Dear Reader, I'll let you decide the better title for this post!
I know what I'm celebrating and it includes some of my favorites:
Standing Rib Roast
Steamed carrots
Mashed potatoes
and that's just dinner for tomorrow!!
and then there will be A NEW YORK STYLE CHEESECAKE!!
I'll be back, there will be more later today.
xoxox
UPDATE: 19h23 the cheesecake is in the oven!
I spared you all the details of the making of said cheesecake because it really wasn't all that exciting or complicated! Tomorrow there will be pictures.
Also, a box from Amazon arrived with 5 books FOR ME from supernana, Mr Matrix, and BGM! Pictures tomorrow.
I have become totally upset with that other social media site and also, all things related to news as we know here in the US of A. Based on that, I have spent the day (it's 15:07 here) perusing all things unrelated to current events! So, based on that, I'm sharing the bits of info I've gleaned with all y'all! (all part of my own personal mind palace of solitude)
Do you know about messy nessy an online collection of all things interesting?
How about atlas obscura another collection of things you might not EVER know about.
Hyperallergic yet another source of information you could possibly live without!
How about Arsty which is not as pretensious as it sounds?
Then there's a site that if you're interested in just because of the name, you should check out! It's called The Mysterious Package Company. If nothing else, join for the email information.
For a collection of interesting stories that will arrive in your inbox: Medium for humor (or humour), serious reads, and stuff.
Here's one I just found that I check every day (ok, almost every day): Earth Sky! Really great tips on star gazing or just enjoying the night sky.
(update) HOW COULD I HAVE FORGOTTEN TO SHARE Curbed with all y'all?
I hope these will help when you need a moment of personal down time during the holiday rush that so many are experiencing right now!
Have a great holiday weekend!
Happy Christmas!
xoxo
p.s. if you have any sites to share, leave them in the comments! bisous
It's been rather hectic around the Plantation because the MITM has been waiting for an answer regarding a project. Maybe hectic isn't the best word to describe THE ABSOLUTE TENSION AND ANXIETY that has wrapped itself around this place.
Of course, TODAY everything changed, good news came via a well timed phone call! He's visibly relieved and relaxed, so everyone here (me) is breathing easier. So, now we can focus on the really important event that is rapidly approaching!!
MY BIRTHDAY!!
Yes, yes, I know I said I wasn't going to have a countdown or make a big deal about it since it isn't a significant number/decade yet, but like the (once) spoiled only child (I use that word metaphorically, of course) that I am, I am planning my own party and celebrating ME! (cue cheers)
**********
We received a call yesterday from friends who were departing for Paris to celebrate his birthday today and to spend Christmas there. The MITM wasn't in, but I was happy to wish them a lovely time and a great birthday. This is her first time visiting the city. He'd gone with us a couple of times before they were married, so he knows a bit more than she about great places to see. (Yes, I am really jealous, can you tell?) I'll always cherish memories of my first visit, but the one that stands out the most is coming up from the Metro to a gentle snow falling and just being awestruck by the beauty and quiet of the moment. *sigh* Now I want a cup of hot chocolate from Angelina! (Quick aside, looking for the website, I just found out I can order the hot chocolate mix online from a couple of American purveyors!)
*************
If you aren't on that other social media site you will not have seen my latest experiment in domesticity! Yes, my darlings, instead of the MITM baking pies, I BAKED BREAD! Not only did I bake bread, I made 2 loaves of 6 strand braided challah bread! That's right, for the very first time in more years that I can remember, I baked bread. AND, I used a recipe and a technique I've never tried before!!
this was the second attempt at braiding
the loaf on the right was the first attempt
We had warm slices with butter and jam immediately, and then the next day I made French toast. We had the last slices this morning with our coffee. The second loaf is in the freezer! I plan to bake a brioche next! Or maybe, I'll bake my birthday cake next and save the brioche loaves (recipe makes 2) for next year!
***********
And because it's Christmas (or almost) here's a movie because someone went to Disneyland and stayed overnight! And also, for your enjoyment, a random pirate, who also happened to visit the most magical place on Earth!
