Mamacita, donde esta Santa Clause?

That's my favorite Christmas song, after Silent night and the Mariah Carey Christmas CD.  Although, this Christmas remake of Purple Haze is making me smile a lot, too.  I really do just love Christmas music, and especially really weird Christmas music à la Peter C.  No one will get that but my mom, but oh well.  Ok, seriously, if you have iTunes, go into the radio, and in the holiday section you will find "Xmas in Frisko".  Listen to it, and be amazed.  I am now listening to Reggae Days of Christmas.  YES.

Anyway, it's Christmas Eve, and so far it's been an interesting day.  My friend who's visiting fell in the shower this morning while I was at the grocery store, and we almost had to go to the hospital, but she's ok.  In a lot of pain, but not concussiony or anything, thankfully.  After that little craziness,  she bought me a poinsettia as my Christmas present.  There is a flower shop underneath my apartment, and I've passed by this window everyday and looked longingly at the only poinsettia that I've seen in France, and so she decided to buy it for me.  The thing should be made out of solid gold, the amount of money that was paid for it.  I guess we had to pay for it to travel first class to the states.  Which is so strange considering that I am used to cheap poinsettias everywhere I go at Christmastime.  

One very expensive poinsettia later, we made eggnog, and this time I dared to do it with raw eggs.  The concept is kind of terrifying, but it does taste better.  And, if you add rum, that will kill all the bacteria, right?  Of course.  We also made some of the cooked kind because my friend (Mad Buffalo hehe) is a little freaky about raw eggs.  I hope the familia enjoys it.  Also, we made biscochitos last night!!!!!!!!  Best thing ever.  Now if I only had some posole, I would really be happy.  But I am going to just be happy anyway, because I have a fabulous host fam, a fabulous roommate, and a great friend visiting me, and we are going to have a very merry Christmas.  And Mad Buffalo brought the Charlie Brown Christmas special, so we are gonna watch that and make pancakes for breakfast tomorrow.  And maybe go hang out with some of the other study abroad people who are family-less in Lyon for Christmas.  Yay friends!

Well, I should probably finish getting ready to go to mass and have dinner and everything, but I want to say Merry Christmas to everyone and I hope you are all doing fabulously and getting to spend time with the people you love the most.  And eat some delicious Christmasy food for me.  Especially posole and gingerbread cookies if you have them.  Some special Christmas messages:

Mommy:  I'm glad you are getting to have your relaxed Christmas this year.  Also, the pictures absolutely totally made my day (and Mad Buffalo's, as well).  I love you and miss you like crazy and I will call you later.  *MUAH*

Nana:  I miss you SO much!!  I hope the decorations at Manzano are beautiful and you get yummy yummy food.  And I hope my present gets there soon!  I think you are gonna like it a lot!

Daddy:  I know you're not a big Christmas celebrator, but I hope having Sofy around got you in the spirit a little bit.  I love you and miss you!

Sofy:  Big giant Christmas hug from your sis!!!  And since it's dad who's reading this, give her a big hug and kiss for me.

Boe:  Merry Christmas!!!  I love you SO much and I miss you and I hate not getting to see you for Christmas.  HUG!!!!

GG:  You better be taking pictures of luminarias for me!!  You promised!  I love you hun!!!

NapoleOn:  Feliz Navidad, mi amor!!!  I love you so much and I hope you are having fun back home!!!

And a special shout out to Asian Glow:  I hope you made it home safely!!!  Merry Christmas!!  Lyon misses you!

Ok, if you didn't make it on that list, it's certainly not out of lack of love.  There's enough Terra-love to go around.  So to everyone else who is amazing and has kept up with this little blog, thank you and Merry Christmas!!!

Biz.