Sunday Salon...December 23

Weather today is damp and overcast. The foothills have snow. We may actually experience a little snow on Christmas day as we will be going to our daughter's in-laws for dinner and they live near Mt. Rainier. They got about ten inches of snow last week.

Today we arrived home after a three day visit to Las Vegas. Our Christmas gift for our daughters and son-in-law was a trip to Las Vegas to see the new Cirque du Soleil show, Zarkana. We made a little vacation out of it. BTW- We loved the show

Yesterday we went to dinner at a Rodizio Brazilian steakhouse restaurant and gorged ourselves on churrascarias, or a parade of nine meats delivered to the table on skewers that were carved for us. We were so full that we wondered if we would make it in back to our hotel unless we were moved via wheelchair or scooter. We made it, though, and now have a happy memory of a fantastic meal.

Last night we stood outside the Bellagio and watched the water show twice. Both times the water show was choreographed to Christmas music. Though there were Christmas decorations all over Las Vegas it was easy to forget the season in the midst of the casinos and shows.  I was glad for this beautiful reminder of the season. (Songs: We Need a Little Christmas; Sleigh Ride)

Tomorrow, Christmas Eve, we will attend midnight services at our church where Don will sing with the choir and my daughter will sing a solo of O Holy Night. I love singing and listening to Christmas carols. It will be my first Christmas morning in twenty four years without my oldest daughter.  Sigh.

Books finished this week:

• The Brides of Rollrock Island by Margo Lanagan---the story of selkies, mythological creatures who lives as seals but can shed their skins and live as humans on land in Irish and Scottish folklore.
• The Faith Club---a book club selection, this book generated a good discussion but most gals had a hard time reading the book as it was pretty tedious. I made spicy hot chocolate as our beverage. It was a bust. Ha!

Currently reading:

• Ask the Passengers by A.S. King---I just started this book on the flight home and didn't get very far.  The book has received a lot of good reviews.
• Who the Hell is Pansy O'Hara?---I am still plugging away on this book about 50 memorable books and the story of the authors who wrote them.

Audiobook:

• Dodger by Sir Terry Pratchett---a retelling of Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist with the focus on the artful dodger. This is only my second book by Pratchett but I already consider myself a fan. He can write and is so funny.

The most Christmasy thing we did all week---Mannheim Steamroller Christmas concert at the Palazzo in Las Vegas. Wow, was it fabulous.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Blessings to you in the New Year!