Eurostars das Artes Porto rocks my world

This (very late)morning I ate room service breakfast in a bed so big I keep losing things in it while watching Bob l'Eponge on Cartoon Network then took a 2nd bubble bath in 12 hours. I LOVE MY CHRISTMAS VACATION!!
: D
PS to make things more homey in the room I took out all my newly acquired candle holders but dared not tempt fate so much as to lite them

Eurostars das Artes Porto rocks my world

This (very late)morning I ate room service breakfast in a bed so big I keep losing things in it while watching Bob l'Eponge on Cartoon Network then took a 2nd bubble bath in 12 hours. I LOVE MY CHRISTMAS VACATION!!
: D
PS to make things more homey in the room I took out all my newly acquired candle holders but dared not tempt fate so much as to lite them

the most wonderful day

As I am set to turn into my king sized hotel bed after being up now for 22 hours, I look back on a most excellent day for so many reasons. Travel to new places, a friend's life accomplishment, reunions,dinners, and the entire day with GP; it could not have been better and I hated so much to see it end.
Ongoing mission: Project Travel Companion.
Must get to bed...another grand day out tomorrow.

still sleepless in Oporto

Plus of course am quite worried as to how the Points will fare in the forecasted and generally ubiquitous Portuguese humidity. And am still VERY full. Resolve to not eat any bread/meat/dessert all day...except should a Gloria find its way to my breakfast plate...

sleepless in Oporto

Well, although it has now reached an hour at which it would be acceptable to be awake and somewhat active, after going to bed incredibly early (for me) have now spent 3 hours watching the clock tick by in anticipation over the day to come and the logistics of the week ahead. Today will be a great day, as will tomorrow, and the rest of the week, but it is a matter of doing and seeing and being where I am most comfortable without offending my very gracious hosts...

I AM ON THE KEANE DVD!!!!!

O...M...G!!! Upon receipt of the new Keane DVD from P&R for Xmas (which I still hadn't gotten yet!) I discovered that I AM ON THE DVD!! You can see me a whole bunch of times in the footage from the Aragon Ballrom show in Chicago May 19 (AKA MY BDAY!!)I am so completely gibbled all over again...BEST BIRTHDAY EVER and now I have celeb footage to prove it!
PostBlog: All this eating and visiting today has been exhausting, I'm spent!And Christmas 2005 has come to an end.

the Christmas report

Here it is, Dec 25, and I have awoken at a country 'house' (of 20 rooms...) where my very gracious hosts have awoken wearing 5 layers of clothes and coats to battle the frigid +15 temps (hehehe) and to stuff me full of all manner of food and drink. I am feeling so welcomed here. The week ahead will be smack with enjoyment, esp with GP on the roster first thing tomorrow! Off to eat more.

and so this is Christmas

And I must say, it is like none other, as it is now 10h58 on December 24th, it is 10 degrees as I await my ride to the airport to take me to a place where it is 17 (ABOVE zero!), and as I embark on my way to spend the holidays with good friends, new friends, and well, perfect strangers in some instances.

Jitter, jitter, jitter...am a little shakey this morning. Anticipation? Hypoglycemia? Anxiety over the amount of luggage? D) All of the above, methinks.

The next week is sure to be full of many things. It is funny that one of the last songs I hear on MTV is Nelly Furtado's Like a Bird, a Canadian from Portugal who released that song about 5 years ago, and I remember listening to it while decorating a Christmas tree however many seasons of yore that was (WHAM's Last Christmas also made an appearance, just going to show there is NEVER not a good time for WHAM!. But who was George really trying to fool with all those scantily clad ski-bunnies?)

At any rate, I shall sign off on what may be my last official post of the year, depending on the time restraints merry making places on Blogtime over the next week.

FELIZ NATAL!

well my psychic didn't get it quite right...

(PreBlog: In a complete breech of the personal dress code today I sported to work possibly the most comfortable clothes I own aside from sleepwear, not to mention the most deliciously flat footwear. I feel fairly comfortable (literally hehehe) in my decision as there is all but one other in the office today who is far from a commanding force for the fashion Police. Not only that, I'm wearing fuzzy pantallons rouges - VERY festive, if I say so myself. )

Anyway back to the topic at hand. My Psychic. That's not to say she was wrong, per se, especially if adopting loose interpretations and a very open mind, but she fell slightly aside of precise on several matters too.

