New Year's Eve With the Girls
My stepsister Jessa, her best friend Brittany, and I celebrated the end of 2008 with a shopping spree in downtown Philadelphia. Brittany's mother's boyfriend (and Uncle Ken's oldest son) Mark drove us to the PATCO station. We took the Speedline to the Gallery Mall, where we began our trip. The girls were chomping at the bit to check out the Suncoast Video, and I wanted to go back there, too. I figured it would be the only place I'd be able to find one of the things I really wanted today, and I did find what I was looking for, the only DVD set I bought today - The Chronological Donald, Vol 4! It's the last of the four Walt Disney Treasures Donald Duck shorts set and includes, among other great cartoons, "Trick or Treat," "Chips Ahoy," "Working for Peanuts" (which was originally in 3-D, but apparently this couldn't be recreated here), and the classic "Donald in Mathmagic Land" and "How to Have An Accident..." series!
After a brief stop at Borders Express (I bought a Tom and Jerry Calender for my room), we next went to FYE. The girls looked at posters while I went next-door to Modell's Sports Equipment and bought new New Balance sneakers. Both my good work sneakers and my cheap "errands-running" sneakers are done. The backs have been rubbed to death, and there's cracks in the cheap ones. (And I've only had the cheap ones since July! The New Balances lasted much longer. I think I got them in either 2004 or 2005.)
After I got my sneakers (on sale for $40), we decided we wanted some air...and got quite a surprise when snow greeted us as we exited at 10th Street. It was much colder than that morning, and far windier. Jess and Britt were so excited about the snow! They were more like 7-year-olds than teenagers as we made our way down 10th Street to Russkoff's Used Books and Records. It was really cute.
Cramped and musty as it was, Russkoff's seemed warm and inviting after the blizzard outside! I went through the crates of records on the floor, while the girls checked out the collection of old posters up front. I bought three records (Bob Seeger and the Silver Bullet Band, one of Who member Roger Daltrey's solo albums, and the original Broadway cast album for Camelot) and a Garfield comic book I didn't have. Jessa didn't find anything, but Brittany bought two posters, one for George Harrison and one for Nirvana.
We went back the way we came down 10th Street to Market...but this time, instead of heading for the Gallery Mall, we went a few blocks down to Reading Terminal Market. The girls wanted Asian for lunch. Jessa spotted a Japanese food booth. She had Shrimp Tempura. Brittany had Chicken Lo Mein. I had a tasty Grilled Shrimp Teryaki with rice, vegetables, and bean sprouts. It was a bit messy (they need to give you something other than a flimsy paper plate for all the food they ladle onto it), but we all enjoyed it, and it felt great to have a warm lunch after the wind and cold.
By this time, the snow was long gone (much to the dismay of the girls), but the wind had grown even stronger. We had to fight our way through the freezing gale to the huge Macy's on the end of Market Street near City Hall. I don't think any of us were ever so happy to see a Macy's in our entire lives! We walked around the store, admiring the Light Show and the Grand Court. The girls didn't get anything, but I bought a much-needed pair of jeans.
After leaving Macy's, I lead the girls through City Hall (which I figured would be a lot less windy than going around it) to South Broad Street. We browsed through the big FYE and Borders on the Avenue of the Arts. Jessa bought a movie at the big FYE and a chai latte at Borders. I bought an Indiana Jones paperback and a slice of Pumpkin Spice Bread at Borders.
We were all tired out after walking around all day, and I'd told the girls' parents I'd get them home by 4:30. We'd debated going back to the Gallery Mall, but it was quarter after 4 by that point, and I figured we'd had enough. We just went to the 12th Street and Locust PATCO station and took a very full train home, where Mark awaited us.
I spent the rest of my New Year's Eve at home, watching Donald Duck cartoons, eating the last of the chili Jodie gave me on Friday, and beginning the next Monkees role-play story with Lauren. (Incidentally, our next story, this year's alt-universe "round robin" story, is a bit involved and may take a while - look for it towards the end of January.) I suddenly heard booms over the river as we chatted. I opened my window...and saw a burst of pink and green glitter sparkling across the dark waters of the river.
Happy New Year to all! Here's hoping everyone has a sparkling 2009!
Life is a lazy river - no matter where you are. Movies, musicals, mysteries, pop culture, and lots of other great stuff.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Laundry in the Moonlight
Today was Laundry Day. There was an awful lot of it, too, since I had three days off last week and the last of the baking to clean up after. I watched The Backyardigans while it was in the laundry machine and a double-length Go, Diego, Go! episode after it was in the dryer.
The Backyardigans was a repeat, but it was a favorite of mine. Uniqua teaches Pablo a lesson in sharing and in playing with a group in "Blazing Paddles." Pablo the Ping Pong Bandit wins everyone's ping pong paddles with his amazing Bandit SlamIt move, including Sheriff Uniqua's. Uniqua vows to return to her friends and show Pablo how ping pong is REALLY played...with two people.
Diego and Alyssia took their turns with story-telling in "Moonlight Rescue." Diego tells a story of how Luna the Moon is broken apart by a comet and falls into the ocean. He, Alyssia, and Dooga the Sea Turtle have to rescue her and put her back together so Dooga's babies can follow the light of the moon to the ocean. A rare Go Diego foray into fantasy, and an enjoyable one. I wish more sea turtles came up to Cape May. I'd love for them to eat the jellyfish that occasionally wash up on shore in the heat of the summer...and sting anyone who steps on them!
I made a short trip to CVS while the laundry was in the dryer for toothpaste. Uncle Ken and Dolores were there when I got back. Dad and Jessa weren't around at all this morning. Dolores told me they went to visit relatives in Pennsylvania. Dolores chatted with Linda, one of my neighbors on Manor (and my landlady's sister).
I had just enough time to eat lunch, put away my laundry, make dinner, and change into my work uniform before heading to the Acme. The weather today was the same as yesterday - a little windy, otherwise mid-40s and sunny, perfect for this time of year. The Acme was busier but also otherwise the same as yesterday. There were no major problems other than long lines during rush hour, and I had no relief and was able to get off quickly.
Today was Laundry Day. There was an awful lot of it, too, since I had three days off last week and the last of the baking to clean up after. I watched The Backyardigans while it was in the laundry machine and a double-length Go, Diego, Go! episode after it was in the dryer.
The Backyardigans was a repeat, but it was a favorite of mine. Uniqua teaches Pablo a lesson in sharing and in playing with a group in "Blazing Paddles." Pablo the Ping Pong Bandit wins everyone's ping pong paddles with his amazing Bandit SlamIt move, including Sheriff Uniqua's. Uniqua vows to return to her friends and show Pablo how ping pong is REALLY played...with two people.
