A package from teddyradiator was waiting for us yesterday upon our return from my mother's house. Our girl has been working hard at her job and decorating her house like a veritable Christmas elf, yet she still found time to knit me a scarf, hat and gloves for the winter!


They're lovely and just the thing. Thank you again, dearest.

After a so-so week, I hand-crafted a nice, busy weekend full of delights.

( 100% spoiler-free )

Sorry, no delights the last few days, unless you count my delight at seeing the new Fantastic Beasts trailer. OMG, it looks like it's going to be so cool, with its American magical sensibilities, its period costumes, and the beauteous Eddie Tremayne carrying a case full of mysterious beings ...

I was surprised at the 'meh' reactions I heard yesterday. It was just a teaser trailer, people, enough to whet your appetite for the movie, for new situations and characters within the JKRverse. I mean, the silly thing isn't coming out until November 2016. They can't reveal too much, too soon--it would kill the sense of anticipation. And it would step all over the build-up to 'The Force Awakens.' Obviously, there's professional courtesy between movie studios at work here.

No, I don't know what I'm on about either.

Stupid Report is kicking my ass. Groom and I are Christmas-bickering. Send hugs.

Have I mentioned December is a Time For Concerts? It's been this way all my life, from the time my father conducted high school band. Then I grew up and married an aspiring opera singer, and begat an aspiring composer. End-of-the year concerts are our way of life.

On concert days, this is my usual dinner menu. It contains no dairy (which clogs a singer's throat), a lot of protein, vitamins, and just enough carbs to kick-start the evening.

Appetizer: Orange juice
Dinner: Spaghetti marinara
             Baked chicken
             Salad with italian dressing -OR- steamed broccoli
Dessert (optional): Sorbet, black coffee

For the vegetarian who doesn't happen to have to worry about her singing voice, I sprinkle cheese on the marinara and include fried tofu in the broccoli.

Anyway, I digress! Last night's delight was the annual Christmas concert, put on by our city orchestra and choir. The place was jam-packed with families wearing red sweaters. I chatted with one of Santa's well-meaning helpers--which, as you know, are easily recognized by their false beards.

I can't say I strictly enjoyed all the music. I think the choir director is trying to keep from getting bored with the usual fare by finding brand-new composers who spruce up carols with witty embellishments until the poor simple carols wind up losing their way to their own finales. His choices are starting to get too clever for the average ear. I must make a note to write to him; I'm sure he'll be delighted to take concrit from some random blogger.

Not to say everything on program was gratuitously esoteric. They did play Leroy Anderson's Sleigh Ride. Santa came up and did the thing: he tricked the choir director into giving up his baton and then conducted the orchestra for a while. I don't know why that never gets old for me. I might be entering my second childhood.

Santa Claus boarded the commuter train last night! I heard the buzz while I was hunched on my seat, solving the daily spider solitaire challenge on my phone. For a while, it was too crowded to see him, but what I did see at first was smiles. People who had caught sight of him would smile and exchange a few funny observations with strangers. It felt like the mood of the whole train car elevated just a little bit.

Farther down the line, with fewer bodies in the car, I managed to turn in my seat and see him.
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I made vegetable soup tonight. I tried to recreate the soup they serve at our local family restaurant. Mine came out quite delicious, though not precisely like the restaurant's.

My daughter works there as a server. You would think she'd agree to steal the recipe for her beautiful mother, but no!

Not here--we don't get snow in Central California. I mean the movie. My daily delight was, I yelled at one of my least-favorite films.



This is kind of a holiday tradition, in the spirit of my larger sense of ambiguity over the entire Christmas season.

It's one of those movies I love to hate, I guess. In case you happen to like it, I won't list the reasons I do not, because they will only bring you down. Suffice to say, it is a lengthy list.

I only agree to watch with my husband (who loves it) on the firm understanding that at the part where Betty hears a rumor that Bob is going to go behind the back of his beloved general and make a big TV show that exploits the poor man's hardships, my husband will indulge me as I yell at the television screen.

"Jesus Christ, Betty! Tell Bob why you're mad at him! Don't just run off to New York, you passive-aggressive chowderhead!"

Nobody should watch "White Christmas" with me. Too noisy.

We put up our agency's tree today, and decorated it with the help of a 12 foot ladder. The "presents" underneath are empty boxes. We bring them out every year! They add to the decor and also provide a bit of a buffer, to keep people from walking close enough to brush up against the tree. There weren't very many of us involved in decorating; most employees (and a few members of the public) simply stopped by to add a bauble or two and to chat.