Tomorrow being the As Yet Undeclared National Holiday, I feel it only appropriate to break the silence and wish all of you a Happy New Year.
One cannot suffer too much excitement at one time at my age.
There have been no resolutions on my part, mainly because I never keep them. I gave up making them a long, long time ago. Fuddyduddy that I am, I refuse to participate. If New Year's were Christmas I might even say "Bah! Humbug!"
Humph.
As it is I will merely sit in my corner by myself and be snarky for a bit. Snarkiness seems to be the genre of the day today, being as 1) I feel rather snarky as a general rule 2) the barometer is calling for 86 more inches of snow and so 3) the Earl of Migraine has decided to take his mighty hammer to my snarky little head.
Snark, snark, snark.
In other news, it was a perfectly lovely, if everlasting, Christmas. It began on the 18th of December last with my department's party, and ended last Saturday night when all of the immediate family that could be there gathered at Eldest Son's home. All in all there were a total of four family Christmases. One for Hubster, me, The Girl and The Boy on Christmas morning, another Christmas evening during a blizzard at Nephew's home. The third was the Sunday following with Sis and her family, Son and his family and the four of us again at our home. And then the final one almost a week later. It was like the Twelve Days of Christmas without all the feathers and the dancing and the drumming and the milking and the noise and the gold.
I could have done with a little of the gold.
The Amazon lists worked WONDERS. I highly recommend them to everyone. While I didn't buy everything from Amazon, I did find they were as cheap as (gasp!) WALMART on most of the items I purchased.
I KNOW.
And they were even CHEAPER than Walmart if you caught certain things on Gold Box deals. For instance, some of the toys I bought for the kidlets were normally $30, but I got them for $10. Quite a difference. And if you played your cards right and bundled things together right and the moon was in the seventh house and Jupiter aligned with Mars, you got free shipping.
I KNOW.
And then there were the boxes that arrived via UPS and the postman every few days. That was like Christmas itself, because you know, OPENING PRESENTS even if they weren't yours....
I heart Amazon. I heart it A LOT.
And on to another topic...
My friend Cindabel's husband who had bypass surgery last week is being moved to rehab today. He had a bit of a time after the surgery due to some complications, so your continued prayer for both of them would be appreciated. Cindabel is taking some time off work to be with him and get some laundry done.
We're a lot alike in that regard.
Not really. She actually DOES the laundry.
Me? I'm enjoying my last hours of youth before As Yet Undeclared National Holiday tomorrow.
Hey, self-deception is an art I'm proud to say I have perfected over the years.
Even when I'm feeling snarky.
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Another Prayer Request
Please keep Cindabel and her family in prayer. Her husband is undergoing bypass surgery, which I'm guessing may have been unexpected. As of right now things are going well. Prayers are that they will continue that way.
UPDATE: Surgery is over and the patient is in ICU. Cindabel is exhausted, having spent the last couple of nights at the hospital. If all goes well, her husband should be released Friday to continue his recovery at home. Please continue to keep their family in prayer.
UPDATE: Surgery is over and the patient is in ICU. Cindabel is exhausted, having spent the last couple of nights at the hospital. If all goes well, her husband should be released Friday to continue his recovery at home. Please continue to keep their family in prayer.
Monday, December 28, 2009
A Different Christmas
We have found that Christmas is not really Christmas as we knew it anymore since Mom left. We're trying different things, trying to make it more our own.
This year Son and his family decided to stay home on Christmas Day. For this year it was probably a good thing, given the fact that it snowed. And then it snowed. And it snowed some more. They didn't need to be driving in the blizzard we had, so it was better that they'd decided to have their own Christmas at home. That led the rest of us to stay home as well, because no one wanted to celebrate without part of the family there.
Our Christmas day was strange-feeling. We did the normal opening of our little group of gifts, then everyone went back to bed while I attempted to make Christmas dinner. And I use the word "attempted" in the loosest possible form.
I tried earlier in the week (unsuccessfully) to get others to join us for Christmas dinner, and so purchased a bone-in turkey breast since it was only going to be the four of us. Unfortunately, I didn't take it out of the freezer in time to brine. Not only that, but I forgot that I purchased a roaster last year for the specific purpose of cooking the turkey so I could have more oven space. The turkey had to have gravy to be swallowed because it was so dry (see Mistake #5). Combined Turkey Mistake #1.
Since the oven was occupied (see above) I decided to try to make the cornbread for the dressing in the microwave. Mistake #2. We ended up with dressing that could literally bounce.
I forgot to use the frozen corn Mom always used. Mistake #3.
I forgot to use the kind of green beans Mom always used. Mistake #4.
There were no giblets to make the gravy. Mistake #5.
After all was said and done I went upstairs to take a nap and forget the disaster. I left the rest of the family to clean up. They didn't put anything away, meaning we had to throw it all out the next morning.
