Merry Christmas a day late, everybody. I didn't post yesterday because there was too much to do. Separately (because I don't want to make it too TL;DR) I'll post on the December 26 thread on a related subject and refer back to this one.
Christmas Day I got up and finished my housecleaning. (I don't really mind that, since I enjoy having a clean house afterwards and nothing much to do for the rest of the day except sit.) My brother came over for brunch--we have a menu we like, featuring make-it-yourself omelets. After that we drove to my sister's house in the suburbs and the three of us went to the movies. We already had our reserved seats for the opening day of the Bob Dylan movie (A Complete Unknown, but everyone seems to be calling it The Bob Dylan Movie). We enjoyed it. Below I offer some thoughts about it. After the movie, we went back to my sister's house and enjoyed a fire in the fireplace on her back porch, petted her two sweet and attentive dogs, opened our gifts (we exchange small stuff, nothing big anymore), and spoke with our Ohio sister on the phone. The weather consisted of temps in the upper 30s and slight drizzle. I'll gladly take that, since it's much safer for driving purposes than a white Christmas. When it came time to head home, my brother drove us around one of the better neighborhoods for light displays, as is our custom. None of us is going to be around forever, so one appreciates a calm and happy Christmas more and more.
The Bob Dylan movie was pretty good, but I knew that, having seen some reviews and other publicity. It covers a few years when he was getting traction as a folk singer in New York, to the day when he shocked the Newport Folk Festival by playing (gasp!) electric instruments. (There was some foreshadowing at the end, with people telling him to be careful on that motorcycle.) I learned some stuff I didn't know about that period of time in his life and the folk music scene. I came out of the movie deciding to re-read Dylan's autobiography (Chronicles Vol. 1, 2004--I don't think there has been a Vol. 2 yet). I also want to take another look at the coffee-table book of Dylan lyrics I have, revisit his contributions to the Traveling Wilburys, and buy some of his albums that I don't have. Maybe that was part of the reason they made the movie, but I'm OK with that.
One big theme of the movie had to do with his resistance to being put in a box and told he's only supposed to do music in one genre. This kind of attitude is typically found in people who have an agenda and also really like an artist's work, perhaps because it in some way touches upon that agenda, and they are tempted to read too much into it. It feels to them like the artist must inevitably get totally behind their agenda, so they are disappointed when that doesn't happen. (John Lennon had that problem, too. He was portrayed in the media as a hippie peacenik because the hippie peaceniks really wanted a Beatle fronting for them. Sure, he wanted to give peace a chance, but that's still not all he was about as an artist.) Folk music around that time definitely had an agenda. I experienced this even in the 1970s when I took folk guitar lessons and found that in the minds of the people at the school, the music and the political agenda were intertwined. But I didn't share the agenda even though I really liked the folk sound, and still do. (I was a proto-libertarian-conservative at that point, never having felt I could commit to the politics of the left. I was for the same good things, peace and love and freedom, equality and justice, etc., but I couldn't buy their vision of how society was supposed to get there. It cut too many corners and assumed too many assumptions.) Anyway, it's not surprising that people like Pete Seeger felt Dylan had betrayed their cause, but neither is it surprising that he wasn't going to quietly get in the box to please them, much as he admired their music and their community. I now think I know what he meant by "I ain't gonna work on Maggie's farm no more." His muse was taking him to all sorts of places, so all sorts of places is where he went from there.
And he did win the Nobel Prize for poetry, so there's that!
Happy Boxing Day! Good report. I think that if a performer you have liked starts producing music you don't like as much (or at all), you don't need to take it as a betrayal. Just look for other performers whose music is what you like.
I admire the way Paul Simon went all over the place with songwriting. I like some periods or some songs better than others, but that's how life goes.
Paul Simon was smart enough to accept the electrified remix of "Sounds of Silence," which Simon and Garfunkel had recorded with acoustic instruments, when he first heard it (they weren't notified in advance). It made it a hit, and that gave him the platform to do whatever he liked musically after that. I actually prefer the electrified version. It has oomph.
Given the lateness of the day I'll post this again tomorrow. Warning! It's long ( I broke it into 3 parts), 2.5k words.
Pam and her sewing machine for Christmas
I hate shopping for Christmas, as I never know what to buy. I agonize, and all my insecurities come out. When I had young nieces and nephews, I sucked at buying gifts. One year I bought Jesse and Jenny a snow cone maker, not knowing the decibel levels on it approached those of a jet aircraft. My sister Karen forgave me (she’s a saint), her husband Carl, IDK. I think it is one reason why I hate getting gifts, guilt over all the poor gifts I bought.
But this year I had it made! I knew what to get Pam! Oh, I didn’t know where to buy it, or what brand/model to buy, but I knew what to get. I wanted her to have a new sewing machine. Pam had shared how she had a hand-me-down, but sometimes Janet let her use her new one. She didn’t complain, she accepted what she had. That was so Pam, never complain about what she didn’t have. That’s what made buying a new one a wonderful present! So late October, I visited Janet with Pam gone, telling her my plan. She lit up with a big smile. Buying a girl a sewing machine might not seem romantic, but to someone who loves to sew, you can’t go wrong (later I did the same with Katie). I confessed to Janet I knew nothing about sewing machines. I wanted to buy a good one, not junk, but something she could use, and would love to own. Janet smiled, agreeing to taking me shopping. Pam wondered why her Mom was so happy about me that day. I had humbled myself to her Mom, she knew I wanted this to be a good gift.
On a Friday afternoon (I had the day off) I drove in to see Janet. We drove to a mall, to Sears, but Janet told me this was just an educational stop. There, Janet showed me many different types of machines. She recommended an entry level machine, but a really good entry level. The latest had computers, she wasn’t a fan of those yet. But there were too many cheap, poorly made ones out there, she wanted to avoid those. So I received a good education from Janet. We then went to one of her favorite fabric stores where she bought some fabric. She then spoke to the sales person, who came over to greet me. She explained several models, including models at Sears but not there. I knew it meant Janet felt those were the junk machines. The sales lady recommended two up from the bottom. A Singer, it still had metal mechanical parts, not plastic. It could do a dozen different stitches by pushing a button. Janet explained how that came in handy for things like buttonholes. I asked the sales person if I could have a minute with Janet, so she graciously stepped out.
“Janet, I’m buying a sewing machine. Which one will make you happy for Pam? Janet asked to look at one more, but said she approved of the last one shown me. She called over the sales lady, asking to see one more machine. I am embarrassed now; I bought it but I don’t remember what function it had the other didn’t. The price was about $350, which was within range. I asked Janet: “you’re pleased she’s getting this?”, and Janet beamed. The sales lady smiled too, realizing I didn’t care what I bought, I wanted to show my love by buying a quality sewing machine. She chimed in reassuringly “This is a great first machine. She’ll use it for years. If she gets ambitious, she’ll learn what extras she wants. But she’s not ready for that next machine now. This is the one that will allow her to learn, to grow, and master sewing. It’s what I’d buy for my daughter”. Janet nodded again, so I bought it, plus a 3 year warranty.
When we got to the car I took her home. I asked Janet to store it for me, and to help me wrap it come Christmas. I explained I learned gift wrapping from my dad, who used grocery bags with staplers, and she laughed. She promised she’d wrap it beautifully. She thanked me, telling me Pam would appreciate such a thoughtful gift. She’d also help Pam by showing her some sewing functions. She recommended I buy some fabric, writing down some stuff to buy. I went back to the fabric store, bought some fabric, then I bought Pam a gift card for patterns and more fabric. I bought a second gift card for Janet, plus 2 fat quarters the salesperson said Janet would like.
