Cchicken's Weblog

Still reporting from the Boston area here…which is, by the way, about 60 degrees today.  How weird.

Joe’s sister, Shannon (my sister in law), is getting married this coming October to a wonderful guy…also named Joe, which will add the fourth Joe to the family!

Last night we had a small get together with Joe’s family and Shannon’s family, as us west coasters had never met Joe’s parents or brothers and sisters.  It was a lovely time.  As Joe and Shannon opened a couple special gifts, I found my tear ducts becoming full.  Ummm….please stop them.  

I didn’t cry at my own wedding.  Husband Joey tells me that is because I’m insensitive and heartless.  I didn’t cry when we got engaged.  I think it just felt normal to me.  Of course I was going to marry Joey…I was just rolling with it.  Since that time, however, we have been to quite a few weddings, and I have cried at every one.  Last night, I was trying to figure out why.  Why didn’t I have the tears at my own wedding, but can’t stop the flow down my cheeks from that point on?  

I think now that I am married, now that I know what it means to make that commitment, to accept someone as your partner in all things good and bad, I realize the significance of others deciding to do so.  It is a big deal, even if current society tends to marry and divorce at record breaking speeds.  It is a huge step to merge lives, to create your own family traditions, and to invite someone into your life enough to see you in the ups and all the downs.   I seem to get touched by that commitment every time I see it now…even though I didn’t find it touching enough to weep on my own big day.  Interesting the way emotions play themselves out.

Cheers to Shannon and her Joe…a wonderful couple.  Can’t wait for the wedding, which will most certainly spark more tears.  Oh me oh my.  Why!!!!!

This was my first Christmas away from my immediate family in…ever…so, it was a little weird for me to get on the plane and head to Boston, not New Jersey.  Luckily, we did actually get to leave; with so many people stuck in airports for Christmas, I felt extremely grateful.

That said, the purpose of this post is to thank my in laws and all their extended family (some of which, I learned, read this!! who knew?) for being so very welcoming in my first Boston Christmas.  We saw my mother in law’s side of the family Christmas Eve, and my father in law’s side yesterday.  I had a great time catching up with all of them, meeting some new little ones, seeing people we haven’t seen since our wedding a year and a half ago.  They are all so very welcoming, and I truly appreciate that.

Thank you for making the first Christmas that I didn’t sleep in my childhood bed a lovely and cheerful one.  All good wishes for the new year!

You probably have already seen this video in some form or another.  If not, please do watch it…

It’s one of my very favorite little treasures.  Ahhh, sigh, weep, weep, sigh, Ahhh…It’s just so beautiful.

I’m packing up the computer to get on the plane soon, so a very Merry Christmas to you and remember…love is everywhere:)

I must give accolades to my lovely husband and his taste bud growth.  Every year at Christmas, so for 8 Christmases running, we celebrate together by cooking a meal for one another, watching It’s a Wonderful Life, and drinking lots of wine.  As we planned our menu for this Christmas feast, I had to sit back and laugh and the growth and development of his palate.

When we met, he ate chicken and hamburgers.  You think I’m kidding.  He literally ate chicken and hamburgers, occasionally some baked scrod, french fries, mashed potatoes, and Honey Nut Cheerios without milk.  (He still does that one…the no milk kills me…that’s the best part!)  His vegetable of choice was microwaved green beans with butter.  

He had never had a toasted bagel with cream cheese on top.  Having spent many years in New Jersey, I was pretty much addicted to bagels and cream cheese, so I felt the need to introduce him to that delicacy.  He loved it.  That was just the beginning.

I’m not going to take all the credit for his transformation, but I will say I have been witness to numerous changes over the course of our eight year relationship.  The former meat and potatoes man is now a sushi loving, gluten free cupcake devouring, fine cheese delighting, wine snobbish, vegetable fanatic.  I feel most proud of him in little moments like a few weeks ago.  After scarfing down one helping of dinner, he asked me, “Is there any more of that pasta?  That was great!”  ”Pasta?”  I asked.  ”We didn’t have pasta.  That was spaghetti squash.  You just ate a whole lot of vegetable.”  

I was there about six years ago at a Mexican restaurant when he learned the truth about guacamole.  After ordering an extra side of guacamole for his burrito, the waitress asked if he’d like some avocado on the side.  His response to her was, “No, thank you (always polite, of course) but I don’t like avocados.”  She looked at him, a tad bit confused, and he looked at me.  ”What was weird about that?”  ”Um, well…guacamole is made from avocados.”  ”Really?” he asked, incredulous.  ”Yes, dear.  Notice how they are both that same green color?”  ”Well then.  I guess I do like avocados.”  Now, he is quite a mean guac chef.  He prides himself in the intricate, yet subtle spiciness he creates with his mortar and pestal. (did i spell that right? i have no idea.)

 As we debated dessert- should we make flourless chocolate molten lava cake or dark chocolate mousse- a scene from our past flashed through my mind.  Not so long ago, my gorgeous husband would go to Safeway, Stop and Shop, whatever your local grocery store may be, purchase a large plastic container of chocolate chip cookies, and eat them.  Nearly all of them.  Followed up by a healthy swig of milk.  Now, I’m the first to admit I love chocolate chip cookies.  And I make damn good ones.  But here’s a man who, as a boy, literally passed out from eating too many cinnamon rolls on a family vacation to Cape Cod.  Fainted.  His poor father found him in the kitchen, on the floor.  Passed out.  From eating too many cinnamon rolls.  And up until a little bit ago, (well, sort of still) he indulged in his habit of eating far too many chocolate chip cookies at once.  I think I may have finally convinced him that if he’s going to eat that many cookies, they might as well be homemade.  Have pure sugar, at least, instead of monodexolyingidirnien and hydrolmoneaoihreoand.  Yes.  That is what they probably are.  Spelled just like that.

I suppose I could continue on with these little vignettes of our food past, but my dinner is ready.  I have gluten free stuffed mushrooms, roasted garlic and parmesan mashed potatoes, blanched green beans (he loves them), and chocolate mousse waiting for me.  He has a big fat steak- something I cannot yet touch, but will gladly watch him enjoy!  And as usual, we must toast our wine glasses, in thanks for our lives, our love, and our happiness.  Yeigh food!  And an early Merry Christmas to all.

** a note about ‘yeigh’** I spelled that word ‘yeah’ for years, until I met my friend Krista.  She has introduced me to the ‘yeigh’ spelling, with good reason.  ’yeah’ could be pronounced many different ways.  ”Yeigh,” however, can only be pronounced in rhyme with words like ‘neighbor’ or ‘weigh.’  Therefore, it serves it’s purpose well.  Cheers to Krista.

the weird sound on this video is the crunchy snow, not a scary molester behind me.  i apologize for the video quality…i was trying to roll snow balls at the same time.