At least that one thing was done right. :)
Friday night we braved the elements to drive a half-hour, which turned into over an hour due to the weather, to celebrate Christmas with Hubster's side of the family. But Hubster's side of the family consisted of only two nephews, their families and his mother. No one else had been silly enough to drive in the treacherous conditions. We ate, the kiddies opened presents, and we battled road conditions over an hour home.
Saturday we cleaned house and I baked cookies and battled pie crust. The poor house doesn't know what to think. It's never been cleaned this much in this short a time period. It may go into shock. I gave up on the pie crust and decided to have only cookies.
Saturday evening Son and family came over to visit. Cutie wanted to play with Grandpa immediately, and Grandpa obliged. We played Wii games, and everyone laughed at me and my lame attempts to steer a lawnmower. Cutie decided to spend the night, then changed her mind at the last minute and told us she'd be back another time.
Sunday was a flurry of cooking and organizing and wrapping presents and cleaning some more and eating (thanks to the patience and assistance of Son, DIL, and Cutie). Sis and her family got here around 2 p.m. and our official Christmas began.
It wasn't like Christmas of old, that's for sure. But it was cozy. We had a fire in the fireplace, the tree in the corner, gifts, a small child, pleasant conversation, food, and I think a good time. I could almost see Mom there.
We're slowly finding our way. It may take a few years, but we'll get the hang of it. It won't be as it always was, but somehow we'll do what Mom would have wanted.
We'll remain a family.
This year Son and his family decided to stay home on Christmas Day. For this year it was probably a good thing, given the fact that it snowed. And then it snowed. And it snowed some more. They didn't need to be driving in the blizzard we had, so it was better that they'd decided to have their own Christmas at home. That led the rest of us to stay home as well, because no one wanted to celebrate without part of the family there.
Our Christmas day was strange-feeling. We did the normal opening of our little group of gifts, then everyone went back to bed while I attempted to make Christmas dinner. And I use the word "attempted" in the loosest possible form.
I tried earlier in the week (unsuccessfully) to get others to join us for Christmas dinner, and so purchased a bone-in turkey breast since it was only going to be the four of us. Unfortunately, I didn't take it out of the freezer in time to brine. Not only that, but I forgot that I purchased a roaster last year for the specific purpose of cooking the turkey so I could have more oven space. The turkey had to have gravy to be swallowed because it was so dry (see Mistake #5). Combined Turkey Mistake #1.
Since the oven was occupied (see above) I decided to try to make the cornbread for the dressing in the microwave. Mistake #2. We ended up with dressing that could literally bounce.
I forgot to use the frozen corn Mom always used. Mistake #3.
I forgot to use the kind of green beans Mom always used. Mistake #4.
There were no giblets to make the gravy. Mistake #5.
After all was said and done I went upstairs to take a nap and forget the disaster. I left the rest of the family to clean up. They didn't put anything away, meaning we had to throw it all out the next morning.
At least that one thing was done right. :)
Friday night we braved the elements to drive a half-hour, which turned into over an hour due to the weather, to celebrate Christmas with Hubster's side of the family. But Hubster's side of the family consisted of only two nephews, their families and his mother. No one else had been silly enough to drive in the treacherous conditions. We ate, the kiddies opened presents, and we battled road conditions over an hour home.
Saturday we cleaned house and I baked cookies and battled pie crust. The poor house doesn't know what to think. It's never been cleaned this much in this short a time period. It may go into shock. I gave up on the pie crust and decided to have only cookies.
Saturday evening Son and family came over to visit. Cutie wanted to play with Grandpa immediately, and Grandpa obliged. We played Wii games, and everyone laughed at me and my lame attempts to steer a lawnmower. Cutie decided to spend the night, then changed her mind at the last minute and told us she'd be back another time.
Sunday was a flurry of cooking and organizing and wrapping presents and cleaning some more and eating (thanks to the patience and assistance of Son, DIL, and Cutie). Sis and her family got here around 2 p.m. and our official Christmas began.
It wasn't like Christmas of old, that's for sure. But it was cozy. We had a fire in the fireplace, the tree in the corner, gifts, a small child, pleasant conversation, food, and I think a good time. I could almost see Mom there.
We're slowly finding our way. It may take a few years, but we'll get the hang of it. It won't be as it always was, but somehow we'll do what Mom would have wanted.
We'll remain a family.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Yes Dear, I Hid The Biscotti
I found this recipe for chocolate chocolate-chip biscotti that I may or may not have mentioned in past posts. It is so good that I have to HIDE it from the family in order to have any to give away.
Seriously. They're worse than mice. Or ravenous wolves.
This biscotti and a cup o' joe will make your morning bright. It will make you sing on key. It will put a zing in your step and a smile on your face. And there are absolutely no illegal substances of any kind included in the making of said product.
None.
