Pulling Off a Christmas Meal for 8 - 7 Hours of Work, Total, But the Pots are All Cleaned at Leftovers in the Refrigerator

I panicked I didn't have enough. I only had 4 ribeyes, and it was the first time I used a crockpot recipe...a Mississippi one with onions and tomatoes. It definitely stews better than sirloin tips and a roast. I thought it was delicious. I made my traditional creamed potatoes which I can do blindfolded now, and tried my hands at a mushroom dish (trying to recollect the incredible meal Lars always made when I was visiting his home in Roskilde). 

Cynde, Mike, Dylan, Chitunga, Lys, Mom, Dad, and I sat down for quite a feast at around 1:30 pm. I had been prepping in the kitchen since 9 and timed it all well. I will definitely do ribeyes in the crockpot again. Some of the bites melted in the mouth.

Tunga got me a really cool set of book ends, so now I need to build another shelf. It might be time to turn in the small room between the garage and living room into an even larger library. I have three bookshelves already and they are full, but I can definitely rethink the space with taller shelves. 

Karal never received a walk yesterday, but the day never presented itself that way. It was go-go-go, and cleanup is the longest part of it all.

I will see Rhiannon this morning, Kelly this afternoon, and Lossine for dinner...weird to think there's no snow here (it all melted), but Connecticut is getting a storm. I hope it's melted before I return (but I don't think it will be). 

Okay, Friday. Always nice to have the hype and crazy behind us, so I can spent my time thinking about this winter session course. Just two and a half more weeks. We got this. 

Made It to the Holiday, and We Shall See What Comes Of It, As I Only Thought to Prepare for Three, But Apparently it is the Many

It's all good. We'll improvise. I bought three steaks for Mom, Dad, Cynde, and Me, but now think it is likely to be more of us, and well have to improvise. Whoever wishes to eat will be fed. There will be food for them. If not, we'll dip into the freezer to see what else there might be. 

We did our evening gathering, participated in a Yankee exchange, and pushed forward the merriment. Dad was able to participate in some of the festivities and came for a beer. 

It's time to start handing the traditions over to the next generation, and to allow them to take on the hooplah.

I think our generation is tired. 

Merry Christmas to all and may you find solace and calm while celebrating with your families and friends. I'm heading to peeled potato and carrot land, as well as an attempt at a Danish mushroom dish I cherished for years...one I loved while visiting the Roskilde Lile Skole outside Copenhagen. We shall see what I a concept and who will be over to feed with us. 

Here's to the holiday seasons once again. Another year has passed. 

Tis the Eve, Which in Traditional Crandall Land is the Day of Holiday Celebrations (Still Living on Dad's Airline Schedule All These Years Later)

I didn't realize the majority of people do the holiday celebrations on the 25th until much later in life. We always gathered on the 24th, did the hoopla of it all, and settled in on Christmas Day for chill time. Of course, now that we're all older and most are pulled in a million directions, the habits have shifted. Still, we head to Cynderballz today for the 'supposedly calming' tradition of a lighter Christmas Eve as Cynde is ready to wash her hands with it all and having gatherings at her house. She's ready for the torch to be moved elsewhere, which is likely to occur with Nikki and Adamo moving to Albany. 

We'll only know a year from now. 

Yesterday was a Price Chopper day (Prithe Thopper, as the locals without teeth call it). Dad went missing for a while, but he showed up with a cart of bread and jam and cookies and ice-cream. It is amazing how many old farts dressed in 18-layers of clothes wander that store in a day. Still, the crowds were light and Karal and I got a great walk in, too. Also got to see Doreen as she stopped down, and I made a stir fry for lunch with ginger, sesame seeds, chicken and broccoli. 

Thought about a nap, but a doorbell caused Karal to bark and that was a short-lived thought. 

I have to spend the morning sorting the goods I brought for gifts and creating a game plan for this year's new "Yankee swap." $50 says I end up with the garbage gift that someone thought would be funny. I'm used to the Charlie Brown life, so am already prepared for it. 

The first round of winter session student papers are arriving, and I'll get to more this weekend (kill us all). 

Here's to you, your family, your loved ones, and your friends. Here's hoping that the magic finds you and there's peace in your worlds.

Mom Will Say Otherwise, But We Made the Corn-Fritters of My Youth. Finally Know How to Make These Once-a-Year Treats

I'll never forget when I announced they should be named Corn-Shitters, because 24 hours later...you know the drill.

We grew up on Amalfi Drive having breakfast for dinner every now and then. On occasion, we had corn fritters, too, which were great with maple syrup and a couple of sausage links. I told mom I wanted them for dinner and, well, she fell asleep and then couldn't find her recipe that she swore she had. I found several online from the same time she said she got her cookbook with the right recipe. I followed that. They were delicious, and it worked. Hours later, Casey shared the one that she couldn't find and she was in her glory, "See, I told you." The recipe online was the same as the one Casey sent...just the order of mixing ingredients was different. 

I sent a photo to Chitunga and he said, "That looks like a lot of sugar." Well, the maple syrup, yes.

Dad and I went to BJs to stock up on cooking ingredients for Christmas, even though it will likely be just the three of us. It was a great day for a walk, after the fluffy snow from the night before. 

