In trying to eat like the Hawaiian locals, we did venture close to Spam sushi, but never went there. Good for you, Mr. President-elect.

Happy Three Days After Christmas! My tree smells great, I had champizzle for brunch, I worked just an hour or two since Thursday, and my children are still sweet and grateful for the Christmas bounty. Truly, I ask you, what's to enjoy about the pre-season? Give me the days after for true relaxation.

I watched the Bejing Opening Ceremonies last night, in between naps, with a mixture of disbelief and horror. Why didn't you people tell me it was so frightful? YIKES is all I can say to 2,000 drummers in line and in unison, and I'm something of a percussionist myself.

The children received a Wii, against my best wishes, but so far so good. Friends have counseled me that it is all good. We don't really play computer games, and my urchins have thus far appreciated the new bikes and bouncy playground balls to the Wii...and their favorite Wii game is tennis which does actually involve movement. I had been debating getting them a hand-held game for the car so I guess this is ok. Feel free to berate me and tell me "I told you so" since I was all "no video games". I can take it. After Friday's breakdown (and subsequent back rub, sympathy, and other attentions from my husband) I'm strong!

We saw the Carolina Ballet's Nutcracker yesterday and enjoyed it a lot. It really is a quality production, and very charming. My daughter's best bud was a truffle. I also like the intermission coffee.

We also attended a Boxing Day soiree that was 2 intense hours of social fascination. I guess I knew almost all the attendees, and everyone was feeling peckish after a few days with family, and there was an open bar -- and well, you can figure out the rest. Good times, good times. My husband left floating on air - he was compared to George, Jon, and Errol????? I kissed at least one guest on the mouth and teared up about the Christmas spirit and my family. Ah, vodka.

So the holidays continue with some fun for my children (sleepovers? What are people thinking?) and I may actually try the Wii. If I can get my butt off the couch.

Hostess gifts are tricky. Or not, depending on what you have on hand and for whom you buy. Adorable options abound...you can read up on Mighty Girl's Target finds, or see what Domino mag says about the subject (warning: lengthy and maybe not good, as I didn't have time to watch the vid). Or you can try some of these tricks. If you received one of these from me and didn't like it, let me know.

Fruit/homebaked goods. I always think this is a good idea. I gave a bag of clementines on top of oranges on top of grapefruit this year. Even if my host had a buttload of citrus like I do, she could re-gift or make juice or whatever. I like handing over a pumpkin loaf with a one-pot bag of coffee for the morning after a party, too.

Lotions/handcreams. I found some awesome organic stuff in the mountains - you can visit this place in person for maximum fun, or go online to Hazelwood Soap Company. Candles are nice, too...and this site as well as those large candle shops sell the new rage, soy.

Ornaments. Three words for you: Pier 1 Imports. Three more words: Also World Market. Cute, fun, cheap.

Method holiday soaps. Sometimes, if I'm feelin' crafty, I'll knit a washcloth with festive holiday colors to attach to some dish soap. I love the hand soaps, too.

There's always wine, but I may be one of the few people who loves a $10 and under bottle. There's a bunch out there that I love right now.

May your parties be fun, and your host gifts completely appropriate.

Bill Cunningham ran into a bunch of Santas....

No groceries are bought,
the shopping's not done
but none of that matters,
'cause I'm having fun!
I'd rather not do all
the things on my list...
I'm more of a party-type -
you get my gist?
I'd rather go visit
with friends (and some not)
than cook dainty pastries
or wrap toys for my tots.
I'd rather surf the net
for ideas and news
than to polish the silver
or buy some more booze.
So procrastinate?
Yes! I'll sit here all day
while Santa bemoans
how I've not filled his sleigh.
Then last-minute-like,
I'll dash out in the night
and accomplish so much
in a schedule so tight!
And Christmas will happen
tho I worry a bit,
that the house isn't clean and
the cat may have shit...
I'll treasure it all...
as I do every year.
I may seem stressed,
but I know what is dear.