Unless you count real, honest-to-goodness butter as wrong. And if you do, I don't wanna be right.
Here's the recipe...enjoy!
Double Chocolate Biscotti
(Thanks to Janet Allen at allrecipes.com, edited by me.)
1/2 C butter, softened
2/3 C white sugar
1/4 C unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 eggs
1-3/4 C all-purpose flour
4 (1 ounce) squares white chocolate, chopped (I leave this out, opting for REAL chocolate)
3/4 C semisweet chocolate chips (or as many as you want if you leave out the stupid WHITE chocolate)
Directions:
1. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in cocoa and baking powder. Beat for 2 minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Stir in flour by hand. Mix in white chocolate and chocolate chips. Cover dough, chill for about 10 minutes. (the dough, not you)
Alternate method: Dump everything except white chocolate in the bowl and mix it up with the mixer. Eat the batter off of the beaters. Chill the rest in the fridge.
2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 C). Divide dough into two parts. Roll each part into a 9-inch log. Laugh to yourself about how the logs resemble certain other things that polite society doesn't mention. Place logs on a parchment-covered cookie sheet about 4 inches apart. Flatten slightly. Or more than slightly if you're like me.
3. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool for one hour on the cookie sheet because you're too lazy to get the wire rack out of the cabinet. And come to think of it, you're not even sure if you own a wire rack to begin with because you're too lazy to get it out. Fight off children and husband.
4. Slice each loaf into 1/2 inch wide diagonal slices. Place slices on the same parchment-covered cookie sheet and bake at 325 degrees (165 C) for 9 minutes. Turn cookies over and bake for 7-9 additional minutes. Cool completely then store in an airtight container away from husband and children if you want to eat any of them yourself. Hide differing amounts in airtight containers in various places in the house, always exclaiming in surprise if caught with one in your mouth.
5. If you're very, very nice, share with friends.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Not Too Bad For An Old Broad
My friend Lisa came to work today and took me out to lunch.
This may not seem strange to you, the average human person who goes out to lunch with your friends all the time, but it does to me. I am a Lunchtime Loner.
Add to that the fact that Lisa is 24, recently graduated from college, is Vietnamese and a newlywed, and you get yourself a dose of strange relationships equal to Mighty Mouse and Dumbo the Elephant.
Lisa is a hoot. By day she's a mild-mannered chemist at a local lab. Her husband, ten years her senior, is an engineer. He designs the stacks that are used for waste products in factories. She has three dogs, a 92-year-old grandmother, and parents that own a Japanese steakhouse and sushi bar. She works there on the weekends. She's friendly, outgoing, trusting, and a joy to be around.
And I bet you can guess where we met.
I've been eating sushi at her parents' place for the last year or so. I do it as a solo act since no one in my family likes sushi. I go on Friday nights after my part-time job, usually pretty late. Lisa's always there, and we end up having a good conversation while I eat. Lately the conversation has been about books we like to listen to on our MP3 players. We let each other know about good authors, and we trade books back and forth.
A couple of weeks ago she suggested we have lunch together, and today we did. It was totally ethnic. Imagine a Vietnamese and a pasty-white fat honky going to a Mediterranean buffet to meet up with the Mexican and Israeli cooks. All we needed were some Italian ices afterward to round out the experience.
It is amazing to me that someone less than half my age thinks I'm OK for an old hussy. It feels kind of special.
And I hope each of you get that same feeling from someone you know.
This may not seem strange to you, the average human person who goes out to lunch with your friends all the time, but it does to me. I am a Lunchtime Loner.
Add to that the fact that Lisa is 24, recently graduated from college, is Vietnamese and a newlywed, and you get yourself a dose of strange relationships equal to Mighty Mouse and Dumbo the Elephant.
Lisa is a hoot. By day she's a mild-mannered chemist at a local lab. Her husband, ten years her senior, is an engineer. He designs the stacks that are used for waste products in factories. She has three dogs, a 92-year-old grandmother, and parents that own a Japanese steakhouse and sushi bar. She works there on the weekends. She's friendly, outgoing, trusting, and a joy to be around.
And I bet you can guess where we met.
I've been eating sushi at her parents' place for the last year or so. I do it as a solo act since no one in my family likes sushi. I go on Friday nights after my part-time job, usually pretty late. Lisa's always there, and we end up having a good conversation while I eat. Lately the conversation has been about books we like to listen to on our MP3 players. We let each other know about good authors, and we trade books back and forth.
A couple of weeks ago she suggested we have lunch together, and today we did. It was totally ethnic. Imagine a Vietnamese and a pasty-white fat honky going to a Mediterranean buffet to meet up with the Mexican and Israeli cooks. All we needed were some Italian ices afterward to round out the experience.
It is amazing to me that someone less than half my age thinks I'm OK for an old hussy. It feels kind of special.
And I hope each of you get that same feeling from someone you know.
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