Thursday, December 30, 2010

Solstice and Surrounding Parties

Image: Fire from Solstice Party 2008

16th – Thursday
(I’m on vacation from the 17th – the 2nd, going back to work on Monday the 3rd)
Prep house, do laundry, wrap presents ...

17th – Friday - John & Bill Arrive
Decide to make and send biscotti to friends for Christmas
• Gingerbread biscotti (not very good, tossed it)
• Double chocolate
• Chocolate mint
• Vanilla Almond
• Cranberry Almond
Decided there was too little and what I had was too ugly to send.


Dinner at Mama Inez with Heather, Duo, Bill, John, and Chrissy (plus her boyfriend and another couple of her friends). Later that evening exchanged presents at our house with H&D, J&B. (see: http://www.yellowbook.com/profile/mama-inez-mexican-quisine_1820761515.html)


Read "Hyperbole & a Half" blog posts out loud to the clan...
Seriously, we could not stop laughing. Some were of us were crying. Not me of course ... I had to try and maintain composure while reading aloud and showing the pictures. This woman is a genius.

18th – Saturday - Prep for Solstice party, Dinner

Went through holiday music, created a 190 song playlist including Ru Paul, Transiberian Orchestra, Enya, Twisted Sister, Loreena McKennit, piano, Nightmare before Christmas, Barbra Streisand, Axemas, Muppets ...

Dinner of Lasagna and salad with H&D, J&B at our house.

Made fudge & toffee with Heather

Read "Hyperbole & a Half" dog based blog posts:
I recommend that you do not read these at a service point, or while drinking any sort of beverage.  I read the last one at the reference desk one evening and HAD to stiffle the laughter. I'm sure I looked like I was having a seizure or something.  Good thing it was at the end of the semester when everyone is out studying, not in researching.

19th – Sunday - Solstice

Made peanut brittle that morning for Bill

Nick loaded up the Jeep, and then reloaded it, adding stuff to Bill & John's vehicle.

We also brought the spare tree plus decorations, music, movies, bonfire stuff, wood, candles, butter, zip lock bags, tablecloths...

I forgot to arrange for a dog sitter so Barkley came with us. He was quite the hit. We rented the conference center at Aura Soma. http://www.aurasomalava.com/ It is a lovely facility with beds, hot pool, fire pit, views of the river and usually snow, and a big kitchen.

Attendees: Jenny, Nick, Shanna, John, Bill, Heather, Duo, Darci, Adam and Barkley

Had a GREAT TIME!


We decorated tree, then everyone went to Purple Moon to do some last minute shopping.  I hung out with Barkley reading Solstice myths, it was very peaceful. Next came the awesome feast...
 MENU

• Turkey - Duo
• Greek Broccoli Pie - Heather
• Creamed Carrots - Heather
• Rolls - John & Bill
• Dressing – Jenny
• Potatoes – Shanna
• Gravy – Nick
• Pumpkin Bread - Darci
Plus: all the biscotti, the cookies, mint divinity, fudge, peanut brittle & three butterscotch banana breads.

Then outside we trooped to the fire. Barkley scampered around in the snow eyeing the river. A couple of years ago I was taking a walk with a friend and Barkley decided to check out a different cold river and promptly fell in. He could not get out of the river on his own but was clinging to the bank with his cute little fuzzy paws.  I got wet and muddy pulling him out. Nick, Shanna and I kept a close eye on him. None of us wanted a repeat of that incident. Though Nick did say he'd take care of it if it did happen.  Alas he was not with me the previous time. 

The bonfire was warm and was a great way to welcome back the light.  Heather decorated a Yule with greenery and put it in the middle of the fire. Later we did the white elephant gift giving game and I managed to score three frogs doing yoga. Some went and soaked in the hotpools, others of us hung out and watched The 300. Lots of talking and laughing at all times.

20th – Monday - Shanna Birthday

Got up early, packed and stopped for Breakfast at the Wagon Wheel diner in Lava. Made everyone listen to

The Viking Before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the Hall
Not a creature was stirring, not warrior nor thrall.
And I in my armor, my shield and my helm
Was drunker than anyone else in the Realm.

I staggered upstairs and fell into bed
While four quarts of mead were ablaze in my head.
Then up from below came the sounds of a brawl
So I grabbed up my axe and ran down to the Hall.

I missed the last step and crashed down in a heap
Thinking, "Why can't those low-lifes downstairs go to sleep!"
When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But two brawny strangers, wielding mallet and spear.

I said to myself, "We'll soon have them beat!"
Then I noticed ten warriors laid out at their feet.
I gave out a yell and leapt into the fray...
I'll always regret my poor choice of that day.

