Christmas Joy

I (Rich) decided to save my blogging debut for a very special event. An event that would change my life, perhaps forever. I never thought it would come, but finally it has arrived bringing new purpose and joy, even Christmas Joy. I was finally able to spend some time with my second love this weekend and after many hours with her, I couldn't wait to see what she could really do in the back of my car. Some may call her boxy, but I think she's the perfect shape. Don't let her cheap, fake leather fool you, because she goes low and hits hard. Her 3 cubic feet, ten inch Kicker, and two 3 inch ports produce an amazing 22 Hz. You see, I took a speaker building class this fall semester and built a new box for the sub woofer in my car. I'm so happy! Anyway here are some pics to add to your Christmas Joy and possibly to your wish list!

Dinner

This past week and a half has been a whirlwind. I've been running around, it seems, everywhere! However, this weekend, in all my running around, I was able to run toward some wonderful things. And that makes the craziness of the Christmas season all worthwhile.

I've mentioned how Toni and AnnDee were my roommates in college. I am so blessed to have them! They've seen me at my worst, and understand how you should not talk to me when I've just woken up from a nap, and that I will kill the spiders for them if they will kill the moths for me. Such a wonderful friendship. This weekend we got together for a dinner party, and it really made my month. No, it made my month and a half. I ate too much, stayed too late, but laughed exactly the right amount.

Through this, I was reminded how much recipes, cooking, and food are a part of my life. I may not be the best cook (documented in this blog all too well), but I enjoy the act of being in the kitchen. Being in the kitchen with friends makes the cooking experience even better. So, though my mother may not approve, I'm going to share one of my favorite winter recipes. It's perfect for those days when you're missing the fruits of summer and need something different than plain apples and oranges. I get excited when the pomegranates start appearing the grocery store. It reminds me of my grandma. She could never peel a pomegranate on her own, her hands were too gnarled from arthritis, and her own share of time in the kitchen, but Dixie Salad will forever remind me of her and take me back to that condo in St. George. I hope you enjoy!

(Really, I hope you enjoy the recipe itself, it's pure Susie. She cannot follow a recipe to exactness because she knows how to make it better all on her own. I didn't take out my mother's interjections because they are just too adorable.)


Dixie Salad
Now remember this is the recipe, adapt to what you have and want to put together:)

1 qt pomegranate seeds
3 apples, chopped (usually Granny Smith)
1 can pineapple tidbits (optional????) I can't remember if we added this or not
1/2 cup raisins (very optional as far as Dad is concerned)
1 cup bananas, chunked (totally optional or not at all also per Dad)!!!

Add chopped pecans and mix in whipped cream just before serving.

Just to be clear, my family only puts in pomegranates, apples, and pecans with the whipped cream. The other things make the salad all squishy and have a weird texture, which is never good.

So Many Superlatives!

I haven't nerded out for awhile and posted about books. What was I thinking? Well, I'm here to remedy this deficiency by tell you about the GREATEST BOOK EVER WRITTEN. Srsly. I can't believe it took me three weeks to remember to post about my new favorite book. Now, I feel like I've frequently been labeling books my new favorites, and I don't believe my standards are slipping, rather that I've just gloriously stumbled upon some great reads as of late. But, this book beats them all. This book makes it into MY TOP 5 FAVORITE BOOKS. That's right. It's made the list. It has successfully knocked The Poisonwood Bible to number 6 (don't cry lovers of Kingsolver's wonderful read, it's still in the top 10).

I was reminded that I needed to blog about this AMAZING BOOK when I had the following conversation with my friend Kate:

K: we were besties for like A DAY. it obv. cannot compare to my lifelong love for YOU. WHAT ARE YOU READING RIGHT NOW? I am reading Lipstick Jungle by Candace Bushnell. it is amazing.

B: I’m in between books actually. I just finished Trinity by Leon Uris though. AND IT CHANGED MY LIFE. I also just read some book about being more optimistic. Cuz’ I am so grumpy all the time.

K: is trinity about being mormon CUZ IT SOUNDS RELIGIOUSLIKE. i am also STILL trying to get through catch-22. i've pretty much been reading it for six months.

B: Trinity is about Ireland and the Catholic/Protestant struggle there. It totally makes sense to me now why there is a Northern Ireland. It’s more about Ireland’s struggle for independence from England. So good! I cried in it. I couldn’t even get started in Catch-22. Hated the first chapter. Really I just want to go home, get in bed, and watch Elf.

K: i'm a little more than halfway through, i think. i feel obligated now but it's hard. i keep STRAYING. pretty much i want to go home get in bed and read my book while spooning my many animals.

You should have learned many things from this conversation: 1) how Kate's love for me is still strong after not working together for 2.5 years (the feeling is mutual); 2) how my new favorite book is Trinity by Leon Uris; 3) how much I love the movie Elf (it makes me smile and "smiling's my favorite"); 4) how Catch-22 will never make it to my favorites list; 5) how cute Kate is about her animals; 6) how we have really important e-mail convos; and 7) how Trinity MADE ME CRY (this is a big deal, and while it may seem like I am a very emotional person, which I think is a curse from my mother, very few books actually bring me to tears. I was INVOLVED in the character’s lives, people).

I think an Amazon review of Trinity said it best: “Though I have to admit my first instinct upon reaching the last page was to try at all costs to join the IRA (as irrational and impossible as that is), when the tears finally stopped I reluctantly admitted to myself that that was an entirely inappropriate way of directing my anger and adopted pain.”

How great is that?! Sometimes Amazon reviews are helpful, sometimes not, but really, this gal hit it on the head. (Also, I think she may be a little crazy.)

And now that I’m done rambling. GO READ Trinity.

Ringing in the Season

It's December 1st! That means the Christmas season has officially begun! We rang in the season tonight by putting the first piece in the advent calendar. Notice how the first piece is a bell? That's because when I was little my mom would always pull the bell out of the box and ring it enthusiastically telling us we were ringing in the season. And if you know my mom, you can picture her doing this all cute and excited. Because she is cute and excited. So, now, I, too, pull out the bell and ring in the season in hopes of one day becoming as cute and as enthusiastic as Susie.

Normally I would have the advent box a little more decorated. But if we waited for me to decorate it, this post may never happen. It's like I keep telling my grandma, "I'm full of good intentions, but don't have a lot of follow through." I have all sorts of plans for December. But, as with all of my plans, I'm sure to leave something unfinished or even unstarted (that's not really a word). I think I'll be okay with that though. As long as I get to enjoy some time with family and friends, my cold goes away, and the family party Bingo game turns out as amazing as I'm imagining it in my head. Oh, and some snow. I really want some snow.

In the meantime, behold our tree and us in our cuteness.