(no subject)

[dira]

iuliamentis and I went to a holiday party, this thing called the Ladies' Club Auxiliary Christmas Party, which is all the women from my mother's side of the family getting together to eat catered food and play Bunko* and get door prizes. I take Iulia each year because, I dunno. She usually forgets how my mom gets and is willing to sit between me and her, which is cool. Plus: Bunko and a free meal.

Highlights: I'm pretty sure my cousin K thinks Iulia and I are dating. She's dating a black guy, and that's been the Thing around family functions for the last few months; I think she's hoping to not be the most remarkable one, and I feel bad about inevitably disappointing her.

Iulia tells me that my grandmother asked if we were "living together yet?" and, when Iulia said yes, gave her some funny eyebrows, so. Apparently Grandma agrees with K.

Cousin J, it turns out, is expecting her second child in April. I found out via random 'eating for two' (or, winning Bunko prizes for two) comments, which is yet another testament to the communicative skills of my family.

Which is to say nothing of my mother's rendition of the Thanksgiving-weekend New Fridge Saga, which, naturally, paints my father in a rather unfavorable light. This is why I didn't wish them happy anniversary yesterday: I wasn't sure whether either of them found the occasion especially happy. Way to go, guys, thirty years and you didn't divorce or kill each other. Be proud!

Anyway, Bunko winnings: pink-ribbon pin, assorted red votive candles, cinnamon apple candle in a jar, cosmetic brushes (donated to K to be auctioned off to her students, who she swears will like it), nail file and brush (donated by Aunt S), sewing kit (passed from Grandma to K to me). Iulia got the St. Jude devotional candle (one of the huge ones in the glass, with the icon on the front and prayer on the back), santa ashtray-or-candy-dish, "that stinky green candle," gloves, and three stick pens.

So, welcome to the holiday party season. I'm going to bed now.

*A dice game - the goal is to roll doubles, which allows you to select a wrapped present from the middle of the table, and, when those run out, to steal them from your tablemates. because of the 'wrapped' aspect, you find yourself getting insanely competitive over what turns out to be a pink comb and a keychain, or a St. Jude devotional candle. No, seriously.