Looks like the season of holiday parties is upon us.  Full fiesta mode.  Nonstop spirited celebration even.  I eschewed my regularly scheduled trip to the Brooksider on Friday and headed over to our friend Susan’s house for her semi-annual Christmas party.  This used to be an annual event, then was changed to semi-annual, then completely nullified for some period of time.  Since she hosted it again this year, I’ll go back to calling it “semi-annual” for the time being.  It was quite a return to its former days of glory too.  We shut the party down, much to Donette’s dismay.  Hey, I was on a roll, gotta go with those rare occasions.  I don’t know what time Susan finally threw us out, but it was crazy late.  (“Late” on my time-table being anything after 9:30.)

After my wild night out, I slept in late Saturday morning.  (“Slept in” on my time-table being after 5:30.)  I knocked off a few menial chores around the house, then Teagan and I drove out to Shawnee Mission Park for a little exercise.  Despite being relatively close to us, the drive out there took for-freaking-ever.  I was quite out of sorts by the time we finally made it.  And, if I wasn’t rattled enough, I couldn’t find the off-leash area once we finally got there.  Man, that place is huge.  I finally gave in and called a buddy who steered me to the right place.  Once we finally got there, I think it was worth the trouble.  Lil’ Teagan had a big time running around.  One part of it backs up to a lake, and she took a few tentative dips in the water.  Had I thrown her ball out into the lake, I’m pretty sure she would have swam out and got it, but we’ll save that test for some warmer weather.  Most of the time we just played fetch, which is her favorite game.  (To the point of obsession, one might say.)  Granted, we can play fetch right down the street at Penn Valley park, but there was a lot more grass at this place.  (Penn Valley, being much smaller, is pretty much all mud and…  Other stuff.)  Having sufficiently worn out the pup, I went back home and picked up Donette, and we headed out to another Christmas party.  It was another fine event, and I got to see a bunch of people I hadn’t seen in a long time.  We didn’t make it quite as late though, I think I was still a bit worn out from the Friday night revelry.

Sunday, I was about half tempted to drive back out to the dog park.  She certainly did have a big time out there, and I don’t think there are going to be many warm days left.  But, in the end, I couldn’t take the drive again, so we just hunkered down for some football watching.  Probably should have opted for the dog park, as the few football games I got at the house weren’t exactly entertaining.   Just to pass the time, we did whip up a big pot of chili and lit the fireplace for the first time in our dozen years there.  I was pleased to find the house still intact this morning when we woke up.  (Well, not really, but I have to say that for insurance reasons.)