She's singing "Bare Necessities" from the Jungle Book ride, in case you couldn't figure that out!
And now, as Captain Chaos said, a random pirate sighting...
He called himself "Captain Tiny Chinese Pirate"
There will be more soon! I have to decide on a menu for this year's celebrations. Oh yes, there will be more than one! xoxo
I read this today and even though it was published in the NYT in April of this year (and I probably read it then) TODAY it hit home. It hit that spot in my heart that instantly brought tears to my eyes. Maybe it's because it's December or because yesterday super nana took Big Girl Matrix to see The Nutcracker and BGM showed me (in a video) how the mice danced or seeing Captain Chaos and Big Boy Chaos at the skate park and remembering how I used to hold my breath when the Captain was on his board, but right now I really miss my mama. Even thought I know she'd be in her 90's, I just wish she could see how far her family has come.
Fingers Crossed Across Generations
Dear Diary:
Every Christmas I travel from Philadelphia to New York to spend a couple of days on the Upper West Side with my sister, who is 82. I am 90.
On Christmas Eve, we walked up Broadway to a little, hole-in-the-wall shop, Beard Papa’s, for coffee and cream puffs. I sat at a small table while my sister stood on line.
I watched a much younger woman at an adjacent table struggling with an overladen shopping bag, from which a bouquet of long-stemmed roses threatened to fall out. The bag kept toppling but finally things were in order, and the roses were safe.
I smiled at the younger woman and showed her my crossed fingers, and she crossed hers in return. A few seconds later, she put a beautiful rose on my table.
I thanked her and then said, “But why are you doing this?”
“Because I don’t have a mother anymore,” she said.
Just so you know, I'm OK now. Just sharing this and yes, shedding a few tears in the process, has sent the December blues on their way!
Oh, by the by, check out The Nutcracker on Eroswings blog! The music is heavenly!
I love all y'all more than you know! xoxo UPDATE: Blogger and friend on that other social media site, Ponita, posted this today and I thought I'd share it here, too!
The MITM has been doing genealogical research into his family and mine. This research has been all online via a site that I am not going to name because they aren't paying me to endorse them, so this ain't a sponsored post.
He's been tiptoeing on the razor's edge waiting for other things to fall into place, so to keep from baking pies (which is what he does during times of stress) he started researching his family and mine. A lot of this "time filler" as he calls it was initiated by watching Finding Your Roots a show on public television (PBS) here in the USA. The MITM's family was part of the southern migration to California back in the day. He found MASSIVE amounts of information regarding both his paternal and maternal lines stretching back to the 1600s.
My family, on the other hand, had not been as rigorous when it came to record keeping, so he's only gone as far back as the early 1800s on my mother's side. She was born in Manhattan and her side is American. My Daddy was an immigrant, so in order to get all of HIS records, we have to buy the PREMIUM package that searches international records. At this point, I know enough through the historical documentation to know exactly where my Daddy was born and when he became a naturalized citizen.
What I've come to realize with his research is that when we were young we didn't ask enough questions about where we came from or pay real attention to the stories that were shared. Family myths often have basis in reality I've come to find out, but you have to have some facts! I think I'll start putting as much info on old photos as I find them now. (YIKES, what about all of those thousands of digital photos that haven't been printed and are just sitting on external drives?!)
There will be more to this story, I'm sure, but for now the MITM is going to talk to a new cousin about what they've both found out!
*******
During this "wait and see" time around here, I've been listening to a lot of music (to drown out skype/facetime/phone conversations), catching up on Netflix, housework (I know, right? WTF am I thinking?), and reading. Reading has been a tad more difficult than I had anticipated (even after all these years of marital bliss, I haven't learned how to tune out his voice, etc.) because I still seem to hear everything and feel the shift in the force when things aren't going well. So, my pile of books is growing and not diminishing. BUT, super nana did send me a copy of Obama: An Intimate Portrait by Pete Souza which was the post pleasant and much desired surprise present! I mean, who can forget this exchange:
The photo is in the book, too! Along with so many others, sad and joyful, that are part of our history and collective consciousness.
