holiday review

I have Dresden Dolls' "Coin-Operated Boy" stuck in my head this morning. Which is really not such a bad thing. It's been warm around here for what seems like ages--steady 40s, though it's supposed to reach 58 on Friday. Ridiculous for mid-January, but again, I'm not complaining.

T. and I walked in this morning beneath a murder of crows, though T. was "almost afraid to walk under them, with my luck." A woman from another office who we walked in with mentioned that it was like being on an old movie set, and she and I said The Birds in unison. Strange. They've flown on, though--otherwise I'd be hearing them outside my window even now.

Since I last posted, I went on a bit of a whirlwind holiday tour to Wisconsin and Dad’s house. A quiet Christmas Eve with traditional Danish fliskesteg (coincidentally, before I arrived, I was just thinking about how we used to have that each Christmas Eve, before my aunt passed away--it was nice to return to at least one tradition like that) dinner in front of White Christmas, which B. wanted to finish watching. Gifts after dinner (some received either then or later quite lovely ones--thank you both), semi-rushed because B. wanted to go to Christmas Eve services. Dad declined since he’d fallen on some ice the day before, and was getting twinges from it still that made him gasp if he moved the wrong way. He said he didn’t want to sound like he had Tourette’s during a prayer. Which was just fine with me, frankly. I don't know if it was the time change or what--I mean, one hour should not be a big deal--but I was tired pretty early each evening there.

Then a manic Christmas day with B’s family. Six of the seven siblings and all their respective partners and children, plus one extended family member (B’s sister’s partner’s niece) and the resident dog all hung out in the basement to open presents and then moved to the living room, set with an extremely long table, for Christmas dinner, which our hosts had chosen to be an Italian-style dinner. A proper antipasto course with beautiful cheeses, followed by a minestrone soup, then the main course of lasagne and spudini, followed by dessert of tiramisu, cookies, hazelnut-cream centered chocolates, and the Swedish desserts that I love that my Dad picked up for us. Somehow I managed to out-food E. (one of our hosts) by appreciating the garlic cloves (by themselves) that came in the middle of the olives, and the green rum-filled desserts that Dad brought. Evidently the rum and the garlic were a bit much for him (though they weren’t in combination, of course).

The next day started with a tour of the area with my Dad, who showed me everything that had changed in town while I’d been gone—they’re doing some impressive conservancy work, as well as new development, of course. One of the springs that runs into the lake has gotten weeded of all its invasive species and more native species introduced—a ridiculous number in the thousands of different varieties that Dad had told me but I’ve since forgotten. I also managed to finagle a tour of the waste treatment plant there--something I've been mildly curious about, strangely enough. Curiosity now (mostly) satisfied.

This blog came up in conversation more than once, which I found a rather strange experience--as is this sort of meta-blogging. That is, talking about the blog on the blog. But B. and Dad emphasized that they read me here, which I appreciate, and that they read the comments--no pressure, other J. Though B. does have one of your comments printed out and in her purse. Really, no pressure to be articulate there. Just teasing, of course.

Speaking of writing about the blog on the blog, I changed some links on the side here, adding Google Maps, which is extra-useful--try looking up your own area there, then zoom in some and click "satellite" on the right. The satellite might not give you too much detail, but it's kind of neat anyway. I'm still amused at how much golf courses show up from space. And I added Salon, where I pick up news occasionally (but mostly opinion). As for the "other blogs" section: Bérubé is a professor in our English department here, and I find him pretty interesting. Marty and Will are old college friends, added mostly because I didn't think they'd mind being linked (and it makes it easier for me to find them, too). If anybody else reading this wants a link, just say the word--and then I'll think about it.

Kidding.

Also debating putting an email listserv on this thing--basically, you'd get an email from me letting you know when I put something up here. A couple other gals I've known forever online do or used to do this, and it does seem logical. It also seems the nice thing to do since I post so intermittently. I'll keep you posted on that tip.