2008 Wrap-up: December

Dec 31, 2008 by Monica Danna    5 Comments    Posted under: arts + events, health, personal, social media issues

December: Holidaze

December started off the way November ended: SICK. I was still trying to kick the sniffles, allergies, virus, etc. And with the weather jumping around like a pogo stick, it didn’t make it any easier. Eighty degrees one day, 40 the next. Not my idea of a winter, not even for Houston.

Due to sickness I completely missed Mustaches for Kids this year, and Spacetaker‘s WHAM–two events I look forward to each year. However, I made up for it the first weekend I was well, as Andrew and I completed a marathon session as we hopped from a Sean Carroll opening at The Julia (Montrose), to a CD release party for Diane Landry at Tommy’s Steakhouse (OTL), to my sister’s Birthday at Norton’s Bar and Grill (waaaay OTL), finally ending up at Lindsay‘s ugly sweater Christmas party (east side), only to find we had just missed the judging by 15 minutes! As we were told, we would have been contenders. Thanks, Matt, for the sweaters. We returned them the way we borrowed them: unwashed and stinky. :-)

Probably the most exciting part of December, besides Baby Jesus’ Birfdae, was SNOW!  Yes, it SNOWED in Houston this year. And I’m not talkin’ about no freezing rain, slush, or frost on the grass. It. Freaking. Snowed. Here. Y’all. The night it snowed, Andrew was over to cook some din din and help me decorate the infamous Kick Arse Christmas Tree. It did help to have a six foot plus man put the topper on (albeit, upside down). It was a great night of decorating, singing (him, not me, for Christ’s sake), crepe making (oh hell yeah i made the crap out of some crepes), and of course playing in the snow! | Full crepes, guitars, and snow set here.

Sway, by emmiegrn

December also celebrated the 12th month of Dr. Sketchy Houston. I still can’t believe it’s been a whole year. So many sexy Sketchy memories! Big props to the lovely and immensely talented, beautiful, kind, and wonderful HappyKatie for having the vision to bring Sketchy to Houston, and for doing such a phenomenal job of keeping it up every month all year. Don’t forget to join us Sunday, January 11th at Avant Garden from 2-6pm for the Houston Sketchy Birthday Party! Check out more December Sketchy fun here.

Although December was filled with many fun parties, I have to say, the one I look forward to each year is my Kick Arse Tree Viewing Party, and this year was no different. It was great timing, as the incomparable Gwen Bell was visiting Houston for the Hands On Kirtsy + Mom2Summit party at Caroline that same week, BONUS!

Image: Ed Schipul

We had some yummy Vietnamese bites from Les Girval (thanks in part to Jenny, who saved the day!), about a kabillion bottles of wine, which by the way, only 3 were left over, and about 60 of my favorite people. It is a night i look forward to each year. And this party did not disappoint. Andrew played a few acoustic sets, and Ed snapped a pic of the whole crew. Thanks, Ed! | view Ed Schipul’s party pics here. & view Paul Galland’s pics here.

Christmas was extra special this year, as we got to spend it with Baby Kailey. She kept us all entertained, as did my sister’s BF’s boys with Rock Band for Wii. I swear, I have the worst voice in the world, but I totally got 100% on vocal for Beastie Boys “Sabotage” the first time! True story. | View full Christmas set.

I ended the holiday season at Mark and Amber‘s place for a casual party with the peeps for some iPhone lessons and Christmas / Beauty & the Beast carolling. Margot totally rocked that shizz.

These recaps have been an amazing way for me to remember 2008. I stil can’t believe how much I packed into this year. I truly found out the meaning of community this year, and consider myself one of the luckiest girls alive to be surrounded daily with the family and friends I have. This city, this amazing, beautiful, hot, muggy, fantastical city that I call home, My Houston, you are the love of my life, and I wouldn’t be the same person without you.

And to that I say…”PEACE OUT, 2008! and bring on 2009!”

Peace Out, 2008!

love to you all,

Monica

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