A good chunk of this weekend was taken up by being a massive capitalist and going Christmas shopping at all the big spots - the galleria, Viddlers in East Aurora, the Boulevard and Hertel. I went with (e:paul) and (e:mike). (e:terry) was sick and I think he would have wanted to murder us by the end anyway.

It definitely would have been way too overwhelming if it wasnt for Paul and Mike.

The galleria was crazy, especially JC Penny's. they were clearing out all this weird Martha Stewart food for a dollar including eyeball gumballs? This woman handing out coupons came up to Mike and Paul asking if they were brothers - then said they had a picture of them in the back. There was also a fiasco with the checkout desk and a bottle of (d)rapes on the counter. Paul let them know which was probably a good idea.


Mike's dream nativity set


Fraggle Wig


Martha's Eyeballs


Drape Jar

Satuday morning we went to Viddlers - it was packed. Still full of so much cool and weird stuff but I think all the fumes and outgassing gave me a headache.
Wasn't depression food really bland and nutrient poor?

Just why?

Then we got back and ate at Saigon Bangkok on the Boulevard. I love their fried tofu and pumpkin curry.


We almost died getting up to Trader Joes and the Christmas Tree Shop. I've never been there before, it was like Joann Fabrics and Dollar General had a baby together.

Santa pooping jelly beans - the perfect gift for everyone on your list this year

We also stopped at Premier. Although I ate their amazing baked cheese last time I refuse to have anything from there again. They never needed that tax break to move from Kenmore so fuck them.

On the way back we stopped on Hertel to get a few more gifts including the House of Olivies. They had this amazing Meyer Lemon oil I tried. I can't believe we got so much done, it was exhausting for doing absolutely nothing.

Today is winter solstice - the only place to go from here is up.



A happier Basra




Boys of summer

The new Cards Against Humanity trump card.

On Thursday Emily, Carrie, Lindsay, Julie and Andrew came over to decorate cookies with (e:terry) and I. Well I should say bake too, because I rode home so late I made Lindsay roll out the dough so we could bake them.

We used all my mom's cut outs and decorations including Bufanda, the holiday character no one knew about. For icing we made one out of eggnog and powdered sugar since we had no real milk. I was eating it out of the bowl by the end of the night.

I don't really have any pictures of them decorated because we ate them all while sang Usher and JoJo.




Bufanda the holiday character








All finished frosting

Every year, my family celebrates fesitvus, ala Seinfeld. Its basically a pointless holiday they made up in reaction to commericalism of Christmas, where you "air your grievances" with everyone. The tree is substituted with a metal pole, theres a weird dinner, and the night ends when the head of the household (in the case the dog) is pinned during a "feat of strength" . Its kind of hard to explain without having seen the episode but its bizarre and fun. Here's a website about it that looks like its stuck in the 90s as well.

On Wednesday, I picked up Mary from the train station (2 hours after it was supposed to arrive) after dropping off Alex (you owe me gurrrrl, next time its the 16 bus for you) and headed home for festivus. I was going to bring Terry but it got too late, which is too bad because my parents really wanted him to come. Dinner was a carbfest since my mom was sick - homemade mac and cheese, toasted raviloi, a big salad, bagels, and the biggest freaking snickers I've seen for dessert (eaten with a fork and knife - also Seinfeld).

I love my family but everytime we're all home together I realize how much we just scream, even in a regular conversation. I guess when you have that many people in a small space its what happens. Even Midnight barked like crazy the whole night.

I should have taken a picture of the grievances, they're the best part.