Comments on: Merry and bright: The 2024 Holiday Fun List

By: neuromd

neuromd — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 20:09:54 +0000

In reply to Laura Vanderkam. Let us know if your performance of the B-minor mass will be live-streamed or put on YouTube. Would love to listen!

By: omdg

omdg — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 13:52:30 +0000

In reply to Laura Vanderkam. That could be true if we weren't already optimized or if I felt like it was my personal responsibility to make Christmas fun for my family.

By: Laura Vanderkam

Laura Vanderkam — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 13:32:52 +0000

In reply to BethC.,.

@BethC – ooh, Alsace and Christmas markets! I definitely want to do a Christmas market tour one of these days. And I LOVE the idea of collecting a ton of Christmas magazines at B&N. I’ve ordered some from years past (from magazine collectors/dealers) to add to my stash…

By: BethC.,

BethC., — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 04:03:49 +0000

I’m trying to get ahead of things as much as possible because we have a Christmas-themed trip planned. We are heading to the Christmas markets in Alsace with friends for 9 days. I’m usually not one to travel in December, but I have wanted to do this for years. Except for cutting down and purchasing a tree, putting candles in the window, and hanging a wreath over our fireplace, the halls are already decked. Several family members have already shared wish lists with me. I hope to have cards addressed by the end of next week. Since my package wrapping leans towards the lumpy, my husband has taken over that task. In terms of local activities, I plan on hitting Barnes and Noble for my annual stash of Christmas magazines, baking cookies with my grandson, and heading up to Princeton to have lunch with a friend and browse. A few other family and friend visits will happen, but I will try to spread them out so that I can savor them.,

By: Holly

Holly — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 00:25:09 +0000

In reply to Laura Vanderkam. Thanks, and I’m sure you will as well! It so helps to write this stuff out vs. just having the plans floating in my head.

By: Laura Vanderkam

Laura Vanderkam — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 00:21:40 +0000

In reply to omdg. @omdg- maybe...but lightening my mental load on, say, meal planning lets me devote energy to planning in time to go to Christmas stuff I like. And sing in two choirs!

By: Laura Vanderkam

Laura Vanderkam — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 00:19:48 +0000

In reply to Holly. @Holly - phew, that does sound like a lot already! No need to add more. You'll have a fabulous season.

By: Laura Vanderkam

Laura Vanderkam — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 00:19:25 +0000

In reply to McKenzie C.

@McKenzie – after a year of listening to Bach every day he hasn’t gotten old for me either! I’m not sure what I can do as a project next year that will equal up to this.

By: McKenzie C

McKenzie C — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 00:06:10 +0000

Performing Bach B minor Mass was one of the highlights of my music degree so I’m excited for you. Inspired by your big projects, I’ve been trying to learn one of Bach’s sonatas and partitas for violin each year for the last few years. Bach just doesn’t get old for me.

By: Holly

Holly — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 23:41:51 +0000

Laura, I think I’ve got a good start, and I’m tempted not to try to add much else, if anything. My holiday fun list will cover 11/24 (coming Sunday) though Jan 6. We are going to fit in a Sunday afternoon choral concert with friends, a Black Friday Holiday Stroll and Christmas tree lighting in a nearby village (with bonus points if I can find restaurant reservation availability for early dinner), a very local to us Sunday afternoon Winter Market with vendors, music, etc., our condo association Christmas dinner out, a couple of dinners out with friends and one just me and husband. Part of the family enjoys taking me out for my Christmas Eve birthday (though one part of us lives across the country, and we’re now doing whatever we do for my birthday on 12/23 anyway), other family holiday celebrations: Thanksgiving at my daughter’s house with some of our family and her husband’s family, and Christmas Day brunch and gift giving at my house. Then on 12/27 we’ll head toward St. Louis to see my husband’s son and family and then stop on the way back to spend NYE and NYD with his brother and wife, my brother and sister-in-law. Oh, and my husband and I are going away on November 30 for two nights, to a local resort for our 6th wedding anniversary. It helps to have all grown up kids now (well, in age anyway!) And I guess I forgot the indoor horticultural exhibit (think lots of poinsettias and lights) and maybe a twilight tour through a decorated mansion. Seems like a lot all of a sudden!