Christmas Eve...

[fajrdrako]

I went for a drive this evening with Sheila, Harry, and Lyn, to see the beautiful lights around the city. It was most spectacular around Confederation Square - here, you can have a look at the webcam on Elgin St, or at the even more spectacular view of the lights at Parliament Hill, where they have snowflakes made of light projected onto the walls of Parliament. No real snow these days - we have that strange and eerie thing, a Christmas without snow. Usually on Christmas eve we are in the middle of a heavy snowstorm, with deep and fluffy snow.

We had supper at Du Barry's Chinese Buffet - who seem to have outdone themselves tonight, as their pork congee was spectacularly good.

Then back to my place, and we watched The Santa Clause. Understand: I don't usually watch comedies or Christmas movies, but my friends are forming a conspiracy to make sure I watch these things. A good time was had by all, even me. Who can retain their pretensions of being a pseudo-intellectual-snob at Christmas? Not me. I didn't even try.

Comments

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

I thank you for the views of Ottawa's lights. How I can feel so homesick for a city I first set foot in only about thirteen years ago... but there you have it. Thanks.

If you steer clear of comedies and Christmas movies (which I respect completely, by the way) (no, honest, I do), you shouldn't watch Jingle All the Way, which has Arnold Schwartzenegger and Sinbad in it, and makes fun of consumer "herd" behavior very nicely. I was kind of stuck in the house one day when everyone else voted to watch it, so I didn't have much choice -- well, yeah, I could have gone out and sat in my car for a couple of hours, but...! It's actually pleasant fun, and if you are ever backed into a corner and have to pick your poison, name this movie.

we have that strange and eerie thing, a Christmas without snow. Usually on Christmas eve we are in the middle of a heavy snowstorm, with deep and fluffy snow. Here, too. It's finally turning a little colder, but still just raining. Makes the lights look pretty. Also some pretty serious fog, this evening. And as for the lights: it is astonishing how... um... garish things are this year. "Tasteful" seems to have become an unknown adjective, with many people! I see string upon string of white lights (very rarely colored ones, alas), the lit-up spiral "trees" and yard deer, red or white canes, and -- especially -- blow-up santas, snowmen, and several other things... all with interior lights, which I admit is pretty cool. But not with three in each yard, six feet tall! In addition to all the strings of white lights and trees and deer! Sigh. It's like an eager novice fanfic writer: I have all these great little plot ideas, oh my, and I can't choose among them, so I'll write them all into the same story!!

There. Tacky overdone holiday lawn ornamentation as a visual metaphor for over-eager slashfic writers [g]. That was a pleasant turn of thought, I do say.

Happy holiday to you and Logan and all in your vicinity!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the Christmas wishes - same to you and the kitties!

I never even heard of Jingle All the Way! I'll remember your comments, thanks.

We certainly saw our share of garish plastic snowmen and santas, often blown over by the wind. The interior lights are cool, yes. Some of the displays managed to be ugly and some beautiful... I quite liked some of the tin-soldier displays. And trains. Several had odd neon twirling circles that were hard on the eyes. Some of the reindeer looked like bunnies. And we saw - just as we did last year - a bunny running across someone's yard.

[raissad.livejournal.com]

Here's a treat -- a special Doctor Who Christmas story from show writer Paul Cornell:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2101-2515792,00.html

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I love it!