(Written in under 3 minutes)

The 21? 22? year-old feline is yowling in the night and pooping on the floor and seems to be the worst type of geriatric patient. I can tell few people about this and expect sympathy, as we live in the age of major, expensive care for pets. Gone are the days of the outdoor cat, like mine, who was born on the streets and rescued? by me to live a nomad's life. (By my count she has moved with me 6 times...and only been lost once, when the neighbor's dog chased her to another street. Where she found a loving woman who gave her four cans of wet food a day and would have kept her had we not been idiotic enough to post a "Lost Cat" sign. )

So...I'm taking her to a new vet, but that takes time...I have to get her old records, find a vet that doesn't charge $250 for a senior cat panel, find a spare hour in this, the church's busy season, and wait for the month's paycheck to get deposited. In the meantime, I bought some Feliway spray. This seems to work a bit when applied to her sleeping areas and where she poops. But it is the Calm Kitty elixer of happiness, added to her water bowl (or milk if I'm feeling guilty) that she loves.

I couldn't find a link to this magical product, but it's out there. And people, I myself may have to try some (remember - I will try anything) . It has mystical aloe essence, and oil of orchid, and hibiscus parfums.....

....and 13% alcohol. For the same price, my husband noted, we could just give her a jigger of Bailey's every night. Cheers!

Mommy, What's a Single?

It's the things that cost .99 on iTunes. From Rolling Stone. If you liked it, you shoulda put a ring on it!


100 will.i.am - "Yes We Can"
99 The Enemy - "You're Not Alone"
98 Teyana Taylor - "Google Me"
97 Sheryl Crow - "Now That You're Gone"
96 Little Joy - "Brand New Start"
95 Lucinda Williams - "Real Love"
94 Los Campesinos - "Miserabilia"
93 Madonna - "Candy Shop"
92 White Denim - "Shake Shake Shake"
91 O'Neal McKnight - "Check Your Coat"
90 Busta Rhymes - "Don't Touch Me (Throw da Water on 'Em)"
89 Old Crow Medicine Show - "Alabama High-Test"
88 Bon Iver - "Skinny Love"
87 Friendly Fires - "Jump in the Pool"
86 The Rumble Strips - "Cowboy"
85 M83 - "Kim & Jessie"
84 Lil Wayne - "A Milli"
83 Get 'Em Mamis - "Cold Summer"
82 Santogold & Diplo - "Icarus"
81 The Knux - "Cappuccino"
80 Mudcrutch - "Crystal River"
79 Kid Cudi - "Day 'N' Nite"
78 Love As Laughter - "Holy"
77 Hercules And Love Affair - "Blind"
76 The Roots - "Rising Down"
75 Flo Rida feat. T-Pain - "Low"
74 Ra Ra Riot - "Dying is Fine"
73 Ciarra feat. Ludacris - "High Price"
72 Sam Sparro - "Black and Gold"
71 Phantom Planet - "Do the Panic"
70 Busy Signal - "Tic Toc"
69 Missy Elliott - "Ching-A-Ling"
68 Fall Out Boy - "I Don't Care
67 M.I.A. - "Shells"
66 Jenny Lewis - "Acid Tongue"
65 The Virgins - "Rich Girls"
64 She and Him - "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here"
63 LCD Soundsystem - "Big Ideas"
62 The Gaslight Anthem - "The '59 Sound"
61 Robyn - "Cobrastyle"
60 Ne-Yo - "Closer"
59 Low vs Diamond - "Don't Forget Sister"
58 Jazmine Sullivan - "Bust Your Windows"
57 Charles Hamilton - "Brooklyn Girls"
56 The Hold Steady - "Constructive Summer"
55 Sigur Rós - "Gobbledigook"
54 Cat Power - "I Believe In You"
53 AC/DC - "Big Boi"
52 Lee Ann Womack - "Last Call"
51 Ashlee Simpson - "Rule Breaker"
50 Jackson Browne - "Time the Conqueror"
49 Jonas Brothers - "Video Girl"
48 John Mellencamp - "Troubled Land"
47 Janelle Monáe - "Many Moons"
46 Taylor Swift - "Fifteen"
45 Foals - "Cassius"
44 Panic At The Disco - "Nine in the Afternoon"
43 Erykah Badu - "The Healer"
42 The Raconteurs - "Salute Your Solution"
41 Duffy - "Warwick Avenue"
40 Kings Of Leon - "Sex On Fire"
39 The Academy Is... - "About a Girl"
38 Jamey Johnson - "High Cost of Living"
37 Bob Dylan - "Someday Baby"
36 Usher feat. Beyoncé and Lil Wayne - "Love in this Club, Pt. 2"
35 Kaiser Chiefs - "Addicted to Drugs"
34 Gnarls Barkley - "Run"
33 The Raveonettes - "Aly, Walk With Me"
32 N.E.R.D. - "Everyone Nose"
31 Conor Oberst - "Moab"
30 Weezer - "Pork and Beans"
29 Pink - "So What"
28 Kevin Rudolf feat. Lil Wayne - "Let It Rock"
27 The Ting Tings - "Shut Up and Let Me Go"
26 The Rapture - "No Sex for Ben"
25 Leona Lewis - "Bleeding Heart"
24 Lykke Li - "I'm Good, I"m Gone"
23 The Black Keys - "I Got Mine"
22 Jay-Z and T.I. - "Swagga Like Us"
21 Vampire Weekend - "One (Blake's Got a New Face)"
20 Katy Perry - "I Kissed a Girl"
19 Guns N' Roses - "Better"
18 Kid Rock - "All Summer Long"
17 The Killers - "Spaceman"
16 Young Jeezy - "My President"
15 Al Green - "Lay It Down"
14 The BPA feat. David Byrne and Dizzee Rascal - "Toe Jam"
13 Ryan Adams and the Cardinals - "Magick"
12 TV On The Radio - "Golden Age"
11 Rihanna - "Disturbia"
10 T.I. - "No Matter What"
09 Coldplay - "Viva la Vida"
08 My Morning Jacket - "I'm Amazed"
07 Estelle feat. Kanye West - "American Boy"
06 Beck - "Gamma Ray"
05 Lil Wayne - "Lollipop"
04 Blitzen Trapper - "Furr"
03 MGMT - "Time to Pretend"
02 Santogold - "LES Artistes"
01 Beyoncé - "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)"

