End of the Year Knitting

Two last projects are done, in time for the New Year's inventory:

Uncle Peter's Christmas Scarf:

From Knitting

From Knitting

A fun fur scarf to go with my new bag and gloves:

From Knitting

From Knitting

Look for a new hat recipe I'm working on. The finished product will be out by mid-January. Fallingdown House Knits' first publication!

Back from the Holiday Front

The G's have survived another holiday blitz!

Christmas Eve saw my parents and uncle arriving for dinner at our house, in honor of a rare extended visit from my uncle.

We have eaten ourselves silly, exchanged a multitude of gifts, and laughed a lot, which could said to be the best part. My husband's family had the rare treat of having everyone in one room for Christmas dinner. Present were Memere, Pepere, "Ma Tantes" Anita & Del, Tante Linda, Grandma, Aunt Sheila, Uncle John, Uncle Bob, his wife Louise, cousins Mica and Danielle, Mom & Dad G, my two brothers-in-law, and the youngest's girlfriend, Colleen.

Things were a little quieter at my parents house in the morning... Mark and I, my Mom and Dad, and my uncle, Peter, opened gifts and ate a big breakfast, complete with mimosas and my sticky buns. My brother, his daughter and her mother will be flying up on Friday for a belated Christmas/New Years visit.

So, after 13 solid hours of Christmas Day festivities, we collapsed in a sleepy pile at home, and slept late... Now to sort out all the loot...

A Photo A Day?

A recent post on Crazy Aunt Purl directed me to Project 365, something I think would be really cool. I often do take a picture a day for a stretch, but do they always represent my day? my life? could I keep it up for a year?

It seems like an interesting resolution... and there is a New Year's around the corner.

Questions crop up, such as, "To share or not to share?" "On my blog, or somewhere else?" "Digital or film?"

Good thing I have a week or so to ponder this... Perhaps with some forethought I can keep it from ending up down the holiday shitter.

I Am So Pathetic...

I have a Borders Rewards card, and this makes me part of a cult of eleventy million (to borrow from Aunt Purl). Today's Borders email was this:


There was, of course, no announced publishing date. There was, however, a sign-up sheet for the opportunity to pre-order... and I'm chomping at the bit.

So sad...

And yet, I can't wait to get my hands on it!

Mounted Police Trading Cards

Anyone else think this is a kickass idea?

The kids can name half the Police and Park Ranger horses in the city on sight; they're one step from learning the names of the mounted officers. I think they should market trading cards - as a souvenir? Come on.... Like Shorty and Sir Pelinore who patrol the Common and the Public Garden? They, for instance, are both seasoned veterans on the force, and Sir Pelinore has worked in other jurisdictions before. He came from a stable of Police horses all named for the Knights of the Round Table.

OK, maybe I'm the only one who thinks that's cool, but I do. I pitched the idea to a mounted Park Ranger today - apparently they do something like that in some midwestern jurisdictions. I say (and I can't believe I'm saying it), "Look to the MidWest!"

Again With the Banners!

Not the JFJ's today, though. A more worthy cause than that, but first, a little backstory.

During the course of commuter events, certain weeks of the year provide a break from the gridlock, and this week is one them. Starting Tuesday morning, there is a steady decrease in the volume of morning traffic. It's a kind of holiday gift to the rest of us, who can't take millions of days off during school breaks. This morning, I zipped through Framingham, onto the Pike and through the Weston tolls in record time, only to be brought up short on the Extension. After a few miles of crawling along, wondering what horrors awaited me, I saw ahead waving flags on an overpass... Not again...

This time it was the Sad Dads, a group of pro-fatherhood advocacy types who are trying to get the family court system to more fairly consider the rights of fathers in custody arrangements. I told you, a worthy cause, and one kind of close to my heart.

When, however, the banner-wavers are on a MassPike overpass wearing Mr. Incredble costumes at 7:45 AM, distracting the commuters below into creating miles of clogged highways, I become immediately less sympathetic. Picket the courthouses, put ads in the paper, but please, don't make me waste gas being late to work.

Chrismukkah Indeed....

