all that's past is prologue...

Happy New Year, everyone, and may 2008 bring you all your heart desires... Busy weekend spent seeking the perfect duvet cover (yes, really). Also went to see the Frida Kahlo exhibit at the Walker, which was incredible. If you, loyal reader, are in the Minneapolis area, don't miss it — it runs through January 20. Because we are members (through today), we got to skip the long line, which my big-bellied, swollen-ankled body appreciated. Over Christmas, we also saw Once (very wonderful, go see it!) and Superbad (ok, not in the same league as Once , but very funny!)

Made it through Christmas and the first anniversary of my mother's death, and it's nice to know it will never be "the first Christmas" again. We hosted Christmas Eve here for the first time with Maxim and Miles, my aunt and uncle, cousin Pete and his fiance Kari, my dad, and our friend Kelly. Patrick and I made great lefse, plus turkey, meatballs, etc., and I think everyone had a good time. We even got to have luminaria! Yesterday, after stockings and clean-up (and after Geronimo ate ALL EIGHT greenies in his stocking!) we went to the cemetery, then to Chris and Katharine's for chili and a movie, effectively avoiding the rest of the holiday. Beatrix did her best to distract me with her new trick of burrowing under the top of my right rib. So we made it, and now back to real life...

So last night we were at our friend Judy's for a little holiday get-together. The "Young Adults" (aged 18-39) group from the Cathedral were caroling, and it was a great way to usher in the holiday weekend. They weren't exactly good, but they were enthusiastic! The priest who was the choir leader was very vivacious — enough so that it reminded Judy to bring out the 2008 "Hot Priests" calendar she had picked up in Rome. Here's the link , should you want to check it out for yourself.

For several years, my good friends Elaine and David have hosted a wonderful holiday party. It started when we were all in our 20s, I think, when it was especially novel to get very dressed up and have an actual, multiple-item dinner party. For the past several (at least 3) years they have not been able to have it, but it returned last night in full force. Excellent food, great conversation — still one of the best parties of the year (even if I got tired and had to leave around 11). Nice to know Elaine and David still have it.

So, a few weeks ago I got sucked into looking at the henna at Lush. Henna is an all-natural hair color that should be great for pregnant women who are feeling a little blah, right? So I got some "easy to use" henna creme at the co-op. Which promptly turned my hair completely mousy brown, with a little bit of a green tinge. That, combined with a ton of issues I won't even start to go into right now, made me cry for days.So yesterday I went to the Aveda Advanced Training Institute in Uptown. Got beautiful highlights (in all-natural, plant based Aveda colors, so no baby-harming issues there) and a swingy new haircut. There are no remnants of the henna, which I have now determined is the anti-christ. Patrick took me to dinner at Cafe Maude to celebrate. I feel SO much better!