Food glorious food: Part deux

Um... yeah. So I couldn't possibly feel like more of a glutton right now. I've been eating and drinking and eating and drinking and eating and drinking... and I just can't seem to stop.

I guess that happens during the holidays. I just wish I had a teensy bit more self control. Ah well. Come January 2nd, I'm back in line. No excuses. You know - cause if I don't watch my figure, nobody else will! 

Enjoy the rest of the season! 

Ho ho ho

The office holiday party is tonight. Oh, the holiday office party.

Acutally, I'm really looking forward to this one. We're off to the swanky Drake Hotel for dinner and drinks. Oh, and our "significant others" (or just others) will be joining us. Which makes me think that any of us with significant others will be behaving tonight. (And that is completely fine with me. I don't need to be the topic of the next-day "OMG did you hear what she did last night???" stories.)

However, if there is no post early tomorrow morning in my blog... you'll know I still had a good time.

Happy holidays everyone!

The final countdown

Only 4 more days of work until I'm off for the holidays. Only 4 more days of work until I'm off for the holidays. Only 4 more days of work until I'm off for the holidays. Only 4 more days of work until I'm off for the holidays.

Okay - I'm excited. I like my job... but all I can think about is raisin cookies and playing games and presents and Christmas music and turkey dinner. How I love the holidays. 

Hint, hint...Nudge, nudge...

Here's a sample of an MSN Messenger conversation (if you can call it that) I had with my co-worker, B.

If you don't know what "nudging" is on MSN, let me fill you in. Basically, you can press a button that "nudges" the person you're talking to - and it shakes their screen. It's highly annoying... but since we're both very mature, B and I use MSN to nudge each other over and over again. Often without even having any type of conversation.

Anyway - so here's our conversation... (By the way - B and I amuse ourselves to no end. We think we're quite funny).
_______________________

You have just sent a nudge.

B just sent you a nudge.

Hez says:
is someone nudging you other than me??????????????

You have just sent a nudge.

B says:
I'm nudging Green Card

B just sent you a nudge.

Hez says:
who's green card?

B says:
emma

You have just sent a nudge.

B says:
nudge her too, k?

B just sent you a nudge.

Hez says:
I'm disappointed in you. nudging other women

B says:
ha ha ha... nice

You have just sent a nudge.

B says:
what can i say. I need a little nudgin'.

B says:
I'm nudge-starved.

B says:
I want to make nudge to someone

B says:
k, stopping...

B just sent you a nudge.

Hez says:
HAHAHAHAHA

B just sent you a nudge.

Hez says:
"I want to make nudge to someone"....

Hez says:
I actually had some nudging last night

B says:
shut up!

Hez says:
so I'm not nudge-starved

B says:
i have to settle for nudging myself

To all you kids out there

Sometimes you get news that really affects you, but it's so close to you personally that to other people, it doesn't seem like a big deal at all.

Like this news. I heard recently that my Dad is stepping down (mid-season) as coach of his minor hockey team. That doesn't seem like a big deal to you, does it?

Well, here's the thing. My Dad loves hockey. He lives and breathes coaching. When the season ends, he barely takes any time off before he's out "scouting" - checking out players for next year's team.

My Dad has devoted over 30 years of his life to coaching - all volunteer work. And it's a very big time commitment. But he does it. Year after year, he's helping boys learn on-ice and life skills about being a team player, the importance of being okay with a loss and being an admirable winner. He helps these boys excel at a sport they love. And the best part is, he really cares about them and cares about having fun.

With his guidance, his teams have won championships, have made it to the Provincials and have had countless number of wins and made it through some bad seasons and losses, too. But it's always been fun.

This year, something different is happening. There are some problem parents, some of the players aren't committing, they don't feel they have to learn from my Dad - and they're losing. All season. Which is okay, in my Dad's eyes.

But, as he told my mom, after 30 plus years of coaching, it's suddenly no longer any fun for him. He doesn't look forward to games like he used to. So, he's stepping down.

I think it's the right decision for him - and I'm glad he's made it. But for some reason, I feel quite emotional about it. I guess I don't like the thought of someone not giving my Dad the respect he deserves. And I don't like the thought of my Dad being unhappy.

I just hope he remembers all the good experiences he's had. And maybe the ice will call to him again one day.

Johnny boy

A few days ago, my Dad managed to get me a great deal on movies. So - I got a selection of movies I've sorta always wanted, but never really wanted to pay for - for only $5 each.

Last night I watched Finding Neverland (again), starring my boyfriend Johnny Depp.

If you haven't seen that movie yet, you should. I often talk about how visually pleasing Johnny Depp is - but this movie also proves what an incredible actor he is. I don't think the man makes bad movies. Ever.

This movie is pretty simple. There are no intense car chases. No steamy sex scenes. No mind-blowing effects. No big dance numbers (except for one small scene where Johnny dances with his dog... and a bear). But I couldn't take my eyes off the screen for a minute.

I think it's pretty darn fantastic that there are movies out there that simply tell beautiful stories. Now that's entertainment.

Food, glorious food

Yesterday, hubby and I went for our annual Christmas brunch at the King Eddie hotel in Toronto. Let me say - any tradition where you get to eat and eat and eat and eat (delicious foods, no less) is a tradition that is just fine by me.

We started with the breakfast course, went on to the salads, then on to the antipasto and breads, followed by a main course and, of course, dessert.

The food was decadent, the Christmas decor beautiful, the atmosphere fantastic and the company - perfect. I've asked A. before if he wants to invite our parents to join us sometime, but for now he says he likes having it as a tradition for just the two of us. That's pretty cute.

