Like A Body to the East River.

I finally felt what it was like to be "at wits end" yesterday. After every painstaking pass with the vacuum cleaner, 300 more needles fell off of our Christmas tree, inspiring a panic attack of epic proportions.

My heart rose into my throat, my vision became blurred and I couldn't hear the vacuum any more. (Turns out it was because I had sucked a sneaker into it.. but that's beside the point). So, with a flash, I was in my Uggs and my winter parka and had ripped that tree out of it's stand and was hauling it through the living room. Leaving, unfortunatly, the majority of its needles in my wake; wherein prompting the cats to believe that outside WAS finally inside and they could muck about wherever.

Dragging the tree through the hall and into the kitchen where a very started Mr. Almost Poshlust was attempting to keep the essence of pine needle out of our hawaiian burgers and at the same time salvage all the photos and knick-knacks that were falling into the tree and in danger of becoming collatoral damage. I hauled that monster out the back door and down 7 flights of stairs, leaving the remaining parts of the conifer on the steps to later seriously confuse our landlord.

I hauled it across the parking lot and to the illegal Christmas Tree dump (by the recyle bin) where I kicked, cursed and spit on it until I felt better, only to turn around to see our new law student neighbor eating french fries out of a bag and looking like, I can only assume, Roe looked when he took on Wade. Our conversation went thus:

Him: "That's a big ass tree" (*munch munch*)

Me: "Yep." (*glare glare*) (*those french fries look good*) (*glare glare*)

At which I proceeded to stomp upstairs and tackle a shoe filled vaccuum, a coniferous forest and a laughing Mr. A.P. Until the vaccuum broke 1/2 and hour later and I had to start looking for frozen French fries.

Chuckle I say..

Does anyone else find it remotely humerous that "Colin Powell will be dropping the ball in Times Square"? Because frankly.. I find it rioteous.

Maybe a Movie you say?

Hello Hello! Just a quick note. Went to see "The Life Aquatic", and am heartily recommending it to any and everyone. It really is the best Wes Anderson film yet. And the soundtrack is phenomenal. David Bowie in Portugese? Genius.

I wish I was Faye Dunaway..

This is my Bonnie and Clyde photo.

Why yes, that is a Poshlust Painting in the background..

Ms. Poshlust and her fancy new toque..

Boxing Bliss

Does anybody else find it strange that the day after getting everything and more that we asked for... that we go shopping?

No, me neither.

So we went shopping, with no particular destination in mind, except to spend my GC at Nokomis (which I did, buying a new toque and beaded hobo gloves - thanks again to Kris!!) . I got a spangly silver sweater.. and found, unfortunately, not on sale, the shoes of my dreams.

Knee high white boxing Puma's, strappy and slick and totally space age mild anime meets Janet Jackson flat hipster ultimate boots. For 250$. So, anyone wanted to contribute to Andrea's Super Boot foundation, please e-mail me for details.

Christmas Part Three - Pass the Christmas Kleenex

There is something about being around family on a Holiday. Perhaps it's the noise, the warmth, maybe even the hours of psychological preparation that Dr. Phil provides.. but it's always worth it. And I couldn't stress that more about any Christmas than about the one past.

I've never been away from my family for Christmas, with the exception of one I had to spend in the hospital, and I still SAW them then. This is the first time I've only gotten a phone call and a virtual hug over the line. I have to say, I was a little blue not to hear my Dad grumbling about how early we managed to wake up. The Gibbons Family Christmas made up for it in so many ways, that I don't think I could ever thank them enough for it.

It was definately a full house. Me and Mr. A.P, plus 3 brothers, one with a girlfriend, one with a daughter, and the other (who graciously hosted the Christmas Circus) with a fantastic wife and two daughters, and the matriarch of the whole family. Perfection never came so close.

Of course, the gift opening was first, I don't think anyone could have waited much longer. *smile* It was plenty of fun. We drew names a long time ago, for two people, two different gifts. I got a gift certificate for Nokomis (which will be promptly used on Boxing day) and the Eric Clapton cd of Robert Johnson covers (Me and Mr. Johnson) and some FANTASTIC earrings. It was great to watch the little girls open up all the things that Mr. A.P. and I had painstakingly picked out. It really made it worth trying to figure out who would fit exactly what. God Bless Old Navy.

The littlest, dear Ms. K, was very sleepy, and curled up on my lap to doze and squiggle around like a sleepy little worm. It was so lovely. You think you've quashed all your maternal instincts, you shove your prospective baby names to the bottom of your subconcious, and then this little creature, this beautiful living thing, crawls into your lap to play with your hair and touch your face.. It made my heart hurt. And it makes me think of diaper bags and babysitters in a much more favourable light, thats for sure. But you know when they're tired when you ask if they want to lay down and they say yes. So we curled up in her rubber mattress bed, wherein she promptly pretended to be asleep for a grand 30 seconds before starting to snore completely.

