Tulips + Canal + Movie + Beer = Good Day

Today promised to be an interesting day. A bit of time was spent getting off some information to my accountant (too bad she isn't single - she is really quite attractive and smart!). Then there was the headache caused by the construction hammers and saws - ripping balconies off the back of the building, cutting rebar, etc. So the start to the day was dodgy.

But it got better around 5:30 pm. I had stuck earplugs in and tried to sleep off the headache and it mostly worked. About 6:30 pm, I got on the bus (first time since 1986 on an Ottawa OC Transpo Bus!) and successfully rode the 101 to Dow's Lake.

I proceeded to spend the next two hours wandering the length of Commissioner's Park and shooting lots of snaps with my (admittedly crappy camera) cell-phone. I saw many lovely tulips in lovely arrangements - dark midnight purple, mid purple, purple with white fringes, pink, pink with white fringes, white with pink splashes, white, yellow, yellow with red highlights, red, red with orange highlights, red closer to orange, and so on. There were a few other non-tulip beds and a variety of interesting trees and other greenery. Tomorrow I'll try to extract the photos from my camera and post a link to an library of them, likely on Google's Photo Site.

I noticed a lot of families, kids, mothers, fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers. There were bikers and walkers and even a those with canes or wheelchairs. The weather was lovely - 16 to 18 Celcius. A cloudy sky in the later day, but beautiful nonetheless. The water of the canal was lovely and I saw ducks and other birds as well and a lovely tortoise shell cat in one of the flower beds (assuming the picture came out).

I saw the state 'man with two hats' and the plaques talking about the Canadian Liberation of the Scheldt Estuary. If you haven't read much about this, Mark Zuehlke has a book or two you should read - the battle for the Scheldt was not an easy one and many brave boys died to liberate the Netherlands and the low countries. I understand there is a duplicate statue somewhere in Appeldorn, Netherlands and I hope to visit it one day.

I also saw the simple but effective plaque, set off in a nicely separated ring surrounded by nice beds of greenery, commemorating the people who died, many of them Canadians, on Air India Flight 182 that was bombed in Irish airspace in 1985 by Sikh extremists. My thoughts went out yet again to the families of the innocent victims and our Government's failure to secure convictions in this matter once again made me embarrassed.

I had a Menonite organic sausage and a bun, some fresh cut fries, and an ice cream. The sausage was good, but I think the spicy Italian sausages from Preston street nearby are slightly better, although I can't guarantee they are entirely organic (as it is meant nowadays). Still, eating overlooking the canal and Dow's lake was lovely.

On the way back from my 3 mile (est) round trip, I read a bit about Dow's lake and the Rideau Canal. I'd studied it before in studying the conflicts in early Canada and in Engineering History at Queen's University. Colonel John By and the Royal Engineers did quite a job in constructing the Rideau Canal system. I did discover something new - when a fire raged through the town and threatened the canal, they cut one of the earthen berms and drained out some of the water from the canal and Dow's lake to flood the area around Preston street to create a barrier agains the fire, saving the canal work and probably parts of the city.

The whole wandering pilgrimage was worthwhile, pleasant, and breathtaking. I did botch one picture that would have been printed in our papers and made me a minor celebrity for 15 minutes - I almost had a picture of a fenced flower bed, with a no walking on the flower bed sign, and 18" away, a mother and grandmother were putting their kids into the midst of the flowers to get a photo. That's the sort of thing that explains the current state of our world.

As I was ambling back, watching ducks land on the water, I texted a friend about going for beer on Preston. He pointed out he and another friend (Ricki D and Dan R for those who know them) were waiting for "Monsters vs. Aliens" to start at the AMC.

Seeing nothing odd about two grown, middle-aged men going to see an animated cartoon, I immediately made plans to join them (to add yet another grown, middle-aged man to the group). This, however, gave me just under 30 minutes to get from half way down the Canal from Dow's Lake to my apartment and thence to Kanata. About 500m on foot, several lights, then 9 city blocks by bus, then about 10-15 km by car were required.

Thus ensued my version of the modern urban triathlon: Fast walking, busing, and driving. I arrived after the first couple of minutes of the film, but basically caught the vast majority of it. It was a good film - good for kids and grown ups. Funny, heartwarming, and with enough of the sorts of comments that would sail by the kids (and homages that would do the same) to keep adult interest.

