The Cookie Monster

Some time ago Amara invited me to participate in her annual Cookie Exchange party. Being someone who A) likes cookies and B) likes to bake cookies, I was happy to accept. To add to the fun, there is also a prize awarded for the best cookie. To participate all I needed to do was bake 80 cookies for Thursday, December 6.

I prepared four different recipes--Eggnog Cookies, Merry Christmas (sugar) Cookies, Cherry Crowns, and Chocolate Truffles. All recipes seemed easy enough with basic ingredients I found at my favourite store, The Bulk Barn.

The Eggnog cookies were pretty easy, the rest were a lot of work. I also was very conscious of the fact that I wanted the cookies to impress people and maybe even win me a prize. Highlights of the preparation work include:

Attempting to make a golden yellow coloured icing for decorating the sugar cookies but ending up with atomic orange. How festive. Have you ever seen an orange snowflake before? Maybe I shouldn't say who, but one of my dear friends told me that when they were a kid they used to imagine that there was snow in the summer time and that it was orange. It was a cute story and it made me feel a bit better.

Wiping off with a damp paper towel icing that accidentally transferred onto other cookies when they flipped onto each other during the packaging process.

Decorating each truffle with two tiny holly leaf sprinkles and three holly berry sprinkles without the help of tweezers.

After all that work, I nearly missed the party too. On Thursday night I stopped off at my parents' place to sort out which cookies I would bring and which ones I'd share with my family. I was burnt out from a crazy week at work. If something didn't go wrong I screwed it up anyway it seemed. Exhausted, I crashed on the couch for a while with the idea in my head that the party was at 8pm. I realized that was not the case when Amara called me at 7:50 asking where I was. I felt so bad when I finally showed up, but thankfully no one seemed to hold anything against me and we all had a good time.

J day

This day is brought to you by the letter J

J, making joy wherever she goes.

Shop Drop and Roll

I was away this weekend. Did anyone miss me? Of course you did. Well I'm here now and that's the important thing, isn't it?

I took off to America this weekend for some shopping with Mom and Dad. I will do my best to give the highlights in a succinct manner.

Friday, 12:17 pm
I booked a 1/2 day vacation, which meant I should have left the office at 11:30. The last thing to hold me up was a computer crash after realizing I shut down without turning on my out-of-office notice. Really, would anyone miss me that terribly on a Friday afternoon that it was so important I let them know I wasn't actually going to see their e-mail until Monday morning? I guess I'll find out tomorrow.

2:30pm
We hit the road. I realize that I had forgotten my list (written on an oversized envelope because I don't have any note paper in the house. Recognizing this, I also added, "note paper" to the list. Perhaps I should have added "This list" to the list). I am also bothered by the fact that my Hydro bill showed I owed them over $500 this month while my parents, who live in a house twice the size with 4x as many do-dads plugged in, only owed $100. Clearly there was a mistake that I would have to fix on Monday.

3:30pm
We arrive at the border. The border guard seems hung up on the fact that I have a passport while my parents do not. He also does not understand why I have no stamps in the thing. I got a passport because A) I needed it for flying to America and B) I thought it would make things even easier when taking weekend trips across the line. I conclude that the border guy must be new and cranky he got posted at the 49th parallel instead of the US/Mexico one.

4:30pm(ish)
We arrive in Grand Forks, hit the liquor store and head to the hotel. Upon opening the door we realize we clearly did not buy enough liquor to make the place look pretty. It's dark. There is one light at the doorway and a small lamp between the beds. The walls and ceilings are all cedar panelling and there are some strange decorative pieces nailed to the wall. The telephone is a converted one of those crank kinds. Over the beds there is a large painting of a ghost town. Oh yes, and it smells like stale cigarette smoke with notes of beef jerky. I didn't pack my camera for this trip and at this point I am really wishing I had, just so I could share this special place with you better.

5:30pm
Mom and I hit Target and Walmart. I pick up two pairs of shoes at Target--one pair a total steal at $7.48.

