Buches de Noel

[In high school French class, we were urged to make buches de Noel, rolled cakes shaped like Yule logs with chocolate frosting and holly-shaped decorations. Herewith, my bouches for Christmas 2002: The Struggle Continues:]

[1ere Buche: Day before yesterday, as we just tried to get thru one more day of the holidaze at the Cute Vic. I was in a Pinot Noir-induced fog. The lazy but charming bellman, Timo, had made many runs to and from the Greyhound bus yard. (We lodge drivers here at the Vic, and it looks as though America is Leaving The Driving To Them this year in droves.) The surly Chief Engineer walked in, and offered to give Timo a break and drive yet another waiting driver down to the yard. Timo muttered something, and C.E. gave a surly response. Timo said, in his fluted Filipino voice, "Why you gotta be so sensitive? It's Christmas." The driver and I galed laughter, holding our sides and wiping tears from our eyes. Maybe you hadda be there.]

[2eme Buche: In spite of doubts up to the very last minute, Leah got her boyfriend and his family together (in both the in-the-same-room and the speaking-to-one-another senses) to celebrate a joint Christmas chez elle with my own parents and John. And my roast and Yorkshire pudding? Flawless, as always.]

[3eme Buche: Photo from Twin Peaks, Taboo original cast recording, Sifl & Olly: The Lost Episodes on DVD, and Chippunk (the Chipmunks do punk, on vinyl) from John; martini glasses from Tran; cat-shaped pasta from Iowa; and Wine of the Month Club, gift cert from some online retail outfit I've been hearing a lot about, a Wizard of Oz calendar, and a butter dish from La Paz, BCS, from the parents.]

[4eme Buche: Luxurious down pillow from Eddie Bauer, and a Coach address book for John; Corey Feldman's new CD (yes!) and a gravy boat for Leah; a book about the Portuguese Empire for Dad (they're going to Portugal and Madeira at the end of January); tickets to Grease at the Orpheum for Mom (against Joey's negative recommendation). John's and my 2002 mix CDs for everyone else (any day now!)]

[(Buche numero quatre et demi: No, Christmas isn't about the presents, but I thought I'd get them out of the way.)]

[5eme Buche: Marvelous Christmas and winter prose and linky-links from Jhames, Philo, Choire, George, and my other favorite online presences.]

[6eme Buche: No more holiday pressure, no more school pressure. Slowly, slowly picking up the pieces of end-of-year madness. With this many logs, the challenge is to rediscover the forest.]

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