The last time I was in my fair city of Winnipeg fellow Believers JM, CR and I went to visit Linda, renowned Psychic to the stars. OK renowned psychic to us, but whatever. Both JM and I had been to her before and marveled at her clarity, so off we went again dragging CR with us (who ended up camped out in Linda's bedroom with a lava lamp and a statue of Ganesh, but that's another story).

To the absolute shock and disbelief of JM, Linda revealed much more about her life than ever expected, or ever wanted the rest of us to know, methinks. That saga still continues, but her bang-on assessment gave me reason to have hope that my own predictions were to hold true.

And now, taking stock of what was supposed to come my way within 2005, some did, and some still remain in that vague category of loosely true.

Things foreseen that were most right:

December would be a good month for me - I would become settled into long term commitments at work, more and new responsibilities would come my way, and I would begin to carve out a definite niche for myself in the workplace. Very true. December was also to mean a "settlement" of homelife - I would find myself in a new, comfortable home and look forward to being there. New Flat: check. And although she could have remembered me from last time, making this next prediction quite transparent, Linda also told me I was not the type to remain stationary, and the rest of the year would bring me far and wide over the world (this was before Brazil, Cairo, Portugal, Scotland, Germany, Barcelona, Paris...) which will become a fixed facet of life. Check.

Things that were almost right:
A family member would be in the hospital. Well, although there is still a week left in 2005 and I would hate to tempt fate in any matter, this prediction was somewhat off, as it was not a family member but rather a friend of the family, who is and will be quite missed.

Things that fall under the "vaguely indicative of some truth" category have mostly to do with friends and people coming in and out of life and how, and although there is no disappointment associated with what did or did not happen, a burning ember of curiosity remains as to how it will all work out in the wash.

All in all, it has been an amazing year. I have not one thing to complain about and infinite things to celebrate. Which I will do so in full form starting 6 hours from now, when I will finally bid the office farewell for 2005 and look to 2006 with sparkling excitement!

(PostBlog: I have put myself on a detox liquid and veggie diet in preparation for a week that is sure to be fraught with gastronomic temptation in all its finest forms...)

and then there were even less

Well, more and more office mates are deciding to pack it in for the year and we are left but with three of us for the rest of the week. Well, scratch that, there will only be two of us here on Friday and of course it's the person I least wish was still hanging around. SO, I will continue to belt out the Christmas tunes from the sanctuary of my office and count down the minutes until Porto! I am looking forward to so many things about that trip I am absolutely gibbled!

Although, I did receive notice that my former classmates are gathering together for some fun and merriment in between Christmas and New Year's to reunite, of sorts, and also introduce one and all to my nephew. Of anything, I will miss that night the most. Very ironically, the very same night I will meet a new group of friends for a dinner party in Porto. A gathering of kindred spirits the world over, and although the country and city and language may differ I am confident in the notion that the goal of both parties is to enjoy each other's company. And I am sure it will be accomplished, although it will be the first convention of Class of 2003 Mates that will have a Jr. Member present, and perhaps the martinis will not be flowing as heavily as usual. Sour Appletini Meghan?

Tonight is the last Dutch class of the year and getting close to the end of Dutch Class 101 in general. I very much hope to get on board for Dutch Class 102 as I am most certainly not capable by any means to carry on an extensive conversation, no matter how strong my convictions. I am however going to try to put the book on my head and learn by osmosis again soon. You never know.

Thoughts are now turning to resolutions for the New Year. Haven't quite decided on any past the Bridget Jones standard issue and resolving to work towards world peace and global justice just seems so...fraught with effort. I think I have some general basics in mind, ie full blown all out effort at work, enjoy the new flat and roomies, and of course travel to as many new places as possible. The rest I will get back to you on .

Well, it's off to Dutch class for me. Unprepared. Presently, conditionally, and past perfectly.

it's lonely at the top

Well, it is a week before Christmas and my super ultra fun colleagues who occupy the other two offices on the third and top floor of our house-turned-mini-office building have flown the coop, and I miss them! It is eerily quiet on the third level, aka the Zonder Spek Cafe, as there is no one here to Skype with about any and all manner of office/other life, especially Idiot New Guy Phil or the insanity of Dutch conditional past perfect tense, and I wish at least ONE of them would pop online from afar so we could slander those less cool than us. All the laughter has gone from my life...*sigh*

I'm in a dilemma. I am now in deep contemplation about whether or not to purchase a certain gift for someone, and it must be made in haste as the gift has to make it across the country by Thursday. Not really sure why I'm hesitating, the gift is not that expensive and it is sure to make it to the recipient on time, but the question is to whether it would be wholly appreciated. Hmmmm. Think think think think. Well, everyone likes receiving gifts. And I HAVE been known to pick some cool ones, hehehehe.

