All the shopping (gift and food) is done. My final task (a joy... really) today was to have lunch with one of my sisters and together go buy those last minute gifts for Christmas. My 3! sisters and I try to go Christmas shopping together every year, but we are successful only occasionally. If two of us can manage it, then two of us go, but oh! It is so much fun when it is all four of us wandering the mall, checking in on our cell phones, "Look, I found something for your husband!" or "Will this fit your son?" or "If I bought this for you will you look surprised?" or "Come over to the perfume counter.. the line is really short and they'll ring up your daughter's present!" So much fun. When there is just the two of us it is all a little less frenetic, calmer and relaxed. My sister Jenny and I went out today and braved the crowds. We went to an extraordinarily crowded mall... had a plan, bought two items.. one for her boyfriend and one for my dad. Then, we left that awful place and headed for Target. I bought the "toys for tots" that Phil and I do every year and she found something for all the bros-in-law. Then we went to Trader Joe's across the street. I've been scouring different Trader Joe's around town trying to find a Christmas Ham. They are sold out everywhere. I finally bought one at Von's. Oh well. I'm sure it will be fine. It is just for the two of us... Christmas Eve dinner. Our tradition. (A family can be just two.)
Okay, I'm sure you are wondering what I am making. Well! Clearly the Christmas ham and my cranberry sauce (see last year's recipe.) Then.. Brussels sprouts off the stalk with butter, mashed potatoes AND yams with peaches and ginger, a lovely salad. I bought a chocolate grenache for dessert! Yay!
Christmas morning I am cooking brunch for all my family in town. (2 nephews, 2 nieces, 3 sisters, 2 brothers-in-law, 1 boyfriend, 1 girlfriend (my dad's), my dad, my dad's girlfriend's daughter, my dad's caretaker and maybe, if he is feeling well enough to come, my husband. Whew! Quite a crowd. It is all good. It is always like that. (My brother and his 4 kids and his wife celebrate Christmas in Sacramento, of all places. We miss them.)
I am serving, first and foremost... Mimosas.. (You know, champagne and orange juice.) Scrambled eggs, done simply - no added ingredients, okay, well, milk or soy milk or whatever is needed for my weird family's needs, Christmas sausage (my secret), fruit salad, blueberry bread, figs, Honey Baked Ham (the real stuff) and vegetarian sausages I found for my poor dad who after 2 recent heart surgeries has developed gout... He is better now, and home! (I've been VERY strict about his diet.) As my dad would say, "Ain't the internet grand!" Only the actual cooking is left to do.
I start a new show Monday. Yay. Work! Love that. I've been oh so busy during my one week off, but it has been "grand." I'm as happy as I've ever been and I'm sitting here in the middle of the night thinking of all you readers, wishing you the most Merry (Mary) Christmas and Best Holiday Season ever. Things are looking up. They really are. We just have to hold on to hope.
All will be well.
xo
m.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Dad O.
It is late. My husband has gone to bed. I have these lonesome night times to compose a few little thoughts I wanted to share with y'all.
On my way to work, last week, I had to pause before getting on the freeway so two horses with riders could pass. That is where I live. How cool is that! I smiled all day.
My Dad came HOME today. yeah! Yay! I thought I was going to lose him. But he survived the initial heart surgery and survived the subsequent emergency surgery and is recovering. OH my goodness. He is okay! He is home! We hired 24 hour care for right now. We will never send Dad to a nursing home. He will live in his home til the day he dies. My sister Dedie is a hero. She arranged all this. My dad thinks god made him sick to bring me and my siblings closer together. He actually said this. (This surprised me.) But, you know what? I realized my sisters and my brother are in fact my best friends.
So, I saw snow in the local mountains just in time for Christmas.
I am shopping tomorrow, but only for special people. My Dad's girlfriend.. she needs a really good present. She has been great. This would piss my dead mother off, but... We love her. Helen is so dedicated to my Dad. I know Mom would forgive us. (Dad talks about Mom constantly.)
This post is a a little more personal than I usually post. I like to be less direct. But. I am overwhelmed with happiness that Dad O is back home.
Oh... that is is what I've always called my dad... Dad O. Don't know why. It is one of those things that just is.
Hope y'all have a Great Holiday Season!
xoxo
m.
On my way to work, last week, I had to pause before getting on the freeway so two horses with riders could pass. That is where I live. How cool is that! I smiled all day.
