Blog Archives

Does the world really need a Bling Barbie? I truly think not. But I will give the marketing folks at Mattel credit for one thing. I’m sure that the Paris Hilton Cheap Whore Barbie wouldn’t have done nearly as well…so kudos on the name choice. (Also big kudos to Toys R Us for locking up this “exclusive”.) Oh, just watch now…this will be this year’s Tickle Me Elmo and I’ll be the laughing stock of Blogger.

On another cheery note…I got my hair tidied up at the Hair Cuttery today. (Note to self…no more panic hair cuts while on business travel!) I swear that the hair dresser/cutter person was just taking random snips around my head. Anyhow, the turning point in the haircut was when the hair dresser unexpectedly sprinkled baby powder on my neck, and proceeded to massage my neck and my ears…MY EARS. Then she dusted the hair off my shirt by rubbing my back. She finished cleaning by using a blow drier on the front of my shirt and my crotch.

Uh. Yeah. OK. Didn’t expect to be fondled at the Hair Cuttery!!

Friday afternoon, my Aunt Teela and Uncle Jim arrived for Thanksgiving Part Two. After a lunch of leftovers, Teela and Mom watched Benjamin while the rest of us went to a matinee showing of James Bond. Everyone liked the film, although a couple found the movie too long. Not me…I really enjoyed the film. It was exactly what I was hoping for…classy with and edge, serious with well timed humor. The new Bond is wonderful. Can’t wait for the next one.

After eating leftovers for breakfast and lunch, we made new food for a festive birthday dinner for Teela. I made our favorite baked enchiladas with a spicier tomatilla sauce than my usual. We paired the enchiladas with a cool salad topped with pomegranate, blue cheese, and avocado.

After dinner, we played a new game (for me)–Mexican train dominoes. I can’t figure out the origin of the name, but we all played a few rounds and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Today (Saturday), Teela and Jim left early for home–leaving Jeff, my folks, and me to a lazy, sunny day. We drove Jeff down to see the beautiful State capitol, took a healthy walk across the James River to Belle Island, sipped a latte in Shockoe Bottom, and toured historic St. James Church (Patrick ‘give me liberty or give me death’ Henry), Chimborazo Park, and Hollywood Cemetery.

We had lunch at the 3rd Street Diner downtown, where our tasty meals were outshined by a colorful customer across from us. Let’s just say that a big plate of spaghetti and inebriation do not go together well. This rough-looking, VERY heavy-set man made a horrible mess with his spaghetti, but tried to clean himself up with dainty dabs of water on his napkin. The kicker was when he went to the register to pay. It seems that the poor waitress had to come back to the table to explain about tipping.

The best news of the day: Virginia Tech shutout UVA to hold onto the Commonwealth Cup…and irk my brother 🙂

We finished the day with a quiet dinner (a few more leftovers), a crackling fire in the fireplace, and a few rounds of Rummicube.

Sooooo, a few photos from the past two day in a sort of John-style. First, is the Virginia State Capitol. All shiney and clean…but still behind fences during reconstruction of the grounds.

Next, from our walk to Belle Island. This is one of the intakes to an abandoned VEPCO hydroelectic plant on the island. Let me tell you that this image is the stuff of my worst nightmares. Dark water sends shivers down my spine.

And lastly, my photo of how our walk in the park looked from Benjamin’s perspective. Kind of a horror movie view, don’t you think?

Turkey and stuffing. Garlic mashed potatoes and green bean casserole. Orange cranberries and sweet potatoes. Crisp veggies and sauerkraut. Our table was full. My mom and dad. Jodi and Cliff and Benjamin. Jeff and me. Our hearts were full. It was a perfect family Thanksgiving.

The phones were ringing off the hook. Jeff was on with Michigan; Jodi with Indiana. My family dialed up Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, and Maryland.

We topped off dinner with an amazing cheesecake made by Jeff and Jodi. Jeff dubbed it the Shirley Plantation Pumpkin Apple Butter Cheesecake, after the apple butter we bought on Tuesday. The cake (pictured below) was a perfect melding of sweet, smooth cake with a slightly-tangy pumpkin apple butter topping.

We finished the evening with several games of Rummicube, which Jeff described in his blog yesterday. My mom and I brought out this game, thinking that we could throw off Jeff and Jodi who were kicking our butts at their Euchre card game…they were especially kicking MY butt. The four of us plus Cliff played several rounds, and Jeff somehow managed to win more than his fair share 🙂 Nevertheless, our home was clearly addicted.

[For the record, Jeff took a few of the photos today. I liked his angles better than mine…so I stole them 🙂 ]

Jeff and I began the day with a ham biscuit at my folks’ house. Then we headed to Cary Street in Richmond to wander, shop, and eat. We picked out some beautiful Christmas ornaments, before stopping for lunch at the New York Deli–a very cozy local restaurant. Jeff had a scrumptious burger, and I had a toasted pastrami and swiss on rye. We topped off lunch with a latte from the coffee shop next door.

We took a winding path home through some of the gorgeous houses along Cary Street and the James River. Jody met us at home with Benjamin all decked out for some Christmas photos. Dinner was my Dad’s AMAZING fried chicken.

After dinner and a Euchre re-match (where I am now 0-3…I have lost with EVERY partner), I got to dance with young Benjamin and sway him to sleep. He is just so adorable.

I thought I would close with one of the Monticello photos from yesterday.

Our luggage arrived around 4 or 5 in the morning..quietly deposited on the front steps. After a warm shower, fresh clothes, and a hearty toasted English muffin with ham and cheese, Jeff, Cliff, Jody and I headed west to visit Monticello. (A quick stop at Starbucks before we drove TOO far, of course!)

We toured Mr. Jefferson’s home, lead by a chatty man with a colorful yellow tie. Monticello is a beautiful home–and the ONLY home in the U.S. designated as a United Nations World Heritage Site. The air was crisp and smelled of fallen leaves as we walked around the grounds and out-buildings.

We ate an early dinner at Lord Harwicke’s in Charlottesville, before hitting the road for fresh brownies and key lime pie at home.

After desert, Cliff and Dad watched young Benjamin (and football), while Jeff and Jody taught Mom and me how to play Euchre. (For the record, Jeff had previously taught me this card game in Michigan, but I failed to retain the rules…or basic strategy 🙂