score . . .

two turtleneck sweaters, one in black and one in carmel, two long sleeve T's with beading:  $19.06. 

Miata mayhem . . .

I had arranged to meet my granddaughter and DIL at the eye doctor's to have Kaitlyn's eyes checked and order her new contacts.  A belated Christmas present. 

As soon as I pulled into a parking spot, I knew something was iffy with my poor little Miata.  After 13 years, it was having a nervous breakdown.  It was stalling, huffing, puffing and trying to throw itself into the car in front of us.  Not good.  Each time I turned it on, it leapt forward and died.  The last time, it lurched unreasonably close to the much larger fender in front of it.  I had visions of having to visit the car orthodontist for a grill replacement. My insurance company would not have been happy but gratefully, it stopped inches from disaster.  When that car departed, I tried to coax my little Miata into its spot.  Lurch, crunch, lurch, squeal.

And so I called:

home. and asked for moral support and a ride.

my mechanic only to remember he was off this week.

another mechanic and they could take me.

AAA and they sent Tony and a flatbed to the rescue.

My car pulled into the repair shop right behind the 9TS and I.  It hurt looking at my baby on that big old truck . . . sort of reminded me of a Tonka toy.  Sigh.

Several hours later, with the 9TS banned from driving, Kidlet dropped me off to pick up my now not so ailing automobile.  YAY!!!

I understand that I have been really lucky to have had that car for so long with only one other problem in all these years, but I it still hurt to see it being hauled around like some lifeless carcass.

Hot Jesus . . .

So Joanie and I were sitting in La's at our usual spot gabbing about this and that last Tuesday when the conversation moved on to Florida Hospital, where her father is currently recuperating from this and that. I was telling her, that it was . . . before being taken over by the Seventh Day Adventists . . .  the best heart hospital in the area.  She was extolling the virtues of the nursing staff and doctors.  We agreed, if you have to be feeling a little punk, it was the place to be.

In the course of our bantering, she mentioned the multiple renderings of Jesus on the walls of the hospital.  And then it was said: in some of the pictures, Jesus was extremely good looking.  I had to wait well into my 63rd year to hear the phrase 'Hot Jesus'.  The sound emitted from my mouth was somewhere between a choking on a soda that went down too fast and that nervous twitter that strikes when you aren't quite sure how to respond to something.  Whatever, it had its desired effect and Gron and Michelle popped out to see what was up. 

The conversation morphed into which very good looking actors had been chosen to play Jesus over the years, with Joanie, recounting the shock and confusion she felt at age eleven, that indeed, the Jesus beaming down from the big screen was  . . .  shall we say, "HOT".

So I did some digging and came up with a who's who:

And it's true.  Even though in reality, Jesus was probably smaller in stature and darker skinned, those portraying him are HOT, HOT, HOT.  It makes for a very stressful conundrum.

If you're ever in town, come join us at La's, you never know what will come out of our mouths, and as my mother is right now probably spinning in her grave, I will extricate myself from this conversation and bid you all adieu . . .

and in no particular order . . .

Yup that's one of Publix's chocolate . . . OMG I ate too much . . . ganache cakes.  Followed by our almost kitten proof tree:

 And what is Christmas without a stylin' giraffe?

Jackie did most of the kitchen work including cleaning up the whole mess.  Everyone should have a Jackie.

 And of course everyone should have a granddaughter.  Oh yes!

And, as promised, a little Italian meat platter:

The 9TS showing off his Rastafarian hat to his older son . . . and no, I had nothing to do with that purchase:

Everyone needs some Italian hors d'oeuvres . . . but watch out for that red killer pepper:

And polka dot rain boots.  Air Punch! Yeah! Air Punch!

and finally Pippin, who was the only creature to wander downstairs for the Christmas morning opening of presents, was going berserk trying to get the pompom off the Santa on the tree skirt:

hope ya'll had a good one.

and a happy Christmas eve to all . . .

*tomorrow's prime rib is picked up and sitting sweetly in the fridge along with the corn on the cob.

*two sheet pans of manicotti are made and nestling next to the prime rib.

*an enormous pot of gravy, stuffed with 45 meatballs, six sausages links, and 14 pork ribs, is happily bubbling on the stove.

*three loaves of crusty french bread have been smeared with garlic butter, oregano and parsley and are playing tiddly winks with their much less adorned brother . . . not everyone in the cave loves garlic.

*the chocolate cake I didn't bake is ready for cutting.

*all that's left to do is wrap presents, add the leaves and set the table and drink wine.  Oh wait, I am drinking wine.  Silly me.

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen . . .

Got up early this morning to get Kidlet to a doctor's appointment.  Hurried home to let Christine in for the last time . . . she is taking a sabbatical from cleaning and going into home health care.  Good move for her but she will be missed as the cat hair piles up under beds, chairs and sofa's. 

Just before she finished, the termite inspector came.  No critters today.  YAY!!!  I wonder if they could spray for Mel and Anoma.  Just asking . . .

Then on to Publix for the makings of a much scaled down Italian dinner.  No feast of the seven fishes this year.  Instead, the 9TS is just making gravy with meat balls . . . made from beef, pork and veal . . . adding pork ribs and Italian sausage.  Rotini for the purists, baked manicotti for the rest of us.  A little garlic bread, salad and chocolate ganache cake for dessert and let's call it a night. 

Dinner at Carrabba's and then home to crash.  Its been a very busy day for the sloth and a longer one tomorrow.  Life is good this season.  Sunday he will rest his soul.

slurp . . .

We were invited to a complimentary dinner last night at Carrabba's by Kim, the owner.  I'd guess there were 50+ people in attendance.  I was fairly certain that the 9TS would not be wanting any part of a huge dinner with a bunch of strangers but he surprised the heck out of me and jumped at the chance.  And as an extra perk, we were able to sit next to friends, Denny and Sue.  Alrighty then . . .  let the fun begin.

OMG, so much food.   First course . . . after the flowing wino;  Fried Calamari.  Slurp.  And then Fried Zucchini, Spiedino (shrimp and scallops), and Margherita Pizza.  Main course:  Beef Marsala, Polo Rosa Maria, Chicken Bryan, and for dessert, decadent chocolate bread pudding and ice cream.  Did I mention the wine was flowing? 

To top it all off, we left with goodie bags stuffed with a pitcher, two flavored syrups, a wine bottle opener, and a Carrabba's recipe book . . .  not to mention a little special gift from Jen . . . peanut butter/chocolate fudge.

We rolled out of there.  We are still rolling.  Burp!

The thing that I love best . . . besides my new found love of Spiedino, is the warmth you feel entering the restaurant.  Hope gave us a card explaining how we felt like family . . . does it get any better.  Jen, Christina and Cole were waiting on us hand and foot but the thing is, it felt more like being in their home . . . of course if we were at Jen's, I could tie her down, pour her a drink and enjoy her company and let her enjoy. 

So much for MMEL.  It's a temporary thing.