Out With the Old and In With 2009

There is a saying that all good things must come to an end and so the time comes when we must all say goodbye to 2008. I am looking forward to all that 2009 has to offer. I cant say that the path is entirely clear, but I am exicted to make the journey.

To you and yours, all the best in the new year.

To You and Yours

Other Christmas Traditions

I've already shared that I am not really into the spirit this year. Not sure why, I'm just not feeling it. I think my coworker Amy picked up on it after I shrugged my shoulders when she asked me how I'd be spending my holiday break. After a quick chuckle, Amy said, "Well Jeremy and I planned on doing our Christmas Day Movie Blitz, but with Will we've not figured out how that would work. It looks like we'll be at home." Well my interest was immediately peaked, "movies," I asked. She responded, "Yup, movies. You know, tickets, start times, concessions stand, popcorn? Jeremy and I go every Christmas Day." OK, so where have I been all my life? How come, I've never thought about the movies on Christmas Day? Amy must have read my mind because she continued, "Alisia, most Jews sleep late, order Chinese carryout, and go to the movies on Christmas Day. It isn't our holiday."

I almost gave Amy a bear hug, but I didn't want her to punch me. So instead I called Michael and asked him if he'd like to become Jewish with me for the day. We'd do it up. Waffles and turkey bacon in our pj's in the morning. It's A Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street on TV (commercials included) for the afternoon. Then we'd order greasy spoon Chinese food for dinner. He loved the idea! Yeah for me. I think it was easier for him to agree as his family are all back in Kansas.

Now you may ask, dear faithful reader (lol), what about Christmas with your family? Yeah, yeah, yeah...I'll make the rounds. (Much) later in the day (evening)...for dessert and quick hellos.

It may turn out to be a merry Christmas, afterall.

Lolita Wine Glasses

are my new muse. I used one at a friend's Holiday Party. My friend had the neatest idea, she assigned each guest a glass. The guys got a pilsner glass (more manly you see) and the ladies got a wine glass. As each glass has a different design, no ones glass got confused with the next persons. Each person was able to keep track of their own glass for the night. My friend assigned glasses based on what each person was known for. One of the other party guests (another friend) was given the Fashionista glass, another got the glass with the 18th hole on it. The glasses covered all the basis: they were functional, utilitarian and festive all at the same time.

I drank out of the one to the left at the party and the one I ordered for myself arrived today. I think the glass is fitting, as anyone who knows me knows that I live in sandals....well I live in them up until the first frost.

I've made a list of the other glasses I'd like to add to the one I just got. I'll treat myself from time to time. I'm thinking a finish line one (if they even have one) for after the Shamrock in March.

One More Again

It's official! I registered. Cant turn back now. Yuengling at the finish line isnt bad incentive either. I didnt register with a charity partner, so for now it is all about me and the running. I'll keep the 2 of your that keep up with this blog posted.

Bonefish Grill

I started with hot baked bread with homemade pesto. Then I followed with the Chilean Sea Bass with Jasmine Rice and steamed green beans. I sipped on Chateau Ste. Michelle, Riesling. Michael had the Mussels Josephine to start. Then he followed with the Mahi Mahi with Jasmine Rice and asparagus. We both left stuffed and Laurel (our server) packaged my to go box (with the cutest hand drawn fish bone illustrations on it) and thanked us for coming. She asked us to come again.

Laurel, we will definitely be back. Check them out if you can. http://www.bonefishgrill.com

The Holiday Spirit

I'm not into it this year....sigh. But I don't think the rest of the world around me is either. I signed up for the Secret Pal Gift Exchange at work. My pal hasn't done very well. The office Holiday Potluck has gone up...only 3 people have signed up. Jess and I went to the mall yesterday and it was empty. Seriously, no one was in any of the stores! No one was in line to see Santa!

One bright spot was that Stacy hosted her holiday party! What a blast! I didn't stay long, but she had a great crowd. Stacy has always had the ability to befriend a wide range of people. I mean everyone from grade school to retirement home. A representative from each group was in attendance at her party. The food was great and the music was fun. I loved it!