Come Christmas morning, the big day, I went over to their house. Pam made pancakes, sausages, and scrambled eggs for breakfast. I helped her in the kitchen, finding many a mistletoe hovering over her head, causing her to laugh. Okay, it was probably just a piece of broccoli, but it worked. Jenni got up, but Doug and Angi would be over late, they were doing Christmas early with his family. Finally it was time to unwrap presents. Pam got me a green Tigger sweater, I cheerfully pulled it on. She also got me a book and a CD. She was stressed, because I had my own home, I didn’t really need anything. I was hard to buy for. I kissed her gently, thanking her for lovely presents. I had found a book for her, a devotional by Stormie Omartian. She smiled, liking it. It was a thoughtful gift. But she looked down at a big box near her, unsure what it was. She had no clue what it was, perfect! I love surprises! I grinned, telling her it was to her from me, but Janet helped me buy it. Pam had a puzzled look on her face (she later confirmed she had no clue what it was). She carefully unwrapped it, looking at the sewing machine box and…and….and….nothing. She stared at it for a minute, then quietly thanked me.
I felt deflated. I had failed again, doggone it! She was polite, she was kind, but no enthusiasm, no excited scream. I had failed, and I felt bad. I told myself at least she knew I wasn’t cheap about it, or hadn’t thought about it. I knew she’d at least give me credit for trying. Everyone else finished opening up their presents. We hung out, listening to music on the stereo, then watched some TV. We ate lunch, then I drove Pam to Muncie to visit my folks. She had baked bread and cookies for them. She worried it wouldn’t be enough. I grinned at her. “My Dad loves cookies! He’ll be happy”. She looked worried. “Mom likes you, she thinks you’re too old for me, but she forgets I’m not 12 anymore”, causing her to nervously smile. I told her my family loved her. I reminded her how at Thanksgiving Karen lied about the bread Pam had brought, so she didn’t have to share it with her kids, and Karen was a saint. Pam looked down, embarrassed.
Christmas with my folks went fine. Dad loved the cookies, grabbing one before Mom could take the plate from him, Dad winking at Pam with a smile. She relaxed with my Dad, he was so good natured, she knew she had his approval. If I was happy, he was happy. Mom talked about grandkids, and Pam listened, nodding sweetly. Eventually Jeff came over with Matt, who ran like a madman about the house, and Mom yelled at him, loving the sound of kid chaos. Carl and Karen dropped by for 30-45 minutes, but Carl didn’t like Mom (it was mutual), so he looked for an excuse to quickly skedaddle. Eventually I drove Pam back directly home, but she first had me park at Walnut Ridge. We walked through the cemetery, she showed me some more headstones of family. She seemed wistful. I took her in my arms, simply holding her. I asked her what was wrong but she said nothing. She told me she wanted the day to be better for me than it had. I told her it had been a great day, I got to spend it with her. I kissed her, telling her that was the best present she could give me. For now. After the wedding, the 2nd best gift, causing her to grin. I recited the vows I had written for her again, and she had tears of joy in her eyes, as before.
She had to work the next day, so I stopped by Montgomery Wards to visit her. She was frantic helping customers, but having fun at the same time. When it was break time we walked to the food court. We ate, and she told me she looked forward to tomorrow, she and Janet would do some work together. I kinda got the hint I needed to take the day off, so I did.
Come Sunday, she showed up at my house early, and we walked to Irvington Friends, it wasn’t too cold yet. Before she left, she seemed nervous, asking me to wear a sweater. I wasn’t sure why, but she handed me my last Christmas gift. I opened it; a blue Animaniacs tie! A hand sewn tie! She had sewn it on her new machine. She told me Janet helped her a lot learning all the functions, she still had a lot to learn, but using a pattern Janet had, she made me a tie. I grinned, telling her I’d wear it to meeting, and to work the next day.
At meeting I showed the tie to our pastor, Phil Gulley, he grinned in approval. I think he understood my ties were going to be much more fun in the future. I showed it to Oneida Davis, who called her husband Ray over to admire it. She told Pam it was charming, highlighting my eyes, causing me to blush. She told Pam she must be very talented to sew ties, she never could quite get them right. Pam looked down, but thanked her for the compliment.
After meeting we grabbed some lunch at the mall, then walked back to the house. I asked her about the sewing machine, was it what she wanted? Her eyes got big: she seemed confused. I told her when she didn’t react to it I feared I bought her something she didn’t want. But I tried, I took Janet with me, I; then Pam jumped into my lap with a hug and a tear rolling down her face. “I love it. I was just so overwhelmed, it’s such a big gift, such a nice gift, I didn’t expect anything so big”. She paused, “I didn’t do anything nice for you. I didn’t know what to buy you, I looked for months, but you’re so hard to buy for”. I held her for a few minutes, as she said nothing, finally she let out a sigh. “my sweet little boy surprised me”.
She quietly added “I didn’t feel I deserved a sewing machine”. I held her without talking for a few minutes, then quietly I told her “You deserved it. You mentioned you had a hand me down machine, you weren’t complaining, but I wanted you to have one you could call your own”. Pam had more tears fall. “Thank you for loving me. But don’t feel you have to top it next year”. I told her I didn’t try to spend X dollars, high or low, but rather I listened and looked for a gift that said “I paid attention”, and she smiled. We kissed, but I didn’t get heated up. I was the one who kept it under control. I knew in moments such as this, she wanted comfort, not affection. That meant not having her worry about the stove’s burner setting for her little teapot. When she finally drove home, she left happy, content, and feeling loved. I got it right, this time.
Pam turned into a seamstress. She got her money’s worth out of that machine. She made me half a dozen ties. She made outfits for Chris. She made my infamous cowmoflauge outfits. She even made the infamous corn cob bunting for newborns. I still have it, ready to give it to Chris someday.
More importantly, Pam gained some confidence in herself. The machine had many functions. Janet paid for her to go to a class at the fabric store. The store owner showed her many tricks, many tips, and encouraged her to experiment.
For the first year of marriage, she kept the machine at Janet’s, visiting to work all day 1-2x a week. Janet helped her learn subtle things. And later Janet confessed she liked Pam‘s machine more than her own, and took to using it on the days Pam wasn’t coming over. Bob grumbled good naturedly he’d now have to buy a new one for Janet, which he eventually did, years later. When Katie and I got married, once Janet learned Katie liked sewing, she gave her Pam’s machine and some lessons on using it. Katie quickly outgrew it, allowing me to buy the really nice machine she has now, the Husqvarna.
For our 24th anniversary I bought 4 cardinal barn quilt signs, gluing them to our garage door, to make a giant barn quilt for Katie (she loves it). I hosted a family get together (Katie had to work Memorial day and Mother’s day), where I told people they’d get to see Katie’s quilting gift. Bob texted me, warning me he’d never speak to me again if I bought her what he didn’t want me to buy her. Turns out he was terrified I had bought her a long arm quilting machine, and then he’d have to buy one for Janet as well.
With more confidence, something else happened. Pam began to see opportunities, began expressing herself more through her outfits. Pam began shopping more thrift stores and consignment shops, tearing apart a dress then remaking it in her own style, adding something special to it. She loved the idea of reworking something in order to make it new again. If she found a piece of fabric, she’d work it into a skirt, or a blouse. Her confidence grew and grew. It was such a joy seeing her blossom. She told me she daydreamed of when she had kids and could make them dozens of outfits to wear, of her design. Her closet was stocked with clothes she bought dirt cheap, but she loved sewing on them. She did it while I was at work, so she was free to be with me after work. She made gifts for family, they appreciated the thoughtfulness. It was one of the best Christmas gifts I ever bought. Sometimes I get it right. Why not? In a bountiful forest, even blind squirrels can find some nuts every now and then.
