Christmas Chronicle

Christmas 2008! Rock on!

Christmas Eve Smorgie:

Tomato Bread Dip broiled with Manchego

Crocques Monsieurs - thank you Jacques Pepin!

Shrimp Cocktail

Swedish Meatballs

Warm Spinach Salad

Udon Noodles for Elsie

Cheerios for Henry

Set out some cookies and a carrot for Santa and his reindeer. Kids in bed at 7PM, so Mum and Dad turned on "Tropic Thunder" (3 out of 5 stars...)

Elsie awakens to "something rattling the window". I begin to tell her it's Santa but it's 5AM and I want to go back to bed. I tell her it's the wind, we have a quick cuddle and she falls asleep for another hour. Up at 6, downstairs, "Momma! The carrot's gone!" Mum and Dad fumbling through the dark, because the coffee timer is set for 6:30. Hit brew.

Opening presents in complete western New York winter darkness. Wind whistling through 90-year-old windows I should have put that plastic up listening to "Finest 'Arvest of the Wurzels" while yanking wrapping paper out of Henry's mouth...

A backpack for Dad! Steak knives for Mum! A truck for Henry (ah fun boy toys!) The Barbie Fashion Center for Elsa, because, you know I want to teach her how to shop, and swipe a credit card, and look through several outfits and then buy them all. And included, there are over twenty tiny little items for Henry to choke on such as shoes, sunglasses, and other accessories that will keep us all on our toes in the coming weeks.

"The joy, and gratitude, and ecstasy! They are all indescribable alike."

-Stave Two of A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens

1-2-3-4

1-2-3-4 Elsa Bean is turning 4

I like counting, counting to the number 4

I see my friends and I see my cake

Last summer I swam in a lake

Oh, I'm turning 4

Oh, I"m growing some more

1-2-3-4 Henry crawling on the floor

Daddy painted a new color on the door

I have my friends named Lily and Ava

Dylan and Claire, and my neighbor Shylah

Oh, I'm turning 4

Oh, I'm growing some more!

lyrics by Elsa (really!)

Swan's

We went to Swan's Market for German food. Dad and Markus had smoked bratwurst, Elsie had spaetzle, Mum and Adina had the combo platter, and I had PUREED SWEET POTATOES AND PEAS! AHH! That lieberkase looked fantastic! Puree that up Mr. Swan!

The King of Thanksgiving

Markus ate several pieces of salami, a half pound of turkey, some acorn squash, two scoops of cranberry sorbet, several samples of the Kaukanna Cheese Ball, was second in command at the Weber throughout the afternoon, read Elsie several books and watched Franklin with her, rocked Henry for a while, fathered his own child, had a few beers and a shot of jagermeister, and wrapped up the whole day by 9PM. Well done, my friend.

Dimming of the Day

What days have come to keep us far apart
A broken promise or a broken heart
Now all the bonnie birds have wheeled away
I need you at the dimming of the day

Come the night you're only what I want
Come the night you could be my confidant

I see you on the street in company
Why don't you come and ease your mind with me
I'm living for the night we steal away
I need you at the dimming of the day
I need you at the dimming of the day

-Richard and Linda Thompson

"Dad, what is the dimming of the day?"

"Right now, laying in bed, it's the end of the day. The lights have dimmed."

"What does dimmed mean?"

"That the lights are low."

"Like, on the ground?"

"No. When the lights are almost out, it means that they are not as bright."

"Why does she need him at the dimming of the day?"

"Well, she wants a cuddle, a big hug, at the end of the day, like we're having right now."

Hannah Montana

Elsie has been striking this pose for a couple of weeks now. I thought it was very creative and showed a great sense of independence until the other day, when I was walking through Sears, I saw Hannah Montana in the same exact pose on a CD display.

We checked out a couple episodes and sure enough, that's her signature pose. But, we're hooked now, especially after seeing Dolly Parton on last night's episode.

The Ladybug and the Tiger

She held the tiger until he roared. When he glared at her she smiled at him. Her wings fluttered. They sat together in the cool night as she ate Snickers Fun Size candy bars.

Way to go Uncle B!

Years of shivering in tree stands and killing only fawns finally pays off! Look at this baby! I hope you save us a link or two of some of that sweet, delicious sausage. I promise I will not try to carry it on an airplane.

It's a shame you left the offal in the woods, though:

http://blog.ruhlman.com/ruhlmancom/2008/03/elements-of-coo.html

I like that haircut...

