kal

I'm sitting here in my cold, dark house in No. California waiting for 7:00 pm so I can turn on a light and my heater! <BR>Thank you Pete Wilson, Gray Davis and the crack Calif St. Legislature! ?;^) <BR> <BR>7 days will find Mrs Kal and I back on a Kauai beach for New Years. The sad part is we will be thinking about being back in Paris, Rome, Venice or London. <BR> <BR>Boy! Are we ALL lucky here or what? <BR>"The harder I work, the luckier I get!" <BR> <BR>Merry Christmas and Happy NY to all Fodordudes and Fodordudettes! <BR>Kal

elvira

At home, just finished the last Christmas shopping (the boss's gift from the team - I *forced* myself to go to Williams-Sonoma and buy all sorts of spices, etc. to make up his gift basket; unfortunately, I found stuff for me too) and now enjoying a glass of wine before dinner. It's a nippy 60 degrees F (we desert rats have really thin blood) and the glow from 400 trillion billion gazillion Christmas lights with which the Valley of the Sun sees fit to festoon their homes, palm trees, garages, cacti, wagon wheels and steer skulls is providing ample illumination (sorry, California, we've got lots of electricity nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah - now isn't that just the holiday spirit) for me to type this epistle.<BR><BR>Going nowhere for Christmas, but already am planning trips to Florida, Chicago, Cape Cod, Paris and the Netherlands between January and June - and, of course, the invasion of - er trip to - either Scotland or Italy for this fall (wretched Loons will not come to a consensus on this).<BR><BR>Hope everyone has wonderful holidays - and none of you get crispy pink running suits, I'm with Stupid-&gt; teeshirts, suitcases with cheesy wheels, or belly bags/fanny packs made from Beanie Babies for gifts. May you all get, instead, silk longjohns, microfiber slacks, comfortable walking shoes, the perfect jacket for spring/fall weather, and Haggis-in-a-TubeTM.

Andrea

In Shanghai, China, where we have been living for the past 2 years. We're off tomorrow morning for Switzerland. (Many thanks to all the Switzerland experts who have been EXTREMELY helpful in our trip planning!)

Robbie

Dear Lonesome <BR> <BR> I am sitting in my office at home in Newburgh, Indiana looking out the window at a very beautiful winter sky. The stars are shinning brightly and the temperature is suppose to be 6 tonight. There is snow on the ground, a very frosty wind blowing and Christmas lights as far as the eye can see. I can hear the barges on the river not far away. My Christmas shopping is done and I have family coming to visit from Georgia and Indianapolis for Christmas. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy healthful New Year. P.S. planning trip to Germany in the Spring. <BR> <BR> Peace, Robbie

Larry

Elvira, how many lights was that? Glad to see you back - missed you this week - have a great holiday and advise me about your visit to Floriduh..

betsy

Sitting here at my desk at home in Silicon Valley hoping that I don't take out the entire power grid just by turning on my laptop. <BR> <BR>Happy holidays to all, whatever and wherever you are celebrating!

Beth

Greetings from the frozen wasteland they once called Chicago! I'm sitting on my porch where icicles have begun forming on my feet! The temperature is hovering around the zero mark, not to mention the 20+ inches of snow still on the ground. That's the good news. The wind is blowing 15-25 mph. Forty below zero is something you must experience to appreciate, as I'm sure many of the hardy Fodorites reading this would agree. <BR> <BR>I just started my holiday shopping, so I've got much to do in the next three days. <BR> <BR>We're still planning the next Chicago get together. I'm hoping January is unusually warm. Say, 75 degrees! Anyone up for a location change, say Aruba! <BR> <BR>Happy Holidays to all. <BR> <BR>Beth

John

At home in Seattle, arrived this afternoon from LA & intermediate points (drove) and man are my wheels tired... <BR>It's raining, home feels good, lit candles for Hanukkah, laundry drying, mail opened, peace descending. <BR> <BR>Planning March or April voyage over there, maybe Italy or S of F, maybe Israel if things are calmed a little. <BR> <BR>Peace be on you all.

smartaleck

Question was "WHERE IS EVERYONE AT NOW?" NOW is based in Washington DC, so I guess its officials and employees are in or near DC while its members are probably all over the US.

