christmas in california

my second christmas season in california, i'm finding, is significantly different from the first. i've mentioned before that it can be a stretch to feel the christmas spirit here, as lights strung on palm trees simply don't have the same effect as on trees that actually lose their leaves when the cold weather hits.

this year however due to my own efforts, the cooperation of mother nature, and the vocal talents of my family members, i am in the mood far more than last year.

the festivities begin early in the month with the community christmas celebration, held annually at mick and jenny's stake center. it's both a phenomenal display of creches and a musical delight. each night spanning the weekend a series of performances are held, and for the second time, i got to watch all of the d kids perform in their respective choirs.

an annual tradition

this year, there was an added bonus, as jenny was performing in a 'parable of the ten virgins' one act (for lack of a better description). though not technically christmas themed, it was extremely powerful. unfortunately jesse, who was visiting for the day got to see just how powerful it was for me, as i spent the last 15 minutes of the performance, and the 15 minutes following it's conclusion, weeping. oh yes. weeping. not the 'tear rolling down a cheek' action. full on weeping. poor guy.

before the weeping began

nonetheless, the month was ushered in with family, friends, and thoughts turned toward christ.

for the last two weeks, it has continued to feel like christmas as a result of actually having cold weather. while i recognize that my idea of cold weather is diferent than it used to be, i've whipped out the winter coats on more than one occasion, and that certainly helps!

i'm also grateful to actually have friends to celebrate with this year! by the time the 2007 christmas season rolled around, i had been here less than two months and had barely started attending the ward that would become my future home. i'm sure there were fun activities going on last year, i just didn't know what they were!

al and i

this year, those fun activities began with our fhe christmas party at the huntington yacht club. i had a great date for the event, who is not just any date. in fact i have known this date for many many years, and from virginia. many of you, my dear readers, will know him as well. he recently moved out to huntington from va, and i couldn't be more excited to have a familiar face from home.

matt and i

the dinner at the yacht club was excellent, the company better, but the highlight was the white elephant gift exchange, where i picked up (stole) a single girl's kit, ironically, created (unbeknownst to me) by one of my good california friends. it contained a handcrafted cd with all the songs a single girl needs, chocolate, and the '50 first dates' dvd. i couldn't resist that steal! (photos here)

the festivities peaked this weekend, first with the balboa boat parade. the parade is an annual tradition (100 years this year) which i've just discovered, and the new york times has ranked it among the top 10 holiday events in the country.

getting ready for the parade

thanks to a girl in my ward whose office sits right on the water where the parade passes, we had the perfect viewpoint with easy parking and no crowds. we turned the conference room into party central, and had the food to prove it! we ordered pizza and enjoyed eachother's company while waiting for the boats to reach us, at which point, a few of us headed out to the dock, while the rest of the group remained on the balcony of the office to watch (wimps!).

enjoying the boats

the boats ranged in size from dingy to 'wow! they MAKE boats that big?!' yachts, and the decorations were equally diverse. we saw simple strands of lights, and elaborate christmas scenes. some boats blasted music, some passed quietly by, but nearly all had a shout of 'merry christmas' for those watching from shore. (photos here)



the light festival continued last night, on a visit to naples. though i really wish i was talking about italy, naples, is in fact an island community in long beach. this is the first time i had ever heard of it, but it is named as a result of its similarity to the 'real' naples, with houses lining canals, and yes, even gondoliers. as i learned last night, the residents of naples put on an extraordinary light show each year, complete with awards and prizes.

me and the girls

we wandered the canals, enjoying the sights, the energy, cups of hot cocoa, and the amaaaazing homes! (photos here)

this random stranger could not resist the allure of 5 beautiful women,
he simply had to be near us.

the christmas season lives on, and on christmas eve i'll be boarding a plane for virginia. i'm sure the airport madness will help me maintain goodwill toward men. or not!