Diego and Alyssia took their turns with story-telling in "Moonlight Rescue." Diego tells a story of how Luna the Moon is broken apart by a comet and falls into the ocean. He, Alyssia, and Dooga the Sea Turtle have to rescue her and put her back together so Dooga's babies can follow the light of the moon to the ocean. A rare Go Diego foray into fantasy, and an enjoyable one. I wish more sea turtles came up to Cape May. I'd love for them to eat the jellyfish that occasionally wash up on shore in the heat of the summer...and sting anyone who steps on them!
I made a short trip to CVS while the laundry was in the dryer for toothpaste. Uncle Ken and Dolores were there when I got back. Dad and Jessa weren't around at all this morning. Dolores told me they went to visit relatives in Pennsylvania. Dolores chatted with Linda, one of my neighbors on Manor (and my landlady's sister).
I had just enough time to eat lunch, put away my laundry, make dinner, and change into my work uniform before heading to the Acme. The weather today was the same as yesterday - a little windy, otherwise mid-40s and sunny, perfect for this time of year. The Acme was busier but also otherwise the same as yesterday. There were no major problems other than long lines during rush hour, and I had no relief and was able to get off quickly.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Balanced New Year
I went to Yogawood this morning after skipping it last week due to the extremely cold weather. Today was fine, sunny and in the mid-40s, perfectly normal for this time of year. Today's class was really tough! We did a lot of stretching moves with the strap I'd never done before and a LOT of complicated Warrior and Half Moon balances. I'm still not very good at balancing. I just can't stay up for very long, and my shoulders still aren't strong enough for head or shoulder stands.
I went by the Collingswood Variety Store, hoping to look at WebKinz, but they were closed. I just went straight home instead. The rest of the morning was spent running Avast! on my computer again and watching cartoons. (No, it didn't do anything. I may try downloading other spy programs Lauren sent me the names of later this week.)
Work was steady-to-dead and, thankfully after yesterday, problem-free. Once again, I was in and out, and my relief was on time.
I went to Yogawood this morning after skipping it last week due to the extremely cold weather. Today was fine, sunny and in the mid-40s, perfectly normal for this time of year. Today's class was really tough! We did a lot of stretching moves with the strap I'd never done before and a LOT of complicated Warrior and Half Moon balances. I'm still not very good at balancing. I just can't stay up for very long, and my shoulders still aren't strong enough for head or shoulder stands.
I went by the Collingswood Variety Store, hoping to look at WebKinz, but they were closed. I just went straight home instead. The rest of the morning was spent running Avast! on my computer again and watching cartoons. (No, it didn't do anything. I may try downloading other spy programs Lauren sent me the names of later this week.)
Work was steady-to-dead and, thankfully after yesterday, problem-free. Once again, I was in and out, and my relief was on time.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Fly Like An Eagle
It was a lovely, quiet morning here at home, my first morning at home in months. I usually work early on Sundays, but today, I didn't go in until 2PM. I listened to the Beatles show in full ("The Beatles' #1 Hits" was the theme today), read Flight of the Silver Turtle, and tried to get my computer working. I've had trouble with my computer for at least a month or more now. It picked up an annoying virus, I believe from one of the Yahoo!Groups. It's been running very, very slow, and a popup appears when the desktop first turns up, selling spyware (which would probably just add another virus if purchased). I tried running Avast!, which a friend recommended, but it didn't pick anything up. I'll run it again tomorrow after Yogawood and maybe see if I can find some other programs for slow computers. I also put my Christmas presents away and hung the last of my Christmas cards.
Work was mostly very slow...except for one annoying and frustrating incident about mid-way through my shift. A group of women wanted to pay for half their order. First of all, they made a big fuss over each of them paying EXACTLY half the order. I had to call for a calculator to get that right! (And no, we don't have calculators at the register.) One woman tried to get money back, but because she put her card through first, the computer read it as adding more money onto the order. She ended up paying for twenty dollars more than she wanted to! She threw a fit when we tried to explain that instead of getting money back, she'd just added more onto her part of the payment. She should have gone last if she wanted extra money back.
I'm still a little frustrated. Why do people have to be so obnoxious? I was on my way to my break, and they heard the manager say that! I finally just left and went on my break, before I smacked those selfish, stupid women silly. Jade, the manager who got stuck handling them, told me later that she finally took the till in the back room to count it. Even then, the woman who had tried to get the money back pushed her way over to the main office to try to get her 20 bucks. Customers are NOT allowed past the manager's podium! Jade said everything came out fine and the woman just made a mistake...not that the woman accepted that. I really wish these city people would learn to leave their rude attitudes at home...and learn how to LISTEN.
I was still angry when I got off. (Good thing my relief showed up early.) By the time work was done, the wind that had plagued Camden County all morning had vanished, leaving nothing spring-like temperatures and clouds. I sped home in record time, taking all my anger out on my bike. I dropped my bike with my other one next to the porch steps and headed over to Uncle Ken's.
I found out why the Acme was so dead when I saw the score of the Eagles-Cowboys game. The Eagles flattened the faltering Cowpokes, 44-6. Not only that, but they made the playoffs, thanks to the Houston Texans beating the Chicago Bears and the Oakland Raiders' underdog defeat of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Dad's happy, too. After going 1-15 last year, the Miami Dolphins beat the New York Jets and not only won the AFC East, but also made the playoffs. (Not bad for a team Dad called "embarrassingly high school" back in September.)
Mom was also quite happy when I finally called her after the game. She and Keefe were playing Parcheesi, and she was trying to get around one of his many blockades. (He always sets up 800 blockades during the course of the game, letting everyone build up behind them...and getting killed when he has to move them and everyone comes after him.) Poor Keefe's now added a bad (but not itchy) rash and nausea to his sore throat and headache. Mom apparently took him to the hospital, and they said it was part of the bug and not chicken pox (which I could have sworn he had - I know the girls and I had it). My stepfather was watching football and was NOT a happy camper. The Giants lost to the Minnesota Vikings (who just won the NFC North and are on their way to playing us in the playoffs).
It was a lovely, quiet morning here at home, my first morning at home in months. I usually work early on Sundays, but today, I didn't go in until 2PM. I listened to the Beatles show in full ("The Beatles' #1 Hits" was the theme today), read Flight of the Silver Turtle, and tried to get my computer working. I've had trouble with my computer for at least a month or more now. It picked up an annoying virus, I believe from one of the Yahoo!Groups. It's been running very, very slow, and a popup appears when the desktop first turns up, selling spyware (which would probably just add another virus if purchased). I tried running Avast!, which a friend recommended, but it didn't pick anything up. I'll run it again tomorrow after Yogawood and maybe see if I can find some other programs for slow computers. I also put my Christmas presents away and hung the last of my Christmas cards.