So we ate and chatted and started all the accoutrements to dinner, various salads and veggies, all those great holiday things. I have to say that I haven't laughed harder with Mr. J and Mrs. A than I did in that kitchen. I'm not sure whether it was the holiday cheer or the turkey aroma, but it was so much fun, and I'll remember eating potatoes off of socks until I'm old and grey and can't remember when I could bend over that far.

Dinner was superb, kudos to the cook on being able to brave a monster ten times the size of my cornish hens. Giblets will haunt me until the day I die I tell you that much. The food was great, the company even better. There is something about Mr. A.P's family. Between the crackle of temporary discord, the old jokes, the family history.. there is this thread of love who's tensory strength I can't even begin to imagine. Being a part of, sitting at that table, in the stairwell with Mrs. A, I feel like I'm being woven into it, become a thread of their history, and weaving them into mine. Thinking of leaving them makes me hurt. Sitting with Mrs. A in the stairwell, I suddenly couldn't imagine not having them just a car ride away.. Not seeing them at birthdays, at holidays. I've seen those girls grow up over an entire year.. Going from barely coming out from behind their parents to practicing yoga with me in the living room and falling asleep on me. Learning about them.. learning how easy it is to love them - it's been better than any classroom experience I've ever had in my life.

Overall - this holiday was more than I could have possibly hoped for. I ate like the starved and slept like a baby - and figured out that I don't have to be with my mom and dad to be with my family. Thank you to everyone. I'll remember it forever.

Christmas Part Two - Dear Christmas Tree.. I'm sorry.

I think I forgot what it's like to be a kid on Christmas. Beautiful Mr. Almost Poshlust reminded me this morning when I awoke at 6 am to find him staring at me. This was a definate improvement over waking up at 4 am to find him doing the same. *smile* I suggested he start the coffee and he was out of bed in a flash to start our Christmas morning.

This was our first Christmas together (last year I was in India) and I have to say, that I'm not sure many could measure up to this one. It was amazing. We lay in bed and unwrapped our stockings, then opened up our presents. I don't think that anyone could have made a stocking better suited to me. Mr. Almost Poshlust even remembered how much I love wedding almonds and made a package. Filled with perfect, wonderful gifts (even a Wonder Woman Comic!) I really could have stopped there in terms of gifts. I don't know how he did it, but it was positively perfect. You'll have to read Mr. A.P's blog to find out what I got him..

Our Christmas tree managed to hold up until Christmas morning (God bless you brave little tree.. ) and we sat around and unwrapped our gifts there.. It took a wonderful hour and a half. Mr. A.P. really out did himself, I have to say. He gave me Emily Post's Ettiquette book, a book on Jackson Pollock, candles, the new Neko Case cd, some much needed socks (really.. really.. cool socks) and .. the piece de resistance - an iPod mini! A little green beauty that is now residing in my perfect green purse filled with Cat Power, Ben Kweller, The Roots, and all the perfect music that I ever wanted. The presentation was the best - Mr. A.P. gave me the Emily Post book, saying this was my big gift (which it was), and when I opened it, there was a picture of his back pack with another gift in it. I had to find the backpack and get the gift out.. at which I promptly "freaked out" and we didn't open any more gifts for a little bit. *smile*

My daddy got me a new set of pearls and pearl earrings, and a beautiful little silver elephant from Jaipur that has such a beautiful memory attached to it that it was definately a tear jerker. My fantastic mother got me a plethora of fantastic shawls and jewllery and art supplies. It was truly amazing. We had a fantastic morning, lazing about playing with our new toys. It was a Christmas that I won't soon forget, nevermind that it was the first we had together. It was amazing.

So, after all the gift opening was done and the oohing and aahing finished we started, (sorta) getting ready to go to Mr. Almost Poshlust's brothers for Christmas dinner. I have to admit, I was terribly nervous. I've never been to anybody elses Christmas, where they have their own traditions and such. I didn't want to step on any toes or cross any lines. But, as I should have expected, it was fantastic.. I couldn't wish for a better family to know.. or to love.

Coming up - the Gibbon's Family Christmas.

Christmas Part One - Seriously, 5 HOURS per pound.

