Last night, Greg and I went with the Prime-Timers group from church to the First Baptist Church's Living Christmas Trees.  I thought it was pretty good, especially for a church production.  A couple of the child actors were actually very good.  They did a version of "The Christmas Shoes," and managed to work in several other Christmas songs, even some secular.  I thought their rendition of "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,"  was especially nice. 

So this morning, I felt much more in the holiday spirit.  I finished up my Christmas shopping, and because the mall is VERY close to the main post office, you could have seen me wrapping presents in the trunk of my car.  I have to say that I love the automated self service center at the post office.  The lines inside were not as bad as I had seen in the past, but I didn't have to wait in them!  (I did have a moment where I thought one of my boxes was too big for the drop, but it just barely fit.  Note to self:  No boxes bigger than that one!)  I found the all Christmas music station on the radio and bought many, many ingredients to make Christmas goodies at Publix.  I am planning to make:  Crazy Mamie Fudge, Black Forest Cherry Cookies, and Gingerbread Cookies (from a recipe in a Richard Scarry Activity Book that we have been making for something like 25 years or more.  2 Christmases ago I made something like 350 gingerbread cookies and decorated them with icing and sprinkles and took them everywhere.  They are light and crisp like eating potato chips.)   I don't know who is going to EAT all of these things, although I think I will send some to work with Greg and I know people at school will eat anything.  Next week is a special week where one department brings a different set of goodies every day.  I figure I'll do my part.  

Next Sunday is the university holiday party, and it is very formal/dressy.  I am kind of excited because I love to spend time with people outside of work, and this will be the first time we have done that since I've been there.  (I have been to two of Greg's staff functions, one of which we hosted here.)  I have a formal dress from a fancy dinner I attended in library school, which being dark green, is very holiday appropriate.  I even have matching shoes and hose, because that was back when I spent money on things like that. 

Maybe I'll get the Christmas decorations out tomorrow, if I'm not too busy making cookies and ironing.  I was very sad to sell the full sized tree and give many of the ornaments to Jane, so maybe that's part of the reason I am not as eager to put everything up?  I still have plenty left, which might be part of it, it is fun to put it up and not so much to take it down.  

I haven't been reading much, although I did enjoy Graceling by Kristen Cashore and The Broken Window by Jeffrey Deaver recently.  When I read The Joys of Love by L'Engle, I realized how diminished the young adult literary will be without her.  I REALLY need to post to ReadSpace, but I seem to have nothing articulate to say at this time.  When I blogged for Arlington, I would force myself to write something, anything, and maybe I need to do that.

Thanksgiving was nice, I helped out  with the lunch at church and then had dinner at my boss' house.  I made my mother's dressing recipe to take, and it turned out EXCELLENT, considering I had only made it one time before, and my mother couldn't find her recipe, so we recreated it.

Mom's Dressing

16 oz package Pepperidge Farm Cornbread Stuffing
16 oz package Pepperidge Farm Herbed Bread Stuffing (the crumbles, not the cubes)
1tsp sage
1 large onion, chopped
4 stalks celery, chopped
2 hard boiled eggs, chopped
1 stick of butter
3 cups chicken broth

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Melt butter, add celery and onions and cook until wilted and almost clear.  Put everything except about 1/2 broth in large bowl and mix well.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Spread evenly in a greased 9 X 13 pan.  Pour rest of broth over top.  Cover with foil and bake for 45 to 60 minutes.  You want it to be firm, but not dry.  If you like it drier/crispier, then you can remove the foil for part of the cooking. 

We are down to the last couple of weeks of classes, and I think I have done okay with my classes.  I already know some things to do differently/better bext time, so that's good.  I am looking forward to the break, as although I have taken time off since I started, it was almost all for my dissertation/graduation.  The school is closed from December 24 to January 5.  I was hoping someone might come and visit but maybe I will just use the time to knit and read and things like that.  Unless someone wants to come--you're still welcome!