“Time, time, time
See what’s become of me
While I looked around for my possibilities
I was so hard to please…”
It was a pretty hazy – and rainy – shade of winter in Southern California this past weekend, and yet time, time, time seems to have gotten away from me. Once again, I don’t have a proper post drafted up for today, so you’re getting the assorted-randomness bit again. I hope you’ll enjoy the diversion and not be quite so hard to please. ☺
- I’ve been thinking of this routine as “Ten Items or Less, on Tuesday” because that’s usually what I end up with, and because it references Ten on Tuesday, which I still participate in occasionally. But I’m now leaning toward “Tuesday Tangents” as an official title for these mental meanderings, because if I ever decide to make this a recurring feature, I like the sound of it – and it’s a pretty accurate description. What do you think: do you like it, hate it, not care, or have a better idea? If I make a button for it and all that “official” meme-type stuff, would you consider joining in every once in a while? (Consider those poll questions!)
- Last week was my last full work week of the year. We were away this past weekend, and I took a vacation day yesterday to try to get caught up on a few things (some got done, some didn’t), so I’ll only be in the office for four days this week. The company holiday luncheon is scheduled for Wednesday (they combined it with the Employee Recognition service-awards ceremony this year), and my boss is taking all of his employees out to lunch on Friday. Next week, I’ll be at work through the 23rd, and then taking vacation days for the rest of 2009. It’s the most wonderful – and least productive – time of the year! Are you taking any time off from work during the holidays?
- The main reason I’m taking off the whole week between Christmas and New Year’s is that my son Chris arrives on
the evening of the 23rd, and he’s not going back home till January 2! He may not be with us the entire time – he has some friends in LA proper and will probably try to make New Year’s plans with them – but since he wasn’t here last Christmas, I want to spend some time hanging out with him. Even if he’s just watching the bowl games on TV and eating all the leftovers, I don’t get to have him around much any more, so I just want to be there. Of course, his step-siblings will be on school break then, so we may get a little extra time with them too.
- Are you the head cook for Christmas Day dinner at your house? What are you planning for your menu? I haven’t made up my mind about ours yet. You might think that being a blended family would make it more complicated, but there isn’t really a customary holiday meal that Tall Paul’s family is expecting. That’s both good and bad: fewer dished to be factored into the plan, but also less guidance. I also need to confer with my sister; we spend Christmas Eve at her house, so I won’t want to duplicate anything we’ll be having at dinner there.
There are a few dishes that Chris is used to – onion-roasted potatoes and homemade dressing – but they only make sense if there’s a main dish like roasted chicken (I mentioned at Thanksgiving that none of us really like turkey). Lasagna usually gets a good response around our house, and it feeds a big group pretty well (there will be seven of us). Regardless of the main dish, I’m pretty sure I’ll be making the trifle for dessert, though.
If you have any good suggestions for the dinner, please let me know in the comments, and if you can leave a link to the recipe, I would really appreciate you!
OK, I’ve got far fewer than ten items this time around, but I’ve also left some questions I hope you’ll answer in the comments. And please share some of the random tangents your mind is running after these days!
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I had a dream last night that I had so many blog posts I wanted to get up before the end of the year that I began panicking. I knew I had too many to do one a day and I hate doubling up.
I enjoy your random posts. 🙂 I like the idea of titling your random thoughts as Tuesday Tangents. Very catchy! I'd join in now and then if you made it a regular feature. You know how I like to go on and on with my random thoughts.
Now that you mention it, I don't have a full week left this year. This is my three day week and next will be four because of the holiday. Then I have a week off. It's been so busy lately. I can't wait until next week when things will hopefully slow down some. I'm taking my staff out for lunch today and then tomorrow my boss is taking all of us supervisors out. I got all my little gifts ready for my staff–cups full of chocolate along with gift cards to Starbucks. Not much, but I think they'll enjoy it. We also have a Santa Exchange. Hubby was nice enough to load everything in the car for me last night so I wouldn't forget anything. I hope you enjoy your company holiday luncheon coming up!
I'm so glad your son will be spending Christmas with you this year. Enjoy his visit, Florinda!
No, I'm anything but the head cook on any given day. LOL Hubby and I are thinking of doing our traditional spaghetti dinner on Christmas Day. I noticed that Marie Callendar's is open that day, but I think I'd rather eat in. We're thinking of going to see a movie Christmas Day. Maybe Sherlock Holmes.
