Friday is, of course, Christmas Day. We traditionally host dinner and eat around 1:00 or 2:00 PM. This year, because our daughter Erin has to work on Christmas and can't arrive till the afternoon, we'll eat at 4:00. This is a pretty big change for our family, which this year will include nineteen people at the table--well, tables; even with the leaf added, our main dining table only seats ten. We've always eaten in the early afternoon. Even when we were kids, both my wife's family and mine ate earlier. And this is the second time in two months we've eaten later: Thanksgiving dinner was also moved later in the day because of Erin's work schedule.
Yet no one has said anything about it being too late or that they'll be eating something else instead as a result. Maybe it's that we're all old enough to roll with the punches, tradition be damned, but I like to think that it is in part because no one would want to exclude Erin for the sake of eating at the "normal" time. However I look at it, it seems to me an example of how we make little adjustments in the holiday season to accommodate each other.
Today is Festivus, a holiday introduced years ago on the Seinfeld TV show and which has grown to be "celebrated" by thousands, maybe millions, of people. "A Festivus for the rest of us," as George's father proclaimed, was intended to counteract the commercialized holiday season with a gathering where you tell everyone what's wrong with them and battle through Feats of Strength (for many years, my son's high school Festivus parties included picking up a friend's Ford Fiesta). This year, my son will host, along with his wife now, what I think is his fourteenth or fifteenth consecutive Festivus party. And while the whole premise of the celebration is anti-holiday, it is in fact a gathering of old and new friends to play, laugh, eat and drink together. In fact, falling just before the holiday on which most of them will gather with their blood families to celebrate Christmas, it's a chance to join with their family of friends. That's three consecutive days of celebrating with Family, be it born-into or chosen. That's a pretty good way to spend some of the darkest days of the year.
Click here for a great explanation of Festivus. Or here for a clip from the show.
Happy Festivus!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
Christmas lights
On this date in 1882, the first Christmas light strings were sold. They replaced candles, which were responsible for houses sometimes burning down when the tree caught fire. Now more and more people are using LED Christmas lights, which emit almost no heat and therefore pose even less of a fire threat than mini-lights.
We went to a Hanukkah party this past Friday. It's a wonderful, annual affair at our friends Kathy and Jonathan's house. It has become the tradition that a group of men will peel, shred, squeeze, mix and fry the potatoes, onions, eggs and flour into an extravaganza of latkes, which is (are?) accompanied by applesauce and asour cream, brisket, kugel, the occasional vegetable, and many desserts. This year, some men brought their own aprons--next year, I'll have bring my own as well, although putting on a frilly red apron normally intended for Kathy or one of her daughters is always amusing.
Attending a Hanukkah party a week before Christmas is an embarrassment of riches for which I'm very grateful, and we've enjoyed it for every year but one over the last sixteen or so years. To be there for the lighting of the menorah is a pleasure and a chance to honor the rich history that goes with it. Since I spend my days being silly and irreverent for a living, it's nice to take time to be serious, respectful and grateful. I think the addition of a Hanukkah celebration to our Christmas season makes Christmas more fun for me. I always reach a point where I decide that the one more present I'd like to get someone will be unnecessary, that running around at the last minute to fight the crowds is counterproductive, and that I'll save my energy to be a better companion to that person on the day I'm preparing food and drink and tending to my guests' needs. While Christmas has Santa and Rudolph and presents and shopping attached to it, Hanukkah is still largely unspoiled. With all the gifts and hoopla and excitement and drama of the season, the lighting of the menorrah at the party and the lighting of candles at the 11:00 PM church service on Christmas Eve still are the highlights for me.
Then, of course, I'm ready for the opening of presents!
Nice thoughts for the week of Christmas, huh?
We went to a Hanukkah party this past Friday. It's a wonderful, annual affair at our friends Kathy and Jonathan's house. It has become the tradition that a group of men will peel, shred, squeeze, mix and fry the potatoes, onions, eggs and flour into an extravaganza of latkes, which is (are?) accompanied by applesauce and asour cream, brisket, kugel, the occasional vegetable, and many desserts. This year, some men brought their own aprons--next year, I'll have bring my own as well, although putting on a frilly red apron normally intended for Kathy or one of her daughters is always amusing.
