Mmmm.... Latkes....

Today was the annual Hanukkah get together in my house.... A small gathering my mother puts on every year, to invite friends over for dreidels, bagels, lox and latkes. And some other things in between. It's almost a pay back for a certain family, for inviting us to their Christmas dinner, but also serves as a general family hangout for a few hours.

Although most of the presents were gifted on Christmas (because, let's face it.. we are currently six days into the Jewish Holiday and some people needed their presents three days ago), it still is weird to be celebrating past the birth of someone's messiah. None the less, we lit some candles, lit the stove, and cooked potato pancakes.

Mmm... potatoes fried in oil.... smothered in apple sauce and sour cream....

My mom spares no expense when it comes to making her Hanukkah brunches. Or any brunch on a holiday. It seems like this is one of those meals where everyone comes hungry and leaves with tupperware.

For real. A 5 pound bag of potatoes got sorted out into 5 bellies, 3 plastic containers and a couple bags for lunch tomorrow.

Don't believe me?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


The proof is in the pictures of how golden delicious they were. All photos shot on a Canon EOS Rebel T7i. I didn't do much of editing except throw my name in the photo.

I also made a video in case I needed to add more proof. Again, shot on the Canon, but edited in Pinnacle Ultimate Studio 18. Music is "Tradition" from the Fiddler on the Roof original Broadway ensemble.

Once the palates were satiated, the cleanup of the kitchen began, and now I make this post at 9pm. Shabbos is over, children, do as ye may. Rocky's got his tie on, so he's ready for the next dinner party. Go play!

And because the decor is back in the bins in the garage, I had taken pictures of some of the hanging stuff before they disappeared.

 

 


I promised a few people the video would be live by the end of the night, so I'm going to end the post here, send the link to "the family" and get to bed... my cold is almost finished and I don't want to make it come back.


Good night!

Cheers;

- Enter title here -

I've got no creative title today, as I think my coughing has fried my brain.

I made it to work today, only to leave at 12:30, due to my lungs' constant needing of airing out. My head cold has finally shifted and is now wanting to hang out in my throat, making me start to cough every time I try to talk.

You're welcome for the TMI.

I did end up at my neighbors yesterday, and I told my mom that if any of them got sick, it's on her because she made me go. Glad it was an early day though, as they decided to do a mid afternoon hangout session instead of an evening one. So we were home by 4:30.

Although I didn't get many pictures, I got one of Peanut, who was happily wearing his Ugly Christmas Sweater. He loved the new toy we got him, so it all worked out.

The few hours I was at work this morning, I got a couple pictures of some of the decor in one of the buildings.

I had to set a Bible Study in one of the entertainment rooms, and when I walked in, the lights were off but the (fake) Christmas Tree was lit. It looked so neat with the lights shining off of the pool table and cabinet.

I took a picture.

I let my phone just take the photo; I didn't do any color correction.

The next picture I took was of a (deer?) standing proudly inside a wreath. It's on a table outside the elevators on one of the floors.

I thought it was not something you see every day. Or at least every holiday.


Okay... quick update over. Time for more medicine. And tea.


Cheers;

Don't mind me; I'm just a gnome on a shelf

I work with some crazy, but thoughtful, people.

On Monday, I got a little bag on my desk, left by some of the Program Coordinators that I routinely interact with...plus the concierge that sits outside my office (and always tries to kill me by leaving a file drawer open).

Inside was a very cute signed Christmas card, a Mud Pie sitting gnome (he's part of a 3 pack here), and a small bar of chocolate (seen here). Thank god it wasn't coal, as I don't think I was exactly nice to them a couple times this year (it's hard to explain why I can't put 200 chairs in a 180 capacity room for them, every month when a concert rolls in).

But none the less, I do appreciate these women and I know they appreciate me... I don't think they'd have even thought about giving me a card, let alone a present, if they didn't like me.

Even one of them commented on the Christmas thank you card I gave them. I had created a stack of Christmas cards to give to people with photos I've taken and a funky saying, and the woman said that she loves my card ... so much that I should be selling them. Meh... not really, I don't think there's a need... but I thanked her anyway because she actually made it a point to come down from her office on the second floor and into mine, without even stopping to say hi to anyone... to marvel over the card.