Guess why traffic was backed up two miles out of Beacon Hill on Storrow Drive this morning? Not because of solar glare, or an accident, or the ceiling caving in... Oh, no.

Jews for Jesus.

There were seven or eight Jews for Jesus volunteers on the Fairfield Street overpass this morning with banners reading, "Moses Knew Jesus" and "jewsforjesus.org," and cars were slowing down to gawk at them like an accident scene. That's what was causing all the traffic.

I found myself wondering at the slogan, "Moses Knew Jesus," mostly because it's a puzzling choice to an educated, but not spiritually educated, woman. Historically, I know Moses was not, in fact, acquainted with Jesus personally. Do they mean that since they believe that Jesus is the Messiah of the Jewish people, that Moses knew he was coming, because he was a Jewish man? I'm not as up on my Old Testament as I could be, so I leave these questions to those who are going to ruminate on them more seriously.

I guess a controversial religious belief can cause trouble on any scale... We are peculiar creatures, aren't we?

A Boy, A Horse, & A Dog

(Please note that's not O&I in the photo)


Maurice and O met a Boston Police horse this morning. Awesome. Both boy and dog were totally awestruck by the horse. The horse, on the other hand, nuzzled O's face, and bent down his head to inspect the pug. His rider said he's very fond of dogs and children, which I allowed made him the perfect patrol horse for the Common.

Welcome to Our Mutual Admiration Society!

Ladies and Gentlemen! Boys and Girls of All Ages (except the ones not old enough for the occasional expletives of which I'm guilty), I give you:

Legally Blonde

Just In Case You Missed the E-Card...

Bona Saturnalia! and other Holiday Musings

Well, blogging has gone right down the holiday shitter, now hasn't it? I heart me some Christmas, I do. I loaded my 16ish hour holiday playlist into my iPod 12/1/06, and our OysterFestivus was a smash, but people, I am pooped.

And I'm seriously considering making two wee buches de noel for various family holiday visits. That idea might have to go down the holiday shitter, too.

Shopping's almost done, though... Just a few more little things.

Anyway, since I last wrote, almost nothing has happened.

From Brasserie MoMP

I spent the day cooking - I know, you're shocked... but I also trimmed the tree(still have one more box of ornaments. eeek!) and ran a few elfy errands. Oh, and laundry, since I was too busy making merry last weekend to get any done.

Now, I'm no Christian, so the Christmas I celebrate is very secular in terms of creating light in the dark and cold of the year, and celebrating family, community, etc... I've been reading about the ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia, which, incidentally is tonight, and I'm into it. Family feasting, pranks, drinking, merry-making... sounds familiar? Perhaps because it is the Roman festival from which the early Roman Christian leaders pilfered in order to attract converts from the Roman people, much the way some winter solstice practices were adopted from the celts and anglo-saxon types in Western Europe.. crafty... Perhaps OysterFestivus is our Saturnalia?

From Miscellany

Rituals include images of Saturn (a jovial, but dignified old man, often seen with animals, and symbols of plenty such as oil jugs, a cornucopia, or a bag of gifts... hmmmm...), red, peaked caps (the mark of freed slaves, which was a role-play in households with slaves in ancient Rome), and a week's worth of feasting and all that jazz, which comes at the time of the solstice, and/or the lunar month of capricorn...

Emma and I were having a chat about how many cultures have holidays near this time of year which emphasize light in the darkness, feasting, and celebrating family and community, and I guess this is just one more.

From Miscellany

Pass the twinkle lights, please.

It Isn't A Party Until...

...something gets broken: only one wine glass. We must be getting old.

...someone puts their foot in their mouth: Drunk Girl says to N, "Why are you so grumpy? You could have that (gestures to Fibby) if you weren't so grumpy." N gestures to nearby wife, H, and says, "But I'm already married to that."

...two-and-a-half pounds of bacon is cooked: description unnecessary.

...two-hundred oysters are shucked.

...drunk dialing occurrs: We missed you, Burger!

Seriously, it was a great night, and a great morning/afternoon. Bacon, pug dogs, tree trimmin', cheap wine, couch surfers, sixteen hours of Christmas music, oysters, nine cars in our driveway. Kudos to all who came out! Happy Holidays, Merry OysterFestivus, and a Happy New Year!

