CafeChatNoir

Blah, blah, no baking today, yada, yada, flour, yeast, cornmeal, check!, rolling pin, FUCK.

Yes, I pored over the recipe multiple times to ensure I wasn’t missing any ingredients or that there wasn’t anything exotic in it that I would forget at the grocery store…

Unfortunately, I neglected to remember that I tossed my craptastic rolling pin out years ago and never replaced it.

Worked myself into a really fantastic snit - even the cats left the the kitchen in fear of potentially of flying objects. (Sometimes you just have to have a good snit, even over small stupid things. Sometimes especially over small stupid things…)

So, what I had hoped to start as a New Year’s Eve tradition will be another day.

In the meantime, I am going to go take a hot shower, gorge myself of Cheesy Ranch Bacon dip I made to console myself, then it’s off to Target to pick up a prescription and see what they have in the non-crappy rolling pin department. (I will not have another crappy one like I had before…)

Oh - and lest I forget - here’s the too cute Christmas card from :

http://www.theonion.com/#2004-12-29

Pisces (Feb. 19 - March 20): You can’t really help the way people feel about you, especially if the dumbasses refuse to listen to reason.

…and more importantly, happy three day weekend. Once again my rocket scientist coworkers managed to strand two of us while the rest were at lunch. The upside to busy season is that for the next two months, we will be fully staffed. :)

I am in complete and total slacker mode tonight. I’ve got a Grolsch at my side and the cats have been taking turns with lap time.

Tomorrow will be a visit to the market for flour, yeast & cornmeal, and thus will begin my attempts to channel the spirit of one Mrs. Rose Reed* and bake some bread. (I’ve never done “regular” bread in anything but the bread machine before.) We’ll be starting with what appears to be a fairly straightforward French Bread recipe that came with the mixer. If it goes well, I will have bread to take to dinner Saturday night for Grandma’s birthday.

And we have the whole “new year” thing going as well this weekend. Three days to ponder, take stock, think back and look forward. Though every day really is a chance to start fresh, there is something about a new year. A pristine calendar full of blank pages - the hope that this year will be better, different, or just not crappy - maybe this year, the resolutions will stick, things will go well, mistakes will not be made, and the past will be learned from for a change.

Myself, I’ll be writing up my resolutions this year, as I always do. I know many who don’t do it anymore (or never have) for various perfectly legitimate reasons, but I like to think that I’m just not giving up. :)

Peace & Happy New Year.

*The wonderful woman that used to live next door to us in San Diego, and was like another grandmother to me, and was easily one of the best cooks on the planet.

I sent off funds to Oxfam this morning for the relief/recovery efforts. There is so much to do to recover, I can’t help but feel like my small amount isn’t going to make a difference. Rationally, I know that every little bit adds up, but this is just so big, and is going to require so much. There is a woman on another forum that I frequent that lives in Bangkok. She will be working at the hospital because they need more English speakers there. In a way, I envy her, because she can at least do something tangible to help. Were I in a position to do so, I’d be sorely tempted to get on a plane and find a way to help.

Thank god. Very frustrating day at work today. While we have lighter call volume with the holidays, we are also short a few folks because of the holidays. So, it basically works out to a normal volume day. If everyone pulls their weight. Some people didn’t get that part of the memo. Oh, and 3 out of 5 people going to lunch at the same time? Brilliant, folks, just astounding…

I’ve also lost the cats Christmas presents… I hadn’t taken them out of the bag as I was afraid the dog would decide they were hers while she was here. So, this evening, I go to the bag….and….nothing. The treats are still there, the toys aren’t. I have no idea where they went. I think this makes me a very BAD pet parent.

Amidst all of these frustrations is what has happened overseas. 55,000 gone at this point. I feel bad for whining about my decidedly insignificant problems. But it’s also just too much to comprehend, at least for me. I could barely get my brain wrapped around 3,000 lost in the WTC. I mean, there are stadiums that hold that many people, but they don’t look that big… And I know this is huge, but like I said, I just can’t really comprehend the magnitude.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAPERPATH!!!

I want to take a dance class. Specifically, tap.

The class at the “known” rec center was full. Found out the one that is at the “Audrey Moore Rec Center” is really the old Wakefield Center (which is actually the closest to me), so I had no idea it wasn’t way out in the boonies or up in the ‘hood - I doubt I was the only one, as they still have spaces…

Get past that, go to register - have to have a member number… go to the “get your member number” thing on the site, and find out “it can take up to 2 days to for web requests”!!

If I take the Sunday class, it starts 1/9, the Tuesday, 1/11… I need to know now if I’m in the class so I can snag a pair of shoes and get the taps on. 2 DAYS?!?! Yeah, I’m calling in the AM…

Or un-boxing day as the case may be. Just wrestled my Billy Joel “Kohuept” (can’t get the cyrllics right) cd out of it’s case and loving it.