We left home early today, and I had to make waffles and deviled eggs ( waffles for breakfast deviled eggs for lunch) so I didn’t have time to post much for now. I'll post a Christmas story later this evening.
What's on my mind? I can't get it out of my mind that our son went to midnight mass with us last night. One year ago never could I have imagined that this year he would be attending Christmas mass with us. I didn't even see him last Christmas, nor the 6 months prior and the 6 months after. He's doing well, but has a long way to go (Aspie with severe OCD.) My husband and I have accepted the fact progress with him will be measured in terms of years rather than months. Happy Holidays to this wonderful group of humans. Oh Cynthia, I was reading Heather Heying's "Natural Selections" substack post yesterday and I could not get you out of my mind. Her writing reminds me so much of you.
"progress with him will be measured in years not months"
Thanks for that insight. My 18 year old granddaughter has been living with us since 2020, and has recently been diagnosed with high level Autism (aka Asperger's). We are trying to comprehend what this means for her future -- but she is certainly on a very different path than her peers. It's a difficult road-- praying for wisdom and grace!
Merry Christmas ( and any other holiday) everyone! We did presents last night, which was awesome, dinner is at (roughly) 2:30, my one brother and one sister, and her new BF whom I haven't met are coming. No snow, unfortunately....and our best friends decided to do their own thing this year, which is the first in 20 years now...they said they had never done one just the two of them..which surprised me, I thought they did it a different time, I will miss them...but hope they have an awesome day.
And so, too, that you don't start an avalanche when you hit the slopes...
Your post from Axios below... I've never been the "America love it or leave it" sort.
But of late I've been feeling a strong compulsion to say to the ranks of America naysayers - and say rather loudly - If you think you have it so bad here, why not try your luck elsewhere for a while?
Like, say, Haiti maybe? Where there's a place in which countless numbers of Haitians are buried in unmarked and unrecognizable graves, victims of natural disasters and endless violence, known to the locals as "The Fields of Less Than Nothing".
Sorry. Enough said about that.
Today is for celebrating. And we do have ample reason for that.
Each and every day, truth be known.
Best of all holiday wishes to you and yours, O. And safe travels today. And every day for that matter.
Good morning and Merry Christmas and (soon) Hannukah.
A nice reminder piece from Mike Allen at Axios this morning:
"The media, our social media feeds and our most pessimistic friends fill us with doom and gloom stories. But by many measures, there's never been a better time to be alive in America.
Why it matters: Yes, bad people are always doing bad things for bad reasons. It's called life. This column focuses on the Good Stuff: the undeniable trends that reveal a distinct edge for America, young people and this moment.
When your boozy uncle goes dark today, remind him and others:
There's no better place to start a business and rise to unthinkable heights doing what you choose to do. We have the best hospitals, colleges and technology centers.
You can think, say and worship as you please without fear of imprisonment. Faith might be fading, but the ability to practice it is unfettered.
The United States has the world's strongest military. We enjoy peace with our neighbors and the protection of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Our military is both the most feared — and most sought-after by other nations for assistance.
We're blessed with abundant natural resources — we can produce enough energy from the ground and skies to power ourselves for generations. In just eight years, the U.S. "has rocketed from barely selling any gas overseas to becoming the world's No. 1 supplier" — bolstering the economy and strengthening American influence abroad. (N.Y. Times)
We're still the place where people want to risk their lives to come live, work and raise a family.
The greatest inventions come from the magical animal spirits of American capitalism: freedom and entrepreneurial zest — hardwired into our souls and our national story. We enjoy a massive early lead to build the next great technology: generative artificial intelligence.
The United States is the world's longest-surviving democracy, which has remained steadfast, resilient and enduring through existential crises.
Young people are more optimistic than ever, earning more than ever, and able to make an instant difference in the workplace because of their tech savvy.
And Jim's favorite: Most people are normal. They don't watch cable food fights, or dunk on people on X, or say or do nasty things to others. They work hard, volunteer, help you shovel in a storm."
Whatever your beliefs may or may not be, may the joy, peace and hope that Christmas brings for those of the Christian faith be a gift to the heart of each and every one today, and abide there in the warmth of a common brotherhood not lost in the strife of so many far less important things.
I think this place is improbably wonderful. A bunch of online folks seamlessly going from politics to local weather reports to rambling stories to aphorisms that I've been stealing and using in other forums to appear smarter than I am. It's the promise of the interweb made whole.
Good morning and Merry Christmas. It arrived at our house with a bang - literally - as we had a pretty nasty thunderstorm overnight that knocked power out for a while. But it’s back on now. We’re going with plan B at our house, as the traditional large family gathering at my MIL’s changed because she’s in the hospital with COVID and other ailments. Some in the family have been exposed so we won’t get together for a week or two. An unwelcome reminder of 2020. I hope you all get to spend the day(s) in the ways you prefer and most enjoy.
The "hock jock" in the hotel gym is most likely the culprit who gave me a cold. Don't go into a hotel gym when you are hacking up a lung. Haven't we learned our lesson yet??!!
Last spring on a train a guy behind me was coughing up a lung and making little effort to cover it up. Two days later I had bronchitis and I was coughing up a lung. Thanks dude.
Hope your MIL recovers quickly and completely, and your family completes its Christmas gathering sooner rather than later. Meantime, best holiday wishes to you and all of yours, Brian.
I wish I could post a picture of our Christmas dinner. A bunch of my wife's grad students and ourselves went out for a fantastic dinner...11 dishes, fish, pork, lotus, several vegetables, a shrimp and lotus root concoction...and more. All Hunan style spice and sauce. Scrumptious.
What? No canned Ocean Spray jellied cranberry sauce with the wrap-around can-formed ribs, quivering like a reddish-purple slinky on a plate about ready to leap out onto the table? You call that a Christmas dinner?
Please. Tell me you at least had a giant leaden fruit cake that everyone politely declined to partake of, arguing they were way too full to indulge in desert.
I think I already wished you a Merry Christmas, Kurt. But it doesn't hurt to wish it twice. So, consider yourself so wished.
I'm a fruit cake skeptic. Or at least agnostic. I've had a couple of experiences that if they were the norm, I'd be a big believer, but some others that have kept me from finding unquestioning fruit cake faith. :-)
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah all! Moxie (GSD) and I are up way too early, as usual. She has gone back to bed; I will start cooking…something. Because it’s Christmas. What would you want for breakfast?
Two medium-thick slices of Clifty Farms country ham, pan fried bone-in; two extra large eggs over easy; a mound of American fries w/a hint of onion, done but not crisp; whole wheat toast, easy on the butter - you can probably tell I'm trying hard to watch my cholesterol - and strawberries, jellied, not jammed.
BTW...I'm a good tipper. Here's one for you: If I'm around it might be better not to ask such questions.
Ham, eggs, taters, toast & jam, and the all important orange juice for tamping it all down...is a top fiver in my "best taste ever" category. Even just eggs and orange juice...it's like God's perfect combo.
Oranges are in season over here; I get a kilo for about $1.25. Eggs...the local (for real) farmers market has quail, chicken, duck, and giant goose eggs, and eggs where the chickens are only fed soy and corn with deep orange yolks and others that are fed spinach and veggies with green shells...and a few others where I don't know what they are and haven't experimented yet. I wish I could post pics...several thousands of eggs and you pick the one's you want out of a grid thousands.
