A Relaxing, Frugal X-mas with Carnivores and Love Ones

With the decorations, the carols, the festive spirit, and (most importantly) the expectation of presents, children's Christmas was always my favorite time of the year. Now with the obligatory pressures concomitant with adults' Christmas, I've grown weary of the holiday. What I mainly look forward to now is the food and the relaxation.

This year the University forced us to take two weeks off, which provided me with a much needed vacation. Unfortunately, I also work in a physiology lab and had to use the time off to play catch up on experiments. Monday through Thursday of last week were four of the most productive days I've ever spent in that lab. It was really rewarding, but it was also draining. I worked so hard that I almost got sick. I even had to walk twenty-five minutes to and from my car each day--in the bitter cold and wind--which added to my exhaustion and the threat of becoming ill.

So how did I spend Christmas Day? I took off! I spent the entire day resting and eating exactly what you see in that picture: chicken, dressing (a.k.a. stuffing), green beans and potatoes, collard greens, yams, brown 'n serve rolls, sweet potato pie, and cherry lime "Sinkist." (Happy Holidays indeed!) I started my day eating two slices of pie for breakfast, I played with my cats, I took a nap, I showered, I ate that huge dinner, I played with the cats some more, and then I went to bed. (Ah. If Christmas could only come everyday of the year.)

I didn't go out to visit anyone until the following day. First, I went with my mother to visit her aunt-in-law in Carson. While there, we conversed with our aunt and her friend and played with her dogs while we waited for our food. Our aunt-in-law is originally from the Philippines, so we had a mix of American and Filipino foods: deep fried turkey, potato salad, green beans, corn, pork adobo, steamed rice, pancit, suman, bibingka, and flan de leche. Everything was good (especially the adobo)!

After eating, we visited my uncle's grave site in Cypress where my aunt got a cramp in her leg and had me drive her capacious Buick Park Avenue back to her house--but not before first taking a side trip to another cemetery so that her friend could visit her husband's grave. I've only driven a handful of cars before and they were always--by design--small and cheap, so fear doesn't begin to scratch the surface of what I felt navigating that luxury liner through unfamiliar parts of L.A. and Orange Counties. Still, I got us back home safe, sound, and in one piece. Afterward, we ate more food, played with the dogs, and then we left.

Later that evening, I drove to my friend's house in Tarzana to celebrate her 40th birthday. Driving at night in an unlit, unfamiliar suburb is always an adventure, particularly when the Evite map gives you the wrong directions. Luckily, the right directions were just a cell phone call away, so I eventually made my destination.

While there, I played with my friend's dog, conversed with some people, watched other people play with her dog, exchanged pet-related stories with friends and strangers, and then I ate. My friend is Jewish-American and her husband is North African and Israeli. Thus, I ate pita stuffed with chicken, falafel, and tahini dressing; some potato-stuffed pastry; two kinds of cabbage slaws with lemon dressing; mesclun salad with vinaigrette; some sort of diced cucumber and tomato salsa/salad; apricot tart; and lemon cake with a tofu-based cream cheese icing. Everything was good (especially the cake). After eating, I talked some more, laughed with everyone as we watched the dog make a confusing nest out of a blanket, talked some more about dogs and cats, and then left.

Sunday, I stayed home, watched "It's a Wonderful Life," and entertained while my father payed us a visit. I ate, slept, played with the cats, and FINALLY got around to blogging about it all.

I'd say my Christmas weekend was a nice one indeed. It had the right blend of relaxation, time spent with loved ones, multicultural dining, respects paid to lost relatives, vehicular misadventures, and interaction with various carnivorae. All that and I didn't have to spend a dime!