From there, we ended up at O'Connor's. Rick and Dan feigned outrage at not being carded, I joked about us needing a Senior's Card. This got Dark looks. But beer was had, women were watched, a band was heard (and little else after...), and fun was had. I'm sure for some of the younger patrons, it was the first time they'd heard the Doors or CCR. And apparently the spiked hair/fake tan guido look is still around. The more things change, the more they don't....

So, a good night overall. Beautiful flowers and a lovely walk by the water, some good friends, a beer, a laugh or ten at the movie, and some cute young ladies to not-approach-due-to-lack-of-courage. That's an excellent evening and day in my opinion!

Mother's Day at the Homestead

A late arrival caused by some shopping challenges encouraged a late start to dinner. After 2 solid hours of preparation an early cooking stages, the meal went into the 'simmer for two hours' phase.

The final meal was:

• Garlic and Butter Mashed Potatos
• Steamed Asparagus
• Tomb's 3B Guiness Brazed Beef (3B = Beer, Beef, Bacon!) : Included bacon, carrots, celery, onions, bay leaves, thyme, Guiness (in my case had to add a little gooseberry ale since I was about half a can short on the Guiness), a splash of port, a wee bit of salt, pepper, montreal steak spice, flour and canola oil (for searing the beef), fresh minced garlic, beef stock, and (in this case) a cubed round roast of beef - with a four stage cooking process.
• Desert was a Panna Cotta with a Blueberry and Peach Compote : Didn't make this one - President's Choice, comes in individual portions you have to unthaw and attempt to decant without disaster - and it is the first cousin of a Creme Brulee since Panna Cotta is cooked cream.

All in all, an excellent meal.

While the meal was simmering, I walked Mom through a bit more of the 'Computers 101' course - she has some awful trouble keeping the cursor from moving away from her text insertion point - I think it may be touch pad related. I may have to disable the touch pad and go for an external mouse or at least disable the tap-to-click aspect of the trackpad. Getting a more visible cursor set may also be necessary.

She tried to send out her first email and did so, albeit with some pretty painful stages. Think yourself privileged, Douglas! I know she plans to try to respond to Alan, Toni, Kevin, James, etc. as she is able (that may yet be a while). A journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step, but it sure takes a while to come to an end. :0)

Anyway, a good time visiting the parents. A good day. Mom didn't have to cook and Dad could eat with his dodgy teeth. So a general win, although I made no progress on my table construction project this day (much like many other visits recently).

On the side of concern, Dad is going in for Dental Surgery Tuesday. I'd be lying if I didn't say my anxiety level is uncomfortably high. I just don't seem to be able to batten down the uptight feeling I have about this and it is rather unpleasant. It needs done and the GP has given her go ahead, but he's the only Dad I've got and I want him around for a long time more. Of course, I want him not to be suffering and he needs to get some teeth fixed.

So if you are the sort to pray, say a few for my Dad. If you aren't the sort to pray, at least think about it being a positive outcome. I'm not sure we can impact the universe in such ways, but it is always wise to hedge your bets....

Mother's Day Meal

As the weather is pretty unpleasant and the cold and damp is upsetting Mother's poor bones, I'm going to cook dinner tomorrow for Mother and Dad. The task is made slightly more challenging as Dad is waiting for some dental surgery Tuesday.

So I'm going to make something tasty, but easily consumed without chewing - I'm going to make a Guinness brazed beef, make sure it cooks for long enough to be very tender, and then shred the beef. That ought to be easy to eat, flavourful, and require no chewing. With that, I'll probably serve some cooked-soft asparagus, perhaps some well mashed potato with garlic and butter, and a desert which is some sort of pudding.

Mom can enjoy the next best thing to steak (a nice beef dish) and she can avoid preparing a meal, giving her a bit more of a rest (not that she understands the word....) which is probably the best thing I can do for her. I also got her a copy of Shakedown by Ezra Levant detailing the dubious and troubling aspects of the Canadian Human Right's Councils operation, power and process, particularly as it pertains to Section 13 governing freedom of speech and hate speech.

I can't ease her pain and I can't give her back the ability to walk and be as independent as she was before her accident, but if I can even make life a little easier and give her some time to do something she enjoys (she has become a big Nascar afficionado lately), then that's probably the best that can be managed. She's one of a very special kind.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day is upon us. This is a very special day to most of us as most of us have a mother (some end up with more than one - I have been so blessed). Most of us wouldn't have got to where we are in life without the help and support of our mother.

