Christmas L.A. Style

Well, this isn't exactly a blog about celebrating Christmas in L.A. so much as the way we new-to-L.A.-ers are spending our first Christmas here.

Which is to say, we're not. Can't get out of this armpit fast enough.

Now, in L.A.'s defense, we are ridiculously homesick. So criticizing L.A. has become a favorite past-time. Here's a conversation we had last weekend when we drove up to the Sequoia National Forest (imagine this as snarky and sarcastic as possible):

Matt: Oh, sure, we finally see a police car now that we're nowhere near the city.
Me: But God forbid a tree branch should fall near the road. Gotta put a dozen cones around it before someone complains.
Matt: Wouldn't want anyone to sue you, now, would you, L.A.?

We generally cut it out after about ten minutes, switching into Things We Will Miss About L.A. mode.

Nonetheless ... we're spending as little of the season here as possible.

Last weekend, we went fly fishing in the Kern River. We took lessons at a section wedged just north of a canyon so terrifyingly steep, we both had nightmares the night we came home. The river we stood in to cast was 39-degrees, and our feet instantly went numb. I couldn't gulp enough cold, Sequoia air.

And the weekend we just finished up? We spent it in Colorado visiting Joanna and Benjamin. Between stops at Noodles and Spooners, we went to the movies, tossed snowballs, opened Christmas presents, and, well, giggled. A Lot. And I downed great big heaps of clean, mile-high air.

This Sunday? We're flying to Amarillo. We're going to camp out with the McDaniel clan and let Mimi feed us until we pop (many runs and swims to go in the next five days so that the popping will take as long as possible). I expect we'll play endlessly with dogs and kids and fresh-out-of-the-box toys. I'm going to try to out-talk Dave (I think I have a shot at it, as I'm not teaching this week; warming up my vocal cords). After that, we head to Prosper for Baio time. We are ready for tea and scary movies in the man cave. I hope for some ping-pong, bowling, ice skating, shopping, and chocolate, too. And I just want to sit and stare at a big, old Christmas tree while football games blare on a flat-screen.

I love my family. And I love Matt's family.

And I love gallons and gallons of clean, clean air.

L.A., we'll see you in the New Year.