Joyeux Gnoel

I don't collect garden gnomes. I have never collected garden gnomes. I now own more garden gnomes than any one person should own! If any of my wonderful blog readers choose to send me garden gnomes, they will be returned COD and I will alert all blog readers that you collect Lillian Vernon sweatshirts, Thomas Kincaid pictures, or miniature doll house furniture. Just remember, revenge is better than Christmas!

I sure hope Santa was good to each and every one of you, quite frankly I hope a few of you actually made it off the "Naughty" list in time to get something nice from Santa Bear...grrrrrr!

As for the Lewis / Harris-Bishop household (or as we like to call it, the WalRus household), Santa brought us many wonderful things this Christmas, including a house full of guests, much warmth and dare I say it, yes, even a little love.  Christmas Eve, we attended services at the UU church as Rusty was singing.  This service is full on Christmas, with carols, poinsettias, children reenacting the birth of Jesus in the manger, and candlelight to cap it all off.

Santa left nifty gifts for everyone on Christmas morning - including two "quality" garden gnomes...by the way, Santa Rusty now collects snowglobes...anything with music in the base will do fine, or snowglobes with local landmarks from obscure towns are perfect.

 Di, rusty and I started Christmas day with brunch consisting of gluten free pancakes (actually pretty good after a few weeks of really bad gluten free bakery products) and carmelized pears.  Tensions were high as we set up for the Christmas Dinner scheduled at 2 PM.  Brunch items included a few cocktails while setting up the outdoor bar.  Di and Rusty ganged up and forced a few drinks on me before guests arrived to "settle" my nerves.

By the by, Hendrick's Gin in a dirty Martini?  Nothing says Holiday Spirit better. Unfortunately, I indulged in the Holiday spirits liberally before guests arrived.  So, as to the fantastic dinner menu, the menu was duck with a raspberry sauce, pork loin with blackberry sauce, quinoa pilaf, sweet potatoes, green beans w/ oranges, and banana pudding and homemade ice cream with chocolate truffles for dessert.

Santa Seph saved the day during the cooking of the meal as it appears my holiday spirits kicked in and made it very difficult for me to finish cooking.  My apologies to Seph for dropping the ball and my eternal thanks to him for saving Christmas, or at least the Holiday dinner. My thanks also to Dominic for assisting with dish duty as well.  If Di and Rusty's goal was to get me to relax enough to accept kitchen assistance, mission accomplished.  I accepted this assistance without yelling at anyone or becoming violent...I guess California (and the Gin) has mellowed me out.

Santa Seph is partnered with minister Denis, who certainly doesn't mind taking a fashion risk....We all know Di had a few choice words regarding this outfit.

Seph and Denis are crafty as well, bringing lots of different homemade soaps to clean up the dirty minds at the party.  Denis works with our UU church as a community minister in a program ministering to the homeless in the Tenderloin of SF.  http://www.faithfulfools.org/ Feel free to check it out and to donate to the program if you so choose.

Monique and Lance, enjoying their "prizes" and hats procured from the Christmas Crackers.

Dominique and Oscar reading corny jokes from their own Christmas Crackers.

Counting our good fortune with a truly decadent meal.

Final approval from Mrs. Clause?  I'm sensing a small bit of sarcasm possibly sent my way, possibly directed at anyone in the crowd.

Eventually the food was gone, the martini glasses were empty and the guests fled for their own warmth and joy.  We spent a few hours cleaning up before passing out while visions of olives and lemon twists danced in our heads...What an absolutely perfect day, I wish I could remember more of it.  Note to self: no more drinks before guests arrive.  Thanks to our wonderful friends sharing the day.

Following are a few random pictures I wanted to fit in before the year ends.

While Di visited, we went to a few local spots, this photo is the top of the California Academy of Sciences Living Roof.  We also went to the Disney Family Museum...wow, what an awesome museum, well done!  We enjoyed the SFMOMA, and several shopping opportunities.  Another highlight was a foggy lunch in Tiburon, we missed the city view normally experienced from Sam's restaurant on the water.

I never had the opportunity to post Octoberfest photos.  This was not only in honor of Octoberfest but also a goodbye dinner for Richard on his way to DC for a six month detail.  Sarvy and her roommate were also there as well as our favorite friends, Monique and Lance.

Please notice the steins and the German sausage soaked for hours in Dunkle Beer.  Just in case anyone doubts my heritage.

2009 - wow, lots of great things going on but overall a difficult year.  I am developing a few resolutions for 2010, mainly centering around family and friends and self improvement.  2010 will include Lenette and Carol celebrating 25 years, Rusty and I celebrating 20 years together and the potential for a Mordecai is a Drag party.  It's going to be a good year!