Saturday, 5:45am
I am awake.

7:30am
We are at McDonald's for breakfast. I get my usual, the Hotcakes. It is snowing out but we are on a mission to get out of GF and get to our new hotel in Fargo, ND.

8:00am
Driving conditions are not great. The snow drifts across the highway and every once in a while a plow, going the other way on the other side of the highway, sends a cloud of snow our way, reducing visibility to nil for a few long seconds. Now I know how race car drivers feel when they're trying to drive through a smokey crash. Except they have the benefit of a spotter to guide them.

8:30ish
We make it to the mall. Shopping resumes.

6:00pm
We stop shopping and go back to the hotel. Mom is tired but I could go for more. The hotel is much nicer here. Later, we walk to the restaurant for dinner. Walking in the new snow is hard and reminds me of walking in sand, except for the freezing temperatures of course.

Sunday
More shopping and then drive home. On the way we see a few cars, including a Sheriff, have landed in the ditch. The weather is much better today though and so my dream of getting stuck in America due to treacherous road conditions, with nothing to do but browse the shops, is shattered. I return to Winnipeg with three new pairs of black shoes, among other things. I know there are people reading this who completely understand why I need three pairs of black shoes. I also treated myself to a special bottle of white wine. Why is it special? Because it is called J, that's why. I intend to enjoy it on my birthday later this week.

I may post some pictures of my purchases later.

The last chapter, I promise

No more pity dates. I trust myself now. My intuition is pretty good. I should start listening to it. The tarot card lady told me that, but who needs a so-called spirit guide to tell you that only you truly know yourself best.

I met Daniel last week. He took the bus down to my neighbourhood to meet me at the coffee place a few blocks from my house. I drove because it was freakin' cold out.

I talked to him on the Monday and by Wednesday I was certain I had made a mistake. On Friday I picked up Elmo because my mom asked me to look after him for a night. My throat was a little sore and scratchy. Even Fate seemed to want me to back out. But I don't give up on anything that easily.

We met. I helped him pick out a latte. I had the chai tea which I stirred nervously to try to bring down the foam.

The conversation was awkward, a step or two above painful, if I may be dramatic. He kept looking everywhere but at me as he talked about his job and the sports teams he likes. He told me he liked my hair. It was shiny and soft looking and it suited me. There is a stat that says guys are more attracted to blondes. There's also one about guys preferring long hair.

After we finished our drinks he asked me, at least twice if I wanted another one. I politely declined both times. I mentioned Elmo, that I had to get home to see him. He seemed to understand.

Outside, I said it was good we finally met. I even said, "see you later" as if there would be some kind of follow-up. He barely said anything before hurrying across the street.

It was over. I survived. I went home and Elmo greeted me with his little paws on my legs. A happy ending.

On Saturday night I went to Rob's. He was having a few people over just because. We ended up playing Balderdash. I kick ass at Balderdash, except not as much as Rob did that night. It was a real good time.

When I got home I had a message on Facebook from Daniel. Apparently he had a really good time on Friday and would like to see me again. I smacked my hand to my forehead. I let the message sit for another day and then I wrote back. I could have ignored him, I could have "given him another chance". Instead, I told him straight up that while he seemed like a very nice guy, I just didn't feel we had enough in common to be any kind of match. It took him a while to agree, but he did eventually.

I felt much better. I tend to feel best without any prospects. I think I may have a slight fear of succeeding in the romance department. I want what I cannot have and I sabotage what I can have because I feel smothered and scared. It's not you, it's me. But I think I'll figure it out, eventually.

Terrible twos

Two-day marked my two-year anniversary at Good Wooden Leg. The last time I spent two years at a place I was working with Hot Lips and Jelly Bellies.

I wasn't sure if anyone was going to remember my anniversary. It's not out of the ordinary for my team to recognize dates like this but my boss seemed pretty busy this week to remember. But in the end, she came through and we celebrated with cookies.

Work has been super busy lately, but things are going pretty well. I may just stick around for a little while longer.