Post Xmas Check-in :-)

Wow. It has surely been a busy 5 days. Too much to write, so here's the Cliff Notes version (with digressions):

Many, many thanks to g0atface for her birthday post last Friday. Made me cry. :-)

Disneyland was *fabulous*. Only downside was the amazing amount of pain my feet experianced at the end of it all (and they still haven't recovered.) I also seemed to have pulled a muscle in the area of my left rib(s).
I had forgotten how much I love the Land of the Mouse, and this trip re-awakened my inner Disney Geek. I want to go again and I'm strategizing how to do it. One highlight was getting a cast member playing the part of a pirate on Tom Sawyer's island to hold my bear Alister and getting a picture. Lots of great Alister in Disneyland photos, actually, courtesy of misagillian. And thanks to all the crew that came with me -- you guys made the trip and long lines all worth while. :-)

Got home Sunday night and crashed at misagillian's. Monday after breakfast at Hobee's I went to the barn. This is the third year that Brandee, with some help from rachaelfluery, gave me a framed photo of Herself decked out in Xmas gear. This year it was a Santa hat and a Santa tablerunner draped over her shoulders. I love that horse. rachaelfluery rocks, too. :-)

Christmas was pleasant and low key. Opened my prezzies from j_i_m_r and Ivar in the morning. On top of the serious bling they got me for my b-day, j_i_m_r made me a replica of the fan in the Moroni Lady in Rose painting! (see icon). They also gave me Dressing the Elite: Clothes in Early Modern England by Susan Vincent (2003). Started reading it last night and it looks good.

Digression 1: I really should write up something on what I've been reading on 16th C clothes in cultural context. ( Read more... )

Digression 2, dress status: ( Read more... )

Back to Xmas: Eventually I got out to the barn. Funny, it seemed like a normal day and not the madhouse that Thanksgiving morning was. The outdoor arena was usable and empty so Brandee got to have a good Xmas run. :-) Rode, but my ribs hurt like a sonofabitch when we trotted (cantering not so bad) and that got me worried. When I rode Monday it didn't hurt. I may have exacerbated the situation, though, 'cause today my left rib area is really bothering me. :-(

After the barn it was off to rachaelfluery's house for a misagillian-hosted Xmas. Got to see g0atface, cathyn, helbonde, moriven, leotulf, his daughter Siobhan, and misagillian's parents. Nice dinner, prezzies exchanged, fun conversation. Got 2 jade horse pendant necklaces made by helblonde, a set of different colored stud earrings from misagillian. helblonde also presented me with a Teddy Bear Tea birthday cake, complete with merange teddy bears and a tea set and table made of fondant. :-)

Today I get to stay home, thanks to misagillian who agreed to turn Brandee out for me. I'm going to see if the rib pain goes away if I baby it today. Sewing will happen and maybe I'll manage to get a bit of house cleaning done.