Dad and I have the same haircut. Although mine is coming in fast. So are my teeth, and that is keeping me up nights. I wish Dad would tape a #1 next to that #8 on his jersey. Grossman is so done as a Bear and Orton is having a Monster Season! Pro Bowl Baby!

Payton and Singletary Together Again

Ben was busy "uncling" this weekend. That and sitting around in the Penfield Gymnastics Training Center on Saturday afternoon. We made ten pounds of sausage, watched the 2006 Bears NFC Championship Highlight DVD, and then saw the Bears beat up on the Vikings. Elsie was able to spend most of the beautiful fall afternoon in a bar...

Mum, a Bears Fan, and a Princess

Henry is about to do a face plant here, right onto the hardwood floor. Maybe it's time to put down the rugs. He's doing a good job holding his head up, though. He has to because that's the only way he can see the TV to watch Bears games.

"Mr. H" had his last day at St. Paul's daycare on Friday. A couple of his providers were a little emotional as we left. It was nice to see that. He's making an impression on everyone he meets so far.

Keg Party

Yes. The picture you are looking at is real. I have not photoshopped it. It is a Milwaukee Brewer player drenched in champagne at the end of the season.

You can see, it says "Milwaukee Brewers" on his shirt. And it is Prince Fielder- he currently plays first base for the Brewers. And he has champagne all over him and that means they are in the playoffs.

The last time this happened I was in Hustisford, WI in October 1982, managing my brother's football team. As I carried water out to Dave Olson and the rest of the Wlliams Bay Bulldog offensive line, a murmur went up from the Hustisford faithful. The Brewers had beaten the Angels to go the World Series.

I think I went to five or six games that year with my Dad.

When the Brewers won last night, when J.J Hardy turned that double play, it felt like Robin Yount in that Angels game.

But it's not the baseball game that makes this special. It's that Hustisford game, and the trips to County Stadium with my Dad in the eighties and then Ben in the nineties. It's big Dave Valley waiting for an autograph from the players in 1996. It's spring training with Chris and Ben. It's Don Rowe's walk. It's the rookie photo I have of Robin Yount in the sport loo in my basement. It's the light blue polyester uniform that gets really smelly when I wear it to games. It's my "Magic, Miracles, and True Believers" VHS- the story of the 1987 Milwaukee Brewers.

I love the Mets. But I've only loved them for about ten years. And I'm sure I'll love them more after I take Henry and Elsa to Citi Field in the coming years.

But you know, I spontaneously started singing WTMJ's 80s anthem, "Come See What's Brewin" after Braun hit that homerun yesterday to take the lead. I couldn't help it. I'm a hard-wired Brewers fan.

B is for Bumpa

Somebody misses her BUMPA! I think it is because BUMPA sent Elsie her first Barbie the other day. Enclosed was a picture of a gradeschool crush of mine-Barbie Frame. That really cracked me up. Nice touch Mom!

And then BUMPA called yesterday and said another package was on its way. What will we do, say, when CHRISTMAS or HER BIRTHDAY roll around?

Oktoberfest 2

Elsie made the Irondequoit Post:

http://www.mpnnow.com/towns/irondequoit/x1213466028/Photos-Celebrating-all-thing
s-German-at-Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest

Here is Little "Heidi" at our local Oktoberfest on Saturday night. Fueled on bratwurst, noodles, and ice cream, she danced splendidly for hours. Until the Fest Meister banned kids from the dance floor. Easy dude!

Hot Dog Cake

I am the master of my own thesis! I completed my masters and was treated to a HOT DOG CAKE made by Ruth and Elsie. Made of poundcake, this 10,000 calorie whopper boasted mustard and ketchup colored frosting, and relish made of green gumdrops. We polished it off in about three days.

Summer Date

On the first day of summer Elsie and I picked strawberries at Hurd Orchards and then stopped for a cheeseburger, hot dog, fries, and two shakes on the way home. Monday is the LAST day of summer for us. As Cher so eloquently sang, "If I could turn back time!"

Summer Reading

Henry picked up one of Elsa's old magazines and read through it while I was making dinner. He is so ADVANCED for his age.

Watch Out Stephen Hawking

Three questions and a comment from Elsa today:

1. Do cats have lips?

2. How do you nod?

3. What is worm juice?

4. I love cows because they are hamburgers.

The Court at Apple Valley

So...hot! Can't...understand...directions...

