Christmas Eve

Ahhh, I've finally watched A Christmas Story all the way through once, and it will be on TBS another nine times. Life is good.

Christmas Eve over the Schmitt house was interesting this year. People in attendence: Uncle Bill Schmitt (who we see once a year), his "lady friend" Cindy (who has never met his son Matthew, despite the fact that Matthew lives wih him and he has been dating Cindy for about two years), Brenda(my cousin) and Dave (her husband), Zachary (Brenda's son from her first marriage), Billy and Danny (Brenda and Dave's kids), Rae (Dave's mom, who Brenda can't stand), Dennis (Dave's brother who was in a drunk driving accident when he was nineteen and has been messed up from it ever since), Beth (Brenda's twin) and John (her fiance), Tony (Beth's ex-husband who is catering Beth's wedding to John), Jordan and Vincent (Beth and Tony's kids), Terri (my step-sister, from my dad's first marriage) and Randy (her husband), Ryder (Terri and Randy's kid), Sue (my dad's ex-wife), Mr. and Mrs. Fisher (the parents of one of my brother's oldest friends), and then my parents and me. Sheesh.

There were crap loads of food, which is always good, except we're also having Christmas dinner here tomorrow, so we'll have even more food after that. The fridge is already overflowing.

Wrapped some gifts (ran out of scotch tape, so I had to resort to using this duct-tape like substance my dad found in the basement). Went to church, one of two times I go a year (the other is Easter). Endured lots of cracks about Canada. Example: Dave L.: Talking like a Canadian yet, eh? Me: (blank stare)

Baby sat for Brenda's kids last night. They paid me A LOT. Ten dollars for making them cookies, twenty bucks to take them to Friendly's, and another forty bucks when they got home. Granted, there were three kids and I was there for six hours, but the kids were in bed for about three and a half of those hours. Shrug.

Temperature today: 58 degrees. Downright balmy! I think I've only worn my coat maybe two or three times since I've been home. Score!

And because I keep forgetting to mention this: Dave and I listened to some guy qualify for Wing Bowl the other morning. He had flown in all the way from California to try and drink a gallon of milk in under three minutes and keep it down for twenty five. He drank it in FORTY ONE SECONDS and kept it down. It was amazing (especially considering the prior experience I have of witnessing someone trying to down a gallon of millk). The whole time the radio hosts were telling him that doctors had told them it was impossible, couldn't be done, etc. So much for their expert medical opinions. My dad already has his tickets for Wing Bowl! It's all new people this year...no returning champs.

Anyway, Merry Christmas everyone.