People say I should sell my stuff... but I don't know...

Anyway... side tracked.

(... regarding people liking me...) Hell; all I got was a text "Merry Christmas" from one person on my team between Monday and Tuesday... and I'm one of 5 people plus there is an office secretary and two bosses. Although, I had to run over to the office yesterday (I'm in a different part of the community) and the secretary wished me a Merry Christmas, but I think it was also to get me out of the office as I'm sick and she can't afford to be.

Yes, I'm sick. I've got the world's shittiest timing because I'm supposed to be at someone's house tonight (the yearly get together with a neighbor's family), and I can't go. I don't want to gift them what ever I have. It's not fair.

So I've been drinking as much water as I can, mixed with Teavana Imperial Spiced Chai, Oolong Tea With Cinnamon and Papaya tea. On top of trying to eat, although it's hard to swallow. It's that type of head cold. I've sneezed my brains out the first day, it felt like, and as of last night, I started coughing. I can't even smell the vapor rub, my nose is that clogged. I've even got a eucalyptus menthol aromatherapy shower tablet in my shower to try to get the gunk out. What we do when we're sick! Haha.


My mom just asked me for help with something, so wrapping up post one of the Yearly Yule blog, I give you the roaming gnome.

Both photos taken on an iPhone 11 (basic) and the only thing I did was take it in "portrait" mode via the phone and add my name via Photoshop.

 






Merry festivus for the rest of us... Happy Chanuka, Christmas, Kwanzaa, whatever you celebrate. Be safe the next few days because everyone likes to party the new year in.




Cheers;




See also (aka "gnome, if you want to")

• Mud Pie gnomes

See also (aka "sickness. Ew)"

• Vapor rub
• Cough drops
• Cold medicine
• Amazon keyword search: "shower tablet aromatherapy sinus"

Naughty or nice. There is no in between.

Well... Christmas is sneaking up on us... fast.

Everything has been decorated since my last post... on Thanksgiving. People have their trees up, the lights are on (with or without people home) and there's still no snow in The Wang.

But everywhere else has snow already. For over a week.

Not fair.

Outside of the bright lights and mangers sitting pretty, the online deals are happening. Between Amazon's 12 Days of Deals (aka Last Minute Deals), various social network deals, premium purchase deals for freebie apps, brick and mortar stores are also trying to get people in to shop. I noticed so many ads on the TV the last week, about price chopping and how things we want but can't afford are being slashed in cost.

My mom desperately wants the Ninja Foodi, but even during Black Friday, it was too much money. The lowest I saw it for was $199 and that wasn't on Amazon (which currently has it at $179.32 for the 5 qt). She then talked herself out of having me buy it for her for Christmas, as she only wanted it to be able to cook meat (hamburger, steak, etc). "But for the once in a while time we'd use it, it's not worth it" she told me. I don't think she fully understood what it does, as I think she thought it was a grill... which it can do, kind of. I think it's more for air frying and pressure cooking, than it is to sear lines in a medium rare slab of cow. I'd probably want the upgraded version to make dehydrated fruit, but how often would I do that? Although I know what would be in the fruit (because I'd make it myself), it's probably just as economical to get the pre-made ones in the store.

So we didn't get it... even though it would add to the crock pot, the stove pots and everything else I've gotten her for the year end holiday since we moved to Florida.

Instead, we have a friend who had an oopsie with her Nuwave.

Our friend makes a lot of soup and rice, and one day (shortly after Thanksgiving), she was making soup for her family. Something happened and the outside of the pressure cooker bent in. It looks like someone dropped it on a rock and the rock indented itself. The contraption still cooks fine and nothing for the electrics were damaged. Not even the inside cooking bowl. The pressure just built up in such a weird way, it started imploding on itself. Therefore, what does the friend do? Tries to return it to the big box store she bought it from. She wanted to get a new one, as this seems like a defect that could happen and maybe Nuwave (or the store) would want the machine back... and sort out a replacement (by her paying something like shipping or whatever). The Nuwave company said to return it to the store she bought the cooker from. The store said they will honor the defect, but the cooker would be thrown out as there's nothing that can really be saved by them taking it. She has 2 options: she can take it back home with her and throw it out, or they will bin it for her. But...they'll send her a new cooker in the mail within the week.