Alright, my first Christmas Eve sans my family. I can do this. I've got two cornish game hens thawing in the sink (who reads the package.. 5 hours per POUND? ) then into the microwave. I'm working on a gluten free stuffing with dried cranberries and walnuts, at the same time boiling potatoes to such a point that they've actually run out of water and I almost made fried potatoes. Salvaged those, and due to my increasingly prevelant obsessive holiday compulsive reaction about perfection (OHCRAP) I spent half an hour with a smoothie maker whipping them into non lumpy submission. At this point I'm also noticing the amount of dishes compiling and I take just a little more medication and a titch more of a drink to quash my OCD in the making. Ah, modern medicine.

After debating which end I was supposed to stick my trembling hand into, I removed "giblets" from the cornish hens, and decided against chasing the cat around to get the back. Instead, after he dropped them, I plopped them into a glass and stuck them in the fridge, not to be discovered again until Christmas mornings smoothie making adventure. I stuffed the little hens and put them in the oven, and surprisingly, they turned out perfectly.

Christmas Eve.. was great. We ate our delish meal (I could do it again.. I think) and went for a beautiful walk. It was fantastic. Fates smiled on our little slice of the world and it was a beautiful 8 degrees out (celsius!!). Can you believe it? I don't remember a Christmas eve in my history wherein it's been the lovely. So our walk was long and lovely, then we came back to play Trivial Pursuit and relax. Stockings were stuffed and hidden, and we fell asleep. Yay for a successful part one. *

(*contrary to what may be expressed here, I am not so challenged to spend my whole day cooking. I also managed to help dear Camote shop for his girl cousins and had a good time doing so. He noted that after I had completed my own Christmas shopping, baking, and Card mailing, that my voice had returned to it's regular sexy octave, and the amount of sighs punctuating my conversation had also gone down quite a bit. Funny things that stress does. ;-) I also managed to make a great gluten free Apple Crisp, if anyone would like the recipe let me know. *smile* See.. Not so bad.)

Yum..

Mr. Almost Poshlust and I just had dinner.. I made this amazing soup! I'm not a soup maker by trade.. but this was delish. Here's the recipe, please give it a go, it's amazing.

Roasted Garlic and Potato Soup

1 cup of peeled garlic or 4 heads of garlic trimmed on top to access cloves
3 onions sliced (I used one large large yellow onion, and that was enough)
5 lbs of organic potatoes (I used yukon gold)
water or vegetable stock (I used vegetable stock)
1 1/2 soy milk (you can use milk if you desire)
salt and pepper to tast
olive oil for roasting


Instructions:

1. Place onions and garlic in a skillet or roasting pan and roast in 375 degree F. oven for 45 minutes or until golden. Place in the stockpot and add peeled and chopped potatoes.

2. Cover the potatoes with water or vegetable stock and cook until the potatoes are tender. (I found this took about 1/2 an hour on high)

3. Puree the soup in a food processor. Add soymilk at this point to create a creamier soup. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Voila! An amazing soup. We added grated old cheddar to the top, and it was super. I hope you enjoy it!

The Best Way to End the Shortest Day

I'm stuffed. Mr. Almost Poshlust and I just returned from lovely Kristina and Kara's veggie potluck to celebrate the Winter Solstice. As of right now, our days officially start getting longer. God bless. The sun didn't rise until about 9:30 this morning. At that point, half my good awake time is already gone! *laugh*

It was lovely to eat such good food and get such good compliments about my salad. And it be in the company of such interesting, lovely people, to be able to walk in and know only a few people, and by the end of the night be promising recipes and further engagements and laughing.. It was perfect and meatless.. minus the ham.. which was alright with me. A boy named Adam brought the most delicious wraps, they were perfect. I missed dessert, (Mr. A.P. has to work) but I think that might have been a wise move.

Well, I'm off to bed sated and happy and full of good solstice cheer. *smile* Hope everyone is warm and safe, take care.

Funny Things Heard at Vegetarian Winter Solstice Potluck -

-"Host as in host of the party, or parasite and host?"

-"Beware the locals. But that's where you get the good ganga."

-"What kind of marmalade?"

-"Plastic Fork or Chopsticks?"

- "Your mom brought a ham?"

Believe it or Not..

Amazon.com has some free short films to download, most by independant artists with the help of Tony Scott (Top Gun, A River Runs Through it.. nothing too amazing) but the films are really neat. So check them out if you have a chance.

The First Official Day of Winter

I just got home from driving Mr. A.P. to work.. it's snowing these absolutely beautiful, huge snowflakes falling. Listening to beautiful Cat Power, watching the snow.. it's already a good day. Maybe it's the 7am euphoria. Or maybe it's just a beautiful morning. Happy Winter Everyone!

Over There..

Oh yes.. Noel Nog.

