Back to the future

2008. It sounds like a year from the future. When I was graduating from high school in the '80s, it seemed so far away. But 20 years later, the future has arrived and while much has changed, a lot remains remarkably the same. The micro level is where change is most noticeable: parenthood, gray hairs, changing perspectives. But at the macro, as author Tom Robbins says, the situation remains "desperate, as usual." And we still aren't flying with individual jet packs.

I rang in this new year with a belly full of tapas at Jaleo in Bethesda with my Auxiliary Geek (that would be Karim, for those of you keeping track at home) since he is the one capable of staying up past 10 p.m. The food was delicious, the crowd festive, and the DJ played an odd mix of Spanish and Latin music, and '70s funk (Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind & Fire, Commodores) that veered toward Wedding Reception when we heard KC & the Sunshine Band. But it was a lovely, grown-up evening.

My Primary Geek, never a fan of New Year's Eve, happily stayed home and went to bed not long after Julia did. In fact, my two Moons had a little slumber party, building a bed on the floor of Julia's room with foam sleeping bag mats and a comforter. I found them snoring there when I came home.

Christmas, meanwhile, was wonderfully exhausting. Julia sprang out of bed at 7:30 and we kept her occupied with Santa's gifts (Dora bike!) until Nana and Papa Jim arrived at 8:30. There were plenty of presents to open throughout the morning and they left at 11:30, which gave us about an hour break before Dr. Moon arrived, followed by Kevin. We exchanged our presents, then left for Virginia for the final shift of the day at cousin Wonje's house with the extended Korean family, all 25 or so of them. We finally got home (whew!) at 9 p.m.

On Saturday the 29th, we had a Group Geek Outing in Silver Spring. We met Karim, Lisa and Alycia at Ray's the Classics for dinner, then joined Kevin and Liz (in town for the week) across the street at the AFI Silver for a screening of "Monty Python & the Holy Grail." Needless to say, there was much simultaneous recitation of dialogue. Ni!

I was lucky that my office was closed from the 24th through today, but alas, my final hours of freedom are coming to an end. Back to the factory I go ...