Merry Christmas

Happy Holidays~

I and Mrs B wish you all a very Merry (safe) Christmas.

In lieu of a post for today, here are some holiday eating tips that were passed to me by a friend. I hope you find them as helpful and enjoyable as I did.

Disclaimer: The following tips are provided for informational purposes only, were not written by the owner of this blog and do not necessarily represent the opinions of this blog.

Important... read carefully...

HOLIDAY EATING TIPS

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can, and quickly. It's rare...You cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-oholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention.

Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner. Remember this motto to live by:

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"

I had already written this post when I received the following email from our good friend Fran. I felt I should share the following with you. Whether this really happened or not is immaterial. It is the point of the story that moved me to tears. Possibly it is because I am exhausted or maybe it is because I love to hear things that remind me that there is still a lot of good in this world.

"I was doing some shopping and decided to look at the dolls. A little girl with a roll of money in her hand was looking at the Barbie's. When she came upon one she liked she would turn to her father and ask "Do I have enough?" He would shake his head "Yes", but she would keep looking and asking after each doll ask, "Do I have enough?"

As she was looking, a little boy came in and started sorting through the Pokemon toys. He too had money, but a much smaller amount. He was looking at the video games. Each time he picked one up, he would look at his father, and his father would shake his head, "No."

The little girl had chosen her Barbie; but she had stopped to watch the boy and his father. Rather dejectedly the boy had given up on the video games. Instead he had found a book of stickers, and then went to another aisle with his father.

The girl put the Barbie back and went over to the Pokemon games. She picked up the one that had been left on top and raced toward the check out stand with her father.

I, with my purchases, got in line behind them. To the girl's obvious delight, the boy and his father got in line behind me.

After the toy was paid for the little girl whispered something to the cashier who smiled and put it under the counter.

I paid for my items and was looking through my purse when the boy came up to the cashier. She rang up his purchase and then said, "Congratulations, you are the 100th customer today. You have won a prize!" With that she handed him the Pokemon game. He stared in disbelief and said that it was exactly what he had wanted.

The girl and her father who had been watching, then exited the store. As they walked through the parking lot with me following a few steps behind, I heard the father ask his daughter why she had done that. I will never forget what she said.

"Didn't Grandma and Grandpa want me to buy something that would make me really happy?"

"Of course" he said.

"Well I did!" and with that, she giggled and skipped toward their car.

Apparently she had answered her own question of "Do I have enough?"

Have a very Merry Christmas and be thankful that you have enough.

Happy Holidays to you and yours!