Today, I am going to try and continue the momentum that Stacy began. I am going to have lunch with Michael at Bonefish Grille. Afterwards, I am going to see if I can find some mistletoe.

Dreams Realized

Went to Indy this weekend and saw Danny. I am happy to report that he is happy and doing well. He has settled in well with his girlfriend. Their new home is cute and rather cozy. One thing that struck me during my visit is that Danny is happy as a lark. He is happy because he is living and he is living well. Living well does not mean that he is swimming in money (although in this economy he isnt doing badly). He is living well because he is happy by simply being and doing what he loves to do. So many people can only dream of being so lucky.

I promised to return soon for another visit. I've already worked it out. I'll be back when it isnt so cold.

La Tosca!

Black Friday seemed like the best time to go and check out the newest rage at the Baltimore's Inner Harbor Pratt Street Pavillion. Tara's birthday was the appropriate occasion. Reservations were set for 7:30 pm, although the place was almost empty, so I am sure that whenever we all arrived would have been alright.

Our party began at the bar. Almost everyone (except me) took advantage of the 1/2 price Sangria special. I am not a fan of sangria, but I am a fan of Moscatel, so I got a glass. As usual...yummo! BTW: In the name of full disclosure, I must disclose that I had 3 glasses of Sweet Espumoso de Moscatel Flare N/V, Valencia.

When we decided that we had started the party just right, we were seated and the tapas began to arrive at the table. Pan de Ajo (garlic bread) and Ensalada de Espinacas, Almendras y Queso Cabrales (Spinach Salad with almonds and Cabrales cheese) were the bomb. I am sorry to report that the menu kind of went down hill after that. Well, no, the chicken in wine sauce was awesome, too. I am not a fan of fried food, so the eggplant was not cool. Also the potatoes with garlic mayonnaise would have been alright, if it didn't arrive cold. The other guest raved about the calamari and the shrimp (which were gigantic), but I don't eat shellfish. We were all full by the time the meatballs in marina sauce arrived at our table (I did manage to taste one and I've had better), so I am not sure what we would have done had we ordered Paella. Of course, La Tosca is known around these parts for its paella and that is what we didn't get to taste...ironic, huh?

The bartender (William) knew his stock, but lacked mixing knowledge. I felt kind of bad that we had to send the White Russian back...twice. I don't think Will ever got it right, so we ordered more Sangria. The decor was nice. I like that we were able to overlook the water. I am not sure if we would have been listening to New Aged chant music if we were in a tapas bar in Spain, but one never knows.

I wont say don't try La Tosca. It is understandable if you use them as a substitute if you want Spanish food and just can gather the funds together to fly to Spain. Just know that you wont have awesome food. But that is so it goes, sometimes, when you try to brand a people and its cuisine.

Here is there link: http://www.latascausa.com/index.cfm

The More Things Change, The More They Stay the Same

The person that first said that should've been given some sort of prize, as that is the most authentic saying out there. Thanksgiving 2008 will go down in the history books as a good time.

What changed? The Venue. We were all at Paulette and Sam's house. Another change? We were the adults and we had the kids (well some of us had kids). What else was different is that we had different hairstyles, varying degrees of body sizes, new jobs, new stories & gossip to tell. Complaints flew about the Halftime Show.

Now you may ask, what things were the same? Dinner began at 3. The first guest arrived at 3:25 with the usual "explanations" and the last guest arrived as I was leaving (can you imagine?). I swore that, "this is my last time planning anything for you people." We still laughed our assess off. We ate until we were literally going to bust (I might add that Paulette and I outdid ourselves...smile). Daddy still managed to monopolized the ears of one poor guest (whose name I never got) with his usual: religion and politics. The kids screamed and laughed and tattle-tailed (kinda like we did when we were there ages). We pulled out out Tupperware containers and aluminum foil. Michael got the ham bone. We planned how we were gonna spend Christmas.

Thanksgiving 2008 was a success. Indeed, there is a God.