My own mother is a small, frail old lady - big in spirit, but physically limited due to age and the deteriorations resulting from an accident a few years back with a dump truck. She has a fair portion of hard days and she copes with them and my father's health problems with an amazing patience and aplomb I could only aspire to. Both of my parents have coped with the challenges life has thrown at them over the past few years in a most amazing fashion. I often feel sadly incapable whenever I look at the footsteps I'm walking in.

I've been very fortunate to have both of my parents. My father taught me to be practical and realistic and as importantly, he taught me about ethics and honour. My mother taught me about compassion, kindness, charity and integrity. I'm still learning from them every day and I'm thankful that I have been given that chance.

Toni and Alan have been like a second family to me and have extended to me the warmth and friendship that make me feel like I truly do have two homes. As a single person sometimes prone to periods of relative solitude (and not overfond of those), that's a godsend in its own way.

I have many friends who are now mothers in their own right: Rhonda, Shelly, Susan, Stephanie, Annette, Wendy, Linda, Natalie, Julie, Lisa, Laurie, Lisa the second, Erica, and probably a few others I can't recall. Each in their own way has grown more complete and more amazing as time has gone by and as they raise their children.

My heart is filled with best wishes for my Mother, for my other Mother, and for all of the Mothers I know and who've made me feel at home and welcome in their worlds. My life wouldn't have been the same without them and is far the better for having them in it.

I'd like to also extend a special thought for Mother's Day: A few of my friends have lost theirs to the fates and the passage of time. I want them to know I'm thinking of them and their mother's as well this mother's day. I hope they can feel welcome in the homes and families of others and find a small part of what they once had. My family has always made my friends welcome, another fine mark in their favour as my friends are uniformly quality people, and I hope that all of my friends know that attitude of welcome from my family (and me) continues to this day.

To all of the Mothers: My warmest regards, my blessings, and a wish that the coming years bring you nothing but the happiness and contentment you deserve. Well done.

Christmas and the Spirit

I have much to be thankful for this holiday season. And so I will give thanks for the many bounties in my life.

The simplest are the ones taken for granted: Shelter over my head, warmth, and good food to eat. So many in the world lack these essentials, it is good to remember how fortunate we are to have them.

Following closely on the heels of the basic necessities, I give thanks for my country and my fellow countrymen and countrywomen (and whatever other divisions of gender may exist). They and those before them have helped build a Strong, Free, and Brave land. They have given me streets that are mostly safe (avoiding Toronto...), a place where hard work is rewarded (mostly), and where having a free voice is still possible. That precious combination is rare in the history of the world and so this too is something to be thankful for.

I give thanks to have been gainfully employed, Alcea and bitHeads have both been good to me and I hope that I have repaid them in kind. My clients for this year have included Innovapost and Organization Metrics and I wish both of them well. I also want to extend a special wish of success to my friend JP's company, Class One Technologies. I hope all of them are successful in the times to come.

And now we come to the nearest and dearest - the people in my life.

My parents get first billing - Mary and Robert. You are always in my heart and without you, I would never have grown into the person I have become. All my virtues were built from the foundations you laid, all my vices are uniquely my own.

Let me start with the angelic souls who look after my parents directly - Angelica and Louise. 'Salt of the Earth' wouldn't come close - you allow my parents to function and retain most of their independence and that's no small miracle. I'd also like to thank Marylin for being a good and kind lady and great personal assistant for my mother.

And no thanks would be complete without mentioning the new polish M.D. (Dr. Gruder?) who has taken over the formidable cases of my two disabled parents and handled them with care and professional concern. I similarly cannot avoid being thankful for Dr. Pierzanowksi (sp?), the skin specialist who has made it a life-work to care for my father's bad leg ulcers. Dr. P has gone well beyond the role of a specialist and has really proven himself a kind and caring spirit as well as being an expert in his field.

And then we come to my friends. The list is long, but each is near and dear.

David and Vince, my oldest friends from High School - I wish them and their families a Merry Christmas and encourage everyone to visit the Solstice Cafe on Pandora Street in Victoria, B.C. if you are ever out there. Dave will take care of you.

From my times in Kingston, I want to wish the best of the season to Derek, Rhonda, Marion, Kevin, Myriam, Aaron, Ken, Leslie, Iain, Robert, Erica, Jack, Gary, Shelley, Charles, Mr. Kett, Doug, Cathy, James, Jim, Susan, Macgregor, Paul, Susan II, Alison, Sarah, and Mary-Jo and her family. You are all part of my life now and always.

