tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3151314217446794832.post5853898560393863294..comments2023-04-02T03:29:20.219-06:00Comments on Maoist Orange Cake: Stuff I Hate About The HolidaysMaggie Jochildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09763666026058640521noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3151314217446794832.post-75992540771603436442008-01-06T16:57:00.000-06:002008-01-06T16:57:00.000-06:00Coming on this thread a bit late, I know, but...Ka...Coming on this thread a bit late, I know, but...<BR/><BR/>Kat I feel a certain instant kinship with you based on our mutual loathing of xmas, erm, "traditions" which are irritating, wasteful and just plain dumb. <BR/><BR/>I would sign up to Dumbledore's army in a heartbeat. We can go tripping about the streets at midnight, waving our multicoloured pom poms and softly chanting, "Solstice is the Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3151314217446794832.post-24558057430317325292007-12-23T09:36:00.000-06:002007-12-23T09:36:00.000-06:00Different holiday, but I hates this nonetheless:Di...Different holiday, but I hates this nonetheless:<BR/><BR/>Did anyone hear the little story on NPR yesterday about a friendship disintegrating? The one where a woman said that her friend suggested The Most Awful Halloween Costume Ever?<BR/>The two were going to go as a pregnant lady and<BR/><BR/>get this<BR/><BR/>a "sexy" midwife.<BR/><BR/><BR/>seriously????<BR/>a sexy midwife?????<BR/>what the kathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18268308908367447768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3151314217446794832.post-29829914390426082092007-12-20T18:24:00.000-06:002007-12-20T18:24:00.000-06:00similarly, gator, I got the best tardy slip ever f...similarly, gator, I got the best tardy slip ever from a 5th grader at the beginning of the week:<BR/>reason: "School started before I got there."kathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18268308908367447768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3151314217446794832.post-33055439643334882082007-12-20T16:47:00.000-06:002007-12-20T16:47:00.000-06:00My mother lives in senior housing and gets a bunch...My mother lives in senior housing and gets a bunch of cards every year from a local class of sixth graders(for non USAns, that's about age 12)<BR/><BR/>All handmade and many hilarious.<BR/><BR/>"Dear Mrs. ****- How are you ? Fine." was my fave.little gatorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12359345204074482888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3151314217446794832.post-58427299575244765142007-12-18T14:20:00.000-06:002007-12-18T14:20:00.000-06:00Dear Kat (and Geogeek)--I want to affirm the perpe...Dear Kat (and Geogeek)--<BR/><BR/>I want to affirm the perpetuation of obscure holidays. I have an old college friend who for years has celebrated Easter by sending all her friends and family homemade cards that affirm rebirth, growing things, Spring, etc.<BR/><BR/>I personally lost touch with Easter after growing up; to me it was always about being bought a new Easter outfit (and the hated hat) silvio sopranihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13365412743684628629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3151314217446794832.post-54276441484679878822007-12-18T10:38:00.000-06:002007-12-18T10:38:00.000-06:00I've hated Christmas passionately for about 20 yea...I've hated Christmas passionately for about 20 years, but find that some of the passion has gone out. Interestingly, I think this is partly because I manage to stay out of the retail and musical frenzy (good) and becuase there aren't very many kids in teh family these last few years (not so good). I am thinking of sending real cards through the mail for Perihelion, which is Jan. 2 this year.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3151314217446794832.post-50748166041454841082007-12-18T09:29:00.000-06:002007-12-18T09:29:00.000-06:00oops, wrong song. We messed up O come all ye fait...oops, wrong song. We messed up O come all ye faithful, too (we did the god from god, light from light eternal verse that no one ever does, except in a church service).<BR/><BR/>It was the other "O Come" song....hehheehee....sorry, momentary childish reaction. Oh Come O come Emmanuel has a verse about Satan's tyranny and how jesus is gonna throw down, or some shit like that....I'm paraphrasing.<kathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18268308908367447768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3151314217446794832.post-76086372467244959352007-12-18T08:24:00.000-06:002007-12-18T08:24:00.000-06:00Liza,I can play "Bring the Torch" ("Un Flambeau, J...Liza,<BR/>I can play "Bring the Torch" ("Un Flambeau, Jeanette, Isabella..." learned it in high school french class!)--on my accordion. It is one of my favorites too. If we both had mics and cameras, we could jam online! (sorry, I am not the hi-tech yet!)