The Friday/Monday/Tuesday Five

I've been away for a long time. I decided to take an Advent sabbatical from writing this page, and then I decided that it was silly to break my sabbatical to post and say I was doing that. Frog threatened to post and say that I had been watching Celebrity Poker instead of writing, which wouldn't be entirely wrong. Silly TV - it just sucks me in. But now I'm back, and now you know where I was.And I'm catching up on my RevGals memes - but only yesterday's version.

1. What is the best gift you received this year? (Tangible gifts only, please!)

Hmmm. I got nice things from my mom - sweaters and cds and a cookbook I've wanted. I think my favorite of these was really for Luke - but cds are for both of us, right? Anyway, my mom got him/us three Tom Lehrer cds. He is a very very funny man.

2. What is the best gift you gave this year?
Luke and I are excited about what we got for his dad - but he doesn't have it yet so I'm not telling.(He is sick and didn't join us for dinner on Christmas. Very sad, but we will see him Thursday.) I also gave the music minister at our church a copy of A Song To Sing, A Life To Live - and I think he really liked it.

3. When did you do most of your shopping/creating?
Thursday. And a little on Saturday. Oh, and we aren't done yet actually.

4. Did you go shopping the day after Thanksgiving (U.S.)? Today?
Yep. To both. Well, I haven't gone yet today, but Luke is doing some of our Christmas shopping today, so that sort of counts.

5. What stands out already about Christmas 2005?
This was my first Christmas as a priest. So far, there is no better time to be able to preach and celebrate, even though I missed my home parish very much.