So, I've been pigging out on oranges and soy fed duck eggs lately.
"Home grown" eggs are quite the thing around here. Mostly chicken, but a few places with duck or goose. Our neighbors across the road have had chickens for years, more as a hobby than any kind of subsistence food source, and we've never wanted for eggs as they've always had way more than they and can use, and they just give the excess away rather than set up a stand by the road to sell them, since there are more than a few of those within a mile in nearly every direction from here. Every so often the guy just rolls up our drive in his mule with a dozen or two to restock our fridge.
A few houses down from us the people who live there ran well over a hundred feet of extension cord out to a small, enclosed bench stand with an open front right by the road, from which to sell their eggs out of one of those small college-dorm-room-sized refrigerators (every other place I've seen uses a simple ice cooler of some kind or another). The amazing thing is that the fridge remains there after so long a time without someone making off with it.
I guess any would-be thieves are just too chicken to try it.
Now I am singing that...Merry Christmas Cynthia! Were you ever called Cindy or has it always been your full name? Growing up everyone used my proper name, Angelle, but, mom says in the 6th grade I declared I wanted to be called Angie...probably because everyone not in my family couldn't pronounce it right...lol
I was always called Cindy (or Cindi, or Cyndi) growing up. In college I was called Cat. In adult employment, Cynthia, and that one stuck. Latin Americans spell it all different ways, though: the name on my order of empanadas yesterday was Sintia.
What was that saying that was so popular for a while just recently... (economic) facts don't care about your feelings? The alternative fact being a good bit of stomach growling in the long run...
A little overbearing's ok. But try not to overdo it so as not to scare Jack away if he shows up today.
Sheldon had to get his car towed to a repair shop on Monday. Good thing he has AAA! Vlad picked him up from his apartment earlier today. He won't know what's wrong with the car for a few days, because Christmas.
Oh, yeah. So easy to wrap, doesn't take up much stocking space.
And it kills two birds with one stone because it takes care of Mom as well.
Some (ahem) think it's worth it waiting for after Christmas sales. I would argue that the difficulty of finding patience for Mom counteracts any benefit in delay...
Can I boast? My sister’s French husband and his father (age 90) spent several days prepping yesterday’s and today’s meals. The father is a retired French pastry chef and “gold master” of the apprenticed trade. He made a meat-in-pastry loaf (actually three of them) and a traditional yule log. BIL prepared crab legs and shrimp linguini for last night’s meal.
I broke my eight-month strict sugar fast to eat a piece of the yule log, because…listen: If you make me explain, I’m just gonna break down and cry. 😭😭😭 There! Now you’ve done it.
Anyway, today will be a continuation of the gastro-centric marathon, with a brief respite this morning so the nieces can open gifts, until I’m stuffed and mounted to my chair at table…
RE: "a continuation of the gastro-centric marathon"
Which begs the question: other than being mounted to a chair, where, exactly, is the finish line for this marathon? Or maybe it isn't over until the fat man in red sings?
Merry Christmas, you lucky gastronomic devil, you!
So far today, it’s been Zwiebeltorte, carrot salad, cucumber salad, a delicate white cake, more viande en pâte, and some foie gras… not to mention a couple delicious mousse au chocolate balls rolled in cocoa powder…
Well, lem'me tell ya' sumpthin' there, Buster. Before our ordinarily named and prepared 'Mericun dinner of ordinary 'Mericun fare not too long over now, I had in the prelude to it two very TALL highballs and have only now just finished a post repast rather generous double 'Mericun Made Makers on the rocks.
So, in light of that... or them... they... or sometin', and before the lights go out, I feel a compulsion to rejoin said fancy French froo froo braggadocio with somethin' that appeared here by your very own hand not all that long ago, with an extra-special emphasis on the thumb & palm action...
Good morning. We're going to church at 9:00 a.m., so I'll have to start encouraging the rest of the family out of bed soon. I'm planning to have leftover chicken curry, Monday's dinner, for breakfast.
Merry Christmas a day late, everybody. I didn't post yesterday because there was too much to do. Separately (because I don't want to make it too TL;DR) I'll post on the December 26 thread on a related subject and refer back to this one.
Christmas Day I got up and finished my housecleaning. (I don't really mind that, since I enjoy having a clean house afterwards and nothing much to do for the rest of the day except sit.) My brother came over for brunch--we have a menu we like, featuring make-it-yourself omelets. After that we drove to my sister's house in the suburbs and the three of us went to the movies. We already had our reserved seats for the opening day of the Bob Dylan movie (A Complete Unknown, but everyone seems to be calling it The Bob Dylan Movie). We enjoyed it. Below I offer some thoughts about it. After the movie, we went back to my sister's house and enjoyed a fire in the fireplace on her back porch, petted her two sweet and attentive dogs, opened our gifts (we exchange small stuff, nothing big anymore), and spoke with our Ohio sister on the phone. The weather consisted of temps in the upper 30s and slight drizzle. I'll gladly take that, since it's much safer for driving purposes than a white Christmas. When it came time to head home, my brother drove us around one of the better neighborhoods for light displays, as is our custom. None of us is going to be around forever, so one appreciates a calm and happy Christmas more and more.
The Bob Dylan movie was pretty good, but I knew that, having seen some reviews and other publicity. It covers a few years when he was getting traction as a folk singer in New York, to the day when he shocked the Newport Folk Festival by playing (gasp!) electric instruments. (There was some foreshadowing at the end, with people telling him to be careful on that motorcycle.) I learned some stuff I didn't know about that period of time in his life and the folk music scene. I came out of the movie deciding to re-read Dylan's autobiography (Chronicles Vol. 1, 2004--I don't think there has been a Vol. 2 yet). I also want to take another look at the coffee-table book of Dylan lyrics I have, revisit his contributions to the Traveling Wilburys, and buy some of his albums that I don't have. Maybe that was part of the reason they made the movie, but I'm OK with that.
One big theme of the movie had to do with his resistance to being put in a box and told he's only supposed to do music in one genre. This kind of attitude is typically found in people who have an agenda and also really like an artist's work, perhaps because it in some way touches upon that agenda, and they are tempted to read too much into it. It feels to them like the artist must inevitably get totally behind their agenda, so they are disappointed when that doesn't happen. (John Lennon had that problem, too. He was portrayed in the media as a hippie peacenik because the hippie peaceniks really wanted a Beatle fronting for them. Sure, he wanted to give peace a chance, but that's still not all he was about as an artist.) Folk music around that time definitely had an agenda. I experienced this even in the 1970s when I took folk guitar lessons and found that in the minds of the people at the school, the music and the political agenda were intertwined. But I didn't share the agenda even though I really liked the folk sound, and still do. (I was a proto-libertarian-conservative at that point, never having felt I could commit to the politics of the left. I was for the same good things, peace and love and freedom, equality and justice, etc., but I couldn't buy their vision of how society was supposed to get there. It cut too many corners and assumed too many assumptions.) Anyway, it's not surprising that people like Pete Seeger felt Dylan had betrayed their cause, but neither is it surprising that he wasn't going to quietly get in the box to please them, much as he admired their music and their community. I now think I know what he meant by "I ain't gonna work on Maggie's farm no more." His muse was taking him to all sorts of places, so all sorts of places is where he went from there.
And he did win the Nobel Prize for poetry, so there's that!
Yeah, Dylan. I didn't get him until I got his lyrics. The music came later.
