Friday, December 21, 2007

Happy Holidays

Saw Johnny Depp in Sweeney Todd today. What an excellent movie! Another role that fits him like a glove. I saw the play in 1979, with Angela Lansbury and Len Cariou, in Boston just before it went on to Broadway, and I recall very little about the show, aside from Angela being awesome. It's a bit gorey, which I hadn't expected. I don't know why, given Tim Burton's involvement, but nonetheless, it didn't overly detract from the film. There's just an "ew" moment or two that caused me to flinch and hide my eyes.

Afterward, Adele and I wandered around the mall, both enjoying the Christmas commercialism and hating the bustle. A quick zip into Barnes & Noble scored me the soundtrack to the above movie. A trip down Bay Street yeilded crystalized ginger chips and sanding sugar from William-Sonoma, for my Meyer lemon and ginger scones. The Bath & Body shop was selling four for three body lotions, so I scooped up the grapefruit-scented one for free, on Adele's purchases! A pause at Harry & David got us a pastry, apple, and cranberry enrobed brie for Christmas appetizers. Then, a snooping at the Teacake Bakery gifted Adele with a big chocolate, marshmallowy buttercream filled "Whoopie" pie, and the gingerbread cupcake in the photograph above.

I couldn't help singing to all the carols and music piped into all the shops...

Friday, December 14, 2007

Catching Up

My friend Susan, and fellow community resident here at the lofts, gave me this beautiful birds nest with glass berries as a Christmas present. Actually Hanukah, even though Hanukah is now over. I couldn't find my freaking menorah this year, and I couldn't find a box of candles in Berkeley. And now I can't find my box of Christmas lights and ornaments! I wonder if the Goddess is just suggesting I skip it all this year, especially since I have like NO money.

Regardless, I love gifts like this, that are put together with love and care. It's currently got the place of honor on the mantle of my faux fireplace in the hallway, where all my other little trinkets are — the Día de los Muertos black sugar skulls, the painted tin corazón, my collection of crystals, some shells and feathers...

Lordess help me... I currently am listening to, and liking, a Céline Dion tune. I'm appalled.