Got the mixer out of the box, and dayum, it is good and heavy - but I will have NO worries about it bouncing about the counter doing heavy duty stuff. Can’t decide yet what to try out on it first. Pretty much anything is going to require a trip to the market, as I have no flour in the house at the moment. I’m thinking I should just close my eyes and pick something from the recipe book - it will be easier than making a decision! (I’ve got it on good authority that the recipes that came with the mixer are quite good, plus someone has gotten me the English Muffin Bread recipe that they don’t print anymore)

Been looking over the attachments available. Definitely getting the shredder. Tired of grating my knuckles and paying way too much for pre-shredded cheese. OMG, They have an ice cream maker attachment. I need that like I need a hole in the head, but WOW. Will probably get a second bowl for it. This is going to be a VERY NICE thing to have in the kitchen.

Been a nice lazy Sunday, just puttering about more than anything, but I did get some laundry going so I have clean pants to wear to work tomorrow. With my sweater from Grandma that can only be described as “Grover Blue”. I love it. :)

This week is the calm before the storm at work. Busy season starts 1/3/05. Last year wasn’t as bad as I had expected, and I think this year will be OK - especially if I don’t get caught there til past 7:30 the first three nights like last year. (I am much better at telling folks to suck it up and wait until the morning, and/or, “No, I will NOT write you a script to fix your screw up, you fix it yourself, you overpaid data entry monkey.”)

Big things on tap for the week are getting the kitchen rearranged to find the optimal spot for the mixer, make something with it!, and coming up with New Year’s Resolutions that I know I won’t keep. :)

Eve is so cute. I just took her cow hoof away from her (she only gets it for a certain amount of time, I don’t need a puking dog on my hands) - she doesn’t growl or try to hide it, but she did wrap her paws around it and hang on to it for dear life, and the look on her face was, “Damn, opposable thumbs would be a HUGE plus right now.”

Your dog loved the Christmas gift, and is happily munching on it now. Photographic proof:

sagamore brought up best gift given. I’d say the ones I enjoyed giving the most were the earrings I made for my mother & grandmother - I love being able to give someone something I’ve created - it’s a really nice feeling.

Little bro is super easy to shop for - he’s always got a list at the ready of DVD’s or books and he loves them all.

I love being with my family on Christmas, but I always feel so much better when I’m back home, in my house, in my space. :)

We have also discovered my Mom’s dog has issues with woodland camo… I’ve got an Army field jacket that I love that I wore this weekend, and every time I came in the house, he would go apeshit barking at me. (Tail wagging to boot.) First we just figured he was full of himself with all the excitement, then we figured out - it was the jacket. Who knows what is going on in his little head.

It’s been a long fun day, but I am looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow. :)

My helper elf, also known as my little brother - HUGE help with getting things wrapped.

The living room after the wrapping-paper-fest

Moxley, Grandma & Eve

Christmas Eve

The earrings I made

Well, Santa had his usual sleigh accident at Mom’s house again this year.

Good time was had by all. Have lots of good books to read, a butter bell, and a Kitchen Aid mixer. In Red. :-D

Eve is enjoying her cow hoof & other presents immensely.

We’ve discovered that Moxley can’t have rawhides anymore, because they make him psychotic. Seriously - he had one that was getting too small so Mom pitched it and gave him a new one. He saw her throw the old one away, so he became rather fiercely possessive of the new one. He’d sit next to it and if you came near, he growled. So, no more of those for him, and lesson learned - if you want to throw something of his away, do NOT let him see you do it!

Time for a nap before dinner. Hope everyone had a good day.

It’s time to load up the Liberty sleigh and head to Mom’s.

Since she’s moved the computer back upstairs, I can at least check in without Grandma getting all huffy.

Merry Christmas everyone, and don’t let your families drive you too nuts. :)

12 hours of absolutely wonderful uninterrupted sleep. I gave the dog an extra treat this morning for not waking me up.

Norad is tracking Santa already!!! The videos require RealPlayer, but at least they have a direct link to download the totally free version so you don’t have to go digging through RP’s site for it. Yes, I’ve watched where he’s been already and giggled like a 5 year old. :)

Soon as I finish my coffee, it’s a drugstore/Radio Shack run and then loading up the dog & all the stuff and heading for Mom’s.

And in the spirit of Merry Fuckit!, I’m going to bed for a way overdue long nights sleep.

In case I don’t wake up before Sunday morning, have a wonderful Christmas everyone!

I’ve finally reached the grand nirvana of Christmas known as the point of “Fuckit!” If it doesn’t get done, doesn’t arrive, doesn’t cook up properly, doesn’t fit, or doesn’t get taken out of the closet and put under the tree, it really doesn’t matter…

Got out of work early today, which was a godsend - boss said I could go at 2:30, but of course I’d just picked up a call that ended up keeping me there til 3:30, but - I figured it out!!! (Financial Consolidations. Difficult enough to do on paper, much less figure out what someone effed up in the brand-spanking new module of the software. I’m quite pleased with myself.)

Soon to be old boss got me a Starbucks card for Christmas! I’ll have to scan the card that came with it - very cute.

