in the past month, a few things have happened that i’ve wanted to write about. so i’ll start from the beginning.

i left new york for vegas in mid december for my little brothers college graduation. although, i use the term little only in reference to the first 13 years of his life when he actually was little in comparison to me.

i finally got my chance to book a flight on virgin america. after my declaration of never flying american airlines again, i had to see what all the rave was about. and yes, it is justified. there were no lines at the check in counters. and no, i do not mean for the self kiosk. i mean there was no wait to speak face to face with a friendly and helpful representative. and get this! the first check in bag is FREE! and you can stuff it up to a whole 70lbs! i remember the good ole days (makes me feel old just to say “the good ole days” but in this instance it accurately expresses how i feel) when customers used to get 2 free checked bags for 70lbs each. but we live in the day of sucking-your-flying-customers-dry, if they go 2 lbs over the 50lb weight limit. after you’ve made them wait an hour or more to speak to someone. so i take what i can get. some might think that 50lbs is just enough. but i’m a girl who regularly over packs and i appreciate virgin america for those extra 20lbs.

in my book, virgin america gets 2 thumbs up but terminal 4 at jfk, not so much (the domestic side). it took about 30 minutes to get through a security line of maybe 1000 people with only 2 metal/search detectors. and once you’re finally through there is no food! just a muffin stand. a muffin stand? all the good food is on the other side of security. but the catch is you can’t carry liquids through security. argh the frustrations of jet-setting.

oh and i almost forgot the best part. THE COST! was insanely affordable. the price an airline ticket should be!

after my flight to la, we drove to vegas to cheer as tk walked the stage, shook an old man’s hand he’s prolly never met, and swing his tassel from right to left. and then got snowed in in vegas, literally. they closed the highways in and out, and cancelled many flights. but no one was perturbed. it was a delightful snow day. there were palm trees covered in snow. i wish i had gotten a picture of that but sadly, i left my camera in the hotel room. lesson learned.

then came christmas day. which was a perfect day having dinner and playing games with the fam. i made mashed potatoes and sweet potato pie. yes, i can cook and i’m very good at it too. i just hate the clean up process.

and the next day was my birthday! i turned a whole number older. oh what joy. and later the next week was new years eve.

all in all, the month i spent in california was spectacular. and i am happy to be starting a new year.

below are pics from my brother’s graduation. welcome to the real world, lil bro. i’m so proud of you.

~ak

i absolutely love december. i will even go as far to say that it’s my favorite month of the year. december represents winter, family, celebration, and rebirth. this month brings in so many smells (xmas tree pine), sights (string lights, red&green decorations), and sounds (xmas/holiday music) that i love but we are only allowed to experience once the entire year. then it’s all packed away into storage for another 11 months.

i can’t wait to get the tree at home in ca this year. i always request that we get a tree flocked in white. my family is over it but to me its the closest we can get in so cal to having a white xmas.

many of my friends also already understand another reason why i love december. but, worldwide web, ill explain it again for you. you see, my birthday is the day after xmas. and for me, the celebration never ended after the 25th. there was always anticipation for what was to come on the 26th also. i remember as a kid that santa used to leave an extra gift or two for me. boy, did that make me feel special. no other kid that i knew got a bday gift from santa. even though, long ago, i stopped believing in santa, that feeling of being special still remains with me.

and the next week is new years. giving us all a chance to rethink and revive our approach to life.

so you see worldwide web, december really is wonderful.

i never understood everyone’s fascination with the xmas tree that’s erected every year in rockefeller center. it’s just a giant tree that’s poorly decorated. maybe because it’s real and giant, but mostly, i think because it’s been a tradition in the city for many many years.

along with the rockefeller tree photo, below is an image of scrooge who greeted the tree viewers. and the tree of lights, on the side of the macys building at 34th street. which i love. and also a cute trio of lil ladies from the macy’s xmas display window.

merry december, www. and have fun in your preparations for the holidays.

~ak