Sigh.

You Are a Fruitcake!

You taste like nothing else in this world. And get ready, you're about to get tossed!

What Crappy Christmas Gift Are You?

I'm perhaps worse than Fibby.

Not As Much of a Dummy...

...as I might have thought.

You Passed 8th Grade US History

Congratulations, you got 6/8 correct!

Could You Pass 8th Grade History?

More Christmas Knitting!

Here's Mark's Christmas Stocking:

From Knitting

These stockings were knitted up in Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick&Quick (cranberry and pine) on #13 dpns from a free pattern I found here.

2006 OysterFestivus Medal of Honor

Ladies and Gentlemen, Distinguished Guests, Friends, Family, and Regular Readers, welcome. Please indulge me while I read the medal's charge:

The OysterFestivus Medal of Honor is bestowed upon that individual without whom the OysterFestivus could not have done. This individual has displayed courage under adverse circumstances, all the while ensuring the success of the Fest. This individual's dedication to the pursuit of oysters, Christmas carols, and debauchery has been shown to be unflagging and perhaps somewhat bizarre.

From Brasserie MoMP

This year, the award committee is pleased to grant the Medal of Honor to its youngest recipient to date. O braved snow squalls and icy winds to venture 2.5 miles in pursuit of charcuterie. Bundled like an Arctic explorer, our young hero and his sherpa, er... nanny, traversed the MassPike Overpass, the Shady End of Shawmut Street, and the Annoyingly Trendy Patrons ::shudder::, to procure Pate de Campagne, Pate de Lapin, and Niman Ranch Smoked Bacon. His only thoughts for his own comfort were a taste of artisan English cheddar and a raspberry pate de fruits from the patisserie counter. Sadly, his efforts will be savored by all the OysterFestivus participants without him, while he remains behind, enjoying Bagelmas with his family.

Four! Four Mittens! AhAhAh! Also, A Christmas Stocking, and Being Stuck in the House With Four Kids

The kids are off from school today, on a Wednesday, because of parent-teacher conferences. We have a friend over for a grand total of four kids, and I'm going slightly crazy.

The friend is a classmate of J's, and she's really cool, but she's got a really lenient Mom, and has no idea what it's like to have a little sibling, so there are just a lot of tiny, meaningless conflicts over snacks, O-friendly activities, etc... Add to that J&E's boredom, because they're used to structured days at school, and O just being his usual chaotic self, and you get a nanny with a headache.

I feel a little like a grump for complaining. After all, no one is maimed or truly misbehaving. The house is still standing, and not even that messy... It's just that someone is constantly asking me for something, and four times out of five I'm saying no - it's like being poked in the shoulder every three seconds by a very strong and persistant finger.

On the other hand, I finished my Christmas Stocking, pictured here:

From Knitting

Mark's is next...

And all four of my mittens are done!

From Knitting

Uh-Oh: Adventures of A Berzerker

O has discovered "Uh-oh."

From Miscellany

Just now he was demonstrating his prowess with the newfound "word" by running around the house screaming like a demented Muppet, stopping every so often to bellow "Uh-oh!" before resuming his berzerking.

All I can really say for myself is, "Uh-oh...."

PS: while I was typing this, standing at the kitchen counter, he pickpocketed my watch. Uh-oh, indeed.

No Need to Ask, He's A

Smooth Operator.

Just a few minutes ago, while O&I were getting ready for his nap, he pinched his fingers between two nesting blocks. It didn't really hurt, but I kissed the wounded fingers anyway. O, being the cutie he is, giggled at the finger kiss, and promptly stuffed his little fingers back between the blocks, pilled them out, then waggled them in front of my face, as if to say, "Hey, my fingers are hurt again!" When asked if he wanted another kiss, he said, "Uh-huh!"

Lock up your daughters...

My New York Neighborhood Is....

You Belong in Greenwich Village

Avant garde and bohemian, you're quick to adopt new ideas and lifestyles. And while you're a bit less weird these days, you still have a "live and let live" philosophy.

Where Should Your Inner New Yorker Live?