Happy Festive Season
So, last week, I went to St. Louis. Spent a good damn long time there. We had a blast.
The Collectibles: Angel ornament from Hallmark, and Ferret Calendar. Also, surprisingly, Madame Alexander doll. The harlequin one. Haven't gotten a doll in ages, because they're fricking expensive, but we found a resale shop that had them for less than half-price.
Three Books: Tim Burton's Festive Season (From my Godpapa), Erik Larson's Devil in the White City, and I Like You, by Amy Sedaris. That last one was from me to me.
Snuggly wrap from Banana Republic. I'm wearing it now. Cousin Erica has excellent taste.
Blue hat, gloves and scarf from my Godmom. I've been wearing them everywhere.
Earrings and a bracelet from mom.
Handmade necklace from aunt Martha. She made one for everybody.
M&M's chapstick and movie trivia cards from mom's friends. M&M's lipsmackers > Burts' Bees.
Free Samples of lipstick from Aunt Peg, by way of Aunt Martha. I love being the only one who can wear dark lipstick.
Stuff that happened:
We left on the 23rd. On the way in, I tried to read the book my parents gave me: Devil In The White City Good, grisly stuff, but it jumps around a lot, and the stories never quite intertwine. They happen in the same place at the same time, but they never intersect. It's about the building of the 1894 Chicago World's fair, and the serial killer H.H. Holmes. I need to find time to read the whole thing in one or two sittings.
The last two hours of the drive in were a little sketchy. It rained, and the roads were a little slick, and everyone else on the highway forgot how to drive. My aunt Nora had a worse drive in from Chicago. She saw about thirty cars spin off the road. My cousin Leo was with her. Luckily he didn't seem too traumatized.
When we got in, we went to my aunt Martha's house to do some baking for the Christmas Eve party. Mom and I accidentally sabotaged each-other. She lost my pie recipe, and I forgot her peanut butter. D'oh. Auntie had peanut butter, and I reprinted my recipe and did my pie the next morning. Crisis averted.
We had breakfast with my Grandma's friend and her daughter on Christmas Eve morning. It wasn't nearly as traumatizing as last year. We went to a restaurant, and nobody had strange eye infections or upset tummies. Fun Fact: At Gallaudet (sp?) University, they make fun of you, if you move your mouth to communicate. It's a school for the deaf, and they frown on the hearing staff using verbal speech to talk to one another.
Christmas Eve night was tremendous fun. Highlights included the preppy, bookish nerdy couple and the pierced, tattooed, black-laden couple sitting around the table and giggling about all the weird people they all know; and the success of my pear pie. SO HAPPY! Will have to make another one soon. Fun Fact: Under the right lighting, margarita mix looks an awful lot like lemonade. Something to keep in mind before you pour an extra shot of vodka into your drink.
Christmas Day, my aunt Martha hosted breakfast, and I actually made a gingerbread house. She brought a kit to entertain my cousin Leo. The assembly is a little difficult for a six-year-old, so I did the frosting and he stuck the candies on. We had dinner at my aunt Monica's house. The woman can COOK, holy cow. Luckily she made lots of veggies in addition to the meat and potatoes, so I was able to gorge strategically. Will have to acquire the recipe for cognac sauce. Highlights included my six-year-old cousin making ten bucks by shaking down the rest of the family, a festive array of coats that belonged to Tennessee Williams' brother (I should've made my dad get one) and one of my other aunts forgetting the extent to which I am ticklish in my midsection. Awkward.
More fun facts:
Eggplant Marinara is tremendous when cooked properly.
I have no frame of reference, so I'm never quite sure whether to be appalled or enthralled when faced with "antiques".
Lamb Stew makes for bad breath and terrible gas. Always keep mints handy. Thanks, dad.
Inexpensive Jewelry made from recycled flip-flops is a good gift idea.
Small dogs are weird.
Tomorrow I go back to retail hell. BOOOOO! Happy New Year!
The Collectibles: Angel ornament from Hallmark, and Ferret Calendar. Also, surprisingly, Madame Alexander doll. The harlequin one. Haven't gotten a doll in ages, because they're fricking expensive, but we found a resale shop that had them for less than half-price.
Three Books: Tim Burton's Festive Season (From my Godpapa), Erik Larson's Devil in the White City, and I Like You, by Amy Sedaris. That last one was from me to me.
Snuggly wrap from Banana Republic. I'm wearing it now. Cousin Erica has excellent taste.
Blue hat, gloves and scarf from my Godmom. I've been wearing them everywhere.
Earrings and a bracelet from mom.
Handmade necklace from aunt Martha. She made one for everybody.
M&M's chapstick and movie trivia cards from mom's friends. M&M's lipsmackers > Burts' Bees.
Free Samples of lipstick from Aunt Peg, by way of Aunt Martha. I love being the only one who can wear dark lipstick.
Stuff that happened:
We left on the 23rd. On the way in, I tried to read the book my parents gave me: Devil In The White City Good, grisly stuff, but it jumps around a lot, and the stories never quite intertwine. They happen in the same place at the same time, but they never intersect. It's about the building of the 1894 Chicago World's fair, and the serial killer H.H. Holmes. I need to find time to read the whole thing in one or two sittings.
The last two hours of the drive in were a little sketchy. It rained, and the roads were a little slick, and everyone else on the highway forgot how to drive. My aunt Nora had a worse drive in from Chicago. She saw about thirty cars spin off the road. My cousin Leo was with her. Luckily he didn't seem too traumatized.
When we got in, we went to my aunt Martha's house to do some baking for the Christmas Eve party. Mom and I accidentally sabotaged each-other. She lost my pie recipe, and I forgot her peanut butter. D'oh. Auntie had peanut butter, and I reprinted my recipe and did my pie the next morning. Crisis averted.
We had breakfast with my Grandma's friend and her daughter on Christmas Eve morning. It wasn't nearly as traumatizing as last year. We went to a restaurant, and nobody had strange eye infections or upset tummies. Fun Fact: At Gallaudet (sp?) University, they make fun of you, if you move your mouth to communicate. It's a school for the deaf, and they frown on the hearing staff using verbal speech to talk to one another.
Christmas Eve night was tremendous fun. Highlights included the preppy, bookish nerdy couple and the pierced, tattooed, black-laden couple sitting around the table and giggling about all the weird people they all know; and the success of my pear pie. SO HAPPY! Will have to make another one soon. Fun Fact: Under the right lighting, margarita mix looks an awful lot like lemonade. Something to keep in mind before you pour an extra shot of vodka into your drink.
Christmas Day, my aunt Martha hosted breakfast, and I actually made a gingerbread house. She brought a kit to entertain my cousin Leo. The assembly is a little difficult for a six-year-old, so I did the frosting and he stuck the candies on. We had dinner at my aunt Monica's house. The woman can COOK, holy cow. Luckily she made lots of veggies in addition to the meat and potatoes, so I was able to gorge strategically. Will have to acquire the recipe for cognac sauce. Highlights included my six-year-old cousin making ten bucks by shaking down the rest of the family, a festive array of coats that belonged to Tennessee Williams' brother (I should've made my dad get one) and one of my other aunts forgetting the extent to which I am ticklish in my midsection. Awkward.
More fun facts:
Eggplant Marinara is tremendous when cooked properly.
I have no frame of reference, so I'm never quite sure whether to be appalled or enthralled when faced with "antiques".
Lamb Stew makes for bad breath and terrible gas. Always keep mints handy. Thanks, dad.
Inexpensive Jewelry made from recycled flip-flops is a good gift idea.
Small dogs are weird.
Tomorrow I go back to retail hell. BOOOOO! Happy New Year!