Work was mostly very slow...except for one annoying and frustrating incident about mid-way through my shift. A group of women wanted to pay for half their order. First of all, they made a big fuss over each of them paying EXACTLY half the order. I had to call for a calculator to get that right! (And no, we don't have calculators at the register.) One woman tried to get money back, but because she put her card through first, the computer read it as adding more money onto the order. She ended up paying for twenty dollars more than she wanted to! She threw a fit when we tried to explain that instead of getting money back, she'd just added more onto her part of the payment. She should have gone last if she wanted extra money back.
I'm still a little frustrated. Why do people have to be so obnoxious? I was on my way to my break, and they heard the manager say that! I finally just left and went on my break, before I smacked those selfish, stupid women silly. Jade, the manager who got stuck handling them, told me later that she finally took the till in the back room to count it. Even then, the woman who had tried to get the money back pushed her way over to the main office to try to get her 20 bucks. Customers are NOT allowed past the manager's podium! Jade said everything came out fine and the woman just made a mistake...not that the woman accepted that. I really wish these city people would learn to leave their rude attitudes at home...and learn how to LISTEN.
I was still angry when I got off. (Good thing my relief showed up early.) By the time work was done, the wind that had plagued Camden County all morning had vanished, leaving nothing spring-like temperatures and clouds. I sped home in record time, taking all my anger out on my bike. I dropped my bike with my other one next to the porch steps and headed over to Uncle Ken's.
I found out why the Acme was so dead when I saw the score of the Eagles-Cowboys game. The Eagles flattened the faltering Cowpokes, 44-6. Not only that, but they made the playoffs, thanks to the Houston Texans beating the Chicago Bears and the Oakland Raiders' underdog defeat of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Dad's happy, too. After going 1-15 last year, the Miami Dolphins beat the New York Jets and not only won the AFC East, but also made the playoffs. (Not bad for a team Dad called "embarrassingly high school" back in September.)
Mom was also quite happy when I finally called her after the game. She and Keefe were playing Parcheesi, and she was trying to get around one of his many blockades. (He always sets up 800 blockades during the course of the game, letting everyone build up behind them...and getting killed when he has to move them and everyone comes after him.) Poor Keefe's now added a bad (but not itchy) rash and nausea to his sore throat and headache. Mom apparently took him to the hospital, and they said it was part of the bug and not chicken pox (which I could have sworn he had - I know the girls and I had it). My stepfather was watching football and was NOT a happy camper. The Giants lost to the Minnesota Vikings (who just won the NFC North and are on their way to playing us in the playoffs).
Saturday, December 27, 2008
In the Holiday Mood
After spending most of yesterday feeling depressed, I decided to cheer myself up with a long walk this evening. I really needed to go to the bank anyway. Work was pretty much the same as yesterday - steady, with no real problems other than that lack of help and a few annoying customers. One older woman wanted one thing in each bag...and told us so 50,000 times. Hello, we CAN hear you!
I went right home after work. I grabbed my purse and headed out again on foot. I really needed to go to the bank and deposit my Christmas money, and since I was out and about and it was too early for dinner, I decided to walk around and look at outdoor Christmas lights. I went down the White Horse Pike, stopping briefly at WaWa for hot chocolate, then walked around in the neighborhoods behind West Clinton Avenue and on either side of Kendall Boulevard.
I really enjoyed my walk. The sky was clear as a bell. Stars showed like bright little jewels over the glistening strands of lights on many houses. The displays ranged from small candles in each window to five hundred strands of lights covering the entire house, with tons of plastic and/or helium-filled figures in the yard. The triangular entrance to one house was outlined in lights to look like a Christmas tree, complete with a star on top. Another house was so filled with weird figures and lights, I couldn't see the yard...including one snowman sitting on top of a digital sign saying "Ho ho ho!" A house down the street went avant-guard with three white trees covered with big flashing multi-colored bulbs.
I really appreciate the festive atmosphere in Oaklyn, for Halloween and Christmas. Christmas in Wildwood never looked this good. The few people left who live in Wildwood proper year-round were either as poor as me or Hispanics whose Christmas traditions didn't involve outdoor displays. Some folks who stayed in condos would hang lights on their windows and balconies, but most of those would disappear as soon as Wildwood's Christmas Parade ended. It's nice to live in a place where it really feels like Christmas...and not in July, either.
After spending most of yesterday feeling depressed, I decided to cheer myself up with a long walk this evening. I really needed to go to the bank anyway. Work was pretty much the same as yesterday - steady, with no real problems other than that lack of help and a few annoying customers. One older woman wanted one thing in each bag...and told us so 50,000 times. Hello, we CAN hear you!
I went right home after work. I grabbed my purse and headed out again on foot. I really needed to go to the bank and deposit my Christmas money, and since I was out and about and it was too early for dinner, I decided to walk around and look at outdoor Christmas lights. I went down the White Horse Pike, stopping briefly at WaWa for hot chocolate, then walked around in the neighborhoods behind West Clinton Avenue and on either side of Kendall Boulevard.
I really enjoyed my walk. The sky was clear as a bell. Stars showed like bright little jewels over the glistening strands of lights on many houses. The displays ranged from small candles in each window to five hundred strands of lights covering the entire house, with tons of plastic and/or helium-filled figures in the yard. The triangular entrance to one house was outlined in lights to look like a Christmas tree, complete with a star on top. Another house was so filled with weird figures and lights, I couldn't see the yard...including one snowman sitting on top of a digital sign saying "Ho ho ho!" A house down the street went avant-guard with three white trees covered with big flashing multi-colored bulbs.
I really appreciate the festive atmosphere in Oaklyn, for Halloween and Christmas. Christmas in Wildwood never looked this good. The few people left who live in Wildwood proper year-round were either as poor as me or Hispanics whose Christmas traditions didn't involve outdoor displays. Some folks who stayed in condos would hang lights on their windows and balconies, but most of those would disappear as soon as Wildwood's Christmas Parade ended. It's nice to live in a place where it really feels like Christmas...and not in July, either.
Friday, December 26, 2008
'Twas the Night After Christmas
...And all through the apartment, things are fairly quiet, and have been all day. I spent most of today at work. Work was steady to busy, with a definite lack of help (ahem, that's what happens when you don't give people enough hours during the week of THE biggest holiday of the year - this is a bad time to be cutting back). I got my schedule during my break. I have more and better hours next week, and the two days I have off are New Year's Eve and New Year's Day! (I really need to ask for Christmas Eve off. I feel bad, asking off on a busy day, but it couldn't hurt to ask.)