Happy Boxing Day! Good report. I think that if a performer you have liked starts producing music you don't like as much (or at all), you don't need to take it as a betrayal. Just look for other performers whose music is what you like.
I admire the way Paul Simon went all over the place with songwriting. I like some periods or some songs better than others, but that's how life goes.
Paul Simon was smart enough to accept the electrified remix of "Sounds of Silence," which Simon and Garfunkel had recorded with acoustic instruments, when he first heard it (they weren't notified in advance). It made it a hit, and that gave him the platform to do whatever he liked musically after that. I actually prefer the electrified version. It has oomph.
Paul Simon is timeless. The guy is OK.
Given the lateness of the day I'll post this again tomorrow. Warning! It's long ( I broke it into 3 parts), 2.5k words.
Pam and her sewing machine for Christmas
I hate shopping for Christmas, as I never know what to buy. I agonize, and all my insecurities come out. When I had young nieces and nephews, I sucked at buying gifts. One year I bought Jesse and Jenny a snow cone maker, not knowing the decibel levels on it approached those of a jet aircraft. My sister Karen forgave me (she’s a saint), her husband Carl, IDK. I think it is one reason why I hate getting gifts, guilt over all the poor gifts I bought.
But this year I had it made! I knew what to get Pam! Oh, I didn’t know where to buy it, or what brand/model to buy, but I knew what to get. I wanted her to have a new sewing machine. Pam had shared how she had a hand-me-down, but sometimes Janet let her use her new one. She didn’t complain, she accepted what she had. That was so Pam, never complain about what she didn’t have. That’s what made buying a new one a wonderful present! So late October, I visited Janet with Pam gone, telling her my plan. She lit up with a big smile. Buying a girl a sewing machine might not seem romantic, but to someone who loves to sew, you can’t go wrong (later I did the same with Katie). I confessed to Janet I knew nothing about sewing machines. I wanted to buy a good one, not junk, but something she could use, and would love to own. Janet smiled, agreeing to taking me shopping. Pam wondered why her Mom was so happy about me that day. I had humbled myself to her Mom, she knew I wanted this to be a good gift.
On a Friday afternoon (I had the day off) I drove in to see Janet. We drove to a mall, to Sears, but Janet told me this was just an educational stop. There, Janet showed me many different types of machines. She recommended an entry level machine, but a really good entry level. The latest had computers, she wasn’t a fan of those yet. But there were too many cheap, poorly made ones out there, she wanted to avoid those. So I received a good education from Janet. We then went to one of her favorite fabric stores where she bought some fabric. She then spoke to the sales person, who came over to greet me. She explained several models, including models at Sears but not there. I knew it meant Janet felt those were the junk machines. The sales lady recommended two up from the bottom. A Singer, it still had metal mechanical parts, not plastic. It could do a dozen different stitches by pushing a button. Janet explained how that came in handy for things like buttonholes. I asked the sales person if I could have a minute with Janet, so she graciously stepped out.
“Janet, I’m buying a sewing machine. Which one will make you happy for Pam? Janet asked to look at one more, but said she approved of the last one shown me. She called over the sales lady, asking to see one more machine. I am embarrassed now; I bought it but I don’t remember what function it had the other didn’t. The price was about $350, which was within range. I asked Janet: “you’re pleased she’s getting this?”, and Janet beamed. The sales lady smiled too, realizing I didn’t care what I bought, I wanted to show my love by buying a quality sewing machine. She chimed in reassuringly “This is a great first machine. She’ll use it for years. If she gets ambitious, she’ll learn what extras she wants. But she’s not ready for that next machine now. This is the one that will allow her to learn, to grow, and master sewing. It’s what I’d buy for my daughter”. Janet nodded again, so I bought it, plus a 3 year warranty.
When we got to the car I took her home. I asked Janet to store it for me, and to help me wrap it come Christmas. I explained I learned gift wrapping from my dad, who used grocery bags with staplers, and she laughed. She promised she’d wrap it beautifully. She thanked me, telling me Pam would appreciate such a thoughtful gift. She’d also help Pam by showing her some sewing functions. She recommended I buy some fabric, writing down some stuff to buy. I went back to the fabric store, bought some fabric, then I bought Pam a gift card for patterns and more fabric. I bought a second gift card for Janet, plus 2 fat quarters the salesperson said Janet would like.
Come Christmas morning, the big day, I went over to their house. Pam made pancakes, sausages, and scrambled eggs for breakfast. I helped her in the kitchen, finding many a mistletoe hovering over her head, causing her to laugh. Okay, it was probably just a piece of broccoli, but it worked. Jenni got up, but Doug and Angi would be over late, they were doing Christmas early with his family. Finally it was time to unwrap presents. Pam got me a green Tigger sweater, I cheerfully pulled it on. She also got me a book and a CD. She was stressed, because I had my own home, I didn’t really need anything. I was hard to buy for. I kissed her gently, thanking her for lovely presents. I had found a book for her, a devotional by Stormie Omartian. She smiled, liking it. It was a thoughtful gift. But she looked down at a big box near her, unsure what it was. She had no clue what it was, perfect! I love surprises! I grinned, telling her it was to her from me, but Janet helped me buy it. Pam had a puzzled look on her face (she later confirmed she had no clue what it was). She carefully unwrapped it, looking at the sewing machine box and…and….and….nothing. She stared at it for a minute, then quietly thanked me.
I felt deflated. I had failed again, doggone it! She was polite, she was kind, but no enthusiasm, no excited scream. I had failed, and I felt bad. I told myself at least she knew I wasn’t cheap about it, or hadn’t thought about it. I knew she’d at least give me credit for trying. Everyone else finished opening up their presents. We hung out, listening to music on the stereo, then watched some TV. We ate lunch, then I drove Pam to Muncie to visit my folks. She had baked bread and cookies for them. She worried it wouldn’t be enough. I grinned at her. “My Dad loves cookies! He’ll be happy”. She looked worried. “Mom likes you, she thinks you’re too old for me, but she forgets I’m not 12 anymore”, causing her to nervously smile. I told her my family loved her. I reminded her how at Thanksgiving Karen lied about the bread Pam had brought, so she didn’t have to share it with her kids, and Karen was a saint. Pam looked down, embarrassed.
Christmas with my folks went fine. Dad loved the cookies, grabbing one before Mom could take the plate from him, Dad winking at Pam with a smile. She relaxed with my Dad, he was so good natured, she knew she had his approval. If I was happy, he was happy. Mom talked about grandkids, and Pam listened, nodding sweetly. Eventually Jeff came over with Matt, who ran like a madman about the house, and Mom yelled at him, loving the sound of kid chaos. Carl and Karen dropped by for 30-45 minutes, but Carl didn’t like Mom (it was mutual), so he looked for an excuse to quickly skedaddle. Eventually I drove Pam back directly home, but she first had me park at Walnut Ridge. We walked through the cemetery, she showed me some more headstones of family. She seemed wistful. I took her in my arms, simply holding her. I asked her what was wrong but she said nothing. She told me she wanted the day to be better for me than it had. I told her it had been a great day, I got to spend it with her. I kissed her, telling her that was the best present she could give me. For now. After the wedding, the 2nd best gift, causing her to grin. I recited the vows I had written for her again, and she had tears of joy in her eyes, as before.
Part 2
She had to work the next day, so I stopped by Montgomery Wards to visit her. She was frantic helping customers, but having fun at the same time. When it was break time we walked to the food court. We ate, and she told me she looked forward to tomorrow, she and Janet would do some work together. I kinda got the hint I needed to take the day off, so I did.