The day has flown and I managed to tie up quite a few lose ends which is the overall goal of the week. Although I have been charged with the arduous task of sending out a MASSIVE mailing of journal supplements to 2000 past Congress participants; a task that is at this point in time insurmountable considering the number of staff I have in my pool of available resources numbers one, including me. That, I believe, will have to wait until the New Year when human resources are at their max again.

I really love my tree. It was a !*@&^#*!! hassle to get it home but it is so cute and festive and makes everything all cosy feeling. I had 12 hours to enjoy it from my cushion on the couch yesterday and it was MOST enjoyable.

This week post-office I have 5 main tasks: finish Christmas shopping, pack for Porto, pack up stuff in the flat, prep for the last Dutch class of the season, and cram as much Portuguese as possible into my melon for the upcoming week ahead. FOCUS FOCUS.

Can't wait to see everyone there - GP and LB and Rodri and the rest of the crew that makes everything merry and bright!

the changing constitution of entertainment

I now sit here a full 16 hours later in the same cozy spot in the wind-down portion of the day, free to indulge in the intoxicating lure of sleepiness while enjoying my Christmas Eve White Christmas viewing a full week early.

Which brings me to my point. I love this movie for its complete retro-kitschyness, and it always leaves me baffled what constituted entertainment back In The Day, not to mention the blatant ignorance of Danny Kaye's penchant for menfolk over women. I don't care how good a dancer Vera Ellen was, he would have rather gone home with Bing. But, such were the times I suppose, when two men could prance around a stage singing and dancing around each other wearing sock garters with no one being the wiser. That's not to say that nothing but the best of talent is captured in that move; Vera Ellen has/had the best legs in showbiz and boy could she move them. A pinnacle of grace and perfect thighs I will never reach, should I live to see 1000. The vernacular is a laff and half too... how many times can you use the word "swell" in a movie? And did people just simultaneously burst into song Back in The Day?

Today was was GREAT! Even though barely completed ANY of the shopping tasks set out for me. Ahh well, got the most urgent one and the rest can fall into place. Lunch of course was Crunch-tastic! PLUS got possibly the best hair cut and highlites of my stay in The Netherlands this afternoon at a great new salon, will definitely return. My gut feeling was right - can't go wrong with a hair salon staffed with stylish French-Dutch imports. One of the shampoo boys was literally wandering around INSIDE the salon in an ascot and sunglasses. I never wanted to leave.

The most interesting event of the day was definitely the purchase, acquisition and delivery of my KERSTBOOM (Christmas Tree!) So there I was walking back from hair appointment and by Crunch again and subsequently by the new flat and then a big supermarket where they had the CUTEST trees, like alf a meter tall and was only 5 euros! I'm all GET OUT AND GET BACK IN! So the lovely Konmar Christmas Tree Lady packed it up for me and handed it over, and it was THEN I realised sweet onion CHUTNEY this is freaking HEAVY, like 20kilos, and I have to walk home! Or at best tram!
Needless to say after one block am DYING with this stupid tree in my arms so I jump on the tram where it is SO full I have so stand holding my tree as there was nowhere to even set it on the floor. So I finally get to my stop and decide, ok, well, I can either walk the 4 blocks home or stop to get tan and warm up AND give my arms a break
So I zip in for a little fake 'n bake but it became immediately clear that that was the wrong thing to do, as afterwards I had MAJOR jello arm and could barely carry the tree down even half a block more.

BUT I must have done something right in another life as when I turned the corner almost at this point dragging the tree behind me there it was - someone had left a shopping cart in the middle of the street!! In a movie it would have been bathed in a heavenly light. So I dumped all my shopping and tree and assorted other acquisitions of the day and like an OLD LADY wheeled my stuff home in a shopping trolley, which has since been left in front of the neighbour's door in the untimely event the Shopping Cart Police are out in full force this evening.