Someday, I'm going to have lots of people over my house to visit me, and I'll be able to bake for them and make them dinner and play games with them in MY house, with MY family. I really want to be a part of my own family, not just breezing and saying hello and giving cookies, but really being there. I want people to come and visit me all the time and stop saying "no, I'm too busy." I want to know there are other people in this area who are like me.
...And all through the apartment, things are fairly quiet, and have been all day. I spent most of today at work. Work was steady to busy, with a definite lack of help (ahem, that's what happens when you don't give people enough hours during the week of THE biggest holiday of the year - this is a bad time to be cutting back). I got my schedule during my break. I have more and better hours next week, and the two days I have off are New Year's Eve and New Year's Day! (I really need to ask for Christmas Eve off. I feel bad, asking off on a busy day, but it couldn't hurt to ask.)
Someday, I'm going to have lots of people over my house to visit me, and I'll be able to bake for them and make them dinner and play games with them in MY house, with MY family. I really want to be a part of my own family, not just breezing and saying hello and giving cookies, but really being there. I want people to come and visit me all the time and stop saying "no, I'm too busy." I want to know there are other people in this area who are like me.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Oh What A Merry Christmas Day
Christmas Day dawned chilly and clear across the Delaware Valley. I crept to the tree around 8AM to unwrap my December 25th gifts from my friend Linda Young. She gave me the Barry Manilow Great Songs of the Fifties CD (which I put into my stocking so I would have a "stocking stuffer") and two really cool-looking children's adventure books about three kids seeking a group of missing professors, The 7 Professors of the Far North, and the follow-up Flight of the Silver Turtle. I made myself a Christmas Coffee Cake from scratch with whole wheat and unbleached flour, yogurt, applesauce, and various odds and ends I had leftover from cookie baking.
I called the family in Cape May County while the coffee cake baked to wish them "Merry Christmas!" Mom said everything went fine. Skylar loved his Transformers. Keefe loved Hancock. Mom and Dad loved the cookies. The Molasses Roll-Outs were a big hit; Mom said she'd already eaten most of them.
I went over to Dad and Uncle Ken's after I had coffee cake and watched 'Twas the Night Before Christmas and part of Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas. Dad, Jodie, and Jessa were watching Mamma Mia! in their pajamas, having already opened most of their gifts to each other. Jessa gave me two WebKinz, the adorable Otter and a second Cardinal. (She'll be a Christmas decoration; the male Cardinal will stay out year-round.) Bruce gave me money. Jodie gave me bunny slippers.
I opened the gifts from the family in Cape May County while Dad and Jodie took showers and everyone got dressed and had a brunch of tea sandwiches and cookies. Mom and Dad gave me the annual calender (cute folk-art chef pictures this year), a Philadelphia Eagles football ornament, a gingerbread man ornament with long, dangly legs, a lovely "hostess" apron of red floral print fabric, a bread cookbook, and money. Anny and Mike gave me an ornament shaped like a grand piano. Keefe gave me a huge red vase and a red crystal-like paperweight. (God only knows what I'll do with either of them.) Rose and Craig gave me a "recipe box" with three actual recipes and three small lotions with scents based after baked goods.
Mark, Vanessa, and Brittany came over while Jodie was still showering and the rest of us were watching the new Get Smart movie with Steve Carrell. I gave them their cookies. They gave Uncle Ken a neon "bar" sign, Jessa T-shirts with goofy sayings on them (she loves those), Dad an electric wine bottle opener (Dad is a wine connoisseur), and me a WebKinz Lil'Kinz Googles. Jessa and I agreed to join them for dinner later in the afternoon, since Dad and Jodie were eating at Jodie's aunt's house and neither of us know her very well.
Dad, Jodie, Jess, and I (and the Google and Otter) bundled up and packed into Dad's van to visit a few relatives. We first headed up to see Uncle Ken's daughter Samantha and her family. Though her husband David and their children Faith (3), Matt (12), and Ethan (10) were up and around when we arrived, poor Samantha wasn't. David said she had woken up feeling sick and was napping. The kids were just fine; Faith was very cute in her pink and gray sweater. The boys were still playing Wii in their pajamas. David gave me a container of their home-made cookies. I really appreciated that. I'd only kept a few of my own. I gave most of my cookies away as gifts.
Uncle Ken's ex-wife (and Samantha's mother) Jane and her husband live less than five minutes from Samantha, so we made them our next stop. We were only there about a half-hour, long enough to say "hi" and catch up with Jane and Mario and let them exclaim over how different we were and chat about Jessa's senior pictures and her college choices.
After we got home, Jessa and I jumped in Dad's van again (Jodie and Dad said they'd take Jodie's truck to her aunt's house). We stopped briefly at my apartment to drop off my Christmas gifts, then headed over to Mark and Vanessa's. I played Wii Fit and Wii Music with the girls until dinner. Both are interactive games that are exactly what their names say they are. The wildly popular Wii Fit allows you to play various sport games and events and even weighs you via a pad the game comes with. Wii Music allows you to play several music-related games, play along with several songs, and create your own. (And someone at Nintendo has excellent taste in music. One of the songs you can play along with is "Daydream Believer.")
Dinner was really delicious. We had cornish hens (the first time I've had them on Christmas since I was about 12) on a bed of wild rice, home-made stuffing, roasted red potatoes, Vanessa's macaroni and cheese (with lots of burnt cheese on the sides for Mark), steamed collard greens with ham for Vanessa and me (no one else wanted to try them - chickens!), and cranberry sauce, with Chocolate Pecan and Pumpkin Pies for dessert. TBS' 24-hour A Christmas Story marathon ran in the background.
The five of us played Monopoly after dinner. Brittany, who became a die-hard Beatles fan after seeing Across the Universe last year, received a Beatles Monopoly game for Christmas. It's played like ordinary Monopoly, but the "properties" are Beatles English and American albums, "Boardwalk" and "Park Place" are the two studios were the Beatles made their albums, the "railroads" are concert dates, the "Utilities" are stadiums, the cards are "Beatlemania" and "The Fab Four," the cards mention song titles, and you pay the "Taxman" instead of Income Tax. Brittany ended up with an entire side of the board and Mark got the studios; between the two of them and Vanessa not wanting to sell or trade anything, they wiped the rest of us clean. (Especially Jessa, who must have landed in jail at least fifteen times during the course of the game.)
Jessa, Brittany, and I ended up in their upstairs game room, playing Super Smash Brothers Brawl on the Wii for about an hour or so before Jessa and I finally decided we were both tired and it was time to call it quits. We headed out just as Jodie and Bruce, on their way back from Jodie's aunt's, were heading in to say "hi."