Attending a Hanukkah party a week before Christmas is an embarrassment of riches for which I'm very grateful, and we've enjoyed it for every year but one over the last sixteen or so years. To be there for the lighting of the menorah is a pleasure and a chance to honor the rich history that goes with it. Since I spend my days being silly and irreverent for a living, it's nice to take time to be serious, respectful and grateful. I think the addition of a Hanukkah celebration to our Christmas season makes Christmas more fun for me. I always reach a point where I decide that the one more present I'd like to get someone will be unnecessary, that running around at the last minute to fight the crowds is counterproductive, and that I'll save my energy to be a better companion to that person on the day I'm preparing food and drink and tending to my guests' needs. While Christmas has Santa and Rudolph and presents and shopping attached to it, Hanukkah is still largely unspoiled. With all the gifts and hoopla and excitement and drama of the season, the lighting of the menorrah at the party and the lighting of candles at the 11:00 PM church service on Christmas Eve still are the highlights for me.
Then, of course, I'm ready for the opening of presents!
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Moving into a new office
We had the upstairs bedroom that used to be our daughter's painted about a month ago. This was exciting because I've always done my own interior painting, so to walk into a room that was magically transformed into new colors with no effort on my part (other than writing a check) was a treat.
The only step remaining before I can move into that room is to screw down the floorboards.
When I built the house, I used wide southern yellow pine planks for the floor, laid over black plastic and attached with common nials from a regular framing nail gun. I figured the combination of the little burrs on each nail, as the gun breaks off the wires connecting the nails in a magazine, and the glue on the shaft of the nail, which is activated by the heat of shooting it into the wood, would hold the boards. Nope. For years, the floors in our bedrooms have creaked. I screwed down the downstairs floors early on and had them sanded and refinished, but the upstairs bedroom floors continue to whine and moan when walked on. So as each room is repainted, I will fix the floors.
Trouble is, with the busy holiday season and my innate ability to get distracted by other things, the floors haven't been fixed yet. The screws are ready but I guess my resolve isn't. I should probably be doing that now instead of writing this, but this seems to be more fun. Kneeling for hours on a hard floor that you thought you'd done right the first time is an easy task to put off, at least for me.
I'd hire someone to do the floors, but that's too much money for a project that can be done relatively quickly. I'm thinking this may be a Christmas weekend project. If I can tear myself away from going to the movies, visiting with family and friends, and inhaling one more piece of pie or glass of eggnog (I make a mean eggnog), I may get it done then.
Note the upholstery. Click here to see more cartoons.
For my next house, I want tot rip 1/4" plywood--probably oak--into wide strips and glue them down to the subfloor, then add a couple of coats of different stain: one for the basic color and another to give them a worn look. Then a few coats of water-based polyurethane and I'll have old-looking, inexpensive, durable wide board floors that don't, and won't, squeak. I did several floors like this for clients in my old carpenter/handyman days, and they all worked well and saved thousands of dollars. And I like "getting away" with something like that. I guess it goes back to my theater days, building sets and props out of cheap materials and making them look expensive. I did a beautiful-looking mandolin from foam core board and the type of elastic thread in the waists of underpants.
But I digress. And the fact that I start out talking about finishing a floor project and end up writing about underpants--and that I easily do this sort of thing all the time--is why the floor still lies there, waiting for me. It's not like it doesn't complain--I just don't listen very well.
The only step remaining before I can move into that room is to screw down the floorboards.
When I built the house, I used wide southern yellow pine planks for the floor, laid over black plastic and attached with common nials from a regular framing nail gun. I figured the combination of the little burrs on each nail, as the gun breaks off the wires connecting the nails in a magazine, and the glue on the shaft of the nail, which is activated by the heat of shooting it into the wood, would hold the boards. Nope. For years, the floors in our bedrooms have creaked. I screwed down the downstairs floors early on and had them sanded and refinished, but the upstairs bedroom floors continue to whine and moan when walked on. So as each room is repainted, I will fix the floors.
Trouble is, with the busy holiday season and my innate ability to get distracted by other things, the floors haven't been fixed yet. The screws are ready but I guess my resolve isn't. I should probably be doing that now instead of writing this, but this seems to be more fun. Kneeling for hours on a hard floor that you thought you'd done right the first time is an easy task to put off, at least for me.
Note the upholstery. Click here to see more cartoons.
For my next house, I want tot rip 1/4" plywood--probably oak--into wide strips and glue them down to the subfloor, then add a couple of coats of different stain: one for the basic color and another to give them a worn look. Then a few coats of water-based polyurethane and I'll have old-looking, inexpensive, durable wide board floors that don't, and won't, squeak. I did several floors like this for clients in my old carpenter/handyman days, and they all worked well and saved thousands of dollars. And I like "getting away" with something like that. I guess it goes back to my theater days, building sets and props out of cheap materials and making them look expensive. I did a beautiful-looking mandolin from foam core board and the type of elastic thread in the waists of underpants.
