keeping the X in X-mas
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!" he waves as he drives out of sight, red suit, sleigh, tiny reindeer and all.
Christmas at 7H began about 0215 this morning, but sensible awareness never dawned, so I was back in bed by three something, sleeping until about, in Navy language, 0630 hours.
4:30 PM ruckus at church last evening was best of all, and I found that it's even way, way more fun sitting in a pew and watching from out front instead of from my clergy chair in back. The kids were superlative and the audience/congregation were wonderfully responsive!
Annual Xmas morning breakfast of a length of Tallahassee pork sausage on a hotdog bun, smear of mayonnaise and smear of yellow mustard, but not enough condiments to hide the wonderful sausage taste, which I've been waiting and hoping for these months. It's all good!
Kristen and TJCC are expected later this morning, kitchen will be Tass and Jeremy's except for my putting the strip of beef tenderloin in a half=hour before the dinner bell rings. Sear it first, into the oven at high heat, watching meat thermometer and out when it hits 105°F as it'll continue cooking and rising ten degrees. Expecting it to be Bubba Rare, with a hot pan on the stovetop so as to cook a bit more, anyone's slice that's too red. I mean, you can get it more done but you sure as aitch can't get it more rare, nomesane?
Watched a session of Christmas Story before falling asleep last evening. What's my favorite part? Well, the most satisfying, I'm ashamed to say, may be when Ralphie starts steaming as Scut Farkus taunts him, and the bloody scene that follows. That may be because of my extreme contempt for bullies. But my favorite scenes may be any with Ralphie's dad's Oldsmobile.
"My father was an Oldsmobile man," says Ralphie.
BTDT myself, I was an Oldsmobile man for quite a few years. A 1970 Olds Cutlass Supreme hardtop coupe and a 1973 Olds Custom Cruiser station wagon. I actually wanted a Buick at the Time, but the Buick station wagon was based on the LeSabre while the Olds station wagon was based on the Olds 98, so I ordered the yellow Oldsmobile with the stick on wooden siding. A lovely car. We kept it years until it was Time to give it to the Salvation Army in Harrisburg, before we moved to Apalachicola. By that Time, it burned half a tank of gasoline driving from our house across town to give it away.
Wandering down one of my favorite side lanes again, so I'll cut it off there and wish all a Merry Xmas. Today is the First Day of Christmas: my true love gave to me a partridge in a pear tree.
In Hobbiton they always enjoy Second Breakfast: my second breakfast this morning was a slice of my most excellent oyster dressing, cold because it's just as good cold as hot. Two quarts of raw oysters, oyster liquid, cream, one bag of Pepperidge Farm's herb dressing. S&P to taste. Best ever. Baked it one hour on 350°F then one hour on 250°F. Moist and puddingy. Most excellent. Better by the day. As my mother used to say, "It'll be twice as good tomorrow," and indeed it is.
RSF&PTL
T89&c on the morning of my 90th Christmas Day