For the one laid his hammer to the side of my nose
And up, up, up to the rafters I rose.
Then came a lone frightened voice from the floor,
"Those are no mortal warriors -- that's Odin and Thor!"

Then they looked at each other and they said, "Battle's done.
Now they know who we are, it no longer is fun."
Then Thor raised his hammer, and his elbow he bent,
And with a loud crash, through the ceiling they went.

I crawled through the Hall and flung open the door,
Not really sure that I'd seen them before.
The snow bathed in starlight, the moon like a glede,
I saw them ride off on an eight-legged steed.

And I heard them exclaim, 'ere they flew out of sight,
"TO HELA WITH CHRISTMAS, WE JUST LOVE A GOOD FIGHT!"

http://www.odins-gift.com/poth/U-Z/vikingchristmascarol.htm

DSC07501
Image from Aura Soma Lava Solstice Party 2008

Headed for home, unloaded the Jeep and then I went directly to bed for a long winters nap (okay it was about 3 hours). Bill & John, visited other people for awhile. When I awoke we talked a bunch more. That evening the clan gathered again and we had a small party for Shanna. More Italian food in the form of a pasta bar Nick made alfredo and I took care of the marinara. Meatballs from the freezer, grilled chicken and steamed broccoli rounded out the pasta bar menu.  Heather brought a great salad with grapefruit and cilantro. Shanna had requested brownies for dessert, though really we'd already had so much sugar it was overkill.   Hung out a bunch more that evening. John and Bill took off early the next morning.  We had a great four day party with them.  :)

Christmas/Holiday Activities: Part 1

Decorating for the Holidays... We put up or Christmas decorations on Thanksgiving weekend. I take it slow and watch movies. Usually it's the extended Lord of the Rings series. This year, my family voted for the Harry Potter movies instead.

1st – Wednesday - Lunch with the Girls (Maura, Robin & Loretta) at Ruby Tuesday
This was very fun, talked to Maura about her hosting a New Years Eve party. :)

4th – 5th Satunday & Sunday
Cookie baking weekend
• 12 dozen chocolate chip cookies
• 8 dozen peppermint bark cookies
• 8 dozen peanut butter toffee bit cookies

7th – Tuesday
Not feeling well, stayed home from work. It ended up lasting the week.

8th – Wednesday - Xmas potluck at Work - skipped too sick
MADE: Applesauce Spice Cake in the morning, too sick to bring it to work, it was lovely to just eat instead.

10th – Friday - Cookie Exchange at work - skipped too sick
Bagged chocolate chip cookies and sent them in to work with Shanna for Cookie Exchange

11th – Saturday
I was supposed to go to Salt Lake City to visit Mom, Rebecca, Jessica, Doug & Rachel. I was feeling better, but didn't go down to visit. I was afraid of giving my illness to my pregnant sister and her young child. Instead Mom came up that evening for a visit, which was awesome.

12th – Sunday
Visit with mom till she left for Logan around 2:00

13th – Monday - Lunch at Remo's with reference crew: Cheryl, Kristi, Spencer, Regina and Emily
Another fun time, but we always have a good time hanging out or even in meetings. I am very lucky to work with such great people.
Work and work and work

14th – Tuesday
Work and work and work
MADE: Baklava for tomorrow's party

The fire alarm snafu...
Shanna and I made a baklava, we put it in a big jelly roll pan instead of the normal cake pan. It ended up using twice as much of everything but the Filo. Because of this it overflowed in the oven during the baking. As I pulled it out of the oven I saw big clumps of debris on the floor of the oven. I left the oven door open, as is my wont when I am finished baking. After all, why waste the warm air when it is so cold outside. What I didn't know was that there would be smoke from the remains of the clumps in the oven. It set off the fire alarm. We had recently purchased a new "for kitchens" fire alarm. It works. It emits a really loud set of three beeps then pauses and repeats, indefinitely. At first I just shut the door to the oven and the big door between the kitchen and me hoping it would turn itself off once the air/smoke ratio normalized. That didn't happen. Barkley started crying about the sound and Shanna, taking matters into her own hands pulled it off the ceiling. After turning it off she left it on the washing machine because it was way too high for her to put it back. We then went to bed.

Meanwhile, Nick had been out and about shopping for Christmas Presents. He didn't know what happened. Upon his return he saw the cooling baklava and this triggered in him a need to clean the oven. It is one of the self-cleaning type so he turned it on, never opening it, and went down to his office. Later the alarm went off, it penetrated my sleeping brain, but I assumed it was just a leftover alarm from the baking. It kept going, finally I smelled a new icky burning smell and thought, maybe the house really was on fire this time. I got up and went out and was greeted by the ferociously thick smoke emanating from the oven. I met up with a very confused Nick who explained that he had tried to clean the oven. I nodded and went back to bed.