Must be the "summer of the mint" (sing that line to Donovan's "Season of the Witch"). My fourth and final racquet sport to master. Because, well, I have mastered tennis, squash, and ping-pong. I routinely lose to my 47 year old friend John at tennis, and several 60-somethings at squash on a regular basis. Anyway, back to mint.

There I was, at my folks place in the Bay, and after reading another bleeding heart liberal essay in The New Yorker about Americans and the waste that lawns are-economically and environmentally- I decided to design my second badminton court of the summer.

The Court at Apple Valley

Owner: Dad (his neighbor Rich owns about a third (but not the net!)

Badminton Pro: Me

Best Player: Me

Court Designer: Me

Hey, wait. I'm seeing a pattern here.

Court Builder: Me (OK, Dad mowed but the whole time he was wondering what the hell he was doing out there)

Best Drop Shot: Brian Hawk

Coolest Overall Minton Player: Brian Hawk

Best Doubles Team: Chris and Brad

Best Mixed Doubles Team: Brian, Me, and Elsa with her water balloons

Worst Server Without a Doubt: Brad

Old Style Beer Preservationist: Brian Page

Best Afternoon Napper: Ben

Just watched Olympic Badminton and we have a ways to go, but only athletically. We have the spirit! THE MINT SPIRIT!

Our "Special" Friend

Sausage and peppers!

Old Style and Zinnias!

Cured meats! Oh they are so de-LISH-i-ous!

60 percent?
He was pushing 70

When he handed Judy his homemade canned jelly.

Speaking of jelly

They confiscated mine

At the Midway Airport Security Line.

Polish or brat?

Hot dog or chorizo?

Uh Oh...

Gotta take a wizzo.

A summertime ode
To our "special" friend Brian

Who makes us all laugh when he's not even tryin'.

Two Pines is Quiet

I was back there yesterday. I can't maintain it like I want to because my mower died on Thursday. All I have are the memories: Brian's sweet forehand, Chris's raking skills, my totally awesome overhead smash...that I used on my friend Bob the other night when I beat him 15-13.

What? No, I don't keep track of wins and losses at Two Pines. But Brian, I am 5-2 against you.

All I have to say is BADMINTON IN WISCONSIN!!!

Sunfish in the Thousand Islands

Elsie has now caught more fish than me in her lifetime. Way to go Else- this is her first! We spent the weekend with Carol, Derek, and Dylan in the Thousand Islands. There are great pics at their site:

http://daddydarling.blogspot.com/

Captain Grandpa Bill and Kate were our awesome hosts. Check out the pic of Elsie driving his 1956 Chris Craft.

Tire Swing

New family fun machine in the back, a tire swing. Chris, Mike, and Brian put it up without the aid of an extension ladder, only my six-foot ladder. They were able to place the ladder on top of a table and then stand on the very highest step and REACH for the limb. All very safe and secure.

Elsie is a pro on it now. As she spins she screams "NO!" So I stop it and she screams, "DO IT AGAIN!"

Chris and Brian

Everybody arrived this week- Chris, Linda, Brad, and Brian. Does Elsa look excited?

Make Way for Ducklings

On the way home from New York, we stopped at Hudson Valley Foie Gras (there's a link at the right under food) in Ferndale, about two hours outside of the city. I sometimes order duck breast, legs, and fat from them online. Anyway, we thought we might be able to pick up some stuff, but we met the manager and he gave us a personal tour! He took us into this huge barn, where there were four or five pens with 300 ducklings in each one. You could walk among them and they'd scatter at your feet (top photo). They were only 3 days old, and by stretching out your arms you could pick up five or six at a time.

Then we went upstairs and met the BIG DUCKS. I was surprised at how clean it was, and how much room they had to move around. That was stage two. Then he asked if we wanted to see the next stage, which is the force-feeding stage. After he asked he sort of calmly waited for an answer. I was like bring it on dawg! He took us to another barn. Elsie got to see a two-foot tube get inserted into throats and held there until the feed was swallowed. I told her that sometimes I wish I could do that with her peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

Needless to say, at the end of the tour we were all even bigger duck lovers. We bought six breasts, eight legs, some fat, and signed the guest registry while Elsie charmed the staff.

When we got home I hosed down our feet. I was wearing flip-flops and there was some duck sheet. I was wondering what that smell had been from Binghamton to Rochie.

Bye Bye Shea

It felt a bit like the summer of 2000 when Ben and I had to say goodbye to County. Although very excited about Citi field, unlike Miller Park.