Thanksgiving in North-Cack-a-Lacky

Thanksgiving Week, and a visit to NC.  I don't normally read National Geographic as my family is more of the National Enquirer variety, but flying back to NC and trying to purchase tolerable reading material at the airport, NG is about the best option.  Flipping through the pages, I'm reminded why I stopped reading it.  #1 - the articles are too long to house the magazine in the bathroom, #2 I'm always filled with the desire to see the ice flows of Antarctica, the valleys of China and the plains of Tanzania.  I'm not positive that particular desire is a bad thing.  As we move toward our New Year's resolutions, I'm going to resolve to read National Geographic until my desire to see, to do, and to go, becomes an obsession.  Sucking the marrow out of life sure takes the lots of time, money and energy.  I sure hope Rusty is up to this resolution.  

Side note on traveling, one is thrust into the short end of the gene pool, stuck next to the hoi polloi!  The Chicago airport is filled with sour and dour large midwestern stock, too important for words like "please" or "thank you".  Lots of brassy and pushy broads yielding little to no courtesies.  I'm sure Chicago is filled with wonderful and kindly people - they just don't happen to be traveling on the Saturday before Turkey Day. 

 Visiting with mom was comforting, after her hospital stay due to a minor stroke about a month ago now.  She is stubborn of course and refusing assistance unless absolutely necessary.  She is furious with the doctor and the physical therapist, which is a good sign for my mom, as this will motivate her to get well quicker.  Although initially her gross motor skills were impaired, now most functions are returned and she is doing quite well.  Both of my siblings stepped up to help...thanks siblings.   

Monday Night - My brother opened up his home to serve chicken and veggie chili for a few friends and myself, both chilis were very good.  The company was amazing with Julie, Mechelle and Ann in attendance.  What a lovely triumvirate?  I imagine these sharp witted forked tongued devils would have been burned at the stake in previous centuries, but one does have to admire their charm, beauty and power, characteristics sometimes even used for good.  

Tuesday, a quick stop to visit Debbie and Thiru, and her new kitchen, large enough to land a dirigible.  Debbie must be able to suck the chrome off  a turnpike full of Jersey motor homes to get Thiru to renovate to this extent.  Is there anything this hussy doesn't get?  Can one consider oneself a housewife if your only housework consists of beating the hired help on a weekly basis.  Lovely to see you my dear, the new work from Dr. Scheinfeld seems to almost be holding up. Too much?  Let me soften it...alleged beatings, alleged work and alleged chrome sucking.  

This recipe is most definitely shaken not stirred...

Tuesday evening, Foundations Bar (on Fayetteville Street downtown Raleigh) with a crowd of loved ones!  The frenetic synergy and excellent drinks by Jordan, my new favorite bartender, led surprisingly to moments of clarity and overwhelming feelings of contentment.  It's the feeling one has when you know everyone is in it for the long haul.  The trust and love built over time.  Does this exist for us in California?  Glimmers of it.  It is enough to know it is someplace.  

Jordan serving up a few ounces of decadence in a glass. 

A little bad taste is like a dash of paprika ~ Dorothy Parker

Egads Donna!  

Magic 8 Ball says? 

Someone's kinda mean drunk...don' mess wid da Jersey girl.  

What a queer Pieta!

Nice, who gets to take home this prize.  

Someone pressed for an answer regarding our move back to the land of good biscuits and better bourbon.  I get the feeling the Universe has many things to still teach us in California.  Until then, many visits to North Carolina, and many visitors from North Carolina.  

A beautiful NC sunset!

Also stopped by briefly to see Scott and his wife.  What a delicious couple cut from the cloth of youth.  I believe the standard mid twenties timeline has started.  The joy of possibility shines in their eyes, not yet dimmed by the disappoints of daily life.  It's seductive, the American search for domesticity.  We tried it, I was not a big fan.        

What kind of fool travels to Orlando on Thanksgiving Day.  Well, me for one.  I certainly enjoyed the precociousness of all the kids in the waiting area of the airport.  

Rusty and his madre.  

We spent a really joyous Thanksgiving Day at Rusty's folks in Titusville, FLA.  The dinner was fantastic in the company of Rusty's folks and two of their long time friends.

 Rusty's mom is very positive regarding chemotherapy and radiation treatments. The highs are high, but the lows are very low.  Rusty went to a session at the cancer center and has lots of confidence in the staff. 

And now the Padre...

Traveling back to the Golden State was uneventful but crowded.  In the small world category, I shared a flight with one of our instructional assistants from our school.

December 5th - Gruss vom Krampus und Nikolas - The pagan roots of the legends surrounding St. Nick are undisputed but one of the characters from the early days during the conversion from paganism in Austria was Krampus.  This demon, complete with horns and a long tongue and carrying a switch was there to beat misbehaving kids, a practice I sometimes miss.  He was the side kick of St. Nick who had the power to send him back to hell.  According to National Geographic, this character is making a come back in Austria, celebrated the evening before St. Nick's day (for our non German friends, St. Nick's Day is December 6th).  Austrians dress up as Krampus and go clubbing (Why of course, nothing says Christmas like a devil at a disco.)   