From my St. Lawrence College days, a warm and safe holiday I wish to David, Lisa and the Brown clan, Deane and his family, Murray and his family, Mark, Laurie and the Grice Clan, Henry, Jason and Melanie and the Matheson Clan, Peter and Helen in Merry Ole' England, Edward in Den Hague (and to the Morrell Clan), Phil Brown and the soon to be Mrs. Brown, Frank and Lisa and Nathan and Claire of the Bechard clan, Daniel and Jennifer Lanfranconi, Craig Timmerman and his lovely wife, Adam King and Cheryl with her pleasant young ones, Jon Debruin and his undoubtedly growing horde of girls, and wherever they may be, to Prasetyo, Don, Jackie, Dave J, Dave D (Tooli), and undoubtedly whomever I have thoughtlessly forgotten.

For my Ottawa bitheads gaming buddies, nothing but the best of the new year and a great holiday is wished: Lorry and Louise, Ax and his far better half, Phil and April, "Tweed" and his saintly wife, Jason and his family including the lovely youngun, Chris Whitaker and Wendy and the three loveliest girls, Slobodan 'the mad Serbian' and Tatyana and his pair of fiesty boys, Chris Winstanley and his wonderful wife Stephanie and the savages (Carter, Curtis and Briana...err...Rhiannon), Shane and the lady I've yet to meet who has made him so happy, Jeremy (wherever he is) and his wife, John A and his lovely wife and children, and Mark Rhodenizer and his wife whom I think is an absolute riot.

For my Ottawa gaming buddies from the xwave/Software Kinetics connection: Paul and Alison and the family, JP, Val, Eliane and Lois, Tom, Dana, Ewan and Cameron, Jim, Christine, Stephanie, Dean, Lori, Daphne, Edward, Joe, Ian and his family - you've invited me into your homes and your lives and have given me so many hours of warm companionship (and a few good lessons in humility along the way).

For the LHI crew out of the USA who have made me their Canadian chapter: Magic, Julie, Talia, Noah, Natalie, Miles, Dexter, Los, Tony, Papa Jim, Shannon, Mike, Greg, Weasel, Jack-Jack, and Amanda plus anyone my scattered wits have forgotten. These wonderful folks have repeatedly made me feel like a member of their family and have invited me into their homes and treated me wonderfully. I'm lucky to have met you all.

For my friends from mailing lists and gaming conventions: Zoe Brain, Chris Deboe, Josh Deboe, Lorna Toolis, Allan Goodall, Adrian Johnson, Mark Kochte, Jon Tuffley, Jon Davis, Jerry Han, Stewart Murray, Mark Kinsey, and all the others of ECC, GZG-list and a fair few from the TML and Citizens of the Imperium - you've been good friends and shared in the creation of many a memory and I hope the new year brings you nothing but the best. Particularly I expect to hear an announcement from Adrian about the next generation of the Johnson-Sinatra cartel....

For some other very special friends: Linda, Susan, Lynda, Kevin, Daniel and Michelle, Dawg-D (Ricki), Djinni, Tam-Tam, Suni, Jesse, Winnie, Peter K, Tess, Marie and her husband, Mike T, Greg and Mary and the incoming Moulds member, Sherri, Jordan, Big Logan, hard-hard-hard-workin' Lee and Sandy, Robert C - may the season find you well and warm and 2009 be a great year.

Lastly, to my adoptive families over the years: The Cardinals, The Steins, the Forsythe clan especially (Toni, Alan, Esme, Rikard, Max, Jon, Peter, Helen), the Murphys (Kristi, Ken, Mike and Carol, Iain, and Lesley), the Brunners (Eric, Rob, Erica, Jack), and all the others who have made me a part of their homes beyond anything I have done to deserve it - a big Christmas hug (that's a very Scottish way of saying don't wait for the presents... *grin*).

All the best of the season. My blessings abound and I wish they return a hundred fold to each and every one of you. Stay safe, happy and may 2009 be a good year - God bless you all and a Merry Christmas to one and all.

Your friend, Thomas B.

A birthday and another Christmas Dinner

Tonight, I had the pleasure of hosting three co-workers and good friends of mine - Pika, Dawg-D, and Tam-Tam. The Djinni wasn't available due to a travelling commitment.

The arrivals were late, but that was fortuitous as final preparation took longer than expected. By the time everyone arrived, the main course was ready and the sides were only minutes off, and the desert was going into the oven.

Today's menu:

5 pound sirloin tip roast, done in the slow cooker with 2 onions, some celery, some shredded carrots, a couple of garlic cloves, rosemary, 2 cups of beef broth, a can and a half of Guinness stout (16 oz cans), some pepper, a litle browning liquid, some salt, and some Otima Port (note to self - get some cooking port!). The whole was slow cooked for 8-9 hours after being quickly seared in a pan beforehand.