Come Sunday, she showed up at my house early, and we walked to Irvington Friends, it wasn’t too cold yet. Before she left, she seemed nervous, asking me to wear a sweater. I wasn’t sure why, but she handed me my last Christmas gift. I opened it; a blue Animaniacs tie! A hand sewn tie! She had sewn it on her new machine. She told me Janet helped her a lot learning all the functions, she still had a lot to learn, but using a pattern Janet had, she made me a tie. I grinned, telling her I’d wear it to meeting, and to work the next day.
At meeting I showed the tie to our pastor, Phil Gulley, he grinned in approval. I think he understood my ties were going to be much more fun in the future. I showed it to Oneida Davis, who called her husband Ray over to admire it. She told Pam it was charming, highlighting my eyes, causing me to blush. She told Pam she must be very talented to sew ties, she never could quite get them right. Pam looked down, but thanked her for the compliment.
After meeting we grabbed some lunch at the mall, then walked back to the house. I asked her about the sewing machine, was it what she wanted? Her eyes got big: she seemed confused. I told her when she didn’t react to it I feared I bought her something she didn’t want. But I tried, I took Janet with me, I; then Pam jumped into my lap with a hug and a tear rolling down her face. “I love it. I was just so overwhelmed, it’s such a big gift, such a nice gift, I didn’t expect anything so big”. She paused, “I didn’t do anything nice for you. I didn’t know what to buy you, I looked for months, but you’re so hard to buy for”. I held her for a few minutes, as she said nothing, finally she let out a sigh. “my sweet little boy surprised me”.
She quietly added “I didn’t feel I deserved a sewing machine”. I held her without talking for a few minutes, then quietly I told her “You deserved it. You mentioned you had a hand me down machine, you weren’t complaining, but I wanted you to have one you could call your own”. Pam had more tears fall. “Thank you for loving me. But don’t feel you have to top it next year”. I told her I didn’t try to spend X dollars, high or low, but rather I listened and looked for a gift that said “I paid attention”, and she smiled. We kissed, but I didn’t get heated up. I was the one who kept it under control. I knew in moments such as this, she wanted comfort, not affection. That meant not having her worry about the stove’s burner setting for her little teapot. When she finally drove home, she left happy, content, and feeling loved. I got it right, this time.
Part 3
Epilogue
Pam turned into a seamstress. She got her money’s worth out of that machine. She made me half a dozen ties. She made outfits for Chris. She made my infamous cowmoflauge outfits. She even made the infamous corn cob bunting for newborns. I still have it, ready to give it to Chris someday.
More importantly, Pam gained some confidence in herself. The machine had many functions. Janet paid for her to go to a class at the fabric store. The store owner showed her many tricks, many tips, and encouraged her to experiment.
For the first year of marriage, she kept the machine at Janet’s, visiting to work all day 1-2x a week. Janet helped her learn subtle things. And later Janet confessed she liked Pam‘s machine more than her own, and took to using it on the days Pam wasn’t coming over. Bob grumbled good naturedly he’d now have to buy a new one for Janet, which he eventually did, years later. When Katie and I got married, once Janet learned Katie liked sewing, she gave her Pam’s machine and some lessons on using it. Katie quickly outgrew it, allowing me to buy the really nice machine she has now, the Husqvarna.
For our 24th anniversary I bought 4 cardinal barn quilt signs, gluing them to our garage door, to make a giant barn quilt for Katie (she loves it). I hosted a family get together (Katie had to work Memorial day and Mother’s day), where I told people they’d get to see Katie’s quilting gift. Bob texted me, warning me he’d never speak to me again if I bought her what he didn’t want me to buy her. Turns out he was terrified I had bought her a long arm quilting machine, and then he’d have to buy one for Janet as well.
With more confidence, something else happened. Pam began to see opportunities, began expressing herself more through her outfits. Pam began shopping more thrift stores and consignment shops, tearing apart a dress then remaking it in her own style, adding something special to it. She loved the idea of reworking something in order to make it new again. If she found a piece of fabric, she’d work it into a skirt, or a blouse. Her confidence grew and grew. It was such a joy seeing her blossom. She told me she daydreamed of when she had kids and could make them dozens of outfits to wear, of her design. Her closet was stocked with clothes she bought dirt cheap, but she loved sewing on them. She did it while I was at work, so she was free to be with me after work. She made gifts for family, they appreciated the thoughtfulness. It was one of the best Christmas gifts I ever bought. Sometimes I get it right. Why not? In a bountiful forest, even blind squirrels can find some nuts every now and then.
Merry Christmas, everyone, from a perpetual lurker!
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas, Doug!
Doug! Great to see your name popping up. I hope you're having a great holiday!
Merry Christmas, Doug. I hope you're having a great day!
Merry Christmas all! 🎅🎁🎄⛪️🤠
We left home early today, and I had to make waffles and deviled eggs ( waffles for breakfast deviled eggs for lunch) so I didn’t have time to post much for now. I'll post a Christmas story later this evening.
What's on my mind? I can't get it out of my mind that our son went to midnight mass with us last night. One year ago never could I have imagined that this year he would be attending Christmas mass with us. I didn't even see him last Christmas, nor the 6 months prior and the 6 months after. He's doing well, but has a long way to go (Aspie with severe OCD.) My husband and I have accepted the fact progress with him will be measured in terms of years rather than months. Happy Holidays to this wonderful group of humans. Oh Cynthia, I was reading Heather Heying's "Natural Selections" substack post yesterday and I could not get you out of my mind. Her writing reminds me so much of you.
Thanks for sharing the great news. I am really happy for you.
"progress with him will be measured in years not months"
Thanks for that insight. My 18 year old granddaughter has been living with us since 2020, and has recently been diagnosed with high level Autism (aka Asperger's). We are trying to comprehend what this means for her future -- but she is certainly on a very different path than her peers. It's a difficult road-- praying for wisdom and grace!
Im so glad for you that you could attend mass with your son! Has to have meant the world.
Congratulations on your son's progress, BikerChick. I hope the new year brings many blessings to all of you.
And thank you for the compliment!
Merry Christmas, BC. To you and all of your family. Hope your son's journey is always one of progress.
Merry Christmas ( and any other holiday) everyone! We did presents last night, which was awesome, dinner is at (roughly) 2:30, my one brother and one sister, and her new BF whom I haven't met are coming. No snow, unfortunately....and our best friends decided to do their own thing this year, which is the first in 20 years now...they said they had never done one just the two of them..which surprised me, I thought they did it a different time, I will miss them...but hope they have an awesome day.
Last night, Sandra's son's inlaws made a seafood boil, roast, and lattkes. (Mixed marriage.)
Today we are going to NYC where Sandra's niece (Jewish) and husband (Indian) host a party with some pretty amazing multi-ethnic food.
Need to be careful so I can still fit into my ski clothes!
Have a nice time in NYC. You could stay at Beau's place with his cat, since he's in Charlotte ...
Thanks bit we’ve made other arrangements.
And so, too, that you don't start an avalanche when you hit the slopes...
Your post from Axios below... I've never been the "America love it or leave it" sort.
But of late I've been feeling a strong compulsion to say to the ranks of America naysayers - and say rather loudly - If you think you have it so bad here, why not try your luck elsewhere for a while?
Like, say, Haiti maybe? Where there's a place in which countless numbers of Haitians are buried in unmarked and unrecognizable graves, victims of natural disasters and endless violence, known to the locals as "The Fields of Less Than Nothing".
