TOTAL LACK OF XMAS SPIRIT

I have decided not to put up a tree this year.  I am going to be down with the kids in Vancouver so I really don't see the point of going through all the angst of putting it up.  Its kind of sad but when I think about hauling that sucker upstairs from the shed, then trying to figure out which three parts go in what order, then getting the branches all even and settled, then getting the skirt at the bottom straight, then hanging the same old ornaments, then spend the rest of the season banging into it....no, too close to a shovel list item.  I don't mind when the family is going to be here but they aren't this year.  Anton feels the same way.

On the tenth of Dec. all the family, the Haights and Bootles and friends are going out to the same spot we were in a couple of years ago for a christmas tree cutting and hot dog roast and tobogganing.  Its so much fun and such a Canadian thing to do.  I am going to take Anton with me and show him a little Canadiana.

But alas, on the 16th its Sally Ann bell ringing time.  Sigh.  Not really my fave thing to do...especially for an association that doesn't support the LGBTQ community.  But, they do help a lot of people and my fellow Kiwanians need us to help.  At least I can spend a couple of hours with my sissy!

And tis the season of the pot luck.  Ach jeez.....pot lucks.   Why why why do people ALWAYS bring the same old crap.  It seems it would be so easy to just go to the damn store and pick a non mainstream item and work a dish around it.

  Ditch the potato salad (not like the one you are used to so you hate it).  Ditch the mac salad, or pasta of some sort (which has a tendency to go runny and never ever has enough salt in it).  And ditch those over sweet sticky meatballs in a crock pot.  And for christ's sake leave the green salads at home.  We are all sick of that predictable addition (except for my sisters green curly lettuce with the most delicious dressing ever).  And then there is always the token badly done currie.  I am guilty of that one.  Oh, and I almost forgot...chicken wings.  Not the delicious buffalo ones...people might not like spicey (too bad I say) but the boring sticky sweet ones that taste like meatballs.

Anton was just reading this over my shoulder and do you know what he just told me?  That when he goes to a potluck he goes to the store and buys tortilla chips and hummus!!!  Seriously?  That is the ultimate pot luck insult!

And of course there is always the inevitable vegetable tray and dip.  Now, I know I am biased on this one.  Its not that I don't like veggies, but I am missing enough teeth that chewing that sort of item is hard.  This is just my problem with those trays but its my blog so I get to put it on the bad pot luck list.

So I suggest that you should try to aim to be the hero of the next mandatory pot luck.  Go to the store, go to the meat aisle (don't be cheap) and pick some different awesome meat (that doesn't turn into the inevitable pulled pork), or go to the produce department and pick up a jicama or a squash or lemon grass and ginger or something that isn't green salad or potato salad.  I know!!!  Buy a giant prime rib roast, roast it to rare, make some yorkshire puddings and an amazing gravy.  Fill a pretty dish with real horseradish and bring that.  Wow!!  You will be the star of the pot luck!!!TTYL