Normally I have a "Jewish Christmas", only usually w.o. even the Chinese/now-Thai. That's because as a Wiccan I get together with people and have a blow-out on or around the 21st...and then can relax over Christmas when everybody's running around with last-minute shopping and cooking. This year, however, my older daughter and her husband were in town from Seattle and took me and my younger daughter off to a 'free' Christmas buffet on the 25th. I hadn't heard of these before, but have since been told that lots of towns around here (maybe everywhere!!) have free buffets (you're expected to donate to whatever outfit - Legion, Lions Club, etc. - is sponsoring it). We went to a nice old inn that was a bit of a drive but offered better ambiance than the local Legion. The food was good, not great - but when else do I get mashed potatoes, gravy and stuffing.
For Yule/solstice my daughters and I went to Montreal, and for our 'feast' we had turkey and curried lentils - the latter being some Indian take-out unaccountably brought by one of the participants. Surprisingly it made a nice plate (but it's hard to go wrong with either turkey or curry-of-any-kind - I don't share Gene's opinion of Indian food - so why not together). Homemade fruitcake and Yule log for dessert. Followed by a lot of wine - including a couple of bottles of Two Buck Chuck my daughter brought from Trader Joe's in Seattle. Earlier in the day my older daughter, longing for the real Montreal smoked meat that she hadn't had for years, and I went off to Schwartz's Deli (a Jewish solstice!). The narrow little place, that has evidently never had any decor update since it opened in 1930, but n'less had *ambiance*, was packed and a line-up outside along the sidewalk. The smoked meat was as good as we remembered - wonderful texture and taste compared to the stuff you usually get anywhere else. Jennifer also bought five lbs to take back home with her. I noted they also had smoked turkey, smoked duck and smoked goose. I have something on my list for next time I get to Montreal... And the next morning we had gay brunch. Well, brunch in a campy place (bartop was supported by male mannequin lower torsos modelling underwear and the cooking staff in the open kitchen wore underwear - briefs, not boxers - on their heads for chef's hats). One of our group does coffee (and whatever) there for his friend who does the brunches - rents the place Sat and Sun noons from the people who serve French Food in the evenings. Very good - fresh squeezed orange juice, fruit cup, crisp mini-croissant with home-made jam as starters, and then excellent main dishes. And then at home I had my goody bag that my Seattle daughter had brought me from Trader Joe's. So I'm well fed. Oh gee, there was a potluck today for the volunteers at our local Reuse Centre (at the local country dump - clothes, kitchen stuff, toys, furniture, electronics, etc.). And I could have gone to the Christmas parties held by some of the Old Hippies and Alternative Folk around here, but my car was stuck one night and I was tired another night. But there's still New Year's parties coming up... And then we settle in for a long, grim, dark, lonely, cold winter. Thank goodness we Pagans have another blow-out scheduled for Feb. lst, when we're really feeling the need. Meanwhile I'll probably work off some of the recently acquired flab by shovelling snow... _________________________________________________________________ Use fowl language with Chicktionary. Click here to start playing! http://puzzles.sympatico.msn.ca/chicktionary/index.html?icid=htmlsig
