Somewhere East of Life

Author: saifai
Title: CHRISTMAS PURSUITS
Chapter: 1/1
Pairing: Spike/Xander
Rating: R
Feedback: in comments
Disclaimer: I don't own 'em, I just like to play in Joss' playground.
Warnings: Nothing too unusual... Oh! Blood play implied.
Summary: Christmas shopping with the boys.
Notes: For the lazuli_kat's Excessant 2010 Advent Of Spander. Crossposted to bloodclaim.
Beta: None. All mistakes are mine.

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Happy Holidays everyone!!!

Health
Almost, but not quite, driving by this time. My mom's been sick. Had some test done, didn't react well. Test turned out okay, but found out some long-term health problems she's got. They're not serious, but enough to make her day to day life hell.

I've been sick too. Haven't been able to shake it. I'm tired all the time. I've had a lingering fever. My migraines are worse. I'm starting to get a bit better. I'm going from sleeping 12 hours or more to 9 or so now.

Christmas
My mother and I are making all our gifts this year, which is why we're on the way out the door. We're heading out to the craft and beading store to pick up supplies. We're doing candles, jewelry, craft totes, gift baskets, book bags and jeweled bookmarks. Things like that. We've got a ton of baking to do now too.

That's about all for now. How's everyone else getting ready for the holidays?

First, I wanted to wish everyone a very joyous holiday. :)

Second, I just got the first part of the dinner started, so while I'm waiting for the next part here's the haul:

I got Underworld Evolution on DVD, two gift cards, a small selection of beauty products (lotions and such), some canned goods (like Pumpkin Butter and my all time favorite Green Tomato Relish), a small dagger (ceremonial type, and it's in a purple leather sheath), a cool black shirt, and three new Webkinz.

The Webkinz I got a black panther, a caramel lion, and a small white mouse. The Lion I've already registered with the name Godric. I'm still trying to come up with names for the panther and the mouse. I contemplated Peter for the mouse, but that's no good. I also thought up maybe Harry or Severus for the panther, but not sure I like those either. I need something else.

Suggestions?

With a final run to the store for last minute grocery items (for the second time in as many days), I started my Christmas baking. I'm not doing any of my family's traditional recipes this year. I'm trying all new ones. A bit late for gifts now, but I cut down on the recipes so they didn't make so much.

I just finished a batch of Almond Butter Blossoms. Didn't quite have what the recipe called for, so I substituted with what I could find in the store. Instead of almond butter, I used equivalent amount of almond paste, and then added a couple tablespoons of homemade peach butter (from last year's baking) to offset the lack of butter.

My peach butter is pretty spicy, so that both colored and spiced up the dough more than it would normally have been. I also couldn't get the almonds as finely ground as the recipe called for, even using my spice mill (and that's partly due to impatience).



All around, they turned out pretty good. I've been trying not to eat too many. I've ate the ones that fell apart, and then the ones that made the number I baked an odd number (which after doing that twice, it adds up). LOL

Next up is either Chocolate Gingerbread Drops or Amish Sugar Cookies.

This happens every year. lazuli_kat crooks her finger and I come running. Yes, it's time for the Annual Spander Christmas thingy (The 2008 Spander Illuminations).

I write my Buffy story this year, with Spike and Xander of course, to the tune of... well, Xander. For forever it seems I've had this idea stuck in my head that some things never go as planned when it comes to Xander. When do they ever? But this time it was something serious. Remember that episode Go Fish from way back in Season 2?

This is my take on how things really went.

Read it. txrabbit beta'd for me. I'm quite certain I couldn't have gotten as much out of it without her. *gloms*


Christmas Eternal

I know, I'm a bit behind on my posts and feedback. I'll catch up. Call it a New Year's resolution. I've been sick since Christmas though, so I have an excuse.

I'm spending the night with my Mom and hubby. We're gonna snack our way through the new year. Maybe thrown in a movie or two, or perhaps a few episodes of Buffy Season 5.

Hope everyone has a happy, fun, and safe night. See you all next year!

My Gifts
First things first, I got a few cool gifts for Christmas. Hubby gave me a guitar. Woo Hoo! It came with an instructional video, and he also setup a few lessons with a friend of his who's a classical guitarist. Always wanted to learn to play... Ooh, and my mother gave me three new Xbox games: Spliter Cell, Spider Man, and Spy Hunter.

Learning Guitar
My fingertips hurt. I've been practicing the guitar every day since Christmas until the notes start to sound funny because I'm not pressing hard enough on the strings. I'm really excited though. I'm getting a little ahead of myself and have my eye on a few songs I'd like to learn. All in good time...

Everything Else
Despite everything that's been going on, it was a good Christmas. I made cinnamon rolls for breakfast, from scratch (weird, I know). I talked to my Dad that morning, as he called to thank me for the gift I sent him. It was strange that he wasn't there, but good at the same time. He never was much of a Christmas type person. More of a Bah Humbug guy. I made a horseradish roast for dinner, with stuffing, crescent rolls, and fruit salad. Mom was just so happy that day, which was nice for a change. She got some nice gifts, and didn't have to lift a finger to bake or decorate.

At the moment I'm taking it easy. My headaches came back briefly, and brought friends. I've been feeling a bit dizzy the past couple days. More on everything to come...