Sorry. Enough said about that.
Today is for celebrating. And we do have ample reason for that.
Each and every day, truth be known.
Best of all holiday wishes to you and yours, O. And safe travels today. And every day for that matter.
🙏
Good morning and Merry Christmas and (soon) Hannukah.
A nice reminder piece from Mike Allen at Axios this morning:
"The media, our social media feeds and our most pessimistic friends fill us with doom and gloom stories. But by many measures, there's never been a better time to be alive in America.
Why it matters: Yes, bad people are always doing bad things for bad reasons. It's called life. This column focuses on the Good Stuff: the undeniable trends that reveal a distinct edge for America, young people and this moment.
When your boozy uncle goes dark today, remind him and others:
There's no better place to start a business and rise to unthinkable heights doing what you choose to do. We have the best hospitals, colleges and technology centers.
You can think, say and worship as you please without fear of imprisonment. Faith might be fading, but the ability to practice it is unfettered.
The United States has the world's strongest military. We enjoy peace with our neighbors and the protection of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Our military is both the most feared — and most sought-after by other nations for assistance.
We're blessed with abundant natural resources — we can produce enough energy from the ground and skies to power ourselves for generations. In just eight years, the U.S. "has rocketed from barely selling any gas overseas to becoming the world's No. 1 supplier" — bolstering the economy and strengthening American influence abroad. (N.Y. Times)
We're still the place where people want to risk their lives to come live, work and raise a family.
The greatest inventions come from the magical animal spirits of American capitalism: freedom and entrepreneurial zest — hardwired into our souls and our national story. We enjoy a massive early lead to build the next great technology: generative artificial intelligence.
The United States is the world's longest-surviving democracy, which has remained steadfast, resilient and enduring through existential crises.
Young people are more optimistic than ever, earning more than ever, and able to make an instant difference in the workplace because of their tech savvy.
And Jim's favorite: Most people are normal. They don't watch cable food fights, or dunk on people on X, or say or do nasty things to others. They work hard, volunteer, help you shovel in a storm."
Nice find! Thanks.
It’s good to remember all that
I am very thankful I was born in the USA.
Me too.
Thanks for this Opt.
You are most welcome. Merry Christmas, Angie.
All absolutely true. Thanks for that.
Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukah to all!
This is truly a wonderful space and I am grateful for all of you.
Joy to the world! And my Christmas wish for all:
Whatever your beliefs may or may not be, may the joy, peace and hope that Christmas brings for those of the Christian faith be a gift to the heart of each and every one today, and abide there in the warmth of a common brotherhood not lost in the strife of so many far less important things.
"...abide in the warmth of a common brotherhood not lost in the strife of so many far less important things."
Amen. Beautifully said. Thanks.
I can't remember if I wished you a Merry Christmas directly yet or not, Lucy. But I'm a better safe than sorry sort of guy, so Merry Christmas!
Thanks! Same to you and yours! Better safe than sorry =wise.
There are puns and humorous twists to be mined there but I gotta go.
Perish the thought that a wise guy like yours truly would do any mining here since I don't have a mining permit.
You need to file Standard Form CSLF-37M. And send it by certified mail.
Yeah. Naw... I rather enjoy being a scofflaw. The constant danger makes me feel so... alive! 😲
Amen.
I feel so honored to have my name up in the masthead with CynthiaW and "who is that guy?" It is called the masthead, isn't it...(?)
I tickles me you are both there also.
I think this place is improbably wonderful. A bunch of online folks seamlessly going from politics to local weather reports to rambling stories to aphorisms that I've been stealing and using in other forums to appear smarter than I am. It's the promise of the interweb made whole.
Agreed. A happy little community!
Good morning and Merry Christmas. It arrived at our house with a bang - literally - as we had a pretty nasty thunderstorm overnight that knocked power out for a while. But it’s back on now. We’re going with plan B at our house, as the traditional large family gathering at my MIL’s changed because she’s in the hospital with COVID and other ailments. Some in the family have been exposed so we won’t get together for a week or two. An unwelcome reminder of 2020. I hope you all get to spend the day(s) in the ways you prefer and most enjoy.
Rapid convalescence to your MIL!
The "hock jock" in the hotel gym is most likely the culprit who gave me a cold. Don't go into a hotel gym when you are hacking up a lung. Haven't we learned our lesson yet??!!
Last spring on a train a guy behind me was coughing up a lung and making little effort to cover it up. Two days later I had bronchitis and I was coughing up a lung. Thanks dude.
🤬
Aw, I am sorry Brian, hope everyone heals quickly, and you can get together later.
Merry Christmas!
Thanks Angie. My daughter is due to deliver a baby in 3 weeks and we just can't risk exposing her to anything right now.
No, you can't, my niece just had a really scary delivery, but is fine now.
Hope your MIL recovers quickly and completely, and your family completes its Christmas gathering sooner rather than later. Meantime, best holiday wishes to you and all of yours, Brian.
Your last sentence...back at you. Merry Christmas!
Good morning, Brian. I hope your family all recovers promptly and you get to have a fun gathering in a week or two.
I wish I could post a picture of our Christmas dinner. A bunch of my wife's grad students and ourselves went out for a fantastic dinner...11 dishes, fish, pork, lotus, several vegetables, a shrimp and lotus root concoction...and more. All Hunan style spice and sauce. Scrumptious.
I made a delicious dish of sheet pan chicken tikka with roasted veggies and yellow rice.
What? No canned Ocean Spray jellied cranberry sauce with the wrap-around can-formed ribs, quivering like a reddish-purple slinky on a plate about ready to leap out onto the table? You call that a Christmas dinner?
Please. Tell me you at least had a giant leaden fruit cake that everyone politely declined to partake of, arguing they were way too full to indulge in desert.
I think I already wished you a Merry Christmas, Kurt. But it doesn't hurt to wish it twice. So, consider yourself so wished.
For years of my youth, I was sure that was the natural form of cranberries.
Ditto. Ha!
Can't stand fruitcake, but, I do love the canned cranberry sauce...lol...Merry Christmas Mike,
I actually like that stuff, too! But my wife likes making her own and of course it is absolutely lightyears better.
Merry Christmas to you, too, Angie. Hope all's going well for you down there this Christmas!
It is weird to be referred to as "down there", for most people it is "up there"...lol...but, you are one of the few above us...
Things are awesome...thanks
Oooooooo... "one of the few above us".... Soooo tempting... But no.
Nope.
Nopetty nope nope. Not goin' there.
Today, anyway. 🤐🙄
That's ok, I had a similar thought briefly...lol
I love fruitcake.
Oh, you are one of those...lol
(My ex-husband loved it, I got one for him every year.
There are those wives who, knowing well their husband's tastes, probably buy one just to punish them every year. :-)
HA
I'm a fruit cake skeptic. Or at least agnostic. I've had a couple of experiences that if they were the norm, I'd be a big believer, but some others that have kept me from finding unquestioning fruit cake faith. :-)
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah all! Moxie (GSD) and I are up way too early, as usual. She has gone back to bed; I will start cooking…something. Because it’s Christmas. What would you want for breakfast?
Judging from the way this thread is going, you're gonna' need a bigger kitchen...
I am blessed with a very big kitchen and a love of cooking. Not enough people to cook for😢
I occasionally feel the urge to help folks solve their problems. Where's your kitchen, exactly? 😋😉
Chai tea and toast. I keep it light in the am.
Scrambled eggs and sausage patties, and fried potatoes?...lol..and rye toast and coffee
We rarely have breakfast, so it is always a treat when we do.