The next morning confusion unraveled, Nick had banged on the sleeping Shanna's door accusing her of taking the alarm down but not turning it off. She became equally confused having decided to just ignore the second blaring of the alarm. We unconfused him by explaining the first alarm, and he explained how he hadn't looked in the oven before turning it on to be cleaned. I had gone to bed with the intention of scraping out the clumps in the morning, but that was no longer necessary. The only thing left to do was to vacuum out the ashy remains. Thank heavens the baklava didn't acquire any flavor from the smoke in the kitchen that night.  It was fine and yummy...

15th – Wednesday - Holiday party at Sandi's (Social Activity 8)
Work and work and work
Holiday party at Sandi's was great fun, lots of interesting people and the view from their house is stunning.

Holiday Plans: 2010 Thanksgiving - New Years

I didn't intend for this year to be the whirlwind of social activities it turned into. Fate intervened to eliminate a couple of them.

This was the plan that evolved over time:

1. Nov. 25 – Thursday - Thanksgiving
2. Dec. 1st – Wednesday - President's Christmas Party
3. Dec. 1st – Wednesday - Lunch with the Girls
4. Dec. 8th – Wednesday - Xmas Potluck at Work
5. Dec. 10th – Friday - Cookie Exchange at Work
6. Dec. 11th – Saturday - Salt Lake City to visit Mom, Rebecca, Jessica, Doug & Rachel
7. Dec. 13th – Monday - Lunch at Remo's with Reference Crew
8. Dec. 15th – Wednesday - Holiday Party at Sandi's
9. Dec. 17th – Friday - John & Bill Arrive - Dinner Out with Friends
10. Dec. 18th – Saturday - Prep for Solstice party, Clan Dinner
11. Dec. 19th – Sunday - Solstice Party
12. Dec. 20th – Monday - Shanna Birthday
13. Dec. 23rd – Thursday - Christmas Eve Eve party in Utah
14. Dec. 24th – Friday - Christmas eve with family Rebecca & Hannah visiting
15. Dec. 25th – Saturday - Christmas with family Rebecca & Hannah visiting
16. Dec. 26th – Sunday - Breakfast with Annie
17. Dec. 29th - Wednesday - Visit from Sarah & Lance
18. Dec. 27th – 30th date never decided for post xmas Extended South Family Christmas Party
19. Dec. 31st – Friday New Years Eve Party at Maura's

19, somehow I committed myself to be involved in 19 social activities. I sometimes think I'm a hermit. Times like this remind me that I'm not. I LOVED all of the stuff I went to. With cancelations the schedule ended up like this:

1. Nov. 25 – Thursday - Thanksgiving
NOT 2. Dec. 1st – Wednesday - President's Christmas Party too tired, skipped it (1)
3. Dec. 1st – Wednesday - Lunch with the Girls
NOT 4. Dec. 8th – Wednesday - Xmas Potluck at Work came down with flu, skipped it (2)
SORTA 5. Dec. 10th – Friday - Cookie Exchange at Work still sick, sent a proxy (Shanna)
SORTA 6. Dec. 11th – Saturday - Salt Lake City to visit Mom, Rebecca, Jessica, Doug & Rachel - Didn't want to expose Rachel to my illness, mom came to visit instead.
7. Dec. 13th – Monday - Lunch at Remo's with Reference Crew
8. Dec. 15th – Wednesday - Holiday Party at Sandi's
9. Dec. 17th – Friday - John & Bill Arrive - Dinner Out with Friends
10. Dec. 18th – Saturday - Prep for Solstice party, Clan Dinner
11. Dec. 19th – Sunday - Solstice Party
12. Dec. 20th – Monday - Shanna Birthday
13. Dec. 23rd – Thursday - Christmas Eve Eve party in Utah
NOT 14. Dec. 24th – Friday - Christmas eve with family Rebecca & Hannah visiting (3)
NOT 15. Dec. 25th – Saturday - Christmas with family Rebecca & Hannah visiting(4)
16. Dec. 26th – Sunday - Breakfast with Annie
17. Dec. 29th - Wednesday - Visit from Sarah & Lance
NOT 18. Dec. 27th – 30th date never decided for post xmas Extended South Family Christmas Party (5)
19. Dec. 31st – Friday New Years Eve Party at Maura's

Meaning I skipped out or had canceled five and sent a proxy to one leaving me with 13 marvelous, entertaining, fun get-togethers this past holiday season.