Anyway, so yesterday's feast marks the first during a season full of over-eating, drinking and little to no exercise. Ahh... the holidays. They're so great, aren't they?

Christmas Tag

This was inspired by Dawn. So fun! Read on...

1. Eggnog or hot chocolate? 

Always hot chocolate. With cookies.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just put them under the tree?

They always come wrapped. And with different wrapping paper, of course.

3. Colored or white lights on tree/house?

Both.

4. Do you hang mistletoe?

No.

5. When do you put your decorations up?

Usually the second weekend in December – when we get our tree (real!)

6. What is your holiday dish?

I’ve never cooked a Christmas dinner, so I can’t really say I have a dish. I do always bring cold cuts and buns to the family potluck Christmas party though. Does that count?

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child.

Baking sugar cookies with my Mom on Christmas Eve day and decorating them with my brother and Dad, reading ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas before bed time on Christmas Eve, running down the stairs frantically as soon as my parents said “okay!” on Christmas morning, going to my Aunt and Uncle’s house on Boxing Day for turkey sandwiches and games.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?

I wrote about the moment I discovered Santa wasn’t real in a mini-story once. This is what I wrote: 

At Christmas one year, I was on the fence about the whole ‘Santa Claus’ thing. Dad asked me to put some boxes away in the storage space. And that’s when I saw it. The wrapping paper that Santa uses. The wrapping paper that proved to my brother and I that Santa really was real. It was different paper – paper that we didn’t see until Christmas morning.

“Dad, what was that extra wrapping paper doing in the storage room?”  I questioned accusingly.

“What paper?” he asked absent-mindedly as he unwrapped the cord from the vacuum cleaner.

 “The paper that all of our gifts from Santa were wrapped in. Why would it be there?”

He turned his back to me and started up the noisy vacuum. “Santa left it for us.”

 I stared at my father as he cleaned up for a few minutes. He was lying. I knew it.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?

No way.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?

With different decorations from each year hubby and I have been together.

11. Snow! Love it or dread it?

Love it. But I’m done with it by January 2^nd.

12. Can you ice skate?

Sorta. But not well. And not backwards.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?

Hmm… I think it was the keyboard I got when I was a kid. I never knew how to play the piano – but for some reason really wanted a keyboard.

Also, one year hubby surprised me at the King Edward hotel Christmas brunch with the Nutcracker tickets. It was a very romantic Christmas memory.

14. What's the most important thing about the holidays for you?

Family.

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?

Cookies. Hands-down.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?

I still love baking cookies with my Mom on Christmas Eve. And I love playing games with the family on Christmas Day after dinner and going to a movie with hubby on Boxing Day.

17. What tops your tree?

A very, bright, almost tacky-looking star.

18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving?

Both! I really love it when I get a great gift for someone and I can tell they love it.

19. What is your favorite Christmas song?

Suzy Snowflake. Or anything by the Muppets.

20. Candy canes.

Not a big fan.

21. Favorite Christmas movie?

Christmas Vacation. So funny. I love Cousin Eddie.

22. What do you leave for Santa?

Used to leave cookies. But we didn’t leave anything last year.

Thanks Dawn! Anyone else interested in sharing their Christmas memories with me?

Boo-urns

Just so all my dear readers know, I'm still alive... but I've been suffering with a horrid, horrid cold or sinus infection or something. And since I figured you don't want to hear about my runny nose and an in-depth description of the pain shooting through my forehead, I figured I wouldn't write much until I'm better. 

I will be back though - so keep reading!

~H

PS: Yesterday I ate 10 cookies. At least I haven't totally lost my appetite.

12 is enough

There's nothing better than holiday baking, in my opinion. I baked cookies with my Mom at my Mother-in-law's house on Sunday. And we made a LOT of cookies, so we could all have a batch to last us through the season.

Anyway, so of course I'm going to sample a cookie or 2 here and there. Or 12.

Yep - I ate 12 cookies yesterday. In one day alone.

I was good and decided to forgo the morning cookie. (You know, the first thing you eat in the day... while you're waiting for your breakfast to be ready... mmmm... so good). Instead, I thought I'd have just 3 cookies for my snack after lunch. However, I brought 4 cookies to work to share one with a coworker. I didn't share.

Then, I got home and had to wait for dinner. So I had the "I'm just standing here, so I'll just have this little one right now" cookie. Then I had another.

After dinner, I thought to myself "tea and cookies would be so lovely now". So, a normal person would probably have 1 or 2 cookies with tea. I had 6. I have to admit... when I was on my 6th cookie I was thinking "I'm actually not hungry." But damn it, they tasted too good to not eat.

So that equals 12 cookies. I'm a teensy bit ashamed today. (Not too ashamed, however, that I couldn't bring 4 more cookies for lunch today. Today will be the day I share with my coworker. I swear.)

Good thing I'm going for a run tonight after work.

Brrr...

Normally I wait until the morning to write my blogs. That's when I find I'm the most creative. But today was such a good day - I couldn't wait to write.

Today I ran a 10k race. I've done it before, a few years back... but today was different. Today there was snow. A lot of snow. Which meant today there was tougher terrain. Which meant today there was a lot more determination on my part... just to make it through. And the best part: today there was my Mom.

We ran on ice, through slush, in wind, in snow - and it was hard. Very
hard. But when we crossed the finish line, our faces were red, we were sweaty and cold at the same time... but we were ecstatic. We've run further distances in practice, but there was something about reading our finish time, being together and having that sense of accomplishment forever.

So that was my day. It was pretty damn awesome.