Haven’t been able to find out if the package got to Alabama or not - yesterday it was in Georgia and it would seem the tracking site is broken now…likely a touch overwhelmed with inquiries, I suppose.

Got the PetsMart run in, so the cats & dogs will all get presents. Hit the grocery store for a couple last minute things as well.

I am in charge of feeding people tomorrow night. I’ve done lasagna before and it is spectacular, but the past couple years we’ve gone with appetizers all night as little bro doesn’t have a set time he arrives, and that way we can pretty much just eat all night. :) FWIW, if you have a Safeway in your area, their private brand frozen appetizers are the bomb. And seemingly always on sale.

Left to do is make 2 or 4 pairs of earrings for Mom & Grandma, wind up the yarn and figure out how I will package it in lieu of the finished scarf for Mom (it’s only about halfway there…), Radio Shack, stocking stuffer run, and wrapping, wrapping, wrapping. (I had everything shipped to Mom’s…)

But right now, tonight? Fuckit! It’s beer-thirty.

Dropped off sagamore at the airport tonight, brought the hound from heck home with me. Airport was pretty hopping, I am hoping this means we’ll have an exceptionally quiet day tomorrow.

I am just dead tired, and though I keep lowering my standards (which drives me nuts), I’m afraid there is still more to do than there is time left…

If it weren’t for that whole “work to pay the bills” thing eating up my time, I could seriously kick Martha Stewart’s ass.

Doesn’t matter if I get anything else done before Saturday, the scarf is finished and winging it’s way to Alabama!!

Thank you paperpath for the Christmas card! mazikeen, got yours too - I know exactly what I am doing with the turquoise pieces you sent!

Next year, I will get off my ass and do cards. I promise. I’ve often wanted to do a watercolor for a card, but never had the means to get them reproduced if I came up with something presentable - realized cafepress does cards about a month or so too late… Next year!

From paperpath

From mazikeen (Please note the goggles and sash on the pilot at the top….)

The Christmas Elf is taking the rest of the evening off… Just popped a meatloaf in the oven, and when it’s done it will be dinner and then bed not too long after.

mvllscott, check your front door.

Might make another loaf of bread later if the mood strikes me, but unlikely tonight. Scarf is almost finished, will get that done before bed. Made fantastic progress on it at work today - amazing how many rows you can get in while someone is running through half a dozen processes and then printing things and you’re waiting for them, or when you’ve been put on eternal hold.

The dinner shopping for Christmas Eve is done. Mom called to let me know that amazon boxes have arrived for me at her place. (I have everything shipped to her house, she’s got a carport for the UPS drivers to leave things.)

Things are starting to come together.

No offense to the pagan lovlies on my f-list, but dayum, it’s colder than a witches tit out there.

Got a calendar from my soon to be new boss, nearly spewed my coffee when I opened it - will scan the cover and post when I get home this evening. The woman *knows* me.

That would be the sound of me hitting the wall. Superwoman has left the building. ;)

Still have to finish picking up, but it’s not much at this point, which is a good thing considering that it’s already well past bedtime…

Got all the cookies separated out in various containers, and the ones for the cleaning ladies have ribbons and a card and are sitting in the microwave for them to find tomorrow.

4 loaves of pumpkin bread at the ready. 2 more to bake tomorrow, and then 2 more later in the week.

The scarf isn’t going to get done tonight, but I can get it out as late as Wednesday and it will get where it needs to go.

I know everything will get done and if it doesn’t it’s not the end of the world, but my list isn’t getting shorter…

I’ve got 4 evenings and 1 full day. Need to…
— Finish scarf 1 (it’s going to work with me)
— Ship it (can do this at lunch)
— Shop for Mom. (Tuesday night?)
— Deliver goodies to neighbors (Monday or Tuesday)
— Shop for Friday dinner (Monday or Tuesday ? Preferably not Friday morning…)
— Pick up an Eve L’Dog (Wednesday)
— Finish Mom’s scarf (this one can at least go until 3 AM on Friday…)
— Wrap packages…or perhaps just have a bag of things and toss them at the family Saturday morning…

OK, time to go finish everything so I can have the grand reward of BED.

Well, not totally - been getting things done, but I’ve got the attention span of a flea this evening, so it’s all been in 5 minute bursts.

It’s snowing!!! *bounce*bounce*bounce*bounce*

Still have to finish getting stuff put away, then get all the goodies divvied up for folks, finish a scarf and then get to bed.

Second loaf of pumpkin bread stuck to the bottom of the pan. Guess I’ll just have to eat that one myself. :-D

All the baking that had to be done tonight is done - now the cleanup…. eeccchhhh. It’s not even the cleanup from the baking, cause I’ve been doing that as I go along (yay me) - it’s the rest of the place. The dining room still looks like a large natural disaster hit it from when the appliances came and I never did get everything back where it belongs.

I know it won’t take terribly long once I get started - it’s the getting started that’s always the kicker, isn’t it?

So, yes, cleaning. Yeah. All over it…