Holiday joy

- The day before Christmas Eve, the Stroppy One informed me that we were going out to dinner on Christmas Eve. I blinked and said, "Okay. Where? With anyone?" and he smirked and refused to answer. He had booked a table at our local fancy restaurant, Crudo and Cotto, for their elaborate pre fixe Christmas Eve dinner. The food was amazing (we'd eaten there once before and it was fantastic), and I was very touched that he was determined to have Christmas-y events for me. 

- Christmas itself was spent with some local friends we don't hang out with enough, and a fantastic English-y meal. (Mmmm, beef wellington. Mmmm, custard trifle.) One of the other guests was a lady who also suffers migraine attacks and chronic pain-causing illnesses; she and I traded a lot of information and tips, and she recommended a doctor (in Seattle, alas) who is a pain specialists who works at a pain management clinic! So come the new year, once my new insurance has kicked in, I'm going to see if I can get an appointment.

- We didn't do any presents to unwrap thing this year. Instead the Stroppy One is going to buy some high-end art books that I wouldn't have been able to get in time for the holiday. My present from him is the cost of commissioning a friend to do a version of the Ace of Pumpkins card that I want as my next tattoo. I get art, I get to give a great artist money! Win-win!

- We're going to visit Dad and his Ladylove on Friday, yay!