Virtual Holiday Party: December 14
Dr. Socks's virtual summer cottage in Finland
Yesterday my love for Finland was questioned, with intimations being bruited about that I might be showing too much favoritism to Sweden. Nietzsche forbid! I adore Finland. Raoul and I actually have—no, I don’t mean actually, I mean virtually—a summer cottage in the Finnish lake district. It’s wonderful. Not like Virginia, where summer temperatures hover above 1000 degrees with humidity in the high billions.
Today is Day 2 of our Virtual Holiday Party here in the Lounge. It’s December 14, the feast of Saint John of the Cross, a heavy-duty mystic who was tortured by the Spanish Inquisition and who coined the phrase “dark night of the soul.” Traditional celebrations involve ritually locking family members in small closets and beating the shit out of them. Kidding.
So, beloved commentariat, what are you planning for the holidays? Are you going out of town? Hosting relatives? Baking? Shopping? Are you in the Christmas spirit yet? Are you experiencing a dark night of the soul?
9 Responses to “Virtual Holiday Party: December 14”
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Scooble says:
Dr. Socks, you have inspired me to look up the Finnish lake district. That picture is gorgeous. I wonder if they get a lot of mosquitoes there? That’s a problem in Alaska, so it might be the same in Finland.
I am going to be doing a lot of baking, too. In addition to mince pies, I am attempting plum pudding this year. Very Dickensian.
December 14th, 2011 at 9:58 pm EST -
cellocat says:
We’re having masses of family in town for a long time; altogether, December 25 – January 12. I shall be sitting in a corner and sucking my thumb when that is all over. However, we are looking forward to it, particularly to cousins meeting each other who haven’t yet. Not in the holiday spirit, though, as I’m dragging through the first trimester of pregnancy and not excited about much other than sleep, which is elusive these days. I am looking forward to Chanukah, because it’s peaceful, a chance to relax and watch the candles burn down.
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lainey says:
I haven’t really done any shopping yet, but I’ve been surprised to see how busy the parking lots are at our local shopping centers and at Walmart. I hope people are spending money again, at least for the sake of the economy. Not that I’m really in favor of the consumerism and the cheap stuff from China.
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Violet Socks says:
Congratulations on your pregnancy, cellocat! That is wonderful. I’m very happy for you. I’m sure you’ll perk up as soon as you can get some sleep and stop feeling nauseated.
Scooble, the mosquito issue has crossed my mind. I’m not sure what the deal is; perhaps the Finns who spy on this blog will enlighten us.
lainey, I haven’t been shopping at all, so I have no idea what the retail picture is like. Krugman was saying the other day that we might as well start calling this a Depression.
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quixote says:
I have nothing intelligent to add. I don’t bake and I’m too lazy to race around buying presents. I’ll just sit over here (Why, yes, thank you. I will have just a tiny bit of Grand Marnier!) and sip.
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Susan says:
Falling off family has left only the deranged relatives which means I have to go though Christmas Day alone. So, I’m headed to NYC where I will be seeing Mandy Patinkin and Patti Lupone on Christmas Eve and Hugh Jackman on Christmas night.
It’s a different kind of holiday for me. I hope that I works.
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Mike McQuaid says:
I’m going to my in-laws for Christmas which will be my first time without my parents or brothers so will be odd. I never get particularly into Christmas spirit but I am feeling particularly lucky, blessed and happy this year and hoping that 2012 will have more others feeling the same.
Hope you have a good one Violet!
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tinfoil hattie says:
Gosh, let’s see. For this holly-jolly holiday season, the tinfoil hattie family will be trying to find a way to enjoy our first Christmas since splitting from my toxic relatives (this time last year).
Once Mr. tinfoil and I and various kid therapists can get the offspring through their current sleeplessness, anxiety, and complete loss of appetite, maybe we’ll decorate and try to find a way to celebrate! I think we’ll skip the sparkling cider toast: “Remember last year when we found out our relatives would rather brush sexually inappropriate behavior under the rug than protect the tinfoil (and other) children? Good times, good times!”
Not that I am bitter.
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elliesmom says:
I missed yesterday’s party, but this is the recipe I use for St. Lucia buns. http://www.kingarthurflour.com.....uns-recipe My college roommate, Lucia, says that they remind her of ones her grandmother, Lucia, used to make. I bake a lot of bread, too, and I find I get a more consistent rise if I use instant yeast instead of active dry. At the grandkids’ request, Bubs is making Chicago style pizza for Christmas dinner. I’ll do the whole roast something big for the dinner party for our friends later in the week. But my daughter told her kids about having pizza for breakfast one Christmas. I was sick as dog that year and her dad went out and got pizza for dinner Christmas Eve. He gave them the leftovers the next morning. She remembers that year more fondly than I do, but I love to make pizza so why not?
