Christmas is Coming

At the beginning of December, just like in the real world, the Christmas music started on the radio and the decorations went up around town...but somehow it didn't really feel like Christmas. What was missing? My friends and family back home? Of course. The crazy shopping madness? Well, sort of...we don't have that special holiday brand of mall madness but there is still Christmas shopping to be done. Christmasy weather? Debateable, sure there is snow in the distance and it's always cold, but here in Mactown 30 degrees feels like summer and everyone is in their T-Shirts, so it doesn't exactly say "Tis the season". Hence I was not feeling very holiday-tacular. But then on Monday we had our station services (Housing, Rec, Kitchen Staff, and the Store people) at Gallagher's and suddenly, just like that, it feels like Christmas. We janitor's were in charge of the decorations; we cut around 200 paper snowflakes to hang from the ceiling of the bar. Ana Bell and I did about 100 of them earlier in the week and then I spent about 2 hours standing on chairs taping them up as Ana Bell screamed "QUANTITY, NOT QUALITY HERE PEOPLE" at those still frantically cutting...it turned out spectacular. In addition to the tons o' snowflakes, Sharona arranged red paper bells over the bar and Brian put a Santa on top of the urinal (which ended up being the deciding factor that the decor was better this year than the last); it was the perfect ambience. But that was just the beginning...the kitchen staff made incredible food. They have a lot more freedom when cooking for fewer than a thousand people and really get the chance to show off their talents. It tasted just like, if not better than, what I would have at a holiday party back home. Rec brought converation bingo, so I now know who has been to China, been arrested, owned a gerbil, or run a marathon. A good time was had by all and it was a great kick off to my holiday season.