Sunday, December 27, 2009

Home For the Holidays

The last week has been filled with more holiday goodness. A couple of days after Chanukah ended, my friend Tamara hosted a party at her home, featuring a lesson in making latkes (potato pancakes). I met Tamara on Twitter, and she invited several people in the local Twitter community to come. We had a really great time hanging out. Here is a look.

Christmas fell on a Friday this year, which means Shabbat dinner with my folks. I was invited to Christmas dinner by my friend Kylee, which unfortunately I had to decline as a result. Kylee is one of my volunteers at Boyle McCauley News, where she writes and helps deliver the paper. Her father is also co-chair of the board - which makes him technically my boss. Technically. He's one of my best friends and I've gotten close with others in his family as a result. It meant the world to me that I was asked to join the family on Christmas, even though I could not go.

Speaking of Boyle McCauley News, Boxing Day saw me volunteering at a casino for the McCauley Community League. The League helps the paper with its casino, so we try to return the favour. When I wasn't running chips, I was relaxing in the volunteer lounge watching movies (Australia and Mamma Mia) and eating free food. The restaurant in the Yellowhead Casino really rocks. The prime rib was superb!

I worked off some of the calories by taking a stroll down Candy Cane Lane Saturday evening. Some of the houses were great, but it sure isn't like it was when I was a kid. Still, there was a lot to enjoy. Here is my photo set.

This afternoon, I headed to Brewsters for Torah on Tap. It is basically a schmooze with the rabbis from the Reform and Conservative congregations, on a specific topic and its relation to Jewish law. Today's discussion was on mitzvot, which are commandments. I kept quiet for most of it (yes, I can actually be quiet sometimes, especially when I am in a situation where I don't know a lot of people), but find these sorts of discussions fascinating. I expect I will attend again.

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