Mike and Paula's college friend, Sarah H., came over for the day and we all went to UCSB, their Alma mater; many changes. Lunched Mexican, then stopped in to Village Catering, owned by M. and P.'s former boss in the bakery at UCSB. Later, went in hot tub in garden with M. and Vivian. Nice, but very cool--in the thirties. Went to dinner at The Wine Cask with just M. and P. P. and I had blood orange Margaritas, then wine, plus yummy entrees.
Last day of 2010; time flies.

Mike hanging over my shoulder as I write! ("I am not!")
Betty, Finn, and Claire here all day yesterday. Carolyn and Dana are moving to their new house today, so it was a help to have the rest if their household occupied. After an initial shy period, kids had a ball. Ellen came in the afternoon and we all did this 'n' that. Kids went in the hot tub in the garden, although it was extremely windy and cool. Nanny Vickie made a wonderful lunch--homemade pizza for the kids, salmon, rice, and veggies for us. She also made dinner of a Filipino dish--a kind of chicken stew--that was very tasty. Mike and Paula went out shopping, then to UCSB; great changes there. Later, Mike then drove us around to see Christmas lights, which, to be honest, couldn't hold a candle to ours in Little Egg.

Here in Santa Barbara at a palatial estate behind a high hedge. Can't see the house because of said hedge, and what's more, there's no number on it. Steange.
I could have stayed in the guest house (living room, kitchen, bed, and bath), but decided to use one of the--geez, I don't know how many bedrooms--at least five, with baths. Good fun with the beautiful granddaughters, son, DIL. Expecting Carolyn and family soon.
Just so much going on, I can't put it all down.

This will be very short, as I find it terribly awkward to use Ellen's laptop, with which I'm unused. Early (6:55 am) flight was cancelled, but thanks to Ellen, we were able to get a later one and were shuttled to airport. After a fair amount of confusion and problems, we left and got to Phoenix, our original route, but it took what seemed to be two days because we sat there being de-iced for a long time. Small (ugh!) plane to Santa Barbara, our luggage arrived there fine, then 45-minute car trip home.
All this could have been absolute nightmare without my darling daughter, checking, calling, using computer and phone to get us back. I would have been at an absolute loss--yay for Ellen!
Now I want to see my boy and his girls and have a wonderful second Christmas.

Ellen and I stranded at the Fairfield Inn in Philly. Flight cancelled. Must find another. AAGH!

Enjoyed a lovely Christmas Day, inaugurated by a Skype call from P. and A. P. described the funeral for N/'s uncle, which they had attended--very interesting in the way Buddhist rites both parallel and diverge from the ones with which I'm familiar. Heard and saw the the Singapore/Lake Tahoe contingent, too, always a pleasure. Got a Merry Christmas call from J. and N.; kids had already unwrapped presents and were noisily having a ball with them.
Ellen made me a terrific, calorie-laden (that's why it was terrific) breakfast of two fried eggs, toast, juice, and coffee--yum. After, while she washed, trimmed, and sliced zucchini and other ingredients for one casserole, then put together a corn pudding for the other, I finished wrapping, tidied up, and jumped in the shower, and dressed. Got to our destination up north about 3:00 to find the gang already there. Greatly enjoyed the exchange of presents and good talk, then sat down to a sumptuous dinner of ham and delicious sides.
The antibiotic I take warns that one could become violently ill from drinking alcohol, but I decided to take a chance, Indulged in the "chocowine," or whatever it was called--that N. had brought. It tasted something like chocolate milk gone odd, but wasn't bad and I was delighted that I didn't fall down in fits or something.
Watched again the charming video the kiddies made for me while they were decorating cookies and I was in the hospital: "Get Well, Mimi."
Left about 8:00 after planning to meet up today before our trip to Philly. We leave tomorrow for California.
PLEASE, NO SNOW!
WIDER: From "Fred On Everything":
"...The trappings of fascism spread. General David Petraeus, commander of the Eastern Front, poses with the President in the White House in combat fatigues. The country is now the Homeland, reminiscent of the Nazi Fatherland and the Soviet Motherland. We hear of American Exceptionalism, the ritual self-idolizaton beloved of pathological nationalism. Blood and Soil. The American Dream. Ubermenschen. All we need is a short Austrian."
But read the whole thing at
http://www.fredoneverything.net/ComingStorm.shtml

Boy, we were busy all day. Dynamo Ellen set up my new scanner/printer/fax (I think it does the dishes, too) and it's working beautifully. I spent a lot of time wrapping gifts, both east and west coast contingents, and we completed other chores. We were delighted to see Mike and entourage on the web cam, the little girls as adorable as ever.
Later in the day, we drove to Kohl's and Bed, Bath 'N' Beyond and, after much debating and agonizing, picked up the final few presents. Got home well after 5:00 and we prepared an elegant Christmas Eve dinner: I had Chex cereal with milk and Ellen called out for pizza.
I was pleased to get an e-mail from old friend and neighbor, Stan F. He tells me that his wife, Doris, whom I remember so well, is now in a nursing home. He cared for her for seven years at home and finally, as it always does, the thief, Time, won out. Stan asked for my phone number, which I was glad to give him, and I hope he'll call.
It's Christmas in this weary old world and I have no deep, philosophical gems to pass on, except my favorite, which sedate Susan told me her mother had advised:
"Never buy cheap gin."