Festival of Lights

I feel I should mention my other Holiday- the one not about presents. I'm Jewish- or Jew(ish) as the saying goes. My mom was born in Europe, in a refugee camp after the war, and both her parents were interned in Russia. Most of their many siblings died in various camps, and the survivours, no matter the cliche, were never the same. My Bubbie never got over not being able to save all of her siblings, and carried that lifelong guilt with her. Her 6 year old nephew escaped the Nazi's, but at the cost of being a 6 year old alone and scared in Israel until several years after the war ended.

I grew up in a small town, where we were one of two Jewish families, far away from all of my Jewish family in NYC. And we never were overly Jewish. My Bubbie and Zadie denied Judaism as a religion soon after the war ended, both feeling that no god could truly do this to them, and so my mom, and later me grew up vested in Judaism as a Culture and a History, but never as a religion. We went to synagogue on the High Holidays and Hanukkah only- rarely on the Sabbath. But being Jewish was always an identifying part of me. Remembering the history, and what my family had gone through were important to me, and to me, Hanukkah was a representation of that history. I grew up always having Christmas- it was (sort of) important to dad and other then a 1 year stint with the "Hanukkah Bush" even mom accepted that Christmas was just going to happen. But it was always different for me. Christmas had nothing to do with the idea of Jesus- early on I adopted my dad's view of the cult of Santa. Spiritually, Christmas meant nothing to me. Hanukkah, with the idea of family, and the peace of the candles, that was where to me, any spirituality happened. Christmas was about gifts, Hanukkah was about Peace.

Christmas

Not that Christmas is about presents. it's about family, friends, food... and apparently presents.

This is our tree.

















This was Beau's mom's tree. She was upset about slacking for Christmas presents this year.

Snapshots

This is our Christmas Tree

















I bought a box of Peaches for $10 this summer

















My Elevator at Work has been expired for a ...while. Safety First!

My Cats

I love my cats. I have had them since I was 8- they are old, old spoiled cats. I named the Cream one Sullivan (after the composers Gilbert & Sullivan) when I was 8. I named the black one Felix (after the cat) when I was 9.

















Apparently Felix has been preparing to Eat Our Souls.

I love this City more then I should

I love living in Toronto. I know I shouldn't. Maybe it's the comfort of the familiar, the resturants, the grocery stores that aren't the big chains, the theatre, the music, the life... maybe it's finally being back close to family.

















And I love it.

We went to Canada's wonderland

We went to Canada's Wonderland. It's something of a tradition. We go every year, for halloween haunt- basically, we go during the day, and leave when it gets busy. It's FANTASTIC. Cause I hate people.

Anyways, apparently, not all my friends love rollercoasters as much as I do.

















Also, it hasn't really snowed yet. That is awesome

Roast Potatos

I Love these. The most.

Potatos - skinned or not.
Olive Oil
Thyme (wild thyme is best. Part of my aunt's lawn is thyme. We use that, dried)
Kosher Salt
Pepper

Cut up the potatos into whatever sized pieces you want. Put in a bowl, and mix with everything else. Don't over salt, don't undersalt.

Bake at 450 for about 25 minutes, or until brown and crispy. I can't tell you exactly, my oven sucks.

They're good. Like, really good. Like really really good.

I hate the snow

A few years ago for Christmas, I was:

























Last year, I was:

















I hope this year I am back at the first place

Post Halloween

After Halloween, kids relish the candy they convinced their parents to let them keep. As a grown up, we have moved beyond that. We relish the leftover candy we convince our parents to give to us. That and half price candy sales at the drug store.

Way back when, in my first year of university (about 5 years ago) I was a young and innocent tech. Excited for the glamour of being In Theatre, I signed up to be a Stage Manager. It has been a lot of fun, and taken me some great places, but to the left is how we did the lights. From my first to third year, that was our lighting board. It usually required two people, and a broom to work it and run the lights. We later found out, that it was the 2nd last of it's kind in Canada. Apparently, we were hardcore.

What is the What

Last month, we put a bed on a roof. It took 4 arbourists to get it down.

Shifting the Focus

I spent more time on this blog then I did reading Nietzsche. Which isn't saying a lot. Because I don't think I've read Nietzsche since my final year of university.

So I am shifting the focus. Away from cooking, and towards my everyday slightly ridiculous life.

In theory, I'm starting a new job next week as a manager of a fairly large fundraising campaign, where I organize it, and find and coordinate 2000 volunteers. Yes. that's right. I am in charge of something, something that huge. I feel the power coursing through me. I also, get an assistant- a lackey if you will.

This is awesome for a number of reasons- the first, and most important being that I am currently a lackey. I work for a friend of mine, doing research for a few documentaries- and also do other random lackey work. Saying I work for him, is a bit of a stretch, as work implies pay.

Anyways.

I'm going back to grad school in Sept. (probably). And on top of managing 2000 volunteers, I am taking some courses to remind myself what school is. This, will actually be utter hilarity in my opinion. I may well lost my mind. It will be awesome. Much like the below picture. That was 2 years ago.