Fresh Asparagus, steamed (a bit too much, but there was a lot going on at the time) with a hint of lemon.

French bread and butter. Didn't have time to make Irish Soda bread.

Roast potatoes done in olive oil, rosemary, 4 garlic cloves plus some garlic powder, thyme, a wee bit of salt, and some chopped onions (both green and yellow). The potatos themselves were a mix of red and yellow skinned with white flesh. Peel them, chop them into fair sized chunks, throw them in a bag with the seasoning, shake vigorously, lay out on a cookie tray, bake for 40 minutes at 400 F, though I should have done it at 375 as the bottom got a bit done. I should probably have turned at the 20m mark, but I didn't have a lot of spare cycles.

Salad made with mixed spinach and field greens, chopped celery, cherry tomatos, chopped red pepper, alfalfa and radish sprouts, and shredded carrots. I forgot the raisins. The dressing consisted of some olive oil, some guiness, a bit of mustard, some salt and pepper, a bit of garlic, and a hit of balsamic vinegar for some zing.

Desert was a white cake (from a mix) with coconut flakes added, as well as with a couple of good glugs of #1 maple syrup and a bit of pure almond extract baked in the fluted tube pan. This time I think I either didn't put enough non-stick starch on the pan (particularly on the middle pillar) or I put too much (I forget if I did the first one with or without). I also probably didn't let the cake sit long enough after coming out of the oven due to time constraints. So when I flipped it, it came in two parts. Repairs were very much jury rig, but I didn't feel duct tape or pop rivets would be a good plan. The cake was iced with french chocolate premade Betty Crocker icing. The still hot cake turned the icing into a kind of warm, gooey goodness. Add some French Vanilla ice cream and you have the makings of a portion of heaven.

For drinks, there was Westmalle Trappist ale, Sir Percy Perry (Pear Cider), Strongbow Apple Cider, and later I broke out the new fun - 70% ginger beer, 30% ginger ale, with an additional 15% dark rum. Spicy, with the gingery warmth, fizzy, and good. A big shout-out to my friend Kevin for that one!

Everyone left stuffed (although trying to avoid the confessions, each and every one eventually confessed to going off to a date, although one called it 'a group of friends at a South African musical event (including the girl who gave him the ticket)', another called it 'meeting my study partner', and a third was very evasive until he admitted hooking up with his ex. I hauled out the old "sour milk put back in the fridge to see if it got better the following week" joke, but it was in jest. I'm happy for all of them.

Everyone agreed I could cook. Happy birthday was sung to Dawg-D, and Djinni was missed. Missed among other reasons by me because the conversation devolved into topics I'm sure would never have come up with a lovely young lady present. *grin*

I did discover that Pika and Tam-Tam like Kate Beckinsale and that Dawg-D like Brigitte Fonda. My admitted preference was a classy (as acknowledged by all) Aishwarya Rai. I later admitted to liking Tea Leoni as well, although unlike the others who all appear to have characteristic tastes, I like the variety of beauty in humans. I compared their tastes to people who only ever drink their beer - Budweiser for instance - whereas I prefer to sample the world's many great brews.

And in case you are dead and buried and don't know Aishwarya Rai, let me help you:



I'm blessed to have such good friends. We toasted the birthday boy and the Queen (though being an Acadian that was a stretch for him - family history is not forgotten so easily).

I'm working all weekend, but I'm feeling properly seasonal after 3 good hosted dinners and 3 successful productions of food. Apparently, I can cook. I just need to find a girl who likes to eat well. :)

Pre-Christmas Dinner

Tonight saw a pre-Christmas dinner with my parents and with the Forsythes, my second family in Ottawa. Toni Forsythe brought some lovely Irish Soda Bread (great stuff) and a lovely bottle of Inniskillin Riesling. I already had a bottle of Inniskillin Pinot Grigio open (man, is that ever a nice wine!), so the Riesling will be for the next event.

Appetizers were light this time as everyone had to get moving. I got them started off with a nice drink (some Black Bush, an egg-nog with spiced rum, some of the wine, or a lovely Winter Ale from Great Lakes Brewery that included hints of orange and cinnamon) and then some melba toast with brie (either pepper brie or brie with a cranberry-pine nut compote), warned up to melt the brie slightly in the microwave.