I jumped in the shower and went online to chat with Lauren, "adopt" my new Cardinal, and get today's Christmas WebKinz gift. Oh, and meet my three new WebKinz, Holly the Cardinal, Emmett the Otter, and the Google, whom I haven't thought of a name for yet. Holly moved in the Christmas Room with Arizona. I moved Clarabelle to the Star Room, thanks to Holly being WebKinz #60 and coming with the Lunar Landing Bed (which I've wanted to complete that room for a while).
I had a really lovely, if hectic, holiday. Here's hoping all of you had a day that was just as much fun...and shared it with the people you love.
Christmas Day dawned chilly and clear across the Delaware Valley. I crept to the tree around 8AM to unwrap my December 25th gifts from my friend Linda Young. She gave me the Barry Manilow Great Songs of the Fifties CD (which I put into my stocking so I would have a "stocking stuffer") and two really cool-looking children's adventure books about three kids seeking a group of missing professors, The 7 Professors of the Far North, and the follow-up Flight of the Silver Turtle. I made myself a Christmas Coffee Cake from scratch with whole wheat and unbleached flour, yogurt, applesauce, and various odds and ends I had leftover from cookie baking.
I called the family in Cape May County while the coffee cake baked to wish them "Merry Christmas!" Mom said everything went fine. Skylar loved his Transformers. Keefe loved Hancock. Mom and Dad loved the cookies. The Molasses Roll-Outs were a big hit; Mom said she'd already eaten most of them.
I went over to Dad and Uncle Ken's after I had coffee cake and watched 'Twas the Night Before Christmas and part of Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas. Dad, Jodie, and Jessa were watching Mamma Mia! in their pajamas, having already opened most of their gifts to each other. Jessa gave me two WebKinz, the adorable Otter and a second Cardinal. (She'll be a Christmas decoration; the male Cardinal will stay out year-round.) Bruce gave me money. Jodie gave me bunny slippers.
I opened the gifts from the family in Cape May County while Dad and Jodie took showers and everyone got dressed and had a brunch of tea sandwiches and cookies. Mom and Dad gave me the annual calender (cute folk-art chef pictures this year), a Philadelphia Eagles football ornament, a gingerbread man ornament with long, dangly legs, a lovely "hostess" apron of red floral print fabric, a bread cookbook, and money. Anny and Mike gave me an ornament shaped like a grand piano. Keefe gave me a huge red vase and a red crystal-like paperweight. (God only knows what I'll do with either of them.) Rose and Craig gave me a "recipe box" with three actual recipes and three small lotions with scents based after baked goods.
Mark, Vanessa, and Brittany came over while Jodie was still showering and the rest of us were watching the new Get Smart movie with Steve Carrell. I gave them their cookies. They gave Uncle Ken a neon "bar" sign, Jessa T-shirts with goofy sayings on them (she loves those), Dad an electric wine bottle opener (Dad is a wine connoisseur), and me a WebKinz Lil'Kinz Googles. Jessa and I agreed to join them for dinner later in the afternoon, since Dad and Jodie were eating at Jodie's aunt's house and neither of us know her very well.
Dad, Jodie, Jess, and I (and the Google and Otter) bundled up and packed into Dad's van to visit a few relatives. We first headed up to see Uncle Ken's daughter Samantha and her family. Though her husband David and their children Faith (3), Matt (12), and Ethan (10) were up and around when we arrived, poor Samantha wasn't. David said she had woken up feeling sick and was napping. The kids were just fine; Faith was very cute in her pink and gray sweater. The boys were still playing Wii in their pajamas. David gave me a container of their home-made cookies. I really appreciated that. I'd only kept a few of my own. I gave most of my cookies away as gifts.
Uncle Ken's ex-wife (and Samantha's mother) Jane and her husband live less than five minutes from Samantha, so we made them our next stop. We were only there about a half-hour, long enough to say "hi" and catch up with Jane and Mario and let them exclaim over how different we were and chat about Jessa's senior pictures and her college choices.
After we got home, Jessa and I jumped in Dad's van again (Jodie and Dad said they'd take Jodie's truck to her aunt's house). We stopped briefly at my apartment to drop off my Christmas gifts, then headed over to Mark and Vanessa's. I played Wii Fit and Wii Music with the girls until dinner. Both are interactive games that are exactly what their names say they are. The wildly popular Wii Fit allows you to play various sport games and events and even weighs you via a pad the game comes with. Wii Music allows you to play several music-related games, play along with several songs, and create your own. (And someone at Nintendo has excellent taste in music. One of the songs you can play along with is "Daydream Believer.")
Dinner was really delicious. We had cornish hens (the first time I've had them on Christmas since I was about 12) on a bed of wild rice, home-made stuffing, roasted red potatoes, Vanessa's macaroni and cheese (with lots of burnt cheese on the sides for Mark), steamed collard greens with ham for Vanessa and me (no one else wanted to try them - chickens!), and cranberry sauce, with Chocolate Pecan and Pumpkin Pies for dessert. TBS' 24-hour A Christmas Story marathon ran in the background.
The five of us played Monopoly after dinner. Brittany, who became a die-hard Beatles fan after seeing Across the Universe last year, received a Beatles Monopoly game for Christmas. It's played like ordinary Monopoly, but the "properties" are Beatles English and American albums, "Boardwalk" and "Park Place" are the two studios were the Beatles made their albums, the "railroads" are concert dates, the "Utilities" are stadiums, the cards are "Beatlemania" and "The Fab Four," the cards mention song titles, and you pay the "Taxman" instead of Income Tax. Brittany ended up with an entire side of the board and Mark got the studios; between the two of them and Vanessa not wanting to sell or trade anything, they wiped the rest of us clean. (Especially Jessa, who must have landed in jail at least fifteen times during the course of the game.)
Jessa, Brittany, and I ended up in their upstairs game room, playing Super Smash Brothers Brawl on the Wii for about an hour or so before Jessa and I finally decided we were both tired and it was time to call it quits. We headed out just as Jodie and Bruce, on their way back from Jodie's aunt's, were heading in to say "hi."
I jumped in the shower and went online to chat with Lauren, "adopt" my new Cardinal, and get today's Christmas WebKinz gift. Oh, and meet my three new WebKinz, Holly the Cardinal, Emmett the Otter, and the Google, whom I haven't thought of a name for yet. Holly moved in the Christmas Room with Arizona. I moved Clarabelle to the Star Room, thanks to Holly being WebKinz #60 and coming with the Lunar Landing Bed (which I've wanted to complete that room for a while).