My Dad came HOME today. yeah! Yay! I thought I was going to lose him. But he survived the initial heart surgery and survived the subsequent emergency surgery and is recovering. OH my goodness. He is okay! He is home! We hired 24 hour care for right now. We will never send Dad to a nursing home. He will live in his home til the day he dies. My sister Dedie is a hero. She arranged all this. My dad thinks god made him sick to bring me and my siblings closer together. He actually said this. (This surprised me.) But, you know what? I realized my sisters and my brother are in fact my best friends.
So, I saw snow in the local mountains just in time for Christmas.
I am shopping tomorrow, but only for special people. My Dad's girlfriend.. she needs a really good present. She has been great. This would piss my dead mother off, but... We love her. Helen is so dedicated to my Dad. I know Mom would forgive us. (Dad talks about Mom constantly.)
This post is a a little more personal than I usually post. I like to be less direct. But. I am overwhelmed with happiness that Dad O is back home.
Oh... that is is what I've always called my dad... Dad O. Don't know why. It is one of those things that just is.
Hope y'all have a Great Holiday Season!
xoxo
m.
Monday, December 12, 2011
My Day, Today.
OOh, I feel So Connected! So silly... I have an Ipad now. Can't write my blog on it. Different companies are arguing over apps.
OH. So cool, I can connect to Icloud and get my Itunes... No... I don't have Intel inside... need a newer computer.
I can use Amazon Cloud! No, I need to use a different notebook. Ok..
I'll go to my Tmobile account and download my pics! No, I have to have an android device to use this.
Fuck.
Yes... I've found the ways around all of this, but it is an unnecessary pain in the ass!
Competing companies are spoiling my high! Had to go "low tech" and use my computer to write this. LOL
Really, makes me laugh.
Love the Ipad. Love it. Hope it will be able to help me more... later.
My husband recently told me, "I love how you walk. You hold your head up high and have good posture." I remember when I made the decision to walk this way. In 1972 my dear friend Guy de Garcia was walking down some street in Berkeley. His head was high and he never looked at the ground. I loved the way he looked. So confident, so serene. I thought, "This is it. This is the way to approach the world." I've never looked down ever since. Sometimes one will trip, but the view is so much better from up here, looking ahead!
I am currently stage managing "The Night Watcher" at the Kurt Douglas Theatre in Culver City. This is a play written and performed by Charlayne Woodard. She is A National Treasure. Directed by (who we call) Broadway Dan Sullivan. It is brilliant. THIS is why I do theatre. She and I are so in sync that the show has a finesse you will not see elsewhere. We close in a week. Come and see us!
My dad is doing better than we could have ever expected, after 2! heart surgeries, one an emergency to save his life. He will be home by Christmas.
It is getting late and I am giving a final tomorrow at 8am. But, I am looking forward to the day. I will miss these lovely students. I wish them all the luck and good connections in the world.
xo
OH. So cool, I can connect to Icloud and get my Itunes... No... I don't have Intel inside... need a newer computer.
I can use Amazon Cloud! No, I need to use a different notebook. Ok..
I'll go to my Tmobile account and download my pics! No, I have to have an android device to use this.
Fuck.
Yes... I've found the ways around all of this, but it is an unnecessary pain in the ass!
Competing companies are spoiling my high! Had to go "low tech" and use my computer to write this. LOL
Really, makes me laugh.
Love the Ipad. Love it. Hope it will be able to help me more... later.
My husband recently told me, "I love how you walk. You hold your head up high and have good posture." I remember when I made the decision to walk this way. In 1972 my dear friend Guy de Garcia was walking down some street in Berkeley. His head was high and he never looked at the ground. I loved the way he looked. So confident, so serene. I thought, "This is it. This is the way to approach the world." I've never looked down ever since. Sometimes one will trip, but the view is so much better from up here, looking ahead!
I am currently stage managing "The Night Watcher" at the Kurt Douglas Theatre in Culver City. This is a play written and performed by Charlayne Woodard. She is A National Treasure. Directed by (who we call) Broadway Dan Sullivan. It is brilliant. THIS is why I do theatre. She and I are so in sync that the show has a finesse you will not see elsewhere. We close in a week. Come and see us!
My dad is doing better than we could have ever expected, after 2! heart surgeries, one an emergency to save his life. He will be home by Christmas.
It is getting late and I am giving a final tomorrow at 8am. But, I am looking forward to the day. I will miss these lovely students. I wish them all the luck and good connections in the world.
xo
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