Counting down the days

You know how the curve of technological development, like with computers, keeps getting steeper and steeper? It's like that with Christmas lights as well: before, you had your strings of basic, coloured lights that changed little except maybe for the colour selection. A few years ago, they came out with the dangling, icicle-like lights. A couple of years after that, light nets became popular, especially on cedar hedges. Last year those huge inflated soldiers/snowmen/Santas lit up from within started showing up and this year, they've come out with LED lights that have cool colours (although only three of them) which people are combining with their old lights to sometimes odd effect.

I got the beautiful sari I ordered this week. It looked so tiny, folded up to the size of a hardcover book, but when I took it out of the envelope and wrapped it around myself, I almost got lost. Bright red silk with gold and purple and green designs, it's absolutey gorgeous. I was planning to make a (or several!) dresses out of it, but now I don't know if I'll have the heart to cut it... *gurgles*

Tuesday the 14th of December was a very important day. Not because of bashy's birthday, but because The Return of the King Extended DVD Edition was put on sale! You know what that means? That means LOTR marathon over the holidays! If you'd like to attend, let me know so we can arrange a date. Otherwise, it'll be me, Aragorn and a bag of chips.

Of course G got me the set with the mini Minas Tirith. For some reason it's in two parts; the base had a round velvety-lined hole with the White Tree printed on the bottom, as though it's meant to hold -- gah, I can't remember the English word for sous-tasse! -- those thingies you put under your glass or mug. Minas Tirith the Mug Holder? The city part fits into the hole but not right to the bottom; there's still space to hide a Precious, I guess. XD

So, ( what did I think of it? )

That's enough of that. Today, I'm buying a serger! You know, I really, really needed to get serious with the whole sewing thing and post pictures. I read about someone starting a NaNoWriMo-like sewing challenge and I've got a whole drawer-full of material just screaming to be made into something lovely.

I've just discovered Squirrel Nut Zippers and I love them to death. It's like swing and blues and jazz and folk and this one sounds like klezmer or East-European traditional all rolled into one.

Only one week of work before the holidays. *dances a happy dance* Ten glorious days of nothing to do. This weekend I have to finish cleaning up my apartment, which is looking pretty good already, because my family's coming over for our traditional Christmas Eve Chinese fondue. Don't ask where that tradition came from, I have no idea, but we've been doing that for years. It's a damn practical tradition, because it demands little to no preparation (just broth and dipping sauces) and then there's a ready-made soup for lunch next day when my mother's busy cooking the bird for supper.