More Hodge and Podge

Thanks, Joyce, I’m in a slump…

1. What does it mean to have the 'holiday spirit'?

I don’t want to rain on everybody’s parade, but I’m one of those kooks who really prefers the religious aspects of the season.  I can do without Santa, Rudolph, and their friends.  The commercialism is APPALLING.  This is one of the two times of the year I actually AM religious (the other being Easter). 

That said, I have always loved and will always love “A Christmas Carol”, I read it every year and watch every version that comes out.  My all-time favorites (in order):  1.  George C. Scott’s 1984 Made for Television version.  The all time great, winner, and still champ.  All others pale.  It’s on Netflix if you want to take a look.  2.  The 1954 classic with Fredric March as Scrooge and Basil Rathbone (Sherlock!) as Marley. 

Not wild about the latest semi-animated one, but it was ok.  Looks good on Blu-ray.

(And, digressing, the current remake of Sherlock Holmes, entitled “Sherlock”, on Masterpiece Mystery Theater (it’s a BBC production) is amazing.  Set in present-day; Dr. Watson is fresh from Afghanistan and trying to find himself and falls in with crazy Sherlock.  As our British cousins say, “Brilliant!”  WELL worth your time (there are only 3 so far).

2. What sits atop your tree (s)? Why?

I don’t have a tree any more.  I’m allergic to real trees and the fake ones are…fake…besides, it’s just all to take down after Christmas. 

3. When was the last time you gave yourself a pat on the back?

I try to do it every day.  If I don’t, who will?

4. Which of your senses is most sensitive this time of year?

Tough call, between smell (I love the smell of hot punch, or mulled wine; HATE all the candles, etc.) and sight---I do love the exterior Christmas lights, love driving around looking at them.

5. What do you have too much of in your kitchen?

JUNK.  Somebody help me…

6. What do you do for meals on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day? Big meal? Breakfast tradition? Open the cookie tins and have at it?

Ok, this is a weird one.  Our family has never liked turkey.  I don’t like it now, just not something I crave.  Mother despised it, Dad indifferent; it’s one of the few things my sister and I agree upon.  We always had SWISS STEAK for Christmas dinner.  We all looked forward to it (Swiss steak is hard to do and a labor of love), it’s one of our favorite things.

Also, I make spinach dip and use pumpernickel as the bread bowl/dip delivery device.  I use fresh spinach.  I don’t know what it is I do to it that’s different than everybody else, but everybody loves MINE.  So I always make that and that’s what we eat while we’re waiting for the Swiss Steak to cook.

7. What is the best thing about winter?

Absolutely nothing, I HATE winter.  The only good thing is it gives us a break here in Houston from the summer.  The days are short.  It’s cold and rainy.  Yuck!  Snow?  EEEWWWWWWW.  I’d go live in Southern California or Hawaii or somewhere if I could—tropical all the time, no winter EVER.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Christmas is depressing to me.  Don’t know why; my parents did everything humanly possible to make Christmas wonderful for us.  I’ve always been depressed at Christmas, even as a child (I now recognize).  I am always turned off by it.  Maybe that’s why now the highlight of Christmas for me is Midnight Mass (and nobody in my family will go with me; I go alone).  It’s a religious holiday; I go to church and that’s all I want to do (besides eat spinach dip and Swiss steak, and read/watch A Christmas Carol).