This is probably our last Christmas in this house, so I decided to stay home and have Christmas with Jason rather than travel home to the family. I think Jason has a cold now, and is curled up in the back room.

The family is a little scattered this year. One grandmother is in Seattle, recovering from knee surgery. The other grandmother is in Boise with her youngest son and his herd. Mom and Bill are at home. Dad was probably working up until yesterday, and spending the day with his grand- and great-grandkids.

It seems a lot of us are feeling alone and lonely this Christmas. It is fitting this year to stay home and be a hermit. I've been in retreat all year, content to stay in where I once would have gone out. But I think a New Year's Resolution will be to fix that....

Well, Disneyland was done. Space Mountain was closed. The line for the Matterhorn was 30 minutes and no FastPass. The Haunted Mansion was redone as The Nightmare Before Christmas. I remember Pirates of the Carribean being scarier, for some reason.

But it was a good, although brief day. Next time, more rollercoasters.

Oh yeah. Happy birthday to me!

The hotel is the Chamberlain, a smallish, mod, converted apartment building near La Cienega and Santa Monica. The room is gigantic, if oddly configured. And the hotel is quiet, always a plus. The beds are comfortable, fluffy white piles of down and excellent sheets.

Although someone seems to be throwing glass outside my window at the moment.

We arrived last night at about 9pm, just in time to get 2 of the last tickets for the 10:20pm showing of Brokeback Mountain at the Arclight. Plenty has been written about the film. It deserves the praise. I have a feeling that this is a film which will punch me in the gut in about a week. I went to bed with the quiet guitar theme in my head.

Heath Ledger does a fine job, and no doubt will get a few awards to decorate his mantle. For no reason other than his current "IT" boy status, I expected to hate Jake Gyllenhaal. But there were plenty of scenes dominated by his big, dark eyes and miles of eyelashes. I'm a fan now.

It also doesn't hurt that the film is gorgeous. At times you lose everyone in the big open spaces and clear blue sky.

Go see it.

Jason is snoozing in the corner. We're off to see the Mouse as soon as rush hour is over and we can find some decent breakfast. The room service prices in this hotel approach extortionary levels.... But I think I'm going to need to call for coffee and a bagel.

Off to LA today. Should be pictures and perhaps stories when we return. Or sooner, if the hotel has a broadband connection....

This is such a typical blog post.

Ahem. I love hot and sour soup. I have fond memories of leaving bars in Boise early in order to get to Twin Dragon for plates of greasy Chinese food, and tasty hot and sour soup.

I read today in my favorite fussy food magazine that hot and sour soup is often the dumping ground for leftovers.... I had no idea.

I also had no idea how easy it was to make. I stirred up a pot tonight and I'm in heaven. Lovely thick soup with mushrooms and tofu. And, as Saveur wrote, enough vinegar to make your eyes pop.

Perfect for a cold night and a movie. We're off to see The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe tonight.

Ho, ho, ho.

We are off to acquire the Christmas tree. The lights on the house went up the day after Thanksgiving. Arizona is decidedly un Christmas-like, but it's still my favorite time of the year. I love walking into the house and being assaulted by pine and the glitter of shiny things.

Pictures to follow.