I have to finish reading Breakfast at Cannibal Joe's by our friend and blogger, Jay Spenser Green, before I can start or even buy another book! But that's a story for another time. ;)
*******
Today as I was perusing that other social media site, I came across a post by another pal about how she misses blogging and now is mainly on Instagram and that other social media site. I posted that I was still blogging and figured I should post today!
Speaking of bloggers, take a moment and check out Hope's Christmas Wish. I'm also thinking about attempting a knockoff painting for Mr. Exile when the muse strikes!
Now I'm off to read some of our other blogging pals while the MITM is chatting with his newly found cousin!
And because you asked (OK, because I love sharing them) here are some recent pictures from the krewe:
Christmas tree at the Matrix house!
Big Girl Matrix and the Christmas village
Big Boy Chaos at the skatepark this morning
The video is BGM and her dog, Tommy Lasorda! (They're all BIG DODGER fans!)
I heard this earlier this evening and since then I've listened to a few other renditions by James Taylor and others. Given how angry/depressed/incensed/livid/madcrazy life in the USA has made me lately, it seemed appropriate to let a little light in.
Today is the Captain's birthday!! He's out doing what he likes to do at this time of the year and that's duck hunting! Right now, I'm guessing he's sitting in a duck blind with one of his friends watching the sky and waiting. (because it's called hunting, not shopping) Maybe he'll be lucky or maybe he won't, but I know he'll enjoy his day!
Today, our pal, Kim, debuted the new format for his blog. (Check it out, I'll wait.)
He's been blogging for 12 years, so, of course, I had to check and see when my first post was. According to the sidebar it was published on November 28, 2006. I had to look because I couldn't remember, but then I can barely remember what I wrote yesterday, but since it was the 28th, that was the first and only post that month. I was a bit more prolific in December.
Blogging has changed a lot since then and we know that sadly, a few bloggers have passed on, while others have just stopped blogging for reasons unknown. The other social media sites have also siphoned off a few, but even with that, many are using multiple platforms to stay in touch. Every time I think that I'm going to walk away from Mr. Zuckerberg, one of the Krewe posts a pic or shares something that I have to share, so we know what happens then, right? (don't judge)
Blogging is still my favorite method because I can write about what I'm thinking without having to worry about trolls attacking me or my friends which has happened! Your comments are always appreciated and many times, your words have given me and the MITM support and love I can't even begin to thank you and will forever be grateful. All of this to say, it's closer to 11 years here in Blogville and no matter how long between posts, either on my blog or all y'all's, this is home and this is still my favorite place!
What about you?
And there are these guys...
Big Boy Chaos eating a doughnut in the skatepark. He's learning how to stand up on his skateboard!
First, thank you to everyone who left a comment last Sunday. It had been the end of a bad week for me and your comments helped cheer me up. Y'all reminded me that some things are temporary and no matter what, time really does heal. If nothing else, we move on. A bit stronger, a bit less sad. NOW, I'm sitting in the breakfast room between kitchen duties while the MITM makes yet another one of his wonderful meals! Today it's chicken and sausage gumbo and I am ready. Of course, it will be a few hours before it's time to eat, but it already smells so delicious in here! Yesterday, he made a sweet potato pie, sweetpeas. I swear, but I am glad we deal with anxiety in different ways because the eating is hot damn good when he's anxious! (I know, I am horrible, right?) I just mope and sigh, but I do find comfort in all the gorgeous meals. (Not to toot my own horn (such an archaic phrase), but I am an excellent scullery maid!) Anyway, it's Saturday, there are a few things to do around here that have been neglected, so.... Later Skaters *I'll post some pictures later!*
Unrelated to food, but why not:
Big Boy Chaos
Big Girl Matrix asleep in her clubhouse with Tommy, the dog
Yesterday, it was Lipton onion soup dip and potato chips.
There was something about mixing the sour cream and onion soup mix into a bowl, then dipping a crispy thin chip in, loading it up and popping it into my mouth that made everything else disappear.
