So, December in California feels quite different. The first few weekends, I was running errands on the weekends in a short-sleeve shirt with my car windows down. Rather warm, I must say :). We actually just had a cold front though. I think it was only like 58 degrees during the day and it rained (proper rain, not the misty stuff these San Diegans seem to think is rain). :) Oh so horrible. It does really cool down at night though. Once the sun is gone, it can get down to the low 50's and maybe 40's. Which is chilly if you have forgotten your coat! But yeah, I know. That's nothing. I'm not complaining, believe me!
So, just like fall, without the cold in the air, it really doesn't seem like December! There are Christmas lights up, of course, lots of lights wrapped around the trunks of palm trees and such. And lights on houses of course. I even got festive and decided to decorate for Christmas! (see the picture below). I got out ALL the Christmas decorations I own, and it fit all in one picture! Hehe. And yes, that is a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree. Hehe. Just for the record, the purpose is to look sad. So please don't go make it your goal to buy me Christmas decorations (Melissa already threatened such things). I really just put this up so I can smirk at the thought of the expressions on the faces of all those of you who usually give me a hard time about my lack of decorations!
So what have I been doing? Well, for Thanksgiving I ended up celebrating at my pastors house with a bunch of random people. I even met a couple from Nebraska! How bizarre. It was a lot of fun. I made this Cranberry Swirl Cheesecake, which was so awesome! Good riddance pumpkin pie! Cranberry cheesecake is the new awesome! I also have now hosted the first ladies game night at my place with some gals from church. We had a great time playing Crazy UNO. I lost quite badly. But it was fun. And it turns out that they have Ugly Sweater Parties in California as well, so I attended one of those. I don't really have an ugly sweater, so I just decorated this red sweater that I have. I put silver tinsel around the neck and bottom. I got out of the car at the party, and another one of my friends pulled up, got out of the car, and we realized that (without trying) we matched. Great minds think alike! But she did have better socks. Red and white stripeed ones. Next year. . . next year. . .
Additionally, I went up to Escondido one weekend to meet a great aunt (by marriage) that I'd never met before. She and her husband took me to the Safari Park up there and we all had a good time. They were both so sweet. And the Park was really cool. They had baby elephants, and baby gorillas, and it has a whole different feel than the normal Zoo. So, next visitors who want to go the zoo, I may try to convince you to go the Safari Park instead!
Despite all this lovely weather, I am looking very much forward to coming home for Christmas. I really am hoping for a little bit of snow, but am mostly just glad to see my family and whatever friends I can! Merry Christmas!
