奶油咪咪的喵言貓語

在尋找聖誕節除了人擠人Mall的好去處嗎?十二月還不到各式各樣的聖誕節活動早早就開始增加歡樂的氣氛，今年是我們兩個單獨過節的最後一年，決定好好保握這個機會來多四處走走看看這個城市冬天的慶典。難得今天溫哥華沒有下雨，正是好機會去年度的市中心德國式聖誕市場 (Christmas Market)瞧瞧。
 
  

    
本來不知道原來自己是這麼愛熱鬧的，以前住家裡沒辦法辦轟趴，一直到有了自己的地方後，才真正有這個機會來請大家一起來玩。藉著我們的聖誕樹，上個星期辦完一場後，又想要繼續熱鬧。自從在豆子那裡看到到 2008 聖誕餅乾加工廠，這個主意就一直在我腦海裡盤旋，問了眾位開火鍋宴的可愛人妻後，大家也都興高采烈的支持這個餅乾加工廠的計劃，雖然大家有都有許多趴要跑，幸運的是還是有幾個人可以參加。

準備了近兩個星期，終於到了轟趴當天啦，一早醒來就開始準備起客人的到來，雖然辦過幾次小趴，這次應該算是第一個比較正式的主題趴，所以還真的是有點小緊張，一整天就見我這裡摸摸那裡擦擦的，除了必要的大掃除外，還小小的佈置一下家裡。因為不願意花錢買些不環保的應景佈置，反而讓我能把家裡的東西用創意來玩一下，拿出婚禮剩下的蠟燭，擺上老媽做的紅桌巾，突然想起阿頭送我的熊貓是隻聖誕老人，還有西班牙朋友給的SNOW GLOBE 是唱著聖誕歌的兩隻貓，然後再擺上豆子千里迢迢搬過來的雙人餐具，跟朋友送的布餐巾，除了終於讓這些美麗的東西有用武之地外，桌子的一角馬上變身啦。
 

今年我終於一嘗宿願，有了一棵真的聖誕樹陪我們過節，除了好聞的味道外，也順道學了不少佈置聖誕樹的撇步。
自從去年聽了阿曼說真的樹非常的好聞，而且新聞也說真的樹比石油加工的假樹環保，我就一直孝想一棵來過節，可是去年剛搬家在忙著整理，然後阿湯哥也怕樹裡有蟲跟怕樹葉掉滿地很麻煩，所以一直沒有去買一棵。今年他在我保證會一直去清理它跟不會買到有蟲的樹，因為怕太晚買好的樹都會被挑走，我們在IKEA*第一天開始賣樹的時候就衝去買啦，那時都還沒12月咧。在賣場裡果然松樹的迷人香味瀰漫著，連阿湯哥都跟著又蹦又跳的我興奮了起來，直說一定要選一棵又茂盛又好的樹來抱回家，在寒冷的晚上，就看我們繞來繞去的對許多樹們上下其手，看看他們的高度適不適合，然後寬度夠不夠蓬鬆，最後決定後馬上在場興奮的打電話告訴阿曼，害她也衝著被她阿那達唸也跟著早早買起來放。
雖然說我們這麼早就買了，但是跟據在那裡的店員說，其實所有在大溫地區賣的樹都是在同一個時期就被大批砍下來儲放了，所以不管是啥時買，樹的新鮮度都是一樣的，他說只要我們好好的按期給它們喝水，它們一定可以撐到聖誕節的，所以小朋友，你來的時候樹應該還會在喔~

Been trying to buy Xmas presents the past couple days. My god! There are people swarming everywhere! No wonder people say the Xmas holiday is a stressful time. First, cars are jamed up on the road just to get into the parking lot of the mall. Then if one is lucky to find a parking spot within 15 minutes before the circling around to look for one spot drives one insane and causes accident.
Getting up to the ground level proves to be also diffcult. It’s not hard to believe to see that long queues in front of cash registers in EVERY single stores. But it is not expected to even have to line up just to get on to escalator to go up or down one level. When I took off from work to just avoid the crowd yesterday, it proved that everybody has the exact same idea for last minute presents shopping that mall was still crowded like canned sardin. Besides all these, I can not find ideal presents because they are either overpriced when they are just made in China or they are no longer available. After walking around for 2 hours, I was frusted as hell that I could scream.

Metrotown had just undergone renovation that they have a beautiful resting area in the center bridging two complexes. There are lots of comfy sofa and water fountain streaming in the center, of which the trickling sound soothes one (from what we learned in Spain). The Xmas decoration you saw in the picture was taken from this central resting area. It is quite a blessing to have such area. The interesting sight is most of the people sitting down with lots of shopping bags are men (including Thomas ^^ can you spot him in the photo?). Anyway, the mall has unusually extended the hours until 11pm instead of 9pm to accomodate shoppers. I guess I will try back again. Hopefully, I will have better luck this time...

Mom and Dad went to West Vancouver to see some creative outdoor Xmas trees decoration. I, on the other hand, am so busy working to make up my time off lately that I have not gotten a chance to go out and feel the festive atmosphere at all. Not until, I saw these pictures that I realize how close Xmas is upon us and I have yet to purchase presents! And Cheryl’s nicely customeized cards remind me that I really have to start writing cards for my dear friends too! (懺悔中...) So please forgive me if you don’t get the greetings on time (most likely will happen...) Nontheless, it’s the thoughts that count right? ^_*

Holiday is approaching along with the dipping temperature. Atmosphere is getting merrier. Although it is fun to window shop at the Xmas special, bumping crowd elbows to elbows especially on weekend, is not so enjoyable. However, it is still nice that December is here ^__^ Wish everybody have a merry time too!