This song.
Sleep.
The comfort of my bed in the afternoon. Falling asleep to the sounds of the MITM in the kitchen, far enough away to not intrude, but close enough so I knew I wasn't alone. Hearing the rumblings of the impending storm, again far enough away not to intrude, but close enough to slowly darken the sky. An eyemask is also an important part of an afternoon nap, especially when there's an uncovered palladium window in the room! All of the pillows make the perfect nest, I mean, they are down filled! Blissful, no longer troubled dreams.
Dinner.
The MITM knows me far better than I know myself sometimes. He decided early on in the day that he was going to be in charge of meals. There was wine, cheese, appetizers and calamari! Anyone who knows that silence during a meal doesn't mean there's nothing left to say, it simply means that the food, the meal deserves, no demands, complete and total attention! We sat together in absolute joy filled silence and, for me, complete grace.
*****
Watching the storms forming and then moving across the Atlantic has caused anxiety, but for those who've been in the eye of the storms, they've suffered far more than I can imagine. Whatever I've experienced has been minor, so I'm not complaining, but to move on I must admit that anxiety and fear have been a very large part of the last few weeks! We, like many transplants to the south, wondered for a moment why are we still here, what is keeping us here. The answer comes almost immediately after asking the question: the water retreats, the sky is blue again, the smell of the ocean, the marsh, the knowledge that there will be fresh shrimp "over to Dubberly's" and our neighbors sweet voices calling out.
Then you know, then I know, why we stay. This place can heal you in a way you aren't even aware of. It wraps you in the denseness of the magnolia trees growing everywhere. The tendrils of the jasmine support you even as you prop them up. This place grows your spirit, even when hate surfaces around you that voice is small compared to the glorious voices that lift your heart, your soul when you have reached rockbottom. This place reminds you that you don't fight nature, you move with it.
All this to say, my heart was broken and it has healed.
For all our pals who aren't on that other social media site, the MITM and I are safe here on The Plantation! We were without power for 12 hours which considering the damage to the islands near our little town is phenomenal! Our landline was down for a couple of hours, but again, nothing compared to other areas nearby and absolutely NOTHING compared to Florida and the Caribbean. We are fortunate. We suffered no major damage. The MITM and I were able to clean up the yard debris without any issues.
FYI: garage door visible on the left is our neighbor's house. Our main garage door is slightly visible behind the bushes and the side garage door is by the fence and bins.
Our neighbor across the street had a tree come down in his backyard narrowly missing his bedroom by 8 INCHES!! That was the closest call on our block and everyone is grateful no one sustained serious damage or injury around here. The MITM and I are grateful and humbled by all of you and your concern for us. Thank you and we love all y'all!! xoxoxo
Darling friends! The MITM and I are prepared to leave if needed. There is a mandatory evacuation that will begin this Saturday. I will keep in touch as often as I can, until then we love all y'all! Remember, hope
and her krewe up in SC, too! We're all having to deal with Miss Irma this time!
Today I watched the final episode of "Inspector Morse" (for the hundredth time I'm sure) and my reaction was the same as always, immense sadness. I know it was just a tv series, but I remember a phone call from one of the krewe, talking about the finale and how much we loved the series. I guess watching "The Remorseful Day" has more meaning, for me, than just the end of a favorite series.
Shared memories.
And then, a couple of years later John Thaw died. We spoke that day, too. A man neither of us knew, but a respect for his talent and our
...shared memory.
I don't know what it is, the end of summer? Hurricane season? The horror we're experiencing here and the world? The futility of it all?
I don't have a pic of The Kid yet because she's in high school and goes back next week! (plus, I have to make sure it's OK with her to post one and that the Cap't and Stretch send me one!)
The MITM and The Doc are doing well in deepestdarkestcoastalafrica, the Dancing Lady, Cap't Chaos, Stretch, Mr Matrix and Super Nana are alive and well and still out in Lalaland!
