Holiday Plans

... and by "Holiday" I mean Christmas and thereafter...

Tomorrow we visit Danny's parents for Christmas (a day early). Steve's fiancee will be there (we've met her once, Danny's parents have met her twice). What do you buy for someone that really says "I don't know anything about you"? Apparantly the answer is a set of empty photo albums! Can't get more impersonal than that!

In response to Paige's post regarding absence of a Christmas tree, Danny and I are in the same type of position (less the forthcoming child). But, on top of that, Danny and I stopped exchanging gifts about 2 years ago (pre-wedding some time). Not just for Christmas either... we forget all about gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, etc. I'm not saying we don't get things... they just aren't surprises and they aren't wrapped in anything but the bag from the store. For example, the other night Danny took me to my favorite store for career wear (Casual Corner) which is coincidentally closing ALL of its stores in the US. I was allowed to buy anything and everything I wanted (which turned out to be 4 pairs of dress pants, a suit with both pants and skirt, a fleece pullover, 3 sweaters, and 3 sleeveless shirts... and 21 hangers for slacks/skirts). Afterwards, we went to JC Penney where Danny purchased for himself two sportcoats. Okay... so Danny paid for everything... but it is our Christmas, so to speak. It works for us!

Sunday we leave for the first part of our trip to DC. We first will spend the night at my Grandmother's house in Shady Valley (not too far from Rachel's domicile, I'm sure). Then early Monday we will travel the rest of the way to our rental property. We found out a couple days ago that the parking situation has changed again. Originally we were supposed to have 2 off-street parking spots at the site. Then it changed to just one (remodeling would not allot space for two vehicles). Now informed that even that one spot won't be availble (construction not complete). So we will have to rapidly unload and then drive to a garage about 5 blocks away... but only for daytime parking (no overnight). We can park outside on the street in front of the property after 7:30 pm, but we must either move by 8:30 am, or pay the meter all day, or leave it and get a $30 ticket (max of one per day). Not sure exactly what we are going to do, but it will be interesting anyway. Wish us luck!