The Dethroning

I've been tossing and turning for the last hour - partly because there has been a blog rolling around in my head and my Internet was not working and partly because I had a nap late this afternoon - I had to - well I had to do that or have a strong drink and since my stomach was a little churny I opted for the nap. Why the decision - I shopped at Walmart today... Wait! I can explain - I had to, seriously - I have spent the last week and a bit searching desperately for cellophane to wrap my boss' gift in and I could not find it - and well I found where it's been hiding. Walmart. Gah, I should have stocked up while I was there but I couldn't stomach it.

I am officially a stalker with a non stalker purpose if you can call it that. Christmas Presence is on Sunday and I know that PC will be playing the drums for one of the artists. I knew that long ago so when I was offered a ticket and a chance to not attend alone I jumped at the opportunity. Not so that I could gaze longingly, but rather so I could once and for all give myself the gift of a PC vacated throne. I want to know, to see that me now can do that - can look and objectively walk away or walk towards - more effective and say Merry Christmas and casually walk away.

This is how I see it and this is how I feel it will go down. If I have the nerve and or opportunity to walk haltingly towards PC, I will likely groan/mutter/crackle out a Merry Christmas and then stand there getting increasingly red while he stands perplexed at my embarrassed/stressed demeanor, asks the standard familial questions - which this year I get the added complexity of dancing around, before trying to desperately make my exit before my mouth goes completely dry and my palms start to drip. Horror of all horrors he will be a current reader of this blog and that will enter the conversation at which time, I will likely start bursting capillaries in my face from the flushing of my complexion and attempt to make a graceful yet hasty exit.

Fairy tales however dictate that the following will happen. I will have the nerve to walk with a sexy yet demure strut towards PC, I will strike up a conversation with composure and grace or make a polite ass of myself - the later actually is better for the sake of the story and make a hasty exit to the snow covered parking lot (a guarantee right now) in an attempt to flee said situation only to be followed by PC expressing his long held secret love.

I must confess I was almost gaging during the typing of the last situation - though I have to say in true perfectly me fashion I believe it would be the first situation with the last line of the last situation - crimson face, stomach turning, mumbling embarrassment coupled with redemption - if only.

But at the end of the day all I hope to accomplish is no fall, no stumbling and an empty throne - my Christmas gift to my relationship/emotional health and sanity - but it's all too much isn't it? Maybe I should have opted for a manicure gift certificate instead.

Photo

Buy Me Nothing, Buy a Child the World

I have completed my Christmas shopping and I have to thank World Vision for helping me do so. In previous years I've given to Blood:Water Mission on behalf of certain family members, but this year I decided instead of fighting the stores or slaving over a stove that almost everyone will receive a gift from World Vision. I chose Textbooks for my Landlord and his children, A classroom full of supplies for my little homeschoolers down South, a Girl in Need for my Boss and his family and help for a Sexually Exploited Child for my Grandparents.

Why those gifts? The children here are blessed with free education, sure the system has it's weaknesses but education, especially for women in Developing countries provides them with a longer, healthier life and ultimately a chance to have children who survive their infancy and are protected from affects of socially enforced ignorance. Sexual exploitation/trafficking in women and children is the third largest crime in the world and even worse it is considered relatively insignificant due to the shame related and our socially "open" beliefs regarding sex. The "Girl in Need" was the first one I saw in the online catalogue - I guess I believe the gift of life needs to be passed on to a sister in the shame/pain/struggle and given that my boss has been one of my biggest supports why not do it in their name?

So what can you buy me? Sure I "need" a new couch and a publishing contract, but what I would love more then those is the "Restoration of One Child Soldier." I've talked about my adamant pacifism and the destruction that happens when we pick up a weapon in the name of ___, it would be a beautiful way to restore a life and peace in just one life this year. I may not be able to have world peace, but one life at peace is still beautiful.