I had a really lovely, if hectic, holiday. Here's hoping all of you had a day that was just as much fun...and shared it with the people you love.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
"What A Wondrous Sight Is Christmas Eve..."
I ran The Monkees' only Christmas episode this morning as I got ready for work. In this mid-second-season tale, appropriately titled "The Christmas Show," the Monkees find themselves babysitting for an obnoxious rich child who grouchily refuses to accept them or the idea of Christmas spirit. The boys do everything they can with their meager money supply, from buying a tree to going shopping, to appease the child, but nothing works until they realize what he REALLY wants for Christmas. There's some hilarious moments here. Micky and Davy on and in front of the chimney is adorable.
I went to work after How the Grinch Stole Christmas ended and I dropped three cupcakes on Miss Ellie's front stoop (her car wasn't in the driveway). Work was insane, no great surprise given today is the last day before Christmas. There were no major problems other than some mildly obnoxious customers and I was late getting out. The Acme closed at 6 today, and since I got off at 3, I had no relief and a long line. The only way I could give my Secret Santa present to my co-worker Sara, a college student back for the Christmas holidays, was to go through her line. No big deal. I needed milk and brown sugar anyway, and her line wasn't too long.
I spent some more quiet time to myself after I finally got home. I watched A Garfield Christmas Special and the two Peanuts Christmas specials and colored in the "Elmo's Christmas" coloring book I bought about two or three years ago because it was just so darn cute. (You can tell how old it is - lots of Elmo and Zoe, but no Abby Cadabba. I colored a picture of Zoe putting together a wreath made of dyed pasta and an unusually happy Oscar the Grouch in his trash can decorated with junk.)
The weather had been cloudy, damp, and humid all day. It rained while I was in work, but was fine when I was going to and from work. It had just started sprinkling again as I stepped out to Jodie's party. I went back for my umbrella, then made my first stop. No one answered the door at my neighbors' house, so I left their cranberry bread and card on the door.
I love the light displays in my neighborhood. They range from the insane Clark Grizwald-like show across the street from my apartment to elegant multi-colored "Icicle" lights hanging off roofs that make them look like gingerbread houses. I spotted a blow-up Rudolph at one house, a Frosty at another. I really appreciate the festive atmosphere in Oaklyn during Halloween and Christmas. The citizens of Wildwood never really got into any holiday that wasn't during the summer. My neighbors in Wildwood were mostly Hispanics who could neither afford nor believed in the tinsel, lights, and big trees. The only light displays were on the few stores left open and a couple of houses and condos with people visiting over the holidays.
By the time the rain started to pick up, I was a block from Jodie's house. The only people at the party when I arrived were Jodie and her relatives. Dad had gone to pick up our cousins Karen and Jim, who had just gotten in from visiting their relatives in Minnesota, from the Philadelphia International Airport. I ate salad, macaroni salad, a meatball sandwich, and pretzels while chatting with various people. Dad finally arrived with Jessa, Mark, Vanessa, and Brittany about a half-hour later, and Rose and Craig showed up from Cape May County with wine for Jodie and Dad and presents for me.
I stayed there for another hour or so, chatting with everyone. Rose, Craig, and Dad escaped back to Dad and Uncle Ken's house to say "hi" to Uncle Ken and Dolores. Uncle Ken apparently isn't feeling well again. I joined them after talking with Jessa, Brittany, and Vanessa. Dad was telling stories of his involvement in the Vietnam War to Rose and Craig when I got in. Rose and Craig drove me home. I said "hi" to Uncle Ken and Dolores...and THEY gave me a beautiful new heavy winter coat, a great big black coat with a fur-trimmed hood. It's a good one, too, a London Fog. It even came in a really cool felt "Santa Sack."
I'm home now, chatting with Lauren while listening to the Christmas blues CD I bought from the Big Lots in North Cape May about four years ago. For all of you who'll be spending tomorrow with your own families and won't get online, I wish you the merriest of Christmases and the safest and happiest of holiday seasons!
I ran The Monkees' only Christmas episode this morning as I got ready for work. In this mid-second-season tale, appropriately titled "The Christmas Show," the Monkees find themselves babysitting for an obnoxious rich child who grouchily refuses to accept them or the idea of Christmas spirit. The boys do everything they can with their meager money supply, from buying a tree to going shopping, to appease the child, but nothing works until they realize what he REALLY wants for Christmas. There's some hilarious moments here. Micky and Davy on and in front of the chimney is adorable.
I went to work after How the Grinch Stole Christmas ended and I dropped three cupcakes on Miss Ellie's front stoop (her car wasn't in the driveway). Work was insane, no great surprise given today is the last day before Christmas. There were no major problems other than some mildly obnoxious customers and I was late getting out. The Acme closed at 6 today, and since I got off at 3, I had no relief and a long line. The only way I could give my Secret Santa present to my co-worker Sara, a college student back for the Christmas holidays, was to go through her line. No big deal. I needed milk and brown sugar anyway, and her line wasn't too long.
I spent some more quiet time to myself after I finally got home. I watched A Garfield Christmas Special and the two Peanuts Christmas specials and colored in the "Elmo's Christmas" coloring book I bought about two or three years ago because it was just so darn cute. (You can tell how old it is - lots of Elmo and Zoe, but no Abby Cadabba. I colored a picture of Zoe putting together a wreath made of dyed pasta and an unusually happy Oscar the Grouch in his trash can decorated with junk.)
The weather had been cloudy, damp, and humid all day. It rained while I was in work, but was fine when I was going to and from work. It had just started sprinkling again as I stepped out to Jodie's party. I went back for my umbrella, then made my first stop. No one answered the door at my neighbors' house, so I left their cranberry bread and card on the door.
I love the light displays in my neighborhood. They range from the insane Clark Grizwald-like show across the street from my apartment to elegant multi-colored "Icicle" lights hanging off roofs that make them look like gingerbread houses. I spotted a blow-up Rudolph at one house, a Frosty at another. I really appreciate the festive atmosphere in Oaklyn during Halloween and Christmas. The citizens of Wildwood never really got into any holiday that wasn't during the summer. My neighbors in Wildwood were mostly Hispanics who could neither afford nor believed in the tinsel, lights, and big trees. The only light displays were on the few stores left open and a couple of houses and condos with people visiting over the holidays.
By the time the rain started to pick up, I was a block from Jodie's house. The only people at the party when I arrived were Jodie and her relatives. Dad had gone to pick up our cousins Karen and Jim, who had just gotten in from visiting their relatives in Minnesota, from the Philadelphia International Airport. I ate salad, macaroni salad, a meatball sandwich, and pretzels while chatting with various people. Dad finally arrived with Jessa, Mark, Vanessa, and Brittany about a half-hour later, and Rose and Craig showed up from Cape May County with wine for Jodie and Dad and presents for me.
