog. But I don’t discriminate against other tasty treats.
16. White or colored lights? White (I wish they still made bubble lights!)
17. Favorite Christmas song? "Carol of the Bells"
18. Traveling for Christmas or staying home? Staying home
19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeers? Yep, because Linden had them all named out for me!
20. Angel or Star on top of tree? Angle at my parent’s house. Jeramy’s tree has Betty Boop at the top.
21. Open presents Christmas Eve or Morning? A few presents on Christmas Eve, the rest on Christmas morning.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? People get so mean! Because they’re paying attention to every penny and they think it’s my fault their insurance is expensive.
23. What I love most about Christmas? Spending time with my family and friends.

San Francisco

I arrived in Oakland Thursday night. That night Jeramy and I went to eat at P.F. Chang's and walked around downtown Emmeryville. The weather was gorgeous. The entire time I was there the weather was in 70s. The next morning we went into San Francisco. Let me insert here, I will never drive in San Francisco. They're scary! One of the bridges going into San Francisco was a ten lane highway, five lane on top and five lanes below. There's like a thousand million cars, the freeway is so damn busy there's a little light on the on ramp that blinks green for a second to let you enter the freeway, motorcyclist drive on the painted dotted line in-between cars—no way, my little brain would explode! While in San Francisco we drove around and saw some of the sights in San Francisco.

That night we went to Ruth's Chris. *drool* Ruth Chris is sooo good. Afterwards we headed back to Oakland and went to sleep because Jeramy and I had an early morning on Saturday.

Saturday morning we woke up early and headed to Monterey, California. We went scuba diving in the kelp forest. It was fun, yet very tiring. The temperature was around 55º. I had so much wet suit on I literally couldn't raise my arms. Jeramy had to help me get my goggles on. This was my first time diving in 1) salt water and 2) cold water, so through I had a lot of fun hopefully I'll do better the next time I do an ocean dive (Bonaire!). On top of my scuba gear I had another 25 pounds of weight and I still had problems staying down. (Jeramy called me an out of control elevator! I was either hitting the bottom or breaking the surface.) I saw lots of kelp and starfish, and a few sea cucumbers. We took an underwater camera with us, but for some reason we still haven't gotten the film developed. As soon as we do I'll post some pictures. In the meantime, here are some pictures of Monterey outside of the water.

We decided to stay in Oakland that night. We went to a local restaurant that Jeramy frequents. After dinner we wondered about Jack London Square (read: un-scary part of Oakland) and went to BevMo. It’s like a candy store for adults! (side note, I just realized they ship! I'm ordering some wine right now!).

Sunday we took BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit [read: subway]) into San Francisco. We wondered around for a while, saw Chinatown and found an Irish pub to eat lunch at. No, the Irish pub was not in Chinatown, it was in the financial district right next to Chinatown.

Monday morning Jeramy and I woke open up early so I could get to the airport. And at the airport I saw the most exciting thing of my trip…I almost saw a criminal escape! I was waiting to board the plane when three guys came barreling out of the tunnel that connects the waiting area to the plane. The second guy in the running line was yelling, "Stop him! Stop him!" A Good Samaritan tackled the would-be-escapee. A few minutes later when the would-be-escapee stood up out from under the pile of people he was under his shirt was torn and he was in handcuffs. Such excitement to end my vacation.