Merry Chranukah

I’m apparently not alone among people who grew up in a household celebrating both Christmas and Chanukah - check out this survey on children of interfaith couples. So, after an afternoon taking my mom to see the Magritte exhibit at LACMA, I hosted family and friends for a little “Chranukah” (sounds better than “Hanumas” and a little more modern than “Christmakah”) dinner last night, and I think we all got what we wanted - plenty of family and good food, and gifts sharing love, music, art, science, nostalgia, and adventure - with a little bit of charity for good measure.

A couple of highlight gifts that were exchanged:

• Pickin’ on Modest Mouse
• Tickets to Robert Earl Keen
• A framed Jordan Crane print
• Prints of my brother’s amazing travel photos
• A just-released eStarling(!!!), because my DIY digital frame wasn’t up to snuff
• Flying lessons!! (stay tuned for more on that)
• Locally designed jewelry
• Kiva.org gift certificates

Happy holidays, everyone - may you be similarly wealthy in your non-material fortune.