katallison: (Default)
katallison ([personal profile] katallison) wrote2007-12-26 10:21 am

Quick Christmas note

Wow, have I been out of touch with the world. I haven't been posting, though I've tried to at least skim LJ; I haven't sniffed around in Yuletide yet, or in DSSS, or any of the other holiday challenges, though I am looking forward to dipping into them, as though they were the world's biggest box of assorted mixed chocolates. Nor have I written my Grand Summative Post Of Summing Up The Whole Year And Smashing The Heel Of My Hand Into My Brow, which will be forthcoming in the next week or so (teaser: Nietzsche was on to something with the killing and stronger-making stuff; or, Hi, 2007, big hugs and please let me not have another year like you in the immediate future kthxbye).

But my first Christmas in Seattle was unexpectedly warm and festive, considering that I am still (a) unemployed and (b) technically, homeless. The "technically" is because I am still making my home with my dear and beloved friends M and J, and the "warm and festive" part has a lot to do with the fact that (despite being total atheists) they pull out the stops when it comes to Christmas, and so the month has been a whirl of putting up lights, and buying presents, and baking cookies. On Monday we began the two-day marathon, which included:
--a Christmas-Eve supper of oyster stew and Swedish potato sausage, along with salad and lots of wine, followed by Figgy Pudding (a new tradition, started because M always bitches about how when he sings "Now bring me some figgy pudding" no one ever DOES, but now he can no longer thus bitch; I made it per this recipe and it was excellent, an instant smash hit), accompanied by some lush and decadent Chocolate Port, and a viewing of the MST3K version of Santa Claus Conquers the Martians;
--a Christmas-morning breakfast of ricotta pancakes and leftover Swedish sausage, plus champagne;
--the opening of presents (of which M and J had bought me many more than they ought to have), which ran from 10 until 3, with frequent interruptions for nibbling on cheese and crackers, swilling champagne, phoning friends and family members, and looking out at the snow, which was most amazingly and in-the-manner-of-a-sappy-holiday-movie falling upon Seattle in great thick picturesque flurries (I took a photo and sent it in to the excellent West Seattle Blog, who posted it! [second from top], and yay for having a White Christmas, given that I knew the snow would all be melted by morning and would not need to be shovelled);
--and then a glorious dinner of roast goose, stuffing, squash, lemony green beans, and lots of wine, followed by more figgy pudding, consumed while viewing A Christmas Story.

I hope everyone has had as happy and peaceful a time of it as can be expected in each of your various and respective life circumstances, and I send out love and best wishes in all directions. More later...
ext_1239: The Clarkson in Botswana, wearing many beads (Default)

[identity profile] kitestringer.livejournal.com 2007-12-26 07:05 pm (UTC)(link)
As is so often the case, your post is making me very hungry—and I wouldn't have thought that possible today. *g* I just had Swedish potato sausage for the first time recently, and it was *amazing*.

And roast goose!!! I toyed with the idea of making goose for Christmas this year, until I realized I had no idea where to procure one.

Your Christmas sounds like it was awesome! And here's to a much better 2008! :-)

[identity profile] nos4a2no9.livejournal.com 2007-12-26 08:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Merry Christmas! I'm glad you had such a great time, and your friends really do spoil you shamelessly :-)
china_shop: Close-up of Zhao Yunlan grinning (Fraser Xmas)

[personal profile] china_shop 2007-12-26 08:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Merry Christmas! Yay ephemeral snow! (And mmmmm, ricotta pancakes sound wonderful! :-)

[identity profile] namastenancy.livejournal.com 2007-12-26 11:13 pm (UTC)(link)
She lives (sees head break surface of water before taking another deep dive). I'm glad to hear from you - as are all of us - and look forward to the long post of the year that Kat made major changes....I am so glad that your Christmas was festive, that your friends continue to host you and that Seattle put on a white coat for you to enjoy.

[identity profile] aerye.livejournal.com 2007-12-27 12:26 am (UTC)(link)
Ricotta pancakes? I don't suppose you would care to point to a recipe...

Sounds like your holiday was marvelous! Yay!

[identity profile] maxinemayer.livejournal.com 2007-12-27 03:14 am (UTC)(link)
So good to hear your voice, katallison, and know that you're sheltered, fed like a princess, coddled and loved, and that you seem to be enjoying Seattle very much! I, too, look forward to reading "the year 2007 in review by katallison" sometime soon! Thinking of you with great fondness....

Lots of love,
Maxine Mayer
http://members.tripod.com/~MaxineMayer/index.htm