Wesley kept score for the whole game and Jackson deciphered code, while Brian, Katharine, Matt and I had $8 beers. And the Mets won. This might be the start of something special!

The Kid

Robin Yount:

Bats Right, Throws Right
Height 6' 0", Weight 170 lb.
3142 hits
583 doubles
Two-time MVP

Henry Hawkinson:

Doesn't bat, or throw

Height 2'0", Weight 14 lb.

No hits

No doubles either

No MVP awards

ELVIS SONGS by Dad and Henry

As the snow flies
On a cold and gray Chicago mornin'
A poor little baby child is born
In the ghetto
And his mama cries
'cause if there's one thing that she don't need it's another hungry mouth to feed
In the ghetto

That's it Henry! More Elvis sneer!

"This is a piece of pastrami"

Page made pastrami and it was just DUH-LISH. He arrived bearing meat that he had rubbed, cured, and smoked- as well as a special surprise: Ukrainians from Kramarczuk's in Minneapolis.

"I didn't know you were a Mets fan!"

Here is Henry, on Willie-watch. I was all for Randolph's firing until his Friday press conference, which he handled with grace and humor. Still, I don't think he's going to make it through the week. But who is out there to replace him?

Bobby V!!!!!!!!!!!!

Deep Water Man

"Oh, yessuh..."

OK, so Page visited and read Robert McCloskey all weekend to Elsie in his sweet Mainer accent. It's really much better than mine, and I think Elsie realized it halfway through "One Morning in Maine". His pronunciation of HAH-BUH and FAH-THUH was just so much more authentic. But I can't help it, I'm from Wisconsin.

We went to Swan Meats for lunch and Page chatted up the sausage guy and disappeared with him in the back while I was buttering Elsa's bread. Brian returns smiling after being given a tour of the smokehouse. A tour! I buy my casings there by the ten pound bag! I buy slabs of bacon and cords of sausage! I've never been invited on a "tour"!

Mini-Pova

OK, Elsie. We've got 12 years until the pro tour. Can you pick that ball up and toss it to me?

The one right behind you.

That one right there.

Yep, right there.

Behind you.

Can you put the racket down and pick it up?

The ball. Right behind you.

Wait a Minute!

ElsaBean.com gets 186 posts? And then I come along and Dad starts a "lifestyle blog"! What's up with that? Listen Dad-no one cares about your pea soup recipes and your love affair with George Clooney.

And another thing- he's taken about four pictures of me so far.

Hello? Hello!

Uncle Chris

Chris got to meet Henry today. We have the same haircut, Henry and I. Chris still has a full Fabio mane (if you look at him straight on, he has a bald spot in the back). But at least he can call it a "spot". Jeez, you could fry an egg on my head in this photo, look at that shine!

I got home at 1PM and was able to have a Beef and Weck with him at the Winfield Grill.

I Wish I Lived in Wisconsin Part 2

Here we go again:

http://elsabean.blogspot.com/search?q=i+wish+i+lived+in+wisconsin

Two Months Old

Henry can go to KidTown (the daycare at our gym) now. Ruth has been waiting for this day. I think Elsie has too, she can show him around the place.

He's holding his head up a little better, and has shown glimpses of really lovely smiles when he's in a good mood. He sleeps from 10PM to 4AM, eats, and then goes back to bed until 5:30 or so. I haven't had to use my alarm clock in weeks. Else wakes up at 7, sometimes earlier, and when she does we can have a waffle together before I leave for work at 7.

Michael Clayton

“You look like that guy from ER.” I get that all the time.

Holy smokes this movie rocked. A few scenes especially, really surprised me.

The opening scene is a desperate, frantic voiceover as the camera pans through an empty corporate office building. It sets the tone for the entire film- that there is something rotten right below the surface.

When Clayton talks with his son, telling him “you’re stronger than your uncle” there is such a feeling of desperation on the part of Clayton, this hope that his son won’t turn out like the uncle, or maybe even like himself. The little boy listens intently, perhaps not quite understanding, but trying to.

When Clayton finally finds Edens, he can’t follow him because his son is in the car. Family life vs. work life is clearly demonstrated here, as it is when Tilda Swinton’s character rehearses for her interview at home.Clooney’s performance, though, most impressed me. We don’t see any of the familiar Clooney schtick- just a man in conflict, unhappy in his work, with his relationship with his brother, the situation with his son. He is a hero, but a reluctant one. When he finally gets Swinton in the end, his line “you’re so f---ed…” is more like a sigh of relief than any sort of heroic statement.