Upon my return, I met Ray and Stacey in the city.  we certainly had a good time at the SF MOMA  drinking Blue Bottle Coffee on the rooftop garden, before a trip to Medjool for a drink and some eats, with an awesome view.  It's amazing to be living in the same state with Ray...even though we still rarely get together, we still see each other more than before.

A beautiful day in the city in November.  

 Rooftop view of downtown from the Mission.

Santa says:  I like 'em nice and naughty.  
Festive house hung in the rain and drizzle.
More fun for the holidays including a visit from Mrs. Claus (yes, Di) and a dinner on Christmas Day at the house...

A few quotes from a book recommended by Debbie (Shantaram).     

"Civilization is defined by what we forbid more than what we permit".  

"It's forgiveness that makes us what we are.  Without forgiveness, our species would've annihilated itself in endless retributions.  Without forgiveness there would be no history.  Without that hope, there would be no art, for every work of art is in some way an act of forgiveness.  without that dream there would be no love, for every act of love is in some way a promise to forgive.  We live on because we can love, and we can love because we can forgive." 

Lions, and Tigers, and Care Bears. Oh My!

Well, gentle readers, in San Francisco, even Care Bears can be edgy.  Copyright infringement laws be damned! In the beginning of September, we attended the Folsom Street fair.  Yes, the leather community street fair.  You may be wondering what two pasty white vanilla flavored delicacies like Rusty and myself were doing at the Folsom Street fair, but we enjoy a dip in the alternative sub culture pool every now and again.  French bulldogs and these Care Bears say it all about the San Francisco leather community, you kinda think they might be butch but they really are not!

So, on with the pictures, as descriptions may not be sufficient.  These pictures may not be suitable for children, the prudish or anyone in polite society...so my readers should be fine!

Handsome buddies at the street fair....Patrick and Jim.

More studs!  The "other halves" from the previous picture...Jeff and Trey!

Betty Page has been a naughty girl!

Semi-Naked Twister.  

I hope someone brought clorox wipes for the plastic Twister mat.

Gotta love Victorian Architecture...

Michael Lester (of Raleigh)  enjoying the California sunshine and a little cocktail with my amus bouche!

Raleigh boys gone wild!

That's enough of that particular brand of nonsense.  And now for more pedestrian pursuits.  October came and went with little fanfare.  

Rusty spent a week in New Mexico for work freezing his butt off.  It snowed on and off during the week.  The pictures he brought back were incredible.  The trip certainly made him appreciate the mild temperatures of the bay area even more.  

New Mexico is one of those places I'm sure is just as crappy as any other place, but I've always had an over romanticized view of the place.  I'm hesitant to visit for want of not destroying this image I have of it as a spiritual mecca.  Anywho, it sure is Pur-dee!

The morning of All Hallow's Eve was spent in service to the Castro Valley community. We participated in the Great Castro Valley Book Pass with my teachers from school.  The community set up a fire brigade line to pass the last of the books from the old CV library to the new high tech CV library (.7 miles away).  
Rusty spent most of the time next to my new superintendent.  For the longest time, Rusty didn't realize this was my new boss...which worried me significantly as they spent an hour telling concert stories (the superintendent used to be a big deadhead and a bit of a concert groupie). Who knows what stories Rusty was telling?  It's always the principal's wife that shares all the gossip.  Always a danger.  I guess I should be appreciative to CV for the fact that I can be out as an administer and still have my job, not possible in every community and certainly a comforting experience!  I'm still a little concerned about the possibility of a lavender ceiling but much healthier in the long run and less likely to encounter the ceiling in the Bay Area. 

Teachers passing books during the great pass on a chilly, fog filled Halloween Morning.  

 

After this high visibility opportunity, we went home to prepare for Trick or Treaters.  We had a fair share but not quite the rush predicted by our neighbors.  We spent much of the time providing hot cranberry toddies for our neighbors, and getting to know everyone a little better.  Rusty and I dressed up to show our holiday spirit! 

Late Halloween evening, we visited a party hosted by our friends Dominic and Oscar.  Dominic is Rusty's stylist, a very talented artisan.  Yes, even the haircuts in the Bay Area are artisanal.  

Let's face it, the plate of chicken wing carcasses really makes this picture.  

Beyond the activities, we're spending our days working hard.  Rusty applied for a different job within the EPA and was offered the position.  Now, instead of an RPM he is a Green Remediation and Communications Coordinator.  No extra Benjamins, but a great position with high visibility.  

Today, long walk on a Sunday morning, reminding myself how beautiful the fall is in San Francsico.  The sea lions were out in full force...lots of sea lion pups...The sky was Carolina blue and even the tourists were less than covering every inch.  

Rusty is off to Philadelphia for work this week.  This Thanksgiving, I'm off to Raleigh to visit mom, and then off to Florida to visit Rusty's mom.  Di arrives December 17th.  Lots of adventures still to be had in double ought niner!