Tonight is the first night of the winter session (Just Kill Us All). Can you imagine scheduling the first night the night before Xmas eve? I can. Apparently that's part of a Modern Catholic University. It doesn't make sense to me, either. I will make it what I can. 

Okay, Tuesday. Bring forward what you may.

I'm Always Late to the Party, and That Is, Of Course, If I'm Invited at All. Most Times, I Just Miss Out, but This Time, I Win: Avatar, Fire & Ash

Two weeks ago, I read something that made me think I should check out Avatar, the blue creatures story that I missed back in the day because I was defending a dissertation and didn't have time for movies (even though the colonial part of the films was/is on par to the research I was doing). Future world...there's lots of energy and the natives live in synchronicity with the energies of the planet, even if they do have conflicts with one another. Bring in a future human race, and their marines, and then it becomes a story of trying to harvest all the energy of the world for human good...including the Tulkun, the Great Beasts. These are whale-like creatures that are hunted for their brains which harvest Amrita, a magical substance that can stop human aging.

Yes, much of it is fantastical and outrageous, but the metaphors resonate tremendously, including the military industrial complex and need to colonize other worlds after humans have depleted their own. Bring on the the indigenous Na'vi and the Nalutsa, and the faith they have in their "Mother God," and you have a story. Of course, there's some interspecies mingling we half breeds result between the series which actually work to fit the plot in the 3rd of the series. 

I'm laughing, because after watching the first, a good 13 years behind everyone else, I watched the 2nd, which I loved, and so when Lys, Bri, and Chitunga invited me to go to the 3rd...3 hours and 15 minutes and movies are now $25 a head...I went. Lucky for me Texas A&M fought hard against Kentucky and the games ended with 3 wins for the Aggies to take the match rather quickly. I took that as an omen that I should join their entourage at Destiny...yes, malls still exist.

All of this happened rather abruptly, after cooking ribs for my parents and doing a little food shopping with Cynde. Of course, when he movie let loose, Syracuse was getting lake effect snow so that was a fun drive home. It' all good.

And driving back from Cynde's I heard a ping of a rock hit my windshield, but didn't notice a crack until driving to the movies. When I got to Destiny, though, I went outside to scratch at it. Turned out not to be a crack, but some kind of hard, gelatinous gooey substance that came off (thankfully). I was singing the Safe Drive Safe Life song. Thankfully I won't need it.

But I do need to watch the Avatar series over again, because I like the storytelling and am surprised I missed dit the first go around. Definitely a fan, now. Love having the metaphor. 

Ah, now it's Monday. Glad I don't have to work too hard. 

Always Magical to See the Holiday World through the Eyes of the Youngest Generation. Spent the Evening with Malia Celine

We had Thai food. We read books. We danced. We looked at every holiday decoration there was in the house. We watched the animated Grinch.And we made peanut butter sandwiches. Such was the joy of spending the evening with Courtney, Kanyea, and Ms. Malia Celine. I also got to hear all the nursery school songs she's been taught to sing.

Lunch was spent with Chitunga and Alyssa who brought food to Mimi and Papi. Karal and I got a walk in and I was able to get my dad to return 450 bottle cans for $25. I also recorded the first class for December 23 and feel somewhat on top of the two-week insanity ahead.

Now it is Sunday...I wish I could rest day...I'm going to try and stay still day...but I know how I am. It's too easy to get caught in the crazy pace of holiday shenanigans, but I think my parents still get the Sunday paper so that should be nice.

NCAA Women's Volleyball Championship games today, as well as another rainless day where I'm looking forward to getting outside and moving. A day under blankets sounds more and more inviting each and every day I'm home. I growing tired of the dry nasal drip and choking dry cough. It's been old for a while now. 

Here's to the insane shopping days ahead for those who still are willing to face a crowd.

The Grannie Annie, Grandma Vera Vibes Are for Real. Major Flashbacks in the Childhood Bathroom in Cherry Heights.

Growing up, when my Grannie Annie was visiting, she'd often barge in while you were showering so she could get photographs. Not sure why she wanted us to post post-shower, but we would. Then, as Grandma Vera aged, she often fall in the bathroom, with the door locked, pushing all out so she couldn't be rescued.

Enter Papi Butch's era of dementia. He gets up in the middle of the night, locks the door, and shuts it so no one can enter. This is not good, given mom's bladder, so she thinks a little masking tape will keep him from doing it. Um, has he been kept from mowing the lawn daily or snowplowing? Nope. But maybe the tape will help. 

Favorite quote of the day..."Dad, you need to go around to throw away your nectarine peels." He responds, "I know. I know. Down the hall and take a right."

"Left, dad. Left." 

Couldn't help but laugh, even though today's fixation was on getting green lights for the miniature holiday tree in the window because he's tired of the white lights. 

I did get him to the bank and to purchase flowers/chocolate for Mom's 81st birthday. He told me, "All I have is $100 and I want to do something nice." Then he cried. Of course, when we got to the store he asked, "Why are we here. I told him to get flowers." He responded, "I don't like flowers." 

We got them anyways.

Mom now has her new iPad Air, 13'' screen, which is a nice upgrade. I was impressed at the ease it took to transfer items from one to the other, all because we set up her fingerprint to do so. 20 minutes max, and she's up and running.

Ah, but the temperatures sank and it's cold again, with windchill even more frigid.

Okay, Saturday. Here we are.