Weekend

The company party on Friday was weird. It was held here. It's a trendy boutique hotel/nightspot. We had antipasta and cheese and dried fruit for appetizers (no hot nibbles), and chicken with either ziti or carbonara pasta and salad and bread for dinner (and a carving station) and for dessert just so-so cookie trays and coffee (open bar - althought that's not my thing). The music was loud and there wasn't a good place to sit and chat and eat. They had a photo booth and a karaoke booth also. But the coat check was slow and the busses messed up (the one that took us back to the bus terminal only wound up with 4 people on it - 2 for Penn Station and my husband and myself for the bus). But the financials are good for the company.

They also had some women in tight leotards swinging around on the ceiling - kind of Cirque du Soleil ish - I took shots with my cell phone which didn't come out so good. (I forgot the memory card for my old camera).

Saturday we went to Christkindlmarkt in Bethlehem, PA which is about a 2 hour ride with my MIL. We go to Bethlehem every summer for Musikfest, it was strange seeing what the town looks like the other 50 weeks a year. First we went to Toy Magic which is a great toy store that has a train table. My MIL and I got coffee in Heavenly Hedgehog Ice Cream which makes really good ice cream in the summer. Then we went down to the market itself. We browse, although Alan wasn't the happiest about it. He did like the little carousel they set up and did check out the ice scuptures. They had a kids area where you could make a gingerbread house for 5.00 (it was graham crackers shaped into a rectangle - they had little bags of chocolate chips/jelly beans/candy canes to stick on with frosting as glue and sprinkes and powdered sugar). I glued, Alan decorated. We liked the results. He held it on the ride home, but he was really wanting to EAT it!

One disappointment was the bathroom. All they had by the market was smelly portapoties. So Alan wouldn't go. I should have taken him to the spot I know has a good bathroom (and is neat - Moravian Bookshop ).

We had tried to get a bus tour of the lights, but they were full. But they gave us a map with the route. I followed it as best I could - through the "yuppie" part of Bethlehem - all decorated with candlelights in the windows and to the 81 foot tall electric star of Bethlehem that overlooks the town (although I didn't see it closely). Then we hit Wegmans to get a few favorites and eat dinner. Alan had pizza, as the one he had earlier in the day was bad (when he rejects pizza it's either BAD or he's sick). We were all tired by the time we got back home but had a fun day.

Also as we headed out to drive around and see the lights we saw a group of people with candles walking in a vigil with signs urging peace (as in anti-Iraq war) - we waved to show our support.

Today our friend Mary came by for a bit. She used to be Mark's boss where he consults - but in a series of events is now teaching third grade in a nearby town. She hadn't seen us in ages. Then we went to a train show which Alan enjoyed. Then off to a local mall to get to Borders to try to use Alan's gift certificate from my cousin. Alan didn't find anything other than Thomas books alas. So we'll try again another day (hopefully there will be another 30% coupon then). Then a stop at a fresh pasta place then home where I dropped Mark off and Alan and I went to Shoprite. Later on I did laundry.

Still haven't had time to do my tree or cards. Sigh.