Eats

When going through the Christmas stuff, I found a tin that had been put away last year with cookies in it. I took a bite. Wouldn't you have? It was gingery and somewhat moist, but did have a staleness.

We also had last year's egg nog from the famous Egg Nog Party that my parents go to annually. The "egg nog" consists of a lot of grain alcohol (a substance that I have only ingested in my home town - why is that?) and some nutmeg. Also something creamy (Bailey's?). This stuff keeps for a year, but a little goes a long way, especially undiluted. My husband and I enjoyed some in cordial glasses whilst decorating the tree. I had dreams of intense swimming in currents, losing my job without knowing why, and outrunning a murderer with a gun in a retail store. My back is now out and apparently at one point I woke up screaming. No more year-old "egg nog" for me!

The children made the popular pretzel/rolo/M&M treat this weekend. Comments: 1. Not good for those whose gums have been sewn together like a quilt, and 2. leftover m&ms are dangerous indeed.

If you make the Joy of Cooking's french toast, I recommend that you add cinnamon or nutmeg to the batter. And I always go for the maple syrup over sugar in the eggs. I do use skim milk instead of cream, but I have occasionally used Silk or Egg Nog.

I had the world's crappiest Indian food last week. I truly thought, that like pizza, there was not going to be any bad Indian food. I was wrong. Don't go here. I have heard about a fantastic Indian place in Cary - details when I get them - and of course the high end Indian at Azitra is tasty if not pricey.

Finally, in the midst of all this eating, I am trying to start jogging. Not going well. But I love it? Just a little? Exercise - it's really like a wonder drug. You can feel free to hit me now.

Guest stars - always worth the price of admission!

I can watch it on our big-ass new tv (well, big for us...we've been using a 19 incher for 17 years now) as soon as we get it hooked up, HONEY.

I can live with this new technology if it involves me seeing things up close, and in great detail...




image via exclusiveartistsblog

Whilst I Enjoyed "Tropic Thunder" And Laughed Heartily, I Thought it Was a Boy Movie

Except for this part, that I had to watch three times.