I stayed there for another hour or so, chatting with everyone. Rose, Craig, and Dad escaped back to Dad and Uncle Ken's house to say "hi" to Uncle Ken and Dolores. Uncle Ken apparently isn't feeling well again. I joined them after talking with Jessa, Brittany, and Vanessa. Dad was telling stories of his involvement in the Vietnam War to Rose and Craig when I got in. Rose and Craig drove me home. I said "hi" to Uncle Ken and Dolores...and THEY gave me a beautiful new heavy winter coat, a great big black coat with a fur-trimmed hood. It's a good one, too, a London Fog. It even came in a really cool felt "Santa Sack."
I'm home now, chatting with Lauren while listening to the Christmas blues CD I bought from the Big Lots in North Cape May about four years ago. For all of you who'll be spending tomorrow with your own families and won't get online, I wish you the merriest of Christmases and the safest and happiest of holiday seasons!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Peace On Earth, Goodwill Towards Men
It was an unusually peaceful day today. I seem to be one of the only people on the planet who isn't running around, trying to get everything done! I started Jodie's pudding pie this morning and finished this afternoon. I always make Dad's girlfriend Jodie something for her Christmas Eve party for her Christmas present. The pudding pie I made for her son's graduation party last July was such a bit hit, I thought I'd make her another one.
Dad was one of the people running around, trying to get everything done. He was wrapping presents when I went over to his and Uncle Ken's house to do this week's laundry. I got to show off my new camera to Dad, and then Dolores and Uncle Ken when they got home. I even got a really nice shot of Uncle Ken sitting in the couch in the downstairs den area known as "The Eagles' Den," where he keeps all of his Eagles paraphernalia.
I also got to show it to Jodie and Jessa when they came in from shopping and confirm our Christmas Day plans. Sounds like we're going to meet at 10AM and visit various relatives, including Samantha and her family, Karen and Jim, and an aunt of Jodie's.
Rose passed through as I put away my laundry. She, too, was apparently knee-deep in unwrapped presents, but she wanted to pick up my presents (wrapped) to deliver to the family in Cape May County. She'll and her boyfriend Craig will be going down to Erma tomorrow morning and coming back in time for Jodie's party.
I did run into Collingswood to donate the three videos I replaced with DVDs yesterday to the Friends In Deed Thrift Shop. I picked up a few Christmas gifts for myself, four more records and a Peanuts Christmas comic book. The records this time around were a studio cast recording of The King & I featuring Broadway leading lady Barbara Cook, the original Broadway cast recording of Irma La Douce, a double-disc set of Glenn Miller songs, and a set of Leonard Bernstein and the London Philharmonic performing Christmas music.
I spent the rest of a quiet afternoon watching It's A Wonderful Life and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation and finishing A Christmas Story (which I started to watch at Uncle Ken's). It's really weird to be finished with everything. The only thing I need to do is deliver my remaining gifts. Everything is wrapped. Everything is baked. Everything is made. There's nothing left to do.
It's really a lovely feeling.
It was an unusually peaceful day today. I seem to be one of the only people on the planet who isn't running around, trying to get everything done! I started Jodie's pudding pie this morning and finished this afternoon. I always make Dad's girlfriend Jodie something for her Christmas Eve party for her Christmas present. The pudding pie I made for her son's graduation party last July was such a bit hit, I thought I'd make her another one.
Dad was one of the people running around, trying to get everything done. He was wrapping presents when I went over to his and Uncle Ken's house to do this week's laundry. I got to show off my new camera to Dad, and then Dolores and Uncle Ken when they got home. I even got a really nice shot of Uncle Ken sitting in the couch in the downstairs den area known as "The Eagles' Den," where he keeps all of his Eagles paraphernalia.
I also got to show it to Jodie and Jessa when they came in from shopping and confirm our Christmas Day plans. Sounds like we're going to meet at 10AM and visit various relatives, including Samantha and her family, Karen and Jim, and an aunt of Jodie's.
Rose passed through as I put away my laundry. She, too, was apparently knee-deep in unwrapped presents, but she wanted to pick up my presents (wrapped) to deliver to the family in Cape May County. She'll and her boyfriend Craig will be going down to Erma tomorrow morning and coming back in time for Jodie's party.
I did run into Collingswood to donate the three videos I replaced with DVDs yesterday to the Friends In Deed Thrift Shop. I picked up a few Christmas gifts for myself, four more records and a Peanuts Christmas comic book. The records this time around were a studio cast recording of The King & I featuring Broadway leading lady Barbara Cook, the original Broadway cast recording of Irma La Douce, a double-disc set of Glenn Miller songs, and a set of Leonard Bernstein and the London Philharmonic performing Christmas music.
I spent the rest of a quiet afternoon watching It's A Wonderful Life and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation and finishing A Christmas Story (which I started to watch at Uncle Ken's). It's really weird to be finished with everything. The only thing I need to do is deliver my remaining gifts. Everything is wrapped. Everything is baked. Everything is made. There's nothing left to do.
It's really a lovely feeling.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Christmas In the 21st Century
A package arrived for me just as I was putting the cupcakes in the oven this morning. It was another Christmas present from Lauren, and it was a doozy - my first digital camera! I've never had the money for a digital camera. It's such a cute little thing, and once I figured out how to backlight the pictures and insert the memory card (Lauren sent me three of those and rechargeable batteries), it was easy to click away. I took nine pictures today, ten counting the one of my Sailor Moon dolls I deleted because it was too bright. I'll try posting them here once I figure out all the logistics. I got a really nice one of the sun just as it was setting.
I had a harder time getting the camera out of that damn blister pack than figuring out how to work the thing! I literally had to cut into the blister packs for the camera and the memory cards with a knife, and I still haven't opened the rechargeable batteries. Isn't there a way they can package electronics that doesn't require the aid of sharp, heavy objects to open them?
I popped my head out for a moment shortly after the cupcakes came out of the oven. It was still windy, brisk, and cold, but not quite as cold as I thought it would be. It was probably in the low 30s, freezing but not intolerable for someone who prefers the cold anyway. I decided I'd let the cupcakes cool before frosting them and head over to the Acme's employee luncheon and to the FYE to use the gift card I got from Lauren.
