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Sunday, December 31, 2006

drizzly

It is dark. Very dark - so dark it seems like dusk. And it has been raining, constant and steady since last night. Fortunately, it is quite warm for this time of year. The high is predicted at 60 degrees today. It makes me either wish I had a good indoor project today and a place to work on it. Or that I could get out with my camera in long black raincoat with black-rimmed eyes and a huge umbrella.

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Happy Holidays

Winter Solstice Party on Friday went off well. The house and I were clean in the nick of time. We had more than enough food, without enough table top space to set up with snacks. Guest brought delicious snacks and drinks to add to the party. The turn-out was much smaller this year than the rsvp list, but most of that was due to two other last-minute events that I was aware of.

Christmas Eve, we went to Pell City, Alabama to visit June. We got to see Jerry briefly, but Kim was a no-show.

Christmas Day, we spent family at my mother's flat. Huge meal. Everyone took home left-overs. My brother's family brought my neice's boyfriend with them because his mother, a nurse, was working all day (and most of the night). Seemed like a nice lad who fit in very well with the family. I can see why my brother and sister-in-law like him. He's very much like my brother and nephew in personality. For some reason, my Mother found it necessary to open three bottles of wine, most of which was still untouched when we left. Part of the reason was, after she opened the Merlot, the cork was dry and my first glass tasted awful and smelled very strong of vinegar and what I percieved as cork-taint. Then, after I rinsed and dried my glass thoroughly she opened the Cabernet Sauvignon for me. When I set out the other glasses, I smelled the same thing. Everything had this soapy, vinegar-smelling film to it so I rinsed everything down as quickly as possible while she was freshening up. Everyone's wine was fine after that. I said nothing about the glasses. The rest of the Merlot went untouched (and it still may have been off - remember that dry cork). We finished of the Cab and she opened a bottle of Pinot Noir for good measure before everyone left.

Yesterday, we had the traditional exchanging of some gifts. We now have a very nice coffee maker again, upgraded from previous models I've owned with a programable time, clock, and thermal carafe (so coffee doesn't have to cook down to something bitter just to stay hot). Now I can shop for any whole bean coffee I choose and make the occassional cinnamon coffee without being a slave to one manufacturer's pods that we can only get from one source locally.

In the evening we went to the airport to meet a friend of Monster's who lives in Chicago now. He's gone from retail sales to realestate and is doing quite well at it. He owns half of a very nice modern duplex in the heart of the city. He is also a man with very little free time so when there was a chance for a two-hour spot to visit between flights to visit, everyone jumped at it. As always, there was a lot of catching up to do between the guys and not enough time. There were some cool photos on the iPod to share, updating on the Blackberry to do, and new photos and MPEGs to make.

Today, it's back to work. I expect this will be another nearly non-existant work week. Only three days to punch the clock and clients probably won't be keeping us busy until after New Year's day when everyone returns to work.

Friday, December 22, 2006

The Silver Grill is closing today

One of the oldest homestyle southern diners in Atlanta is closing its doors for the last time tonight at 9PM. The Silver Grill on Monroe Avenue near Grady Highschool is going out of business. The lot and building are probably being sold for development, I imagine.

The CitySearch profile has this to say about the Silver Grill:

The Scene
Southern accents are fading fast in Midtown, but not at this vintage diner. Family-run since 1945, it charms with "no shirt, no shoes, no service" earnestness. A curious mix of longtime regulars and manicured Midtown boys settle into the cozy and clean double-wide. Behind a long counter, serving tins full of Southern specialties simmer as veteran waitresses hurriedly dish them onto plates.

The Food
Daily specials of diner standards overshadow the regular menu of sandwiches and single items. Heavily battered fried chicken is the natural favorite, but it doesn't outdo tender country-fried steak. A generous slab of meat loaf with tomato sauce is also excellent when available. Vegetable choices vary by day--hope for buttery corn-on-the-cob and seasoned collards. Sweet potato souffle, loaded with brown sugar and molten marshmallow, doubles as dessert. Homemade cobblers and cakes also keep the sweet-tea buzz alive.

Monday, December 18, 2006

Planning food and drink for the Solstice party tonight while Monster recovers on the couch, watching Superman.

We still have so much stuff - furniture and tools - in the living room, it will be a mad dash to get everything cleared out and seating arrangements made. It's going to be fun. I still need to bake cookies and buy eggnog or decide on a recipe I like. The punch bowl awaits. I've got a new yule log/fireplace DVD too, since I'm sure it'll be to warm for a real fire. Well, maybe a few tiny fires on columns of wax.

Thursday, December 07, 2006

The Dining Room is finished

I am quite happy to say one more household task has been completed.


The painting and plastering and lighting of the front dining room is finally done. I am sitting at the table like an adult again, addressing greeting cards.

Tomorrow: TV Wars. Heroes (Monster's favorite new show) vs Alton Brown (School of Hard Nogs episode). I predict that Monster will win, as he is the TV and Movie King, a title I do not care for. So, what will I do tomorrow night after work? Who knows? Finish my shopping... maybe do some wrapping... go out looking for trouble...

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

Wine vs Crime

It seems that increases in wine consumption go hand in hand with decreases in violent crime:

http://www.swivel.com/graphs/show/1001967

By the way, this swivel.com website just launched. It's like a youtube for
databases. VERY geeeeeekeeeee!

Thanks Chaz.

Friday, December 01, 2006

Atlanta SantaCon 2006

This just in from Chwdog:

Atlanta SantaCon
topic posted Yesterday, 9:34 PM by Chwdog

Ok kids.. My Bullhorn is decorated... somewhat. My SantaSuit is dirty and lookin for more... Yep, its SantaCon time!!!

Dec 16th
4:42pm It all starts
Centennial Park, Atlanta GA
Pics in the park, from there, we get on MARTA and follow Chw....

There is a leading force in the chaos of Santacon in Atlanta, and sadly enough, we named him chw......

Within a few days of the event, I will post a little more detailed info, but to get involved, takes exactly that!!!

Participants ONLY!!! Come one, come all. Wipe your christmas cheer ALL OVER ATLANTA!

Its going to be great, We have our route, We have our friends, we even have our carols, plus we have a hotel picked out to stay in, join the list for info on how to shack up with us!

IF YOU ATTEND, YOU MUST GO TO www.santacon.com TO GET YOUR CAROLS... LEARN THEM ALL!!! We will be singing all night... mostly DIRTY carols!

www.santacon.com

groups.yahoo.com/groups/atlantasantacon

Friday

The work on the front dining room has begun. Monster has the area closed off with sheets of plastic and is already sanding down the patches on the ceiling and walls, preparing to paint. I can't wait for the first coat of paint to go onto it so we can clean out the dust and open the room again. Then I'll be able to help him finish the work ASAP so we can finish with a new light fixture after the last coat of paint dries. There will be a new white rug in the living room, which I pray no one will spill red wine on. We will now have a grown-up dining area again and will (hopefully) eat at the table, sitting in chairs.