I hope you have a good day! I need to head out if I want to get there before my staff so I can set their mugs of candy on their desks.
I like the idea of Tuesday Tangents — and loved your Tuesday tidbits today 🙂
My son will be home for a short while as well — arrives on the 18th and leaves on the 28th — and he tends to spend most of his time sleeping at home, and most of his awake time with friends, but that it is ok. I'll take what I can get.
My last final is Friday at 2:30 — I plan to spend Saturday grading — and then I am "off" until January 4. I will do some lesson planning here and there, but mostly I am looking forward to rest and relaxation.
We'll be doing the turkey thing on Christmas Day. I'm thinking of doing a brunch for my whole family after Christmas, maybe that Sunday past. I'm thinking I'm crazy.
I am looking for appropriate graphics to make a "Tuesday Tangents" button – thanks for the positive response to that idea!
Wendy (Literary Feline) – Your dreams are telling you you've taken too much time off from blogging this month :-D! But I know what you mean. I'm planning on a few days off from posting, and getting anxious about getting all the posts I want to do before year-end written too.
The problem with the business that you and I are in is that you can never really count on things slowing down over the holidays; crises happen when they happen. But it sounds like you have some fun planned at work this week! I'm sure your staff will like their gifts – I know I would :-). I don't really do co-worker gifts, but I usually bake and bring in breakfast for my department. It's just not happening this year (which is one reason my boss is taking us out to lunch instead).
We may be seeing Sherlock Holmes too, but probably not till after Christmas.
Marie Callendar's for Christmas dinner?! 🙂
Molly – When my son was in college he used to spend a lot of time sleeping during his holiday visit too. Now that he's a so-called grown-up, he tends to surface before 10 AM :-).
Enjoy your break!
Chris – My sister does a New Year's Day brunch for her in-laws every year. I'll make cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning, but that's probably as far as I'll go :-).
Your last full week was last week? No fair. 🙂
My mom is the head cook. We go to her house every year. Though we have tried to have it twice but each time something has gone wrong. One year Jenn was really sick and the other year my mom's basement flooded so we had to work on that. We've decided to not try and have Christmas anymore. 🙂
Enjoy your time off!
We're going to my in-laws. My MIL says I can help her make the traditional southern cornbread dressing again this year. I guess the other time she let me (after 20 years of marriage) she thought it was okay. (This summer will be our 28th anniversary!)
This is Carl's last week of work and then he has the rest of the year off. I'm not sure what I'll cook for Christmas dinner, but it will probably be on the simple side since it will just be the 3 of us.
I like the idea of Tuesday (or any day) tangents! Yup, I am the head cook around here. I always make Pannetonne French toast for breakfast on Christmas morning. Not sure what the rest of the menu will involve this year. My little girls are growing very particular tastebuds and even though I SWORE I wouldn't be the mom who makes separate meals…well, whoop there it is! I'm THAT mom. 🙂
I like the idea of Tuesday Tangents…especially since I am almost caught up on my reviews, and I'm reading some pretty thick books, so I'll be running out of posts!
Mike – I actually like to host Christmas Day, especially since my sister does Christmas Eve – once I figure out what we're going to eat, anyway!
Yes, it's true – 6 more days of work this year, and NO midnight shifts! (Just thought I'd mention that :-D.)
Jeanne – Some years we go to my mother-in-law's, but this year she's coming here, since her grandkids will be with their dad and me on Christmas Day. Besides, she's not much for cooking, and if I'm going to do it, I'd rather use my own kitchen :-).
Kathy (Bermudaonion) – As a fellow mom-of-only-child, I've done my share of simple Christmas dinners for three, but it'll be fun to have a bigger group this year.
Karen H (Scobberlotcher) – A lot of us end up as THAT mom, for awhile, because…well, the kids have to eat something :-)! That French toast sounds great. I'll be making Pillsbury cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning – that much I do know.
Jill (Softdrink) – I'm not sure I'll be posting more than one more review this year myself. And I think I'll make Tuesday Tangents official – the button has been created, and I'll post it soon!
I'm going to love reading this meme!
I've already got one posted
Gina (Book Dragon) – Thanks for jumping in! I've stopped by your blog and commented on your Tangents over there :-).