But now my place has a lovely little tree adorned in cute red star lights, a few hot decorations, and even has presents underneath. This lovely little number combined with a flat full of candles has made for a most warm and snuggly evening.

Well Bing and Danny are almost about to bring us all home to a White Christmas so I'm off. I hear that it's quite the white holiday season back in the Homeland as well...but I my thoughts are focused on the 17 degrees in Porto I heard about!

Time Life Classic Body and Soul Ballads - yours for only 3 installments of 29.99!

After making the choice (mistake?) of turning on my computer after the alarm rang at it's usual 05h30 (I like to have it ring on the weekends, even if I don't actually acknowledge it) and then being corralled into an MSN chat with a rarely seen friend, I have spent the last 2 hours snuggled gezellig-ly on the couch with a warm cup of coffee and my Christmas lights twinkling watching info-mercials, most notably for Time Life's compilation of the above. It's not as if I'm actually considering ordering Time Life's Classic Body and Soul Ballads (even though if I order NOW I will not only get 108 Classic Soul Ballads on 6 cd's - not sold in stores! - BUT also a free Marvin Gaye 2006 calendar!) but their clips are on a continuous loop and every time I go to change the channel The Commodores come on proclaiming the ease of Sunday morning, and I can't bring myself to flip to MTV.

THERE did it. And LOOK it's Madonna in probably one of the best videos in history. The morning just keeps getting better...*GASP* AND NOW ROBBIE!!

(As an aside it is very difficult to believe that it is actually morning out there as it is now almos 08h30 and still PITCH BLACK outside. )

Last night, eventually, was MOST enjoyable! BH90210 and I tried another SUPER hot place in The Hague that I found (finding these places in as art I tell you..NO...a gift..I have a gift...) and shared another fantastic meal of food and wine and chit-chat (one of the best geitenkaas slas not to mention smoked salmon quiches I have ever had). Although circumstances dictated an early parting it was such a nice time, reminiscent of Porto and fun all around. Sometimes you need to be with people who understand exactly where you're coming from, literally.

Today will be a full day and I am looking forward to it. I'm excited about the shoping although am in a dilly of a pickle of a jam as to what to get Current/Future Roomie for Christmas. And then lunch and my new hair! Must remember to take the magazine pic with me...

Well, as much as i would like to stay curled on the couch wrapped in my blankie, time to get up and start the day with the usual torturous hour of Tae Bo...THEN the merry-ness can begin!

encore PUCK and other gastronomic delights to come

Well, I could most definitely reiterate the query of last week at this time as to the passing of yet another 7 days and be completely justified, as I sit here at 17h45 on a Friday wondering exactly what happened this week to bring me here (it was, however, a very long week), but rather than repeat myself I will look forward to this evening that is sure to be filled with fun and merriment as BH90210 pushes through the confines of a broken bike to make way to Den Haag for dinner and chitchat.

It has been a busy but very long week (internet finally restored at home, THANKfully, after laying the smackdown with Wanadoo) and I am still feeling the ill effects of Sunday in Geneva traipsing around in cold and completely inappropriate footwear. But when is THAT news? The highlite of the week (although very likely to be superseded by this evening) was another visit to PUCK last night, where each time the food and wine get better and better and is one of the few places in The Netherlands where the service matches the atmosphere which compliments the food which is utterly fantastic. Their sparkling Californian rose is definitely something to write home about, and the tuna if not on Tango scale was melt-in-your-mouth delicious. (It is now time to give up all remaining aspects of pharmacy and become a food critic). Of course the company was also most enjoyable and three new roomies toasted a new beginning in a new flat.

I still need to devote a considerable amount of time to the purchase and acquisition of Christmas presents, but with the (absolutely ridiculous) retail schedule of 10-6 (til 9 on Thursdays, OOOOH don't go nuts now) it has been a mad dash to fit everything in amidst Dutch class and confirming plans for the new flat and the basic art of urban survival. However I believe tomorrow will be most productive in that aspect AND most enjoyable as I am combining shopping (already a fabulous start) with lunch with a MOST excellent friend (CRUNCH HO!) and then moving on to what I anticipate to be a top-notch appointment for highlites and a new haircut at an uber trendy salon, conveniently located very close to the new flat. Upon discovery and entry in order to book said appointment I was greeted by the trendiest/urban chic-ly dressed and accessorized head stylist, himself sporting the hottest of hair and seemingly freshly imported from France. Only good things can come of this. (Although, my last hair experience with those lacking in a common language proved to be somewhat...lacking in satisfaction.)