<BR/><BR/>I am determined to make another Maoist Orange Cake to commemorate our friendship and the way it got started. Must wait for next silvio sopranihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13365412743684628629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3151314217446794832.post-87586057917076532062007-12-17T23:32:00.000-06:002007-12-17T23:32:00.000-06:00the "satan" verse? there's a satan verse? Do tell....the "satan" verse? there's a satan verse? Do tell...shadocathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06521665457310453680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3151314217446794832.post-11278721564833684992007-12-17T22:50:00.000-06:002007-12-17T22:50:00.000-06:00yeah, humans as muzak.....no fun....I don't know i...yeah, humans as muzak.....no fun....<BR/><BR/>I don't know if that's better or worse than the other holiday singing, which is feigning devotion at catholic and episcopal churches in exchange for lots of money (well, lots for a musician, which is quite small by some standards). At least in that situation, you're more likely to sing good, interesting music instead of just the standards.<BR/><BR/>kathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18268308908367447768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3151314217446794832.post-58090295247192757132007-12-17T16:42:00.000-06:002007-12-17T16:42:00.000-06:00Christmas carols as muzak. ARRRRRG! Worse than reg...Christmas carols as muzak. ARRRRRG! Worse than regular muzak because I know all the words and my brain insists on singing along.<BR/><BR/>Something I like about the holidays but has happened to me only once or twice: get-togethers where people sing carols, not as the main purpose but just as part of the fun. <BR/><BR/>Jana C.H.<BR/>Seattle<BR/>Saith JCH: All parties without activities are Jana C.H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16974426405568302762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3151314217446794832.post-61804178072645822882007-12-17T12:33:00.000-06:002007-12-17T12:33:00.000-06:00Kat-- The Messiah? Watch the Flying Sasquatch. My...Kat-- The Messiah? Watch the Flying Sasquatch. My next edition will forgo obscure trivia in favor of my original filk, "The Impeachment Chorus".<BR/><BR/>Jana C.H.<BR/>Seattle<BR/>Saith JcH: Let's impeach 'em! Let's impeach 'em! Let's impeach 'em, Let's impeach 'em, Cheney and Bush!Jana C.H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16974426405568302762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3151314217446794832.post-26006464946485573892007-12-17T09:01:00.000-06:002007-12-17T09:01:00.000-06:00So, I'm suspending my war on christmas just long e...So, I'm suspending my war on christmas just long enough to coo over the card that my piano students gave me. It's just a note card, with their picture glued to it, and both my name and the word "christmas" are misspelled. It's really obvious that they did it themselves, and it's adorable.<BR/><BR/>The day they were taking the christmas card picture, I pulled up to their house to find the mom kathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18268308908367447768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3151314217446794832.post-12489074574174344262007-12-17T08:37:00.000-06:002007-12-17T08:37:00.000-06:00Quick, easy vegetables: Asparagus, steamed with a...Quick, easy vegetables: Asparagus, steamed with a drizzle of mustard butter. And all asparagus is organic because the beds die if chemicals are used on them. Another option: Frozen peas, which are often fresher and healthier than the ones you'd hull yourself. They cook VERY fast in the microwave, add some grilled onions or cracked black pepper, and yumster.<BR/><BR/>I second everything Liza Maggie Jochildhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07577090500862823864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3151314217446794832.post-1062404924078922192007-12-17T08:18:00.000-06:002007-12-17T08:18:00.000-06:00Always by local. That's my mantra. Support your lo...Always by local. That's my mantra. Support your local independent retailers. And if they provide locally made goods, even better.<BR/><BR/>That way you support your neighbors and your neighborhoods, keep your local economy healthy.<BR/><BR/>Also, the less something has to be transported, the better for the environment.<BR/><BR/>I know you all know this. But it never hurts to repeat it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3151314217446794832.post-34754808466272953832007-12-16T17:19:00.000-06:002007-12-16T17:19:00.000-06:00oh, and to respond to the "can't we come up with a...oh, and to respond to the "can't we come up with another quick, easy vegetable" quandry: glazed carrots. About 5 minutes of prep, they cook in about 7 minutes, and they're delicious. 'nuff said!kathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18268308908367447768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3151314217446794832.post-48353892403402518282007-12-16T11:51:00.000-06:002007-12-16T11:51:00.000-06:00shado--I've suffered through similar bs like that ...shado--<BR/>I've suffered through similar bs like that with my mom (probably on Dr. Phil). What irked me the most was the way that the price of everything was repeated over and over.