As of tomorrow, early in the AM, I’m off to Nova Scotia. I’m quite excited. Here’s the agenda:

• Fly into Fredericton and spend a couple of days with my brother and his family. I think there may even be a Christmas holiday concert involved. My parents may come up and join us as well.
• Drive to the farm in Nova Scotia and spend Christmas eve and Christmas day there. Nellie (having flown into Halifax on the 23rd) and her mother will have driven up to the farm to meet us. We shall open gifts and grow fat on homemade strawberry ice cream, apple pie, peanut butter balls and macaroons. Crib shall be played. Couches shall be napped on.
• On Boxing Day we’ll go to the annual reunion (of my father’s side of the family) about 90 minutes away where we’ll continue to gorge, most especially on my aunt Liz’s amaretto cheesecake, and Nellie and I might try to repeat our Trivial Pursuit win from last year, if we have time.
• Then on to Halifax for some more family (Nellie’s this time) cheer, then to our hotel, hopefully in time for the first World Junior’s game.
• The next day should mostly be shopping (since there’s *still* no boxing day shopping in NS) and praying for moderate weather so that Da Maurizio will be open for our anniversary this year.
• Finally, we’ll return to Toronto, relaxed and ready to be smothered in our sleep by over-affectionate cats.

Happy holidays, boys and girls!
.:.
Farewell, Girlfriend Du Jour. It was fun.