So here I sit waiting for word that it is time to leave the office and zip over to the train station to meet the Friend du Jour. It's Friday, exactly one week before Christmas Eve, and I am ready to be festive. Perhaps will get started on tomorrow's chores and peruse the online Kate Spade boutique...

i can't tell you how much i enjoy being driven home in a mercedes

From which I come to you live at this exact moment, considering home internet will remain out of reach all week. Just arrived from 36 hrs in Geneva that felt like a week; a week of being beaten with a stick. I am exhausted for some reason. And although I had a SMASHING time with LB and friend, my initial impression of Geneva was reconfirmed: it is a cold, grey, bland city in every way (literally cold this time - I froze my giblets :\ ) I am so happy to be back in my gezellig little country : )

scooooby doooby dooo!

As I find myself still without internet this morning and therefore extremely uncomfortably out of touch with my virtual reality, my pre-Bo procrastination activity has become BerryBlogging and watching Scooby Doo, the OLD school Scooby complete with the laff track, Scooby snacks, groovy 70's fashions - LOVE the neckerchiefs! - and underlying sexual tension between Fred and Daphne (jinkies!) Even Scrappy's in this episode. OH will they ever get to the bottom of The Mystery of *whatever*...classic...

where did the week go????

WOW I really can't believe it's Friday already, and that's not to say that at some points this week I was counting down the minutes but time is just flying. I believe I've said that several times before, but man between emergency power point presentation for GP and associates going to Chile and catching up from a SEVERE lag in Dutch class not to mention fitting in viewings of Robbie Williams on tv the week just flew. And here it is Friday, I'm still awaiting news as to any further amendments to the power point, Robbie's last appearance on tv this week (that I know of) was last night, and now I am faced with the ULTIMATE unpleasant task of filling out forms to renew my pharmacy license. UGH-O-RAMA.

But the most SUPER ULTRA EXCITING development of the week (that I swore I wouldn't get too excited about as it's not confirmed yet but I just can't HELP IT!) as that I may in fact have THE ULTIMATE Travel Buddy for my trip to Canada in July...GP!! We still need to chat about it and work out a few things...but...oooooooh I'm SO hopeful! It is SO SO SO exciting to think about bringing someone so great to all the places I used to go to and love...needless to say I am EVER so hoping it all works out. If not, I will try not to be disappointed...waiting to chit-chat about it is almost killing me...

Tonight is Christmas Movie/Hang Yee Night!! Tana and I will be welcoming 7 festive guests to enjoy some Christmas Vacation and Chinese food, not to mention good company...can't get much better can it?

But SPEAKING of flats...we....are...MOVING!! OH the glory of it all! As of the second week in January we will be the tenants of a brand spanking new (not even done being built yet) flat in the part of town where ALL the cool kids are hangin'... not to mention Crunch! Am a bit plagued with anxiety about the move but it is such an incredible place...peaked ceilings...loft...ahhhhh SO COOL! And a helluva deal.

Well, must get back to the jittery anticipatory butterflies in the stomach re: summer phone call chat and the unpleasantness of filling out CEU forms.

5 hours til the weekend....

liquidity

The day is flowing by, rather hurriedly toward an end as it were. Having had less ambition to do anything today than I have had in a long, long while, I have been most content to get up at 10 (UNHEARD OF!) and remain in the jammies 'til now, a full5 hours later, feuling the both the soul and limited energy requirement of the day with warm, toasty liquids. Deliciously aromatic coffee, hot chocoloate in all of milk and white and minty flavours, and despite lacking solid consistency

**HAPPINESS INTERLUDE**!! Just got a call from GP, who I have been waiting to hear from all week as per the trip to Havana and who occupies my thoughts quite constantly. But he sounds ok, and appears to have enjoyed his time away. And we spoke of Christmas and New Years and I am so, so, SO looking forward to see him again!! It was a relief to hear him somewhat content...

And with this happy thought I will use the endorphins to their best potential and put on the 'Bo dvd...the day cannot be completely lacking in substance.

let the Christmas movie watching season begin!

