xmas at Disneyland and other tales

So it finally began to feel like Christmas for me this weekend. We started off by going out to Jeff's Mom's house for an early Christmas dinner and gift exchange, where I was lucky enough to receive a homemade blanket, a starter's kit for beginning knitters (the scarf I started definitely has some problems), a starbucks card, and some other cool stuff I'm forgetting. Oh Jeff and I also got some cool pots and pans.

On Sunday Jeff and I went to Disneyland with Steve and Aimee (his brother and sister-in-law). Now, I haven't been to Disneyland in something like five years, and even though I was pretty much all growns up the last time I went, I think that my memory of Disneyland is from when I was a kid because I noticed these differences:

1. The Sleeping Beauty Castle used to be a lot bigger.
2. the Maderhorn used to be completely covered with snow, not just white paint patches on fake cement.
3. The rides used to be longer (except for small world which is painfully long)
4. The Tiki Room jokes used to be REALLY funny, and now, not so much.
5. I don't remember hacking up a lung at Disneyland as a kid ( my cough at D-land was out of control)

BUT I did have a really good time. Highlights of the day: The first one needs a preface. Here is the preface, which is actually a very bad thing--Jeff's brother Steve has a degenerative back condition that prevents him from standing in one place for more than 20 minutes or so. He can walk all day, but the pressure caused by standing makes the disk in his back swell or something, and is really painful. Result: He had to get a wheelchair for Disneyland because the lines were all mostly at least an hour or two long. Ultimate result: We got to go to the front of the lines as part of the wheelchair party. It was nice to be able to go on all the rides we wanted on such a busy day. I do have to say that there is something to be said for waiting in lines for rides though, because it builds up your anticipation for a ride, and I like to people-watch while in line.

Other highlights included FINALLY going to Disneyland as a group of four. I frequently ended up going to Disneyland in groups of three or five (when I went with friends), and hated going on rides by myself. I distinctly remember feeling lame having to ride in one of the Haunted Mansion chairs by myself. I mean, I know it happens to everyone at some point, and if you don't have an even number that's just what happens, but it's annoying you know? So it was cool to not have to worry about that anymore. Speaking of the haunted mansion, they have it all decked out Jack Skeleton style from the nightmare before christmas. It's pretty different and really well done. What else? The sourdough breadbowls are just like I remember them. It was really cold (which I love) and there were a lot of cute toddlers running around in beanies and oversized jackets. the Christmas decorations were really cool, especially in New Orleans Square. Jeff took some good pictures, including one indecent shot of a reindeer in the petting zoo. If you're reading this, I think you should delete that one. Watch, he'll probably post it on the blog now. All in all a very good time.

Today I am working on wrapping miscelaneous presents, callling friends and relatives that I have neglected to call recently, deep-cleaning my apartment (I think i'm going to tackle one room a day), and grocery shopping. just in case you wanted to know. Hopefully I'll see you all at happy hour, if not before...