I know a lot of people use these words interchangably but they're not the same thing.  Frosting is thick, opaque and can make and hold shapes like flowers.  Icing is thinner, semi-transparent and it drizzles.  Of course we could just ignore frosting altogether and make Jeanie happy.  Of course now I want to know how she feels about icing.

What created this little rant?  Research for Chef who is creating a special dessert for his new menu. 

BTW - Chef is now EXECUTIVE Chef at his country club.  They fired the last guy on New Year's Eve and posted the position again.  Chef decided to apply this time and he beat out 200 other people.  (Well only 7 others were called to interview but over 200 sent in resumes so I say they count.)  One candidate showed up in jeans and a leather jacket.  Then Chef went in wearing his suit and tie - all spit shined and polished.  I'd worked with him on interviewing skills two nights prior so he was ready.  In fact, he felt sorry for the people at work that I normally interview.  Said I was VERY tough.

And for those of you looking for a nice little belly warmer, try Godiva chocolate liquer with Van Gogh dutch caramel vodka.  Very delicious.

My kitty has another bladder infection and the vet thinks she may have a thyroid or possibly heart condition. Please send her healing thoughts.

Join me for some cake and champagne? 

It appears that my company is switching to a bank of sick days rather than it being manager's discretion.  I personally believe that kind of plan encourages people to take sick days when they aren't sick or to use them up and then come into work while they are sick and infect others.  They've also changed the vacation policy.  I will still get another week and in fact should be getting 6 more days vacation this year. 

The bead crochet was going well last night and then went to hell in a hand basket today so instead I spent a few hours teaching myself to bead a "cocktail" style ring.  It ended up being a bit too large for me so I may rip out the band portion and redo it or I could make a whole new one and give that one to someone with bigger fingers.  The next one shouldn't take as long because I know what I'm doing now.

Tomorrow all the Christmas decorations come down.  It makes me sad sometimes but I can't keep them up forever.  My tree is still drinking a "stand" full a day.  I hate to get rid of it when it's doing well but them's the breaks.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  I wish you all happiness, health and prosperity.

Christmas was good.  I tried not to buy into the drama that surrounds both sides of my family.  I think I pissed off my MIL but that's to be expected now.  Chef got me the Deadwood DVDs!  I started watching them tonight.  I'd planned a marathon but then he came home early so I switched to hanging with him instead.  The DVDs will be there for me when he's not.  

We had just the right amount of food.  Plenty to eat and some to send home with everyone and not a fridge ridiculously full of left overs.  We set up a special table for my folks to eat at (they don't like to balance plates on their laps) and they looked like king and queen for the day.  Of course, wearing paper crowns from the Christmas crackers helped in that regard.  Photog sis took pics and I hope she will share them but if she doesn't I still have the memory.

I've been trying to learn to bead crochet and it looks nice and simple when the instructor does it.  It looks very simple when I watch tutorials on You Tube but let me tell you, the thread is really little and the beads are very slippery.  I've spent about 12 hours in the last week working on a bracelet and have to keep ripping out everything I've done.  I finally got two rows complete (12 beads out of 400 - woohoo!) and Chef suggested I put it down for the night.  Good idea.

Did anyone do any post Christmas shopping?  I tried to find wrapping paper and cards for next year but there wasn't a lot to choose from.  I guess the stores really did keep the inventory low this year.  I did, however, get a dress for more than 1/2 off it's original price.  Not bad.

My sister and I took our 6 yr old nephew out Christmas shopping for his mom today.  We shopped in the city.  We are not city girls but that's where the nephew and his mom live so...  Anyway, something happened and my sis said F#$%& It.  And Ben called her on it.  Which was good.  Unfortunately a few minutes later, he was trying to ask her something, and she didn't understand so he said, "It was when you said F#$% It".  It was really funny but we couldn't laugh.  So I shook silently as I navigated traffic and she explained to him that he could get in trouble with his mom for saying that.   Sometime later we had to call his mom to find out where she was and he started to get nervous.  From the back  seat he tapped me on the head and said, "Please don't tell my mom what I said!  I didn't mean to!"  I promised him we wouldn't say a word.  My sis,however, thinks that it's great blackmail material.  I suggested she leave him alone. 

Sis went home and I brought Ben back to my house.  He wrapped the presents himself.  Even cut the paper without help.  I guided him a couple of times but he did a great job on his own.  I asked him if he knew how to tie ribbon.  Assured me he could.  yeah... not a chance.  But on the plus side I gave him wired ribbon so he twisted and looped and ended up with a semblance of a bow.  I was really proud of how hard he worked. 

So now I'm waiting for snow. 

I got home and found the house to be a toasty 50 degrees.  Apparently our low water shut off valve activated.  We'd forgotten to drain the system.  Well, at least I noticed that we need some oil too.  And the company delivers on Saturdays - yay!  So, I, who rarely feel cold, went looking for a sweatshirt to put on over my sweater and all I found were ones that were cold!  Yikes. 

At least my Christmas tree is happy.  They like it cold.

My meeting went alright today.  I don't usually get nervous about presentations but my stomach was jumping a lot this morning.  It's settled down now.  I'm still waiting to find out if I'll be working over the weekend and next week.  Hoping not but am resigned to it if needed.

I am trying to relax about Christmas.  Everyone inthe family always wants what they want and nobody can seem to figure out the 1 or 2 things that will make the holiday happy for them and give up the rest.  I'm trying to do that.  I have a couple of strange items that will make me happy but they're easy to do and my responsibility.

I've still got to make a master list of what's left to do but every time I sit down to write it I get pulled away or I fall asleep.  Apparently I'm not supposed to live my life by a list right now.  So be it.

Oh, while I was at the liquor store tonight I heard someone call my name.  I turned around and saw a face that didn't look familiar at all.  But he sure knew me!  It was someone I knew from high school.  Once he told me who he was I knew the face.  I'm not usually one for visiting my past but it was ok seeing Michael.

Dad turned 86 and we celebrated today.  Amazingly enough the entire family plus adopted brother Eric turned out at a local restaurant for a long lunch.  Dad had a blast.  There was a family nearby with a little girl (maybe 4 yrs) who helped us sing Happy Birthday ("to that man").  And then she came over to Dad and wished him a happy birthday.  Dad was tickled silly by it. 

Ben followed little Evan around the restaurant and picked him up like a pro.  Lots of Kodak moments and for once nobody had a camera.  C'est la vie.

I was wearing a great outfit.  I looked long and lean.  Everyone should have a "go to" outfit like that.  Makes you feel like you could conquer the world. 

Thanks Meadow, Jeanie and AD.  I appreciate your hugs and empathy.

I have to lead a team at work.  I don't want to and don't believe in the output expected from this team.  PLUS they seem to only want one person (me) to be from the US.  I could try to just turn it into what I want but I know that will cause TPTB to call and nag at me and who wants that?  I guess I'll launch the team and see where we get. 

I'm almost done shopping.  One more dedicated day and I should be done.  Then I need to wrap all my stuff and mail a package or two.  Chef mailed the Christmas cards.  Unfortunately they didn't all have enough postage and he didn't remember to buy 2 cent stamps and stick them on.  Nope - they just went into the post.  So I have no idea if we'll get them back in time to remail or if they''ll slip through or what. Oh well. 

The best part of my day was coming home to roast beef.