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Precious Insanity

Our Christmas this year passed much like many others before it, only faster and with a certain finality.

We had no idea at the time but this would be the last gathering of these people in this life.
We had no idea at the time but this would be the last gathering of these people in this life.

Christmas came quickly after my fall semester ended. Thanks to school, our present turnover rate was much higher than normal. Our tree went from barren to presented to barren again quite speedily. There was nothing underneath it until just a couple days before Christmas. For a planner like me, that was practically unacceptable. However, I switched from writing 25-page papers to crafting gifts without taking a needed pause and, miraculously, completed everything in time.

Making a wrapping-paper mess is a Sabin tradition.
Making a wrapping-paper mess is a Sabin tradition.

We spent Christmas Eve with Jason’s family. We had a nice meal and then opened presents unhurriedly, enjoying the inside jokes and perpetual teasing. As is Sabin custom, we piled up the wrapping scraps and threw cats and each other into the disarray, creating even more chaos. Little did we know that this would be the last time we’d all be together on this earth.

I did not make these red velvet cakebites but I bought them expertly.
I did not make these red velvet cakebites but I bought them expertly.
Jason masked the kids' present under many layers of boxes and giftwrap, which resulted in an intense group effort fueled by impatience and curiosity.
Jason masked the kids’ present under many layers of boxes and giftwrap, which resulted in an intense group effort fueled by impatience and curiosity.

Due to one final wrapping marathon that didn’t conclude until 3:30 AM Christmas morning, Jason and I slept in a bit on the holiday and headed to my family’s in the afternoon. We had a lovely lunch with them and then set about unwrapping duty. The kids were almost eerily calm during most of the gift giving. Too much sugar? Too many tablet games? Present overload? Whatever the reason, it was pleasant but unnatural.

Santa left nerdy sweaters in our stockings on Christmas morning. They were already washed and ready to wear. That was so thoughtful of Santa.
Santa left nerdy sweaters in our stockings on Christmas morning. They were already washed and ready to wear. That was so thoughtful of Santa.

At the time, Christmas felt like it always does, hectic and tiring. Now, after the unwavering irrevocability of the events of the last month, the filter by which I view that holiday has changed substantially. Recollections of it come to me in potent succession, the fleeting minutes of a transient and unpredictable life. They are moments that cannot be regained with people that can now only be visited in memory. Jason and I have always lived fully but these days, more than ever, even the craziest of holidays seems exceptional and precious to us.

Rachel January 28, 2017 No Comments

Our Yuletide Jamboree

Christmas is accompanied by a certain level of decorum and pomp for most but, for us, it comes with tackiness and hair.

Our Christmas party is a December tradition that went from formal and fancy to ridiculous and irreverent many years ago. Never heard of it? We keep the invitee list slim so we can actually talk to our guests, a refreshing change after our Halloween largeness. There have been almost no new additions to that list for over a decade so our attendees are pretty much the people that have known us since our rollerblades and overalls days.

Jeremy typically goes a few disgusting steps beyond an ugly sweater and completely exemplifies holiday hideousness.
Jeremy typically goes a few disgusting steps beyond an ugly sweater and completely exemplifies holiday hideousness.

This event has some holiday standards mixed with a few seasonal abnormals. Gaggy gifts, tinselly sweaters, tasteless fake fur, tasteful food, massive moustaches, ping-pong showdowns, awkward dance competitions, absurd photos, and close encounters of the Rowley kind are all part of the routine.

Yes, tacky comes standard with the Sabins.
Yes, tacky comes standard with the Sabins.

This year we ordered food from Corner Bakery Café. The spinach salad, pesto cavatappi, hummus and veggies, bruschetta with parmesan toast, and sweets basket probably made for our favorite catering in years.

Just Dance has become a tradition at our party.
Just Dance has become a tradition at our party.

I took pictures of any of the assembled crew that wanted them for over an hour and a half at the affair. Sadly, this took more time away from busting my sweet Just Dance 2017 moves than expected but some of the resulting images are priceless… revolting, but priceless.

Boys 4 Toys is sure to become the next boy-band sensation.
Boys 4 Toys is sure to become the next boy-band sensation.

The white elephant gifts were much the same as they always have been… good, bad, even worse. Man-scented candles, fry pillows, and pooping-dog calendars were just a few of the finer things that could have been mine. (Incidentally, I just got good hot chocolate and I was just fine with that.)

What an adorable couple!
What an adorable couple!

