Rule One for Berry family outings.

1. Never let my mother plan anything.

Yesterday, as I mentioned, Kiri and I went downtown to meet up with my family (mom, isomeme, laurellady, and madelineusher). We took light rail, and got there quickly. Met up at the Aztec Dog Dropping, and checked out Christmas in the Park, which was nice as always. Then came time for dinner. The plan was to hit The Old Spaghetti Factory, but we had noticed that all the food places seemed to be closed, so we called them. No answer. We checked the Fairmont hotel, but they had closed up. Even Johnny Rockets was closing up shop!

It was amusing, with Kiri and Craig on their cells calling every resteraunt they could think of in a four block radius. laurellady was experiencing some pretty bad back pain, so finding a place to eat and sit down was getting vital. Then we saw it, an Italian place that was actually open! Good steak, and dangerous desserts.

I'm too logical sometimes.

OK, I gave Kirsten the Special Edition of Aladdin for Christmas. She got it early, for several reasons, and we watched it last night.

Friends, there is a huge plot hole in that movie.

Much of the story revolves around Aladdin being afraid to reveal the truth about himself to the princess. He constantly goes own about how "he can't keep this up" and "what if they find out I'm not really a prince?" But he wished to be a prince! Not to look like one, or to have the trappings of one, but to be a prince.

Given the powers of the Djinn, Aladdin's wish would have changed time and space. He would have become a prince. Perhaps he would have become the lost heir of a distant city, or a lineage would have been discovered showing him to be of royal blood. Whatever, when Aladdin said thise magic words, he became a prince, no just a street rat with fancy clothes.

Of course, the DM in me grinned when I heard the sloppy wishes in the movie. Oh, the things I could have done to them....

Tryptophan and alcohol...

Back from mom's Christmas feast. much good turkey, good wine, and great cake. Having all us kids and our spuses (plus one neice and the protokid my sister is working on) there was nice.

We watched the DVD of Ann's wedding, and looked at pictures.. nice family stuff.

But onto important matters. Kirsten squealed when she saw the Super Secret Gift: A trio of rubber ducks done up as pirates.

We go a couple of gift cards, which are always good. Kiri gave me a live Aerosmith DVD. My annual motorcycle came this year in the form of a sweatshirt with a gorgeous chopper on it, and the words "CHOPPER: An American Tradition" We also got movie gift certificates. Our gifts to others were appreciated. Ann and Bill especially seemed to find "Babies and Other Hazards of Sex" and "Just Wait Until You Have Children Of Your Own" good choices. The really big surprise was we all chipped in and bough my mom a digital camera.

Fed, and sleepy. Bed soon, since I have to work tomorrow.