Dr. Betty

Just got back from dinner at our neighborhood sushi bar. Have been contemplating a "seasons greetings" wish that captures the all of everything... and there is so much. Have also been contemplating a Fodorites get-to=gether here in Denver, how-a-bout February (middle towards end of)? Just saw the movie "Quills" (that was before dinner) and has generated a whole lot of discussion about the history of moral depravity and its political/religious overtones.<BR><BR>It's dark outside my window right now, but last night I thought about that post and wanted to tell you that the sun had cast a pink mantle with grey clouds strewn across the horizon of the Rocky Mountains. The apple tree, having shed its fruit,offered a glimpse of nature over the roofs of the housetops.<BR><BR>Before long, where I am at right now will be come where I'm at next, so, better go.<BR><BR>Love to Everyone,<BR>Dr. Betty

Timothy

I am in Tehachapi, California, my home town. I am looking forward to Christmas. I have not forgot about travel. In April I am taking my son to London for a week. He is graduating from high school and is going into the Navy. I was stationed in England in the mid 70's. I met his mother there and I am taking him there to show it to him. I have been to England a few times since, but never back to the base I was assigned to. It's been almost 25 years. Merry Christmas to all.

rudy

It's now one day closer to Christmas, and instead of doing the necessary things to get ready such as wrapping gifts, etc., I'm sitting in my home office here in Baltimore, Maryland, reading all the interesting messages from Fodorites. The local weather forecaster is calling for a bitterly cold day tomorrow, adding that this has been the coldest December in Baltimore since 1983. That doesn't bode well for the long winter ahead. <BR> <BR>Through my second story window, I can see the twinkling Christmas lights of a neighbor's house through the now bare limbs of the trees. <BR> <BR>Today I made airline reservations for a winter getaway to Florida. Wonder if all the election hubbub has died there? <BR> <BR>I've been reflecting all day on deceased loved ones who will not be here to share the holidays. Does anyone else feel melancholy at this time of year? <BR> <BR>

adeeba

Hi to all ; <BR>Im in my library room in my house in Kuwait reading fodors travel talk.out side the weather is cloudy and foggy Im fasting in ramadan and we will selibrate in the the few days the Ead and chriatmas . <BR>happy holiday to all

Tony Hughes

Still in the office in Falkirk. The sun slipped under the horizon on monday afternoon whilst I was in Perth and I haven't seen it since and it's now friday. Wretched cloud cover prevents any decent light and thus for the last 4 days, cars have had their lights on throughout the day. It's like that weird sort of pre-dawn light that seems to come from nowhere. <BR> <BR>It's our office crimbo (christmas) lunch today and so everyone is sort of hanging about doing nothing much until midday.

Jan

Sat at home taking a break from preparing the traditional pork pie I have to cook EVERY Christmas. No more work till January 3rd. so looking forward to the nice long break. Its a pretty grey day, but no rain thank goodness. If I look out of my window and down the valley I can see the result of the almost constant rain, (or so it seems), that we have had in the last couple of months. That is lots of flooding around the River Test. Seasons greetings to all and happy travels.

milissa

...Right now, I am looking out the window and watching the snow fall. It is about 20 F here in Philadelphia and more snow is predicted for tomorrow night. I think we will really have a white Christmas this year. However, I am heading to New Orleans for the New Year, so hopefully it will be warmer there!

Kavey

I am at home, Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees!!! In my study. <BR> <BR>The Powers That Be decreed that we could all go home at lunch time (which is 12.30 in my department) so I called my sister, similar deal at her work, and we met for a quick Dim Sum in China Town before heading our separate ways. Got home 25 mins ago. It's not 3.25pm UK time. <BR> <BR>Am about to wrap Pete's presents as he is still at work. Have plugged in the little electric heater and come into the study where I have hidden all the presents. <BR> <BR>Just switched on the PC to play some CD music and was tempted into one little check of the board!!! <BR> <BR>Sad addict that I am... <BR> <BR>Best Wishes to everyone, hope you have a festive holiday, whatever race, faith or nationality you are, and look forward to seeing you in 2001.. <BR> <BR>Kavey

s.fowler

Right now I am f-f-freezing near Chicago at minus something fahrenheit. We arrived home from a trip to San Francisco to find my car battery dead and the waterline to the freezer icemaker causing a small water hazard in the kitchen..... two days ago I was in Stinson Beach, CA and wearing a short sleeved t-shirt, eating lunch outside and feeling quite toasty indeed! <BR> <BR>Happy Holidays to you all.. may they be safe, thoughtful and merry as well And thanks to you all for information, entertainment and assisting in my work_avoidance project

carolyn

I'm spending the last morning before the holiday in my grey cube. We have a company lunch at noon where I will be presented with my thirty-year service award. I chose (surprise) luggage since I will be retiring August 1, 2001, and am planning a month in Great Britain as my gift to myself. Merry Christmas, everyone. I love this forum.

Topper

where's Neal? that's what I want to know.