Thanks loyal Christmas partiers! It’s cool to celebrate the holidays every year with a lowkey gathering where the same small group of buddies wear what they shouldn’t and shake what they definitely shouldn’t- from hind ends to hidden gifts.

Rachel January 22, 2017 No Comments

A New Halloween Hope

It’s easy, when you spend a substantial amount of time and money on a Halloween party, to feel a little crazy. Oh wait, that’s not where I was going with this. Rewind… it’s easy to feel a little disappointed when guests hurry off after such a shindig without helping pick up any of the 150 cups they left in your kitchen or when you hear a kid complaining about the lack of a food truck at the affair. Yes, it’s easy to feel a bit underwhelmed by thanklessness after you’ve organized an overwhelming event but that’s not what I would like to write about here. Instead, I’d like to publicly acknowledge the elixirs to our insanity.

I love our spooky lady.
I love our spooky lady.
Jason wanted to wear his Han Solo outfit for Halloween so I became a blonde Bespin Leia. If you don't recognize my garb, you aren't a true Star Wars fan.
Jason wanted to wear his Han Solo outfit for Halloween so I became a blonde Bespin Leia. If you don’t recognize my garb, you aren’t a true Star Wars fan.
We have about seven full skeletons in our Halloween arsenal, along with more spare bones than a can of salmon.
We have about seven full skeletons in our Halloween arsenal, along with more spare bones than a can of salmon.

We had more assistance with our party this time than ever before. Jacob, Lee, Sue, and Keith all came over one night for a party-decorating party. We got a whole room done that evening; it was miraculous. The creative juices were so abundant we were all a little sticky in the end. My brother-in-law also joined us, along with some of our nieces and nephews, on a few separate occasions and we had a great time putting up spider webs and lights. During the event, Jenny supervised the carnival games. For take down, Fran, Cam, Rowley, Lee, Sue, and Keith all offered their assistance one evening. With their help, we had Halloween packed away by Thanksgiving, or shortly thereafter. Thank you all! Not only was your help very valuable, it was a much-appreciated gesture of gratitude.

A lot of this hair was mine and a lot of it was not.
A lot of this hair was mine and a lot of it was not.
In honor of the new film, we fashioned a Potter area.
In honor of the new film, we fashioned a Potter area.

As for the party itself, here are a few of this year’s random stats:

1. We had nearly 90 attendees, a new record I believe. But, for the record, we were not trying to break any records. Hopefully that upward trend stabilizes, otherwise we are going to have to institute an admittance process.

Decorating for our party is both creatively stimulating and depleting.
Decorating for our party is both creatively stimulating and depleting.

2. We went through 30 liters of soda, in addition to an incalculable amount of water.

3. Traditionally, about 30% of our attendees are kids. This year, children accounted for half of the partyers.

These bags took longer to assemble than I care to admit.
These bags took longer to assemble than I care to admit.

4. We assembled six dozen party favors and gave out every single one of them. That was a first.

5. We had a photographer taking old-time hand-developed pictures on black aluminum using a wet-plate collodion method, a process invented in 1851. The procedure was as interesting as the results.

The Victorian photographs were eerie and interesting.
The Victorian photographs were eerie and interesting.

6. We had 18 flavors of gourmet cotton candy spun in our backyard. (No bratty kid, not a food truck this time.)

7. A girl got hit in the face while the piñata was being hammered down. I knew that was going to happen sooner or later. For some reason, kids become animals over a few Twizzlers when a piñata is involved.

I'm not sure why an orb filled with candy makes kids simultaneously both uncontrollably excited and destructive.
I’m not sure why an orb filled with candy makes kids simultaneously both uncontrollably excited and destructive.

8. After the gathering, Jason and I were up until 4:30 in the morning cleaning crumbs and food globs off our floors. Thanks Cam for coming back to help with the first rounds of sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, and furniture replacement at 12:30 AM!

This pirates' cove was Jason's idea. He even made a swashbuckling soundtrack to accompany it.
This pirates’ cove was Jason’s idea. He even made a swashbuckling soundtrack to accompany it.
Who doesn't like a nice spooning?
Who doesn’t like a nice spooning?

And that is how we survived our Halloween party this year, with a lot of gratitude, and a little frustration, in our hearts. To all our helpers, thank you for being enablers of our madness! We can’t tell you how much your aid meant. You are awesome!

Rachel December 24, 2016 3 Comments
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