Adina Dress

This is Elsie's favorite new dress, that she got from Adina a couple of weeks back. Of course we had to accessorize: fairy wings and a magic wand. I'm getting good at being able to attach fairy wings to most of her clothing.

Dance Class

OK, so she doesn't have to play tennis...

"In America we make movies. Leave the films to the French." - Lee, True West

Elsa watched her first double feature last night. Her first SUBTITLED double feature, that is! The Red Balloon was a book I grew up with, based on the 1956 French short film. So I knew the balloon would get popped at the end of the film, and I prepped her for it. The "bad kids" with their slingshots finally catch up to Pascal and his balloon and let fly. What I didn't remember is that the "pop" is not a "pop" at all but rather a slow leak. So Elsie and I are sitting there watching this brilliant red balloon slowly deflate and drop to the earth, then get stomped on by a kid. It was the longest minute of my life.

But White Mane was worse. A little French boy named Folco befriends a horse (think The Black Stallion) and in the end has to flee with the horse from some crazy French cowboys from Camargue. The cowboys inadvertently force them to jump into a river and they are swept out to sea where, "...horse and man can ride together...FOR ALL TIME!" The film ends with the cowboys pleading with the boy to turn back, but he can't. You see the boy and horse's head bobbing over the whitecaps, fading into the distance until the credits roll. Since I had translated the whole movie for Elsa I quickly told her that the boy was simply swimming out "into the bay" so he could "fish some more with White Mane". I hope she was ignoring the wailing, regretful cries of the French cowboys.

The Mindbending Sounds of...

...the "Village Green Preservation Society"! Well, not exactly, when we switched over to The Sound of Music Elsa was much happier. She can spin that vinyl like a pro. We hang out at our local record store and go through the stacks until we find something we like. While she's listening she asks me questions at the top of her lungs, ""WHO'S MARIA? WHAT PROBLEM DO THEY HAVE TO SOLVE WITH HER?"

Pea Soup

My friend Jeff Grove used to really dig my mother's split pea soup. He would come over every time she made it and we would sit at the kitchen counter, slurping it up. Jeff could really slurp it. Mom and I talked about this soup recently, and I took her recipe and made a few modifications.

SPLIT PEA SOUP

Chop and saute an onion, add a couple tablespoons of fresh grated ginger and 2 teaspoons of dried marjoram. Add a bag of green split peas (16 oz) and a couple of minutes later, a half cup of white wine. Then add a smoked ham hock, a bay leaf, and 2 quarts of stock. Don't let the soup get too thick- watch that the peas don't break down too much. Same with the carrots, cut them in tiny bits, blanch them in boiling water, shock them in cold, and then put them in the soup right before serving. Add ham pieces at the end, and a bit of parsley or cilantro.

Invite Jeff Grove over.

Defensive Specialist

"OK, so Hen, you have to realize that you have only about five yards to really rough up your opponent, OK? Get in his face, call him names, jam him, and then you have to turn and run. Watch his eyes, and when you see that HE sees the ball coming get those arms up to break it up. OK? OK Henry?"

Gigi and Boo-Boo

Gigi and Boo-Boo have been here for over a week. Boo-Boo revitalized my compost and put up the birdfeeder (which made me think of all those hungry winter birds I neglected), and Gigi prepped our roses and ironed my shirts and more. Pretty nice, eh?

Robbie arrived late Friday night and spent the weekend. We hunkered down, hit the farmer's market, grilled some chicken last night. Big Bears got a case of Nigerian beer called Tusker, and Robbie and I had some of that while we threw the Nerf around as we stood at the grill.

Ruth and I are wondering who will clean the kitchen and placate Henry when they leave in a couple of days.

The Four of Us

Elsie is the first one to greet Henry in the morning, and she's been doing a good job with the transition to sisterhood. She is constantly kissing and hugging him, and jumping in to play a role in the caretaking. It's tricky though, she's doing that in part to get attention, and when Henry gets more she sort of doubles her efforts. Ruth took Henry to Wegman's last night and she had a hard time with that- Ruth and Henry on their own. She was stuck eating fish sticks with me. She's been a bit fragile at times, this morning was a hard goodbye at daycare.

Coffee

I love coffee and have started filling up an extra thermos every morning to take to school. Here I am Saturday morning at 8AM (I love sleeping in on the weekends), three inches away from my cup of coffee, yet unable to drink it.