My mantra for this past week has been, "Stay safe, stay positive, and breathe"
Y'all know this drill. The day before the MITM leaves for deepestdarkestafrica it gets a bit busy around here, but for some reason this trip BECAUSE we know it's for a much, much, MUCH shorter time we're on a more relaxed schedule. He's having lunch as I sit here and he is very much in "chill mode" so, I'm not frantic... yet.
BGM will be 5 tomorrow, so her birthday party was on Saturday! There was a bounce house, bubble machine AND 2 streamer cannons that shot out purple and pink streamers!! Captain Chaos and The Doc were in charge of those! As the Cap't said, what could possibly go wrong? but of course, nothing did! (super nana did tell me that after the cannons went off, the guys asked if there were more streamers to shoot off!)
It's Wednesday, midway through a week that has been playing catch-up since last week and maybe I should just hit reboot. The MITM will be on the move again and heading back to the westerly side of deepestdarkestafrica. After spending so much time here on the Plantation and traveling within these borders with only an occasional trip abroad, we're back into lengthy international travel mode again. It's work with a much longer commute than most, but dems da breaks for our international man of mystery.
********
At some point soon, there will be a guest blogger filling this page and until then, I'll just have to keep on sharing my thoughts and anecdotal files with all y'all.
Content has been a bit wobbly here, I know, but so have my thoughts since, I don't know, maybe November 8th of last year. The antics and shenanigans coming out from our nations capital have left me more than a bit off kilter, shall we say. But, that seems to be a condition many are suffering from lately. (Sweet Mary Sunshine, but the stress is killing me) Normal, everyday occurrences, and some not so everyday, when heaped on to the wild ride our country is taking make tranquility and calmness almost unattainable for many people, but right now, ME!
so, whatchagonnadew?
Here:
and there's more:
BGM at The Huntington
I look at BBC and BGM (I think they might need some new blog names, since they really aren't babies anymore, but aren't really BIG yet.) and I have hope for the future.
I woke up at 0700 and thought, "Well, OK, it's Friday. Cool!"
30 minutes later, it was "WTF?"
Yes, at the last minute the beyond belief Republican death health care bill was narrowly defeated, BUT, now we have to pray that we can finally get some sort of bi-partisan cooperation to honestly look at the Affordable Care Act (ACA or Obamacare) and fix those elements that need fixing and move on to the other serious work that needs to be done to protect this country from the grifter-in-charge and his band of flunkies!
OK, maybe I'm dreaming or massively delusional, but in the immortal words of Judy Tenuta:
Just starting here, so the whole day is open to suggestions! The MITM is working (here at home, not deepestdarkestafrica), so disinclined to be involved in any shenanigans which means I am on my own! Chores or ??? I'll be updating later.
MITM: I'm going to the store to pick-up a few things that we need. Do we have basil?
Me: There's a list on the spice cabinet door.
MITM: (looking at list and adding items to HIS list) Anything else?
Me: Get a baguette.
MITM: What pot should I use?
~4 hours later~
Me: That was delish! Glad you bought some white wine.
MITM: You know, we have just the right things to make whatever we want.
Me:
MITM: I think Captain Chaos will want the pots when we die.
Me: Well, Mr Matrix is starting to become a good cook now, so there might be some discussion.
MITM: There are enough that they'll be able to divide them up.
Me:
~3 hours later~
Me: You should have heard the conversation your father and I had earlier.
super nana: Let me guess, you talked about food, right?
Me: Well, yes, your father made a really delicious tomato soup (detailed explanation re: recipe and sides followed)... then we talked about who'd get all our cookware when we're gone.
super nana: You guys are starting to worry me. It's food and who's getting your stuff when you're dead! (she was laughing when she said this.)
Me: We're getting old and it makes us laugh!
super nana:
Moral of this conversation? We're weird, we enjoy cooking and eating, and WTF, it really does all make us laugh out loud!
In the Name of the Rose is a favorite movie around here. It was also a much loved read when it came out. Umberto Eco (1932-2016) was, and still is, a favorite author. This is part of a the larger background of my thoughts today.