Well.. I'm upright, which is something to celebrate in my books. I spent most of the day asleep or baking vegan cookies and brownies with my gorgeous downstairs neighbor, letting the kitties run around and teaching her how to crochet. Oh. I think that sounds old. *laugh* It really was terribly posh and wonderful. The only time I left was to hit our fabulous organic food market (Planet Organic) and to pick up Mr. Almost Poshlust and a few gifts. I'll post the recipe for the cookies in a bit - they really are so posh.

It was a wonderfully relaxing day, and I think just what the universe ordered. I feel like my brain has been in such a hurry and my body has just been unable to catch up. Ever since my car accident I've been sore, and as of yesterday I was just bowled over by the flu or something like it. (maybe just nausea at the thought of another Christmas party? No.. I'm joking..) It was good to just breathe and bake and eat fabulous veggie curry and Noel Nog (Soy Good's equivalent of Egg Nog - with all honesty, I couldn't tell the difference in the least! So for all ye vegans and veggetarians? Go hard on the Noel Nog!) and bean salad. It was perfect.

Expecially since I was out until 10 o'clock last night! That's the latest I've been up since I had a nap from 9-9:30 pm and had to pee. We went to a very sweet Christmas Party at Miriam and Greg's last evening, complete with harmonized choral style Christmas Carols that made me feel a titch inadequate with my down home country voice. I've perfected a twang that really doesn't fly with Silent Night. So instead I ate lots of food that was created and prepared by another one of our uber talented friends Adriene. Have to say, among all the viola players, music teachers, cooks, singers and piano players, I just didn't feel that my witty repartee cut it. ;-) At least I was best dressed. *sigh* Yeah. Second Place! First of the Losers!

There was this fascinating little baby creature there, where at 16 monthes was running around, eating little goat cheese tartlets and petting the cat and was frankly better behaved than some of my friends. How do you luck out and get one like that? *smile* She was perfect, and her name was Isabella. (I never give out my precious saved baby names.. not since the last time somebody poached my last favourite at work.. damn operators.. so shifty..) I fell in love with her, and was ready to pack her into my oversized blue purse.

So, no lie, I've finished all my Christmas shopping and wrapping and plotting. Everything is under the tree. I've never stressed so much about Christmas in my life. I think I might have developed a small ulcer. Hopefully the Noel Nog patches that up. *laugh* I'm happy to be finished now. I'll package up my Christmas cookies tomorrow for my friends, and finish knitting my scarf for my beautiful neighbor, and I'll be able to relax for the next 4 days before Christmas. The pluses of starting early! *laugh*

If anyone is looking for a new short film to watch (and really.. who isn't?) Check out "The Bar" by Richard Stern. It's a very witty, very sweet little film, and the music is fantastic. For a slightly strange, completely different taste, check out "Chocolate Girls" by Justin Whiteman. It's very.. Republican. Leaves a strange taste on your brain buds, but is worth the watch. Mr. Almost Poshlust and I watched them this evening, and we both really enjoyed them.

Alright my lovelies - I'm all caught up! I think I'll go back to sleeping.. I need some energy! I'll get some bananas tomorrow. That always helps. *smile* Sleep tight! Ciao!

Son of a Biscuit..

I've never seen such a storm! We've been enduring these massive winds and crazy hail for the past couple hours, and it's just now dieing down. Mr. Almost Poshlust and I were in the shower when it all started, it sounded like cats fighting with the wind whipping in through the cracks. The lights flickered once, then went out. For the next three hours. It was outrageous! I've never had the power out that long.. Insanity. So insane that Mr. Almost Poshlust went shopping.. and I promptly fell right asleep.

I've got the flu. I haven't had the flu.. forever. I'm so queasy I feel like I'm on a sailing ship. I don't know what's wrong with me in the least. Hung out with Camote yesterday looking for Christmas gifts, and apparently he was ill the other day.. The only thing we shared was a blue Kool-Aid.. so I hope I didn't get what he had.

Glad to be home - it's nice to be back in my own bed, with my own routine, eating a lot less than usual. *smile* Plus, it's very nice to see Mr. Almost Poshlust. He's the best part of being anywhere.. home or not.

Alright. I haven't decided if I'm going to eat or throw up, so I better go. Hope everyone is well!

Home.

Hello all. I made it home safe and sound yesterday afternoon. It was a relatively fast trip - as fast as 8 hours in a little banged up car can be I suppose. Just letting everyone know.. in case you were inclined to worry! Will write more later.

Cabbage Much Maligned

So my little bit of whiplash is clearing up nicely, but my chest is still a little sore from the seatbelt, and I feel no better for damaging Mr. Almost Poshlust's car. But at least now I can hang my head in shame as opposed to just being able to tilt it to one side.