Photo I know they aren't related -but both speak to the same issue

A Very Vegan Christmas

It has been interesting, but it's a learning experience and every year I'm sure it will get easier, it better because from a culinary standpoint it has been exhausting. The first batch of cinnamon bun dough didn't rise, I found this out and subsequently made a new batch at 5:30am Christmas morning. The strata didn't work at all and the crème brûlée - well it wasn't what I wanted and I should have gone with my cut instinct and gone for the pumpkin based dessert - then again no one really ate dessert. . . I wasn't impressed. The Tofurky was relegated to the barbecue and turned out okay - but it was way too filling for one person to even make a dent in it. So next year I think I'm going to find another alternative. The other funny thing when I talked about it with my mom - I don't particularly like turkey and I really don't like gravy on it... so I think I was forcing myself to enjoy something that I never particularly have. I know the meal my parents made was wonderful and I did eye the stuffing - I will not lie. In the end I realize that I placed and enormous amount of stress on a meal that should have been what I wanted rather than what made everyone else feel comfortable at the table.

We can cross off strata's and crème brûlée from the list of vegan meals and focus on others - like the ones contained in my Veganomicon cookbook - yes I got it - took two months of persistent begging and I got it... and it's good, oh so very good. Made chickpea cutlets yesterday and lemon bars for my Boxing Day at my Aunt's - those I would add less agar to - I like my lemon bars soft.

But in the end I know it's been good for me - no drugs in my meat, no excessive saturated fat intake and overall a predominately vegetable rich holiday. The only thing that has been detrimental is the lack of sleep and the excessive amount of energy needed to cook for one person - the same situation is going to happen for New Years - keeping with the whole single theme - I'm going to being going with my parents to my Aunt and Uncle's place in White Rock to play Wii and watch them eat Hot Pot - since it's a Asian event - I felt I should represent other Asian cultures - as such I have two options - make sushi from scratch - which actually looks like fun or pot stickers - maybe both? Donald's had almost everything I need for sushi - just need plain tempeh... hmm, let me sleep on that. Speaking of which - nap time.

Sorry I'm going to be better at this blogging and working thing...

But first things first - sleep, followed by Christmas shopping and cursing the overall season, I detest Christmas - the holiday - not the reason lost in all the chaos - but who are we kidding do we ever have even longer than a Christmas Eve to slow down just a little to possibly unwrap the complexity of it all. But just as we may reach that gift we ramp up the chaos again for Christmas day followed by the excesses of Boxing Day and followed shortly there after with New Years...

I need to buy presents for my Dad, Mom, Brother, Future Sister in Law, and roommate... plus I have to find time to grocery shop and hopefully make it to the gym. I'm planning menu's in my sleep and it's all too much. STOP! and let me off - sorry no gifts, no egg nog creme brules for Christmas dessert or mushroom pot stickers for New Year's - I can't do it.

But when I get to this point I remember this song I heard a few years back - yes as much as I detest it, Christmas music can be good... ack I said it. Well hopefully you like this - it's not Mariah but I think that's a good thing.

I am about to have a coronary

I am about to have a coronary - and to make matters worse is I'm blanking on where or what that would involve other than biological chaos... ack... why? other than exams, I have our annual office party which always falls before exams - getting drunk before the exams are finished is how I roll... start the celebration early, ignore reality right? Anyways CinCin is where we are headed - a high end Mediterranean restaurant downtown - any they're cooking a vegan menu for me and it's making me neurotic as hell - what are they going to feed me? do they know what vegan is - you know I'm not some lame assed veggie you know? Even lamer though - they're known for their desserts and you know what I get for dessert? Fruit! Bloody hell - I told Jas I'm going to be sneaking in some cookies. You can't tell me a talented pastry chef can't Google for one and two can figure out the wonders of tofu? Sheesh... I know Cheryl you're wondering - yes I will be taking pictures so all can witness, and if I sense even the littlest bit of pretension from this $70/person menu dinner I will be all over their anti-vegan behinds. Regardless I'll be sure to have at least a bowl of cereal before I leave - in case the servings are tiny, late or awful, as the last thing I want is what happened the first year - the party started at 7 and we didn't get appetizers until after 9, so what did we do for 2 hours - drink of course - martini's are a girl's best friend, especially when the boss is paying.

The picture is courtesy of the Vegan Visitor - a Torontonian vegan who can take pictures!! She can't be all that bad - the blog is gorgeous! See she made creme brule even... come on fruit - better be some good fruit...