Thinking of things and people from the past, some of whom are around, but not present, and others who are gone. This is also part of the background of this post today. I read a comment by our dear friend, Map, about drinking bourbon and that our pal, "JB, would be horrified." This led me to my own blogroll and surprise that it's been 3 years since Jimmy Bastard had shared a word with us. Looking at the other names that haven't posted in years was also, as we used to say a real bummer, but some are still around just in other forms (y'all know where they are).
It's time to bring blogging back, I think!
I'm glad that there are still so many of our blogging family that pop up on the sidebar/blog roll (ok, thanks to all my pals across the pond, every time I write that I giggle! and y'all know why) with new posts and photos and in the case of Mark, Tales From the Plastic Bin! Members of my own krewe have stopped blogging, but since we're kin, I pretty much know what's happening most of the time.
The other day, I sent a note on the twitter to an old pal, Istvanski, just to make sure he was OK and of course, he is. So many of the people I met when I first started blogging have moved on, some to that other social media site, and others have just disappeared. So, some we still see, and others we hope might still pop up in Blogville! But, the saddest part is finding that old friends have slipped away never to return. In the 10 years since I began blogging, we've lost many friends. Most recently, White Rabbit know to us as Andrew Keogh, a barrister, a writer, a friend. He, like the others, will be missed.
The up side to that other social media site is that we can keep in contact far more easily and far more immediately! We share good times/bad times that used to be limited to a local phone call or a letter with pals in places many of us might never get a chance to visit, on a daily, sometimes hourly opportunity!
This is the version of "Wooden Ships" by Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, we were talking about, IDV! I forgot how much younger than me you are, sweetpea! ;)
There is a move via the Federal Communications Committee (FCC) to roll back regulations that require that all data and all users of the internet be treated without restriction, or the institution of a two tier system. For non-tech geeks like me, that means sites will be slower loading, subject to censorship by providers and a very different look for what amounts to a utility like water, electricity, gas, etc.
This is the type of subtle creep that can and will affect all of us, not only here, but around the world.
As much as I want to believe this is a kind and good place, it is becoming darker and darker.
Where does the time go? (she said ever so rhetorically)
In just a matter of days, we here in the USofA will celebrate our independence from Britain. Of course, many of us are wishing we could declare independence from the monstrosity known as "45" here. (OK, I know I wish we could. I'll not speak for anyone else.) This year, I have not planned any celebrations or festivities. Nor will I be attending the annual fireworks display down by the river or anywhere else in my little town. It just seems far too strange to be celebrating when we are watching the dissolution of everything that has represented democracy (or the Republic for the pedants in the audience) not only here, but for the world wide audience for whom we had once been a model.
We were watching a documentary the other day about the restoration of World War II fighter planes. Near the end of the film, when many of the planes were flown for the first time since their decommissioning, the few remaining original pilots spoke eloquently (some even reduced to tears) of their flights and those who never returned. It dawned on me that these men fought to rid the world of nazism and fascism and here we are watching the rise of these hated -isms again right here on our own shores. I no longer think that saying this or thinking this is being overly dramatic or paranoid or pessimistic.
There's a far better post about this and I hope you'll give skippy-san a read. I will always be grateful to e@l for the link to the far east cynic!
This year he's home and not away in some far off place! It will be a quiet day because it's Monday and the weekend was not! I hope y'all will join me in wishing him a grand day and an exciting grand year!
i just realized that i checked out a page on that other social media site because i hadn't seen that person in a few years. i don't know which made me sadder, the time that has elapsed or the fact that that is the only connection now.
a dollar waiting on a dime. BUT, on the upside, we're both feeling a bit better, so that's a good thing. Don't worry, we are OK and the future is bright.
it's just a bit dark right now.
UPDATE (because I'm tired of cleaning house): interesting stats about who's looking at the blog:
United States
556
France
25
United Kingdom
17
Germany
14
Canada
11
Venezuela
7
Ireland
5
Russia
4
Portugal
2
Romania
2
So, who's in Venezuela?
Four in Russia? That has to be a seriously random web crawl!