But I digress. And the fact that I start out talking about finishing a floor project and end up writing about underpants--and that I easily do this sort of thing all the time--is why the floor still lies there, waiting for me. It's not like it doesn't complain--I just don't listen very well.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Energy efficiency and Christmas
I do love Christmas. I love the festivities, trying to keep up with too many holiday functions, eating more sugar than (I think) all the rest of the year, making myself work out several times a week to make up for that, the inspirational spiritual aspect, the colors...it's just a fun time of year, and a nice consolation for the decreasing hours of daylight and the increasing cold for those of us who live in cold climates.
I've spent several days this month drawing Christmas cartoons while I listen to Christmas music. I almost feel guilty. But not quite.
Speaking of guilt, I know that even the mini Christmas tree lights use a lot of electricity, especially when you add up all the trees around the world at Christmastime, so we decided to buy LED lights for the tree this year. We bought them on Black Friday at a big discount. Now they're on the tree, and I like them a lot. White LED lights often look bluish outdoors, but on our tree, they look fine. They're also bright enough to light up the ornaments; our old mini lights were too faint. The blue, especially, is a beautiful, rich, almost mysterious color. And they come in different shapes, so you can have tiny dots of light or big, honkin' old fashioned bulbs. There are even special versions of white LED strings if you want the traditional warm color for your outside decorations. Target is one source of many.
LEDs use much less energy than any other type and will last for years longer No more studying strings of lights each year to figure out which bulb burned out and is causing the whole thing to fail--even though the box said they all stay on if one goes out! I read recently that we may all be using them as our primary light sources in our homes within three years. They're expensive for anything but tree lights now, but as demand and production increases, prices will drop. Of course, the ultimate savings in energy already offset the initial higher cost of the bulbs, if you're willing to spend the money now. They screw into standard sockets, so it'll be easy to convert as prices allow.
My dream (one of many) is to have a house with prewired sockets in all the windowsills so an LED candle can just be plugged into each window and be controlled from a central switch. They don't get hot, so there's no worry about melting window shades or burning curtains.
If you don't have them now, look for LEDs the day after Christmas at bargain prices. And remember, if you throw out fluorescent lights--don't! Fluorescents have a little bit of mercury in them and shouldn't be dumped into the environment. Recycle them. Most municipalities do now. If not, go here to find out more about how to recycle them.
The season is even more fun if you feel like you're doing something good for others, and this is an easy way to do that. And it's good for you too.
I've spent several days this month drawing Christmas cartoons while I listen to Christmas music. I almost feel guilty. But not quite.
LEDs use much less energy than any other type and will last for years longer No more studying strings of lights each year to figure out which bulb burned out and is causing the whole thing to fail--even though the box said they all stay on if one goes out! I read recently that we may all be using them as our primary light sources in our homes within three years. They're expensive for anything but tree lights now, but as demand and production increases, prices will drop. Of course, the ultimate savings in energy already offset the initial higher cost of the bulbs, if you're willing to spend the money now. They screw into standard sockets, so it'll be easy to convert as prices allow.
My dream (one of many) is to have a house with prewired sockets in all the windowsills so an LED candle can just be plugged into each window and be controlled from a central switch. They don't get hot, so there's no worry about melting window shades or burning curtains.
If you don't have them now, look for LEDs the day after Christmas at bargain prices. And remember, if you throw out fluorescent lights--don't! Fluorescents have a little bit of mercury in them and shouldn't be dumped into the environment. Recycle them. Most municipalities do now. If not, go here to find out more about how to recycle them.
The season is even more fun if you feel like you're doing something good for others, and this is an easy way to do that. And it's good for you too.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Calendar
I meet with the printer to approve the calendar proofs tomorrow morning, and then the calendar will be ready to ship in (I hope) a week or less. It's exciting to be doing the first QlownTown calendar, especially since it's grown from the original concept of just a large cartoon on top with the monthly calendar below to also including several interesting holidays and clown-related birthdays per month to adding a holiday or birthday to every day of the year, and one or two additional cartoons. Now it exists as a "Holiday" calendar, another way to give people a lift every day. As a matter of fact, people can still hate clowns but enjoy the list of wacky holidays. How bad can a day be if you know it's Rubber Ducky Day or National Kazoo Day, and that someone somewhere is actually celebrating it?
I'm hearing from more and more people that they always look forward to their morning QlownTown fix to get the day started right. I do that myself with other people's cartoons, so I feel lucky to be a part of a group that helps people get going on the right foot. I receive the daily cartoon myself via email, and I always check it to make sure it comes through all right. I frequently think of some particular friend or relative who I know will be especially entertained by whatever cartoon arrives that morning...that's how I get a lift from the strip.