As this is a major source of how she cooks, she said she'd bring it home and try to use it (although is afraid it might blow up), she'll wait til the store sends her a new one. She tried it two more times that week and by the grace of foodies everywhere, it worked. She got a brand new pot on her door step and nicely gifted us her old dinged up one. Funny enough, we have used it twice in the past few weeks, and it works. It's really just a superficial bump on the outside and doesn't affect the cooking on the inside. These things seem to be made to endure force... as they are pressure cookers... they need to be able to handle earthquake type happenings. Although, I don't know if it can withstand an earthquake... but I think the point is there. It works.

We just have to learn how to use it and we'll probably rely on this for soups as much as our friend does. It quite honestly is one stop cooking, from what we've made already. Want chicken soup with real cooked chicken pieces? You can cook the chicken first, then do all the other steaming, saute, or searing in this pot once the chicken cooks and you cut it up (to finish cooking). Add everything together and let it hang out for a bit and voila; chicken soup. My mom has already made a beef and barley stew, and for real, it took about 45 minutes, all said and done. Seared the meat first (in the pot), added the accouterments, close the lid, walk away. Close to an hour later, it was on warm for 4 hours. Beef and vegetable soup (the meat was on sale, I guess), same thing - less than an hour later, we had soup for dinner.

The whole pot is a bit cumbersome, but it's interesting none the less. I'm sure we'll make more things in it and our friend needs to suggest more stuff to make... we told her she should be a seller of this cooker as she did a good job explaining every button and every option in detail. We were just too stupid to fully pay attention. Even though she said she's been using these things for ever... she's got one in her home up north and one in her home down south (she's a snowbird). She loves this thing. And she shared the love with us. Haha..


Speaking of sharing the love... I've got some photos to post... all taken with the iPhone 11. I'm still trying to figure it out and I still like my Canon camera, but I'm learning it's a little hard to bring a bulky camera to work with me and carry it around to suit my needs. This is in no way me saying "I loves my phone!!!!!!!!"... it's just me trying out the camera options still. I love my Canon! :P

Guess who's back, kiddos!

Dude holding the sheep is ready to partayyyy

Retro disco? Nananananananananananananaa!!!

Until further inspection of more stuff....

Cheers;

It's that TMI post of the day...

Hide yer kids and yer eyes if you don't want to talk about bathroom stuff. Don't read this specific text if you believe the movies are right and we shouldn't show our toilets.


I'll wait til you leave.









Okay.



So... I am at a cousin's house and have realized two things.


One: It's so damn nice to be in a bathroom with a window.



I haven't been able to sit and pee with natural light streaming in, in 8 years.

It's such a different feeling, being able to do your business with a window above your head... versus four walls, the "porcelain throne", a sink and a shower. Bathrooms are bathrooms but the enclosed feeling that forces you to do your business as quick as possible is partially the reason we all probably have issues down here. Being able to see something out that window or have natural light stream in, feels more relaxed.

No wonder why some people I know have stomach issues. They've got to "hurry, hurry" and get out. Maybe they feel claustrophobic? I know the bathroom isn't the place to hang out with friends, but it also shouldn't make you not want to go in and clear out.


The second thing I've noticed: The way the toilet paper is on the holder behind the toilet.

Every bathroom is different, I know, but I found myself having to give a reach around to get some paper.

For real.

I had to reach behind myself to get the toilet paper, to then use it to wipe myself.

Usually holders are on a side of the sink or the wall closest to the toilet or you've got to reach so far in front of you, that you've got to get off the toilet and grab the paper.... because it's on the opposite wall.. the one in front of you.

Not here. Someone didn't think of this correctly.

The holder is in the place the plunger or cleaning wand should be... in the back, by the tank.

Fecking weird.


Tell me your thoughts!


Cheers;




* All photos taken on an iPhone 11 *