Then I worked on preparing and serving the main course: A 3.75 pound slow cooked pork loin roast, done in a sauce consisting of two cans of whole-cranberry sauce, 1 sliced apple, 1 cup chopped dried apricots, 1 chopped onion, 1/2 cup sugar (and we could have omitted that) and 8 ounces of apricot nectar, plus I think a pinch of salt, garlic, pepper, and a wee bit of crushed red pepper. The recipe called for less, but it was also for a small crock pot and a 2.5 pound roast. It cooked on low in the cooker from 8:00 am until 4:15 pm and then let sit for a few minutes (very important, you should always let meat, even BBQ'd steak, cool for 5-10 mins before cutting as the fat re-disburses and makes the meat much easier to cut and much better tasting) before carving.

We a couple of cups of the warm liquid (and the bits of fruit), put it in a small saucepan with some Knorr Veloutine (non-clumping thickener) and boiled it for a minute or two until it thickened up into an excellent gravy/fruit topping.

That was accompanied by steamed asparagus (steamed with lemon juice in the water and drizzled with more lemon before serving), the aforementioned Irish Soda Bread, some Bombay Chicken Salad from Loeb (pasta, chicken, raisins, maybe some broccoli, a curry-mayo type sauce), and a Caesar salad with extra bacon.

Dessert was another creation of mine: A raisin-date-coconut rum cake. The constituents were 2/3 cup chopped honey dates, 2/3 cup chopped raisins, about 1/3 to 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut shredded, 1 package of yellow cake mix, 1/2 cup canola oil, 1/2 cup coconut rum, 1/2 cup spiced rum, some cinnamon, a wee pinch of salt, and 3 eggs. Into the ring-pan, cook for 43 minutes at 325. The glaze was made of 2 tbsp spiced rum (probably dark would have been good), 2 tbsp pineapple juice, 2 tbsp butter, 2 cups of fine/confectioner's sugar, and I added some coconut. The glaze you beat until it is sort of homogenous, but I think you should probably warm it up too (recipe didn't say to, but it would have decrystalized the sugar).

Made some Irish Breakfast tea to wash it down and everyone left well fed and well stuffed. Some Christmas music was enjoyed, good companions shared their stories and their warm regards, and the cleanup will only be a small scale emergency. :)

A job well done, even when I did forget to peel potatos to roast (discovered too late to address, but we had enough food otherwise).

It is moments like this eveing that remind me why I put up with some of the other moments life throws at me.

Warmth of the season to one and all!

Xmas Gaming Dinner

Well, last night I had over six of my ottawa gaming buddies (or maybe they are my bitheads buddies... there is a fair intersection of sets). The list included Lorry Moller of the oversized White Russian and other booze, Chris Whitaker with game presents in hand (win!), Chris Winstanley with the awesome and almost timely bread-maker bread and a lovely book for me, Alex Bates and the lovely Melanie with a fantastic plum pudding (with whole plums), Shane "Cochrane's Eggnog" Richer, and me.

Too much food, good times, and a gaming reminder of how slow and boring Star Fleet Battles seems by modern game standards. I think this reminder has reminded us why we don't play it anymore.

The company was superlative, the food was amazing, a good time was had by all as far as I can tell.

Menu:

Appetizers and Drinks - Celery and chips plus a black bean and sour cream dip, crackers and brie with cranberry nut compote, drinks of various natures - beer and wine to get things started mostly although the white russian in a beer mug may have appeared here.

Main course - 7 pounds of AAA sirloin slow cooked in a guiness/beef broth rubbed with various spices, carrots (a bit too al dente for anyone's taste), salad with cheddar, iceberg lettuce, small cherry tomatos, garlic parmesan roasted potatos, potato salad, macaroni salad, red wine, asparagus boiled in a lemony solution, fresh breadmaker bread with margarine, and a great gravy made with the au jus from the slow cooker and some new non-clumping thickener I found.

Dessert: Plum pudding complete with real plums! We forgot the ice cream. This is where the super good egg-nog appeared, as did some nice 10 year old Tobermory single malt scotch, or in my case a 10 year old Otima port, and some brownies, micro-butter tarts, and other pastry goodness.

Overall, a wonderful dinner. The company and the meal were both wonderful and I thank all the attendants and contributors! The roast was a bit more well done than I prefer, but it was good. The cleanup is into dishwasher load 3 of probably 5, but the kitchen is starting to look sane again - after using just about every pan, serving or mixing bown, glass, mug, wine glass, knife, fork, spoon, carving knife, etc. in the place.

Good friends, good times - Christmas is feeling seasonal already!