And, for the first time, I also get to see the cartoon as my readers do.
As I've mentioned here previously, by the time I've gone through the process of writing, drawing, scanning and coloring the strip, the joke often seems lame; but seeing it arrive, fully formed, in my email gives me a fresh perspective. I sometimes laugh out loud at my own cartoon! This is when I know that 1) it's a good one, or 2) I may be the only one who finds it funny and I should be an accountant or burger flipper. Of course, I always choose to believe the former is true, and feel encouraged when someone writes to say they especially liked that day's cartoon.
Perhaps, in keeping with my campaign to start people's day right, I should go into coffee distribution. Qlown Qoffee, anyone?
I'm hearing from more and more people that they always look forward to their morning QlownTown fix to get the day started right. I do that myself with other people's cartoons, so I feel lucky to be a part of a group that helps people get going on the right foot. I receive the daily cartoon myself via email, and I always check it to make sure it comes through all right. I frequently think of some particular friend or relative who I know will be especially entertained by whatever cartoon arrives that morning...that's how I get a lift from the strip.
And, for the first time, I also get to see the cartoon as my readers do.
As I've mentioned here previously, by the time I've gone through the process of writing, drawing, scanning and coloring the strip, the joke often seems lame; but seeing it arrive, fully formed, in my email gives me a fresh perspective. I sometimes laugh out loud at my own cartoon! This is when I know that 1) it's a good one, or 2) I may be the only one who finds it funny and I should be an accountant or burger flipper. Of course, I always choose to believe the former is true, and feel encouraged when someone writes to say they especially liked that day's cartoon.
Perhaps, in keeping with my campaign to start people's day right, I should go into coffee distribution. Qlown Qoffee, anyone?
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
National Fritter Day
I turned in the artwork files for the 2010 QlownTown calendar yesterday. It was probably three months later than I should have gotten it ready (note to self for 32011 calendar: have ready in August), but at least it's now at the printer. I noticed as I looked at my 2009 calendar---which featured a few holidays, birthdays, and special occasions, but nowhere near the one-for-every-day of the 2010 one---that today is National Fritter Day. I've decide to honor this important day by making fritters for dinner tonight.
Here's a recipe that I like for corn fritters:
3/4 C. all-purpose flour
1/2 C. corn meal
2-1/4 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. salt
2 T. sugar
1 egg, separated
3/4 C. milk
1-1/2 tsp. canola oil
1 12oz. can whole-kernel corn, drained (optional)
Oil for frying
Sift flour with baking powder, salt and sugar. With rotary beater, whip egg whites till stiff peaks form.
In another bowl, using same beater, beat egg yolk, milk, and 1-1/2 tsp. canola oil.
Gradually add flour mixture, beating till smooth. Gently fold in egg white. Add corn, if using.
Heat oil (at least 2 inches deep) to 375F. Drop corn mixture by large spoonfuls (about 1/4 Cup) into oil, a few at a time. Deep-fry, turning once, till golden brown (3-5 minutes). Drain well on paper towels. Serve with maple syrup, molasses, honey or jam; or, to really impress, with cob syrup, made by boiling sugar, water and corn cob together, then straining...a somewhat involved process that I won't do again, in part because I love maple syrup more.
You could also go the savory route, topping with salsa, tapenade, curry sauce or hoisin.
Happy National Fritters Day!
This has been a service of the QlownTown Test Kitchens
Here's a recipe that I like for corn fritters:
3/4 C. all-purpose flour
1/2 C. corn meal
2-1/4 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. salt
2 T. sugar
1 egg, separated
3/4 C. milk
1-1/2 tsp. canola oil
1 12oz. can whole-kernel corn, drained (optional)
Oil for frying
Sift flour with baking powder, salt and sugar. With rotary beater, whip egg whites till stiff peaks form.
In another bowl, using same beater, beat egg yolk, milk, and 1-1/2 tsp. canola oil.
Gradually add flour mixture, beating till smooth. Gently fold in egg white. Add corn, if using.
Heat oil (at least 2 inches deep) to 375F. Drop corn mixture by large spoonfuls (about 1/4 Cup) into oil, a few at a time. Deep-fry, turning once, till golden brown (3-5 minutes). Drain well on paper towels. Serve with maple syrup, molasses, honey or jam; or, to really impress, with cob syrup, made by boiling sugar, water and corn cob together, then straining...a somewhat involved process that I won't do again, in part because I love maple syrup more.
You could also go the savory route, topping with salsa, tapenade, curry sauce or hoisin.
Happy National Fritters Day!
This has been a service of the QlownTown Test Kitchens
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