The employee luncheon is a potluck party. Everyone brings something, from hot pasta dishes to desserts. The produce and deli departments donate trays of vegetables and hoagies. It was just after lunchtime when I arrived with my container of cookies, my contribution, and half the store was in there. I had a hard time finding a seat! I had a good time, though. The food was so good! There were deviled eggs, two different kinds of pasta salad (I liked the one with the light dressing and vegetables), heavy caramel brownies, rice pudding, baked ziti, these delicious little garlic pierogies, two different carrot cakes (one round, one in a pan), cupcakes and gingerbread bites from the bakery, a plate of salami and three cheeses...and that's just what I can remember! I had a lovely time, chatting with my fellow employees and not having to worry about being too long on my break.
I went to FYE next to spend my gift card. I made use of the sale on Christmas movies and Disney movies to replace my videos of Mickey's Once Upon A Christmas, Miracle On 34th Street, and Christmas In Connecticut. Connecticut in particular needed to be replaced. I taped it off of TCM during my last semester of college in 2001. I also finally bought the first Now That's What I Call Christmas! double CD, which I've wanted for years but could never afford during the holiday season. I made a brief return to the Acme after FYE to use their bathroom. A co-worker admonished me to try one of her cookies after she promised to try one of mine yesterday, but I'm afraid I was so stuffed by then, I barely had the room for a very tasty coconut macaroon. (I was so full, all I had for dinner was yogurt and a granola bar!)
The rest of the afternoon was spent frosting the cupcakes and watching the Laurel and Hardy March of the Toy Soldiers, the 1986 TV version of Babes In Toyland, and the Sailor Moon "movie" Hearts In Ice. Hearts In Ice isn't technically a Christmas movie. It concerns Sailor Moon's cat Luna falling in love with a human scientist while Serena and the Sailor Soldiers try to figure out why an evil ice witch and her snowy minions are attacking Earth. However, since it's set during the winter and one scene does mention Santa Claus, I tend to watch this one around the December holidays.
The cupcakes finish my actual holiday baking. The pudding pie I'm going to make tomorrow doesn't require an oven or a lot of time. I may go to Collingswood to drop the videos off at the thrift shop after I do the laundry.
A package arrived for me just as I was putting the cupcakes in the oven this morning. It was another Christmas present from Lauren, and it was a doozy - my first digital camera! I've never had the money for a digital camera. It's such a cute little thing, and once I figured out how to backlight the pictures and insert the memory card (Lauren sent me three of those and rechargeable batteries), it was easy to click away. I took nine pictures today, ten counting the one of my Sailor Moon dolls I deleted because it was too bright. I'll try posting them here once I figure out all the logistics. I got a really nice one of the sun just as it was setting.
I had a harder time getting the camera out of that damn blister pack than figuring out how to work the thing! I literally had to cut into the blister packs for the camera and the memory cards with a knife, and I still haven't opened the rechargeable batteries. Isn't there a way they can package electronics that doesn't require the aid of sharp, heavy objects to open them?
I popped my head out for a moment shortly after the cupcakes came out of the oven. It was still windy, brisk, and cold, but not quite as cold as I thought it would be. It was probably in the low 30s, freezing but not intolerable for someone who prefers the cold anyway. I decided I'd let the cupcakes cool before frosting them and head over to the Acme's employee luncheon and to the FYE to use the gift card I got from Lauren.
The employee luncheon is a potluck party. Everyone brings something, from hot pasta dishes to desserts. The produce and deli departments donate trays of vegetables and hoagies. It was just after lunchtime when I arrived with my container of cookies, my contribution, and half the store was in there. I had a hard time finding a seat! I had a good time, though. The food was so good! There were deviled eggs, two different kinds of pasta salad (I liked the one with the light dressing and vegetables), heavy caramel brownies, rice pudding, baked ziti, these delicious little garlic pierogies, two different carrot cakes (one round, one in a pan), cupcakes and gingerbread bites from the bakery, a plate of salami and three cheeses...and that's just what I can remember! I had a lovely time, chatting with my fellow employees and not having to worry about being too long on my break.
I went to FYE next to spend my gift card. I made use of the sale on Christmas movies and Disney movies to replace my videos of Mickey's Once Upon A Christmas, Miracle On 34th Street, and Christmas In Connecticut. Connecticut in particular needed to be replaced. I taped it off of TCM during my last semester of college in 2001. I also finally bought the first Now That's What I Call Christmas! double CD, which I've wanted for years but could never afford during the holiday season. I made a brief return to the Acme after FYE to use their bathroom. A co-worker admonished me to try one of her cookies after she promised to try one of mine yesterday, but I'm afraid I was so stuffed by then, I barely had the room for a very tasty coconut macaroon. (I was so full, all I had for dinner was yogurt and a granola bar!)
The rest of the afternoon was spent frosting the cupcakes and watching the Laurel and Hardy March of the Toy Soldiers, the 1986 TV version of Babes In Toyland, and the Sailor Moon "movie" Hearts In Ice. Hearts In Ice isn't technically a Christmas movie. It concerns Sailor Moon's cat Luna falling in love with a human scientist while Serena and the Sailor Soldiers try to figure out why an evil ice witch and her snowy minions are attacking Earth. However, since it's set during the winter and one scene does mention Santa Claus, I tend to watch this one around the December holidays.
The cupcakes finish my actual holiday baking. The pudding pie I'm going to make tomorrow doesn't require an oven or a lot of time. I may go to Collingswood to drop the videos off at the thrift shop after I do the laundry.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Holiday Breakfast Treat
Got any candied fruit leftover from Christmas bread or fruitcakes? Here's an unusual holiday breakfast dish that'll use up some of those candied fruits and make for a sweet morning treat!
Wonderland Holiday Pancakes
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 egg
2 tbsp cooking oil (I used canola, but vegetable or corn would probably be fine)
3 tbsp molasses
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup wheat germ (optional)
1/4 cup candied fruit and citron
1/4 tsp salt
Butter or cooking spray for greasing griddle or frying pan
Combine flour, egg, salt, baking powder, molasses, cooking oil, and milk. Stir until just mixed, then fold in wheat germ and candied fruits. Drop spoonfuls onto greased griddle or frying pan and cook until a golden brown.
Serves 4
Got any candied fruit leftover from Christmas bread or fruitcakes? Here's an unusual holiday breakfast dish that'll use up some of those candied fruits and make for a sweet morning treat!
Wonderland Holiday Pancakes
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 egg
2 tbsp cooking oil (I used canola, but vegetable or corn would probably be fine)
3 tbsp molasses
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup wheat germ (optional)
1/4 cup candied fruit and citron
1/4 tsp salt
Butter or cooking spray for greasing griddle or frying pan
Combine flour, egg, salt, baking powder, molasses, cooking oil, and milk. Stir until just mixed, then fold in wheat germ and candied fruits. Drop spoonfuls onto greased griddle or frying pan and cook until a golden brown.
Serves 4
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