Retail Therapy

I've loved having the Christmas tree this week, especially late at night, when I turn out all the other house lights and just look at the tree and listen to my iPod.

My third infusion this week will be on Christmas Eve, so I'm not quite sure how I'm going to feel on Christmas Day. I've asked Kevin and the Garcias to stop by for a couple hours, and I have decided to amp up my holiday cheer by surrounding the tree with wrapped presents for them and even some for myself from myself. (My rule about Christmas gifts for the last few years is that I only get them for people I actually spend the holiday with.) To that end, I set out today in a beautiful, air-cleaned-by-yesterday's-rain, sunny and warm San Francisco day. I walked along 16th to Valencia, up to Market and then up Octavia Boulevard to Hayes. I shopped only in small, interesting stores and got some really good stuff. I was walking and shopping for two hours which is a lot for me, but it felt good.

About 30 years ago, at the first Christmas my brother hosted in Canada, where he lived for a few years, my family adopted the English tradition of having Christmas crackers at the Christmas dinner table. I saw these really beautiful ones at Miette in Hayes Valley and couldn't resist. I don't think Cito knows about Christmas crackers, so it will be fun to introduce him to them.