We've been busy the past couple days, learning fabulous new crochet stitches and learning how to knit. It's wonderous - my great aunt taught me how to knit with my Great Grandmother's knitting needles, and some of her wool! It was amazing.. As lame as it may sound.. I felt very connected to somebody that I barely got to know. It was very.. soothing. It's been a lot like that these past couple of days. I know that every girl in every coming of age novel has this horrifically cliched moment where she learns where she comes from.. write me into the hard copy because thats what it's been like. I'm getting to hear stories about not only when my mother was a child, but when my Grandmother, and GREAT grandmother were children. Turns out one of the first women in our family came over here from Russia, by herself, with two children in tow. It explains a lot about the women in my family. I've never felt connected to any family, with the exception of my nuclear one.. and now..and now I do. I like it. And I guess I can understand why novels are written about it.

I've made my Aunt a scarf, and I'm starting on my Grandmother's tomorrow. They both really liked the one that I made.. and hinted heavily that I make one each for them. I'm glad I've got something to occupy my fingers here, other than food. It seems that our entire day is comprised of planning what to eat, cooking, eating, cleaning up, then going back to planning what to eat again! I leave here Friday morning.. and I'm not going to eat again until next Sunday. I'm fairly sure home made caramel corn burns fairly slowly when all you're doing is knitting.

Plus, there really isn't anything else to do here.. and it's nice in a small town kind of way. My Grandma says that at ten o'clock they roll up the streets here (and turn off the one flashing traffic light) and I'm not really sure if I doubt her. It would be the perfect place to sit down and write a novel, take up woodworking, or go crazy.. I'm really not sure which.

Looking forward to getting home Friday. Not that I want to leave here.. But I really do miss Mr. Almost Poshlust. It's sad.. I know I'll be home in 2 days and I can't bare it. What will I do when I leave for India? Granted, we won't technically be together.. But what the hell does that matter? He's my best friend. There's no way to make light of leaving that behind. My heart is already starting to ache. I don't entirely know what to do. The fact that I've been out of our home and our routine for 3 days is killing me. *sigh* I love you Mr. Almost Poshlust - I wish you were coming with me.

Alright.. Time to get to bed, I have to be up early to drive the Aunty to the bus station. Not so very posh at all. Neither is the fact that in the past 3 days I've eaten more cabbage than in my whole life.. But hey. If knitting is in.. somebody might bring back cabbage. Love always!

So Elvira and I might be related..

There's nothing like a steaming hot cup of family history early in the morning I tell you, and nobody better suited to serve it to you than your 70 year old great aunt, and your 65 year old grandmother. Let me tell you, never before today did I know that my mothers side is 100% pure Russian. Like, off the boat Russian. I always wondered why my Grandma knew so much Russian.. I just kinda figured it was another one of those things she knew, like wood working and quilt making.

It's fantastic here. I've eaten more in 2 days than I usually do in a week. You know how they suggest 7 small meals a day? Here, it seems like we eat 7 full meals a day. It's the life I tell you. We're only done breakfast now.. and it's one o'clock. It must have something to do with the whole Russian/famine deal.. eat as much as you can while you can? Something like that. ;-)

I had strange strange dreams last night. I dream a lot, but this one was odd. I dreamt I lived next to the Playboy Mansion in a house with a glass roof and I was married to Bruce Willis. I kept thinking through the whole thing that he sure was a lot shorter in person than in the Movies. And they hired me to be a Playboy bunny, even though one of the girls said that I needed to lose 10 pounds. It was pretty crazy I tell you.

And lately, no matter what dream I have, it's being interjected with this really strange, short dream (like a short film) that I started having last week. Camote and I are riding down a really old dusty dirt highway on these beautiful antique bikes. And we pull over to the side and slide down these really deep embankments to these high barbed wire fences, but the fence is made out of enormous chicken wire. Beyond the fence we can see these groves of fruit trees and grape vines, all in the shade; and beyond that these huge beautiful colonial houses, all white. It's so so hot out, and the air is almost yellow with dust and heat, and we're dressed in white. We climb the chickenwire into the fruit groves, and start putting fruit in our hats. Any of the fruit that the sun touched is really rotten, but everything in the shade is really good. And then that's it, I go back to whatever dream I was having before. The strange thing is, when I go back to the fruit dream again, I can tell that we're not at the same place, that we've ridden farther down the road. If anybody can help me with this one.. I'd appreciate it!

Alright, back to maxin' and relaxin' with the ladies. I love and miss you all! Camote.. let me know if you have any idea what this crazy dream is about! Ciao!