In an attempt to kick off the holiday season and concurrently get inspired enough for an hour of physical torture in the form of choreographed athletic movement (how I expect this to be the result is beyond me at the moment) I have begun my Saturday with the first of hopefully several cinematographic Christmas experiences: Love Actually. Not only Christmasy and feel-good-all-over-y, but an all time favourite. And one the BEST parts now is that I actually understand Colin Firth when he stumbles through his awkward Portuguese in an attempt to win the heart of his sweetie-pie...(despite having a specific audience as of yet, I admire and aspire....) They also feature one of the best songs ever to come from the 60's and the genius of Brian Wilson: God Only Knows, which I have loved since I was able to appreciate music. Should I ever need a wedding song, that will be it. I usually bawl through that entire movie...ask my friend Ruby who suffered through the humiliation of seeing it with me in the theatre.

It's kinda chilly but sunny today, yet still in no way resembles Christmastime all that much. Which is not to say I'm complaining although I saw a shot of New York City on tv last night and admit a slight pang of loss for those picturesque days where it's just cold enough for pretty snow to fall, and when hot chocolate and toasty warm fires and drinks with friends around such are at their most gezellig. Yes, I will miss that this year...most certainly, but I am also certain that I will not regret my yet unexplored holiday celebration. Plus, just checked the weather and at -19 it is far beyond the "just cold enough to have pretty snow" temperature in Winnipeg, and I am once again content to throw on the sweater and vest and head out for the day.

This afternoon should be QUITE fab - dress shopping with Tana and then off to scout out a potential new dwelling! Although fraught with uncertainty the prospect of a suitable (and..shall I dare even hope to find something as smashing as yesterday's "living experience" and say swank) living space is most exciting.

In the meantime must get moving, literally, and stop propagating the ass-groove in the couch.

Happy anniversary to Us!

Upon conscious recognition of the date last night, it came to my realisation that I, along with my colleague, have now clocked an official 6 months at our current post. Not only that, but the 28th of the past month also marks 18 months of my own personal time here in Den Haag. Rudimentary math then suggests that I have only been gainfully employed for one third of my time abroad...a minor detail that is now inconsequential as the end has most surely justified the means. PROST! SANTE! CHIN CHIN! CHEERS!I think some champagne is in order...although when is champagne NOT in order, really?

Speaking of the date it is VERY difficult to believe that it is December 2 and that the Christmas season has officially started in a large portion of the world, especially since I look out my window and see sun, grass, and even some leftover blooming flowers that time forgot (I am quite surprised they survived the storm of last week). In three weeks I will be in Porto, and considering how fast the weeks go by I will be in Porto before I know it, experiencing what is only to be good times and good people. Mmmmm the butterflies are a flutter in the tummy again, WHEEEE!! I'm even thinking of planning a little New Year's pre-party in my hotel room of the swank hotel that I am returning to (yes, the one I almost burned down...they have yet to link the credit card confirmation with former destruction of hotel property so I am safe for the time being).

But I do think that some Christmas festiveness is in order around the Flat (time in which may be shorter rather than longer due to further recent developments on that front). I will search out a tree, I think, but NOT in the middle of the wilderness hauling a saw, two grumbling family members and dog through waist deep snow and -20 temps. NO, I am going to get my tree like ALL CIVILISED Christmas celebrants should: from a supermarket parking lot. It's what Jesus would have done I'm sure and after all, it's all about him this season, is it not? (**sarcasm alert...risk of offending Blog readers....hehehehe ah well it's not as if I'm after widespread readership**) Oooh it does get you all warm and cosy inside...AND I can't wait to break out my FAVOURITE holiday movies that I watch incessantly throughout the month of October.

I just wrote October. And by October I of course mean December, and by holiday movies I mean the those that should occupy the top positions on anyone's Christmas movie watching list: Love Actually, Home Alone, Muppet Christmas Carol, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (NEVER gets less funny!), and la creme de la creme, White Christmas. In fact, a midnight viewing of White Christmas has become the religious establishment of my household as midnight church was replaced with the Pope on tv which subsequently was replaced with White Christmas when the Canadian Broadcasting Company decided that Bing and Danny would draw a larger audience than the Papalship...

Hmm I have just conjured up a GRAND idea! Movies...Christmas...happy...gathering... party...friends with home theatres....hafta go write an email...