Not very Christmasy...

I am saddend by the wintery pictures everyone back in the States is posting on Facebook.  We have had one slightly cold snap (the temperatue was compounded by chimney problems once again!), but of course, the minute things with the chimney were squared away we're having near tropical weather.  It doesn't feel like the eve of Christmas Eve by a long shot.  Today it was sunny and in the seventies.  I was uncomfortably hot in my sweater and I didn't need a jacket at all.

I suppose I shouldn't complain about the nice weather.  Most of you might prefer to be here... or at least not have to plow or shovel through feet of snow to make it to the store for groceries.  But I am longing for a white Christmas and that just isn't in the cards here in Seville.

Aside from the weather being extraordinarily warm, I think I've just been too busy to actually stop and realize that Christmas is upon us.  I did bake my gingerbread house and I did bake gingerbread cookies for treats in my classes--the house smelled great for days!  But even doing Christmas crosswords and jeopardy games or singing Christmas carols, it still just doesn't feel like Christmas.

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve.  For the second year in a row we'll be eating at my brother and sister-in-law's house.  I am planning to go to midnight mass: a tradition I've come to like; and then I'll probably go lend a hand at the bar.

This is my pretty poster for New Year's Eve... pretty cool, huh?

Perhaps it's all the headache of preparation for the holidays at the bar that's got me feeling a little scroogey.  It is true that this time of year is one of Angelines's least favorites just because there's so much work and people are so demanding and you have to be so careful to have everything in stock...  She's got to check her (shopping) list more than just twice! ;)  The storage space at the new bar is quite big; at least double what she had at the other place, but it's full to bursting at the moment.

It isn't just the shopping and preparing and long weekends of work, though.  It's also the thinking and thinking and going round and round about what we can do attract a little extra business this holiday season.  I spent a good five hours working on posters to advertise New Year's Eve and a few other things we've got up our sleeve.  We're going to have an afternoon of gingerbread (the cookies were a hit in all my classes) and chocolate before King's Day, and we're also going to serve hot sandwiches on Christmas eve (and from now on).  I love spending time making pretty posters (when I have the time, that is).  It's all the thinking about WHAT to advertise or plan and what it all entails that is the most exhausting part.  Thankfully my private classes are finished until after the New Year so I can dedicate myself to helping A at the bar; but sometimes it feels like I just don't get a break.

And speaking of a break, my university classes are also thankfully taking a Christmas vacation; but for me that just means I have a little respite in which to catch up!  I've fallen behind in more than one class because the books were very slow getting to me.  The semester doesn't end until Feb. so I've still got a bit to go before exams.  Christmas break will be a good time to catch up, review and (maybe...?) get ahead.  So far I'm on track.  I have caught up in my math class and am slowing doing the semester's reading for my English class.  I'm only behind one unit in each of my other two classes, so with all of Christmas break stretching before me I think I'm in good shape.

I hope you're all snug by your chimneys and enjoying the holidays with eggnog or cider or gingerbread or a combination of other yummy treats.  Think of me still sweating among olive trees! :P

Have a very Merry Christmas!!!