<BR/><BR/>Am I the only one who was taught that telling people right off the bat how much your stuff costs is totally crass??<BR/><BR/>And Liza, would that everyone bought their holiday gifts at independent art kathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18268308908367447768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3151314217446794832.post-81959675622762851502007-12-15T16:47:00.000-06:002007-12-15T16:47:00.000-06:00Oh, and I was at my mom's the other day, where I w...Oh, and I was at my mom's the other day, where I was forced to watch "Dr. Phil"---nothing but an hour long commercial where he gave away free crap and the audience screamed.shadocathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06521665457310453680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3151314217446794832.post-45134647269935358772007-12-15T16:44:00.000-06:002007-12-15T16:44:00.000-06:00Liza, any store not playing "icky Christmas music"...Liza, any store not playing "icky Christmas music" would be a top attraction for me, were I in Burlington. And my family also has the tradition of Chinese food on christmas day, started actually, by that movie, "A Christmas Story." <BR/><BR/> If I had ever said "Merry Christmas" (as a child) to anyone before Dec. 24th, a nun would've slapped me upside of the head. <BR/><BR/> One more thing I shadocathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06521665457310453680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3151314217446794832.post-20851017830966439122007-12-15T15:14:00.000-06:002007-12-15T15:14:00.000-06:00ooh, the other thing I hate (I know, I know, maggi...ooh, the other thing I hate (I know, I know, maggie's trying to change the subject...): Hearing "Merry Christmas" when it's only the first week of december.<BR/><BR/>A post over on Feministing described an attack on the NY subway over that particular phrase, in which some "religious" folks were claiming that whole "war on christmas" thing. The thing is, if you're really religious, you should kathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18268308908367447768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3151314217446794832.post-28013647114602892802007-12-15T06:46:00.000-06:002007-12-15T06:46:00.000-06:00Lize, seems like we have a hard time thinking sele...Lize, seems like we have a hard time thinking selectively about retail. When I think of what PSAW has, or the kinds of gifts I'd really like to give people, that's not the "useless crap" Kat mentioned. The fact is, artists and those who support them are woefully underpaid in this culture, except for the four or five in each genre we elevate to pop god status -- and excluding Hollywood/sports Maggie Jochildhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07577090500862823864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3151314217446794832.post-45234657227481584682007-12-14T01:06:00.000-06:002007-12-14T01:06:00.000-06:00could we really wage war on christmas? please? M...could we really wage war on christmas? please? Maybe Dumbledore's Army could take on Santa. I'm sure it wouldn't be any harder than Voldemort!kathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18268308908367447768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3151314217446794832.post-15432531618004023032007-12-14T01:05:00.000-06:002007-12-14T01:05:00.000-06:00Liza,I really like the sound of how you do things....Liza,<BR/>I really like the sound of how you do things. Seemed like your family had Halloween awesomeness, no?<BR/><BR/>Anyway, I'd love to just veg and eat chinese takeout and go to the movies instead of the whole freakin' celebration thing.....<BR/><BR/>I do have one little confession, though. I LOVE (!!!) the movie "A Christmas Story"....you know, the one with Ralphie and the lamp in the kathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18268308908367447768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3151314217446794832.post-90238148669373012902007-12-13T20:51:00.000-06:002007-12-13T20:51:00.000-06:00Um, speaking from the other side of the coin. I'm ...Um, speaking from the other side of the coin. I'm in retail and I'm loving the christmas buying. During other parts of the year I can go for weeks without a sale, so christmas is pretty exciting. Love to slide those credit cards.<BR/><BR/>I have narrowed my gift giving so that only my children get presents. Our decorations consist of one small fake tree with the same lights and balls we've had Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3151314217446794832.post-85820767160757083612007-12-13T19:24:00.000-06:002007-12-13T19:24:00.000-06:00Pam, The "War On Christmas" was a concept cooke...Pam, <BR/><BR/> The "War On Christmas" was a concept cooked up by the conservative pundits in this country---the "war" was supposedly organized by liberals to take all religious meaning out of the holiday season, therefore taking the "Christ" out of Christmas. Although if there really was a war on Christmas, I'd be tempted to enlist.<BR/><BR/>Kat you have my sympathies. My idea of the seventh shadocathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06521665457310453680noreply@blogger.com