Self-Indulgent Ginchmas Post
It's the twenty-third, and I don't have to be back at work until Wednesday. I gave my minions the rest of the afternoon off yesterday, which made me feel all benevolent, but in truth, we'd proofed and proofed and changed the proofs and done everything we could, and there's nothing left to do to Teh Big Projeckt that Won't Die.* I'm sure PD will find things, but until he does, his loyal and long-suffering editorial department can't find anything.
So: It's Christmas. And I still don't qualify for immigration to New Zealand. Two years ago, I lost five points for not having been in my profession for five or more years, now that I've been an editor for that long, I lose five points for being over 30. Can't win for losing.
So I'm making Christmas-Eve Dinner for my dad, stepmonster, and kid brother tomorrow, and I haven't done a thing to prepare, beyond making a bunch of cookies. I also still have gift shopping to do, but I think I'm simply going to make a bunch of donations on people's behalf. Anyway, dinner: Part of why I haven't prepared anything has been that I really don't like my father or stepmonster. I love my dad, in an "of course I love him he's my father" kind of way. My brother and I are allies, but have nothing in common. My stepmonster I could cheerfully see float away in a small boat on an open ocean, but so far she has not obliged me. Other reasons I haven't prepared include work, generally hating the Grinchmas season and resenting that in a season whose rhetoric is all peace, love, goodwill, I invariably get embroiled in family politics, scheduling, and vituperation, and just wanting not to be here.
(I did warn you that this was a self-indulgent post.)
If you've made it past the whinging and whining, I could use some menu suggestions. I like to have a light supper on Christmas Eve, because everyone's going to be feasting tomorrow and the last thing anyone needs is a heavy meal to dull their appetite. My family is challenging: they're very WASP-y in their tastes, except that Dad's half Italian. My brother doesn't like much of anything except for pizza, meat, and potatoes (literally). I'm a vegetarian.
Here's the menu as it stands:
NIBBLIES: Nuts, Some chip-like things, cheese & crackers, veggies (or if we're being posh, crudités) & hummous.
WARM NIBBLIES: Apple, brie & walnut filo triangles, Mushroom puff-pastry things, little meat pies (for the kid brother)
SOUP: Corn chowder (or should I do tomato-pasta soup?)
BREAD: Dad's bringing some. I need to provide butter and olive oil
SALAD: Something dad & stepmonster are bringing
DRINKS: Wine & apple cider (which I hope my brother will bring)
DESSERT: ???? ARGH!!! I DON'T KNOW. There will certainly be cookies (shortbread, ginger cookies, oat-caramel-chocolate squares, merengues, possibly sugar cookies and some little tarts if I get inspired or need to do something I know how to do), but there needs to be something at least middlin' splendid, too. Chocolate fondue? Plain old chocolate cake? Gingerbread with lemon cream? Apple tart? Walnut-honey torte?
Any thoughts or suggestions? I'm not feeling inspired.
Okay, I'm through griping & grinching. Despite my less-than-cheery mood, I hope that those who celebrate Christmas have a very merry one, those who celebrate Chanukah (we missed our latke date this year) have had a happy one, those who are simply enjoying a couple of days off do so in a restful way that's full of good cheer, and anyone who celebrates any other solstice-related holiday enjoys that.
And if you're moving house, may your friends be helpful, your family not annoying, and your temper unfrayed.
*If I survive this book with my job at the Little Shop of Textbooks intact, it will be a miracle. If PublisherDude ever lets go of this book-the biggest project he's ever done, and the fruit of 4 years' labour-I'll have to make extra oblations to Dactylographia and Our Lady of Perpetual Indulgence. Then I'll have to figure out how not to let Publisher Dude make content and style changes when we're ready to go to press ever again, because I have grey hairs I didn't used to have.
So: It's Christmas. And I still don't qualify for immigration to New Zealand. Two years ago, I lost five points for not having been in my profession for five or more years, now that I've been an editor for that long, I lose five points for being over 30. Can't win for losing.
So I'm making Christmas-Eve Dinner for my dad, stepmonster, and kid brother tomorrow, and I haven't done a thing to prepare, beyond making a bunch of cookies. I also still have gift shopping to do, but I think I'm simply going to make a bunch of donations on people's behalf. Anyway, dinner: Part of why I haven't prepared anything has been that I really don't like my father or stepmonster. I love my dad, in an "of course I love him he's my father" kind of way. My brother and I are allies, but have nothing in common. My stepmonster I could cheerfully see float away in a small boat on an open ocean, but so far she has not obliged me. Other reasons I haven't prepared include work, generally hating the Grinchmas season and resenting that in a season whose rhetoric is all peace, love, goodwill, I invariably get embroiled in family politics, scheduling, and vituperation, and just wanting not to be here.
(I did warn you that this was a self-indulgent post.)
If you've made it past the whinging and whining, I could use some menu suggestions. I like to have a light supper on Christmas Eve, because everyone's going to be feasting tomorrow and the last thing anyone needs is a heavy meal to dull their appetite. My family is challenging: they're very WASP-y in their tastes, except that Dad's half Italian. My brother doesn't like much of anything except for pizza, meat, and potatoes (literally). I'm a vegetarian.
Here's the menu as it stands:
NIBBLIES: Nuts, Some chip-like things, cheese & crackers, veggies (or if we're being posh, crudités) & hummous.
WARM NIBBLIES: Apple, brie & walnut filo triangles, Mushroom puff-pastry things, little meat pies (for the kid brother)
SOUP: Corn chowder (or should I do tomato-pasta soup?)
BREAD: Dad's bringing some. I need to provide butter and olive oil
SALAD: Something dad & stepmonster are bringing
DRINKS: Wine & apple cider (which I hope my brother will bring)
DESSERT: ???? ARGH!!! I DON'T KNOW. There will certainly be cookies (shortbread, ginger cookies, oat-caramel-chocolate squares, merengues, possibly sugar cookies and some little tarts if I get inspired or need to do something I know how to do), but there needs to be something at least middlin' splendid, too. Chocolate fondue? Plain old chocolate cake? Gingerbread with lemon cream? Apple tart? Walnut-honey torte?
Any thoughts or suggestions? I'm not feeling inspired.
Okay, I'm through griping & grinching. Despite my less-than-cheery mood, I hope that those who celebrate Christmas have a very merry one, those who celebrate Chanukah (we missed our latke date this year) have had a happy one, those who are simply enjoying a couple of days off do so in a restful way that's full of good cheer, and anyone who celebrates any other solstice-related holiday enjoys that.
And if you're moving house, may your friends be helpful, your family not annoying, and your temper unfrayed.
*If I survive this book with my job at the Little Shop of Textbooks intact, it will be a miracle. If PublisherDude ever lets go of this book-the biggest project he's ever done, and the fruit of 4 years' labour-I'll have to make extra oblations to Dactylographia and Our Lady of Perpetual Indulgence. Then I'll have to figure out how not to let Publisher Dude make content and style changes when we're ready to go to press ever again, because I have grey hairs I didn't used to have.