holiday season, what's that?

okay, a few things have conspired against my being even the slightest bit prepared for the holiday season this year.

first, being in a play that rehearses 5 nights a week, and then runs the last 3 weekends before christmas (you'd be surprised how little time this leaves you).

second, planning the premier's summit on agri-food (not to imply i was the sole planner on this, far from it, but it's a big big job, and even as one of the many planners/implementers it took up a lot of my time and energy)

third, looking for a permenant gig. don't get my wrong. i love my job, it's loads of fun. but it's just a contract. i want something permenant, you know, so i can get my teeth cleaned and stuff.

so, the fates have conspired against me and the holidays this year. today i had two exciting moments. first, i realised that next week i fly to france (john and i are meeting my mum and her partner in paris for christmas and new years). second, i got an email from my dad saying that we were having christmas dinner tonight. yep. that's right. tonight. he sent it on wednesday, but i was in toronto with the aforementioned premier's summit and haven't been back to my office until today, and for some reason he didn't copy my personal email on the message.

tonight i bought my dad's christmas present on the way to christmas dinner. now, to be fair, i knew what i wanted to get him a long time ago. like, 6 months ago or so. i just hadn't managed to get my ass out the door and buy it yet.

so on the way to dinner john and i stopped at canadian tire and bought him his very fun present. (a combo battery operated tool set, it's got a reciprocating saw, a circular saw, a drill, a dustbuster and a flashlight, all of which work on the same battery - oh, and it comes with two batteries, it was really sweet, after we'd all opened presents i made him open it up so i could play with it, i felt a wee bit like i was 12...)

while at canadian tire we also bought wrapping paper, scissors and tape.

then we stood in the parking lot and wrapped this set of tools (which is very big by the way) in the minus a million (celcius) weather. it was fun.

the best part was when a woman walked by and cheered us on and said something to the effect of "now that's the way to do it".

yay for holidays...

now, must sleep. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz