And so the week rolls on. We are a little over cast today which just makes the cold feel even colder. Or perhaps it is just the damp. Today I actually manage to take the time to to a little indoor workout. I’ve been slipping for the past little while because there have been just so many things to get don. And then so many things happening after work hours. we are normally not this sociable. There might be one night out a month but come December we seem to turn into social butterflies. it is exhausting. My mother has always had at least one thing a night. Growing up I though it was just because my brother and I had things going on and she just rolled them in, but even now she schedules one thing a day and claims she cut back. She is far more social than I ever will be.

I tend to get together in person with friends once a month. It helps that most of my friends live elsewhere and we just get together on the phone or electronically. But honestly once a month is a social enough outing for me. I think the social isolation almost killed my mother. As soon as it was even partially safe she eased back into being social. which all her friends did actually which is why they were all infected at more or less the same time. But you can’t control anyone else’s actions. Everyone takes the risks they are comfortable with. And to be honest I have a very definite social threshold. I like people, to a point, and then I’m good with staying in.

My mom still has a hard time fathoming the fact that I am not as social as she is so she thinks me not going out a lot is me being extra cautious. It’s kind of fun actually. Before everything hit I got together with people once a month. Now two years and one vaccine and three boosters later, I get together with people once a month in a well ventilated space. It isn’t caution it is my normality. Since she went from getting together with at least three groups a day (she is retired so she is no longer confined by work hours) and is now cautiously back to one group gathering a day. She is stunned.

I love my mother but we often look at each other in mutual incomprehensibility. I am very much like my father. We are both willing to mingle and spend time with friends, but we both like our alone time. I suppose it is on my mind because I spoke to my mother this morning to confirm travel plans. She asked what was going on and I told her about all the things we were going to this week. She was so pleased we are starting to get back to normal.

I always find it amusing that normal always looks different from where whoever is looking at it is standing. Just a little mental amusement.

But other than that, I got a short workout in and have spent the rest of the day focused on paperwork. Then tonight, there will be cocktails. Well one cocktail.

One of the hosts always comes up with a signature cocktail for the party. It is kind of a neighborhood thing rather than a friends gathering. They do this every year. As the house is within walking distance it isn’t a matter of alcohol but calorie consumption on my part. That and for some reason they always go for really sweet cocktails.

I am more of a Dry Martini person myself. If I am going to choose to indulge in a cocktail there will probably be Plymouth Gin, Noily Prat Vermouth and some olive juice involved. And anyone who shakes that will get the stink eye for life. Shaking bruises the gin and alters the flavor. If you want to shake then go play with the vodka and leave my gin alone. Oh and if you do go for Plymouth Gin be aware they make regular gin and Navy Strength gin. Navy strength is far too potent for me. I will take my civilian blend thank you very much. oh and they do make a really good Sloe gin too f you are interested. And no they are not a sponsor. just my holiday liquor cabinet stocking at play.

And a little whining that when i do imbibe tonight it won’t really be a drink of my choice. They are among my favorite neighbors and they are always so pleased with their signature drinks. They aren’t bartenders by the way. I think they download a recipe and then somehow make it sweeter so it is always off balance and so that they can say they ‘tweeked the recipe’ to make it theirs and then rename it. It is fun. they enjoy it and we all have a good time. But the benefit for me is that I never want more than one. And it is kind of fun to have a signature cocktail at a party. If you do this though, maybe don’t make it mandatory. And before you ask, they also make a non-alcoholic ‘mock-tail version’ for anyone who isn’t drinking. that way everyone can more or less have the same drink.

Okay I’ve gotten my whining out of the way. Now I will be fine. Despite my not needing to go out every night and preferring drinks that are less sweet I do always have a good time when I go. It is a lot of fun and I enjoy the people. And as my babydoll likes to say when we come home and there is no possibility of offending anyone, nothing makes you appreciate a good cocktail like a bad one.

There is no makeup today because I didn’t get around to it. I will be putting on makeup for tonight but for the day I am fresh faced. So I am off to finish my day’s to do list and then we will see about getting ready. one of the best things about the house is that they like people to take their shoes off at the door, so I can wear my fabulous heels and then take them off and put them by the door. I get to wear them out and not kill my feel by standing in them all night. I just have to remind my baby doll to wear nice socks.

Happy Holidays.