Mushroom and cheese omelet, Please.
Two medium-thick slices of Clifty Farms country ham, pan fried bone-in; two extra large eggs over easy; a mound of American fries w/a hint of onion, done but not crisp; whole wheat toast, easy on the butter - you can probably tell I'm trying hard to watch my cholesterol - and strawberries, jellied, not jammed.
BTW...I'm a good tipper. Here's one for you: If I'm around it might be better not to ask such questions.
Merry Christmas, HH etc. back at ya', RJ.
Ham, eggs, taters, toast & jam, and the all important orange juice for tamping it all down...is a top fiver in my "best taste ever" category. Even just eggs and orange juice...it's like God's perfect combo.
Wondering if anyone's spoken to God about His menu prices of late? Combos are bad enough, but a la carte is beyond ridiculous! :-)
Oranges are in season over here; I get a kilo for about $1.25. Eggs...the local (for real) farmers market has quail, chicken, duck, and giant goose eggs, and eggs where the chickens are only fed soy and corn with deep orange yolks and others that are fed spinach and veggies with green shells...and a few others where I don't know what they are and haven't experimented yet. I wish I could post pics...several thousands of eggs and you pick the one's you want out of a grid thousands.
So, I've been pigging out on oranges and soy fed duck eggs lately.
"Home grown" eggs are quite the thing around here. Mostly chicken, but a few places with duck or goose. Our neighbors across the road have had chickens for years, more as a hobby than any kind of subsistence food source, and we've never wanted for eggs as they've always had way more than they and can use, and they just give the excess away rather than set up a stand by the road to sell them, since there are more than a few of those within a mile in nearly every direction from here. Every so often the guy just rolls up our drive in his mule with a dozen or two to restock our fridge.
A few houses down from us the people who live there ran well over a hundred feet of extension cord out to a small, enclosed bench stand with an open front right by the road, from which to sell their eggs out of one of those small college-dorm-room-sized refrigerators (every other place I've seen uses a simple ice cooler of some kind or another). The amazing thing is that the fridge remains there after so long a time without someone making off with it.
I guess any would-be thieves are just too chicken to try it.
Sorry. Not sorry. But a true story, nonetheless.
My two front teeth...oh wait, that's another song....
As I sometimes say regarding Sheldon and Fang, "All he wants for Christmas is a full time job, a full time job, a full time job ..."
Now I am singing that...Merry Christmas Cynthia! Were you ever called Cindy or has it always been your full name? Growing up everyone used my proper name, Angelle, but, mom says in the 6th grade I declared I wanted to be called Angie...probably because everyone not in my family couldn't pronounce it right...lol
I was always called Cindy (or Cindi, or Cyndi) growing up. In college I was called Cat. In adult employment, Cynthia, and that one stuck. Latin Americans spell it all different ways, though: the name on my order of empanadas yesterday was Sintia.
Sintia is cool so is Cat.
My sister-in-law has an adopted sister from Brazil whose name is Sintia. They say it Sin-Cha.
Have you noted to them that until they find a full-time job that trying to find a full-time job should be their full-time job?
Morning, Cynthia. And a full-on Merry Christmas to you and yours, whatever may be their employment status.
They have part-time jobs and feel like that's enough.
It's enough until it's not enough. I hate myself when I get overbearing on Christmas, so I'll shut up now....
What was that saying that was so popular for a while just recently... (economic) facts don't care about your feelings? The alternative fact being a good bit of stomach growling in the long run...
A little overbearing's ok. But try not to overdo it so as not to scare Jack away if he shows up today.
Lol 😆
".....until they find a full-time job that trying to find a full-time job should be their full-time job?"
Perfectly stated, and I still wish all of them a good, decent, and Merry Christmas!
Sheldon had to get his car towed to a repair shop on Monday. Good thing he has AAA! Vlad picked him up from his apartment earlier today. He won't know what's wrong with the car for a few days, because Christmas.
Oh, yeah. So easy to wrap, doesn't take up much stocking space.
And it kills two birds with one stone because it takes care of Mom as well.
Some (ahem) think it's worth it waiting for after Christmas sales. I would argue that the difficulty of finding patience for Mom counteracts any benefit in delay...
I usually make a list of things I didn't have for wrapping, decorating etc and , this year, go to places with big after-Christmas sales...lol
That made me laugh...
I’ll have the bacon and eggs, thanks!
Can I boast? My sister’s French husband and his father (age 90) spent several days prepping yesterday’s and today’s meals. The father is a retired French pastry chef and “gold master” of the apprenticed trade. He made a meat-in-pastry loaf (actually three of them) and a traditional yule log. BIL prepared crab legs and shrimp linguini for last night’s meal.
I broke my eight-month strict sugar fast to eat a piece of the yule log, because…listen: If you make me explain, I’m just gonna break down and cry. 😭😭😭 There! Now you’ve done it.
Anyway, today will be a continuation of the gastro-centric marathon, with a brief respite this morning so the nieces can open gifts, until I’m stuffed and mounted to my chair at table…
You are allowed to cheat on Christmas...lol...( and Thanksgiving for that matter), one day won't hurt you.
RE: "a continuation of the gastro-centric marathon"
Which begs the question: other than being mounted to a chair, where, exactly, is the finish line for this marathon? Or maybe it isn't over until the fat man in red sings?
Merry Christmas, you lucky gastronomic devil, you!
So far today, it’s been Zwiebeltorte, carrot salad, cucumber salad, a delicate white cake, more viande en pâte, and some foie gras… not to mention a couple delicious mousse au chocolate balls rolled in cocoa powder…
😘👌
Alright! Now you're just braggin'!!
Well, lem'me tell ya' sumpthin' there, Buster. Before our ordinarily named and prepared 'Mericun dinner of ordinary 'Mericun fare not too long over now, I had in the prelude to it two very TALL highballs and have only now just finished a post repast rather generous double 'Mericun Made Makers on the rocks.
So, in light of that... or them... they... or sometin', and before the lights go out, I feel a compulsion to rejoin said fancy French froo froo braggadocio with somethin' that appeared here by your very own hand not all that long ago, with an extra-special emphasis on the thumb & palm action...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBHPmYIxaiI
(>spoken in the worst made-up French accent you've ever heard besides the preceeding<)
Mousse balls aawww whatever... ha!! HA!
I see your Mousse au chocolate balls and raise you a pair of lamb fries.
I had to google zwiebeltorte...and it took 3 tries to find something. Is it an onion/egg/savory type affair...(?)
I’m thinking this is close to the Zwiebeltorte that 90-year-old Gérard made.
https://www.food.com/recipe/zwiebelw-he-swiss-onion-tart-410985
It’s like an onion pizza / pie with bacon. The onions become sweet in the cooking. It’s like tarte flambée, but thicker.
https://www.seriouseats.com/classic-tarte-flambee-alsatian-pizza-recipe
A very long nap.
A tryptophan-ian coma is more my style.
Mmmmmm!
My mouth is watering all the way from China...
That's a very impressive array of food!
Wow! I am in awe of your choices!! I was thinking French toast with leftover eggnog and bourbon. But there is no leftover eggnog and bourbon, I fear.
Good morning. We're going to church at 9:00 a.m., so I'll have to start encouraging the rest of the family out of bed soon. I'm planning to have leftover chicken curry, Monday's dinner, for breakfast.
Merry Christmas, everyone! And Happy Hanukkah!
For anyone left out: Happy Trash Day, however you choose to celebrate.
And to you!
Merry Christmas, MarqueG!