The Christmas Party

Christmas celebrations in Norway have already started. The whole month of December is full of parties and the most renowned is the “Julebord,” The Christmas Table, which is a company party thrown for employees or other groups to eat drink and be merry. Long tables are set for a giant sit down dinner, almost like a wedding and they are not reserved for just week-ends. Since I have been working backstage for many years during these events, this has always been a time for me to make an insane amount of food, fold hundreds of napkins, pour drinks, carry heavy plates and smile a lot! The kitchen dance is an amazing dance. If you have ever worked in the food industry then you know what I mean. After a hard day or night on that dance floor it is difficult to go home and do a repeat performance but sometimes I surprise even myself.

There are no week-ends in December, here in Norway every day is a holiday. You can imagine what Norwegians are like at the end of this month…LOL… tired, hung-over and fat comes to mind. The other night this happy husband enjoyed a meal of filet mignon of deer, oven baked shallot onions and carrots, bacon seared brussel sprouts, sea salt damped baby potatoes, lingberries, and a wild mushroom/wine sauce.  I was going to bake some cookies today but I am still full from last night.      

Have you been to any christmas parties, if so what are they like? Have you ever been ""Backstage" during one of these events?" Enjoy your celebrations where ever they may find you. 

                                                                                                           

ALEXFEST

Hey! Cheers Alex Cavanaugh and a special warm greeting to his amazing wife, who I am sure about now has ducked around a corner somewhere, even though she must be extremely proud of Alex, she is just as much of an enigma as her husband.Thanks Ms. Cav for sharing him with us! So…In case you peeps have not guessed by now this is the “Cheers to you Alex Cavanagh” a SUPER spaced out Blog party hosted by  Mark  Koopman,  Morgan Shamy, Stephen Tremp, and David Powers King! There are a lot of rules for winning prizes at this awesome party, so I will do my best to follow them, if you want to check them out for yourself then LOOK HERE. I am just here for the free food and drinks, however I do admire Alex the "Ninja" blogger…Why, you ask? Probably for the same reasons everyone does... he is a helpful and time giving blogger friend, blah blah, etc...etc...but seriously, he always knows the five "W's"and the one H so if I were to guess, Alex is much like our friend with a beard that has found a way to time travel.  Think about it, how does he get around to everyone? 

My guess is he looks just like Santa too…I would cast Santa as Alex in any future documentary but since he is always fully booked, I would have to go with John Petrucci.

  

Using no more than 100 words that must include Cavanaugh, Cosbolt, Ninja, IWSG, and Guitar; here is my Flash Fiction…

LET HIM EAT CAKE! (word count 97)

You could say I was surprised when Cavanaugh came into my café with his famous Cosbolt worn guitar slung over his shoulder and asked for a piece of my chocolate cake.

                

 He flashed me pearly whites from under his big beard and said, “A jug of milk to go would be nice.” Before I managed to get his autograph, he disappeared with the speed of a Ninja. The sound of his music hung in the air, and from the window I saw him fly away with “IWSG ON TOUR” written on the side of his magic sleigh.

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Merry Christmas Mr. and Mrs Claus! Have a great week everyone and don't forget to check out this great party by clicking the  link on my sidebar!

Inspiration!

Oops, this one almost got away from me. Can't have that, since I have not missed a post yet! So it is time for the Insecure Writers Support Group once again! I have been laboring with my book all day long and had almost forgotten that it was the first Wednesday of the month, pretty much as I have been trying to forget that Christmas is coming. I have been looking for Christmas inspiration as much as I have been looking for inspiration to write. 38,000 words and I wonder if I am saying anything at all.  My American son tells me that no one cares about their family heritage. That a story about finding family in foreign territory is just boring, ok… so I bring gods and fairytales into this story… a children’s story it is not, but maybe I need more sex and battles. I don’t know. My family in Norway refuses to read my story so far, and I can see why…hard work to read a foreign language. To be honest I feel lately like I am just flapping my wings and each sentence I write takes longer. I may have a new critique partner, but do you ever feel like giving up? Sometimes words of encouragement are just needed. Here are mine to you! Find someone to tell you not to give up, and keep looking until you do.

My Crismas Calendar

What are your favorite Christmas Movies? My calendar today opens this one...Enjoy!

And you are?

The "And You Are...?" Blog Hop has arrived and to stay off Santa's "naughty list,"  I answered the following questions. 

1. How many speeding tickets have you gotten?\NONE, I hate to drive so when I do I am one of those irritating people that go to slow, especially if it is dark.

2. Can you pitch a tent? Hello! I live in Norway and hotels are to expensive...Dahh, of course I can!


3. What was your worst vacation ever? Road trip with my parents. Route 66 and Howard Johnsens got real old real fast....I have three siblings and two of them wet the bed.


4. What was the last thing you bought over $100? A ticket for my son to come to Norway


5. We're handing you the keys to what? A vacation home in the states so I can spend time with my family there...Which state will take me awile to figure out.


6. What was the last meal you cooked that made even you sick? Long story.....The doctor said I was not allowed to serve food in my hotel...Guess Saminello followed me home from another bad vacation.


7. Fill in the blank: Oh my gosh! Becky, look at her butt! It is so big. She looks like Thanksgiving leftovers gone bad.

8. What was your first car? 1966 Mustang...........Elianor eat you r heart out!

9. Your best friend falls and gets hurt. Do you ask if he/she's okay or laugh first? Depends on if she fell on her ass.


10. What's the worst song ever? "Staying Alive" I want to kill myself every time I hear it!


Ok, I did this only because I liked the questions...What about you?

Advent Calendar Day Three

The Christmas decorations are still stuck in the hole. I keep meaning to dig them out but the inspiration to do so eludes me. Disenchantment comes to mind, so what do you do when that sets in? Well…If you are like me you sit in your pajama pants and download a bunch of Christmas movies because you do not have to go to work today. Eventually I will have to get dressed, maybe comb my hair. I might even have to go outside and drive in that stinking snow to the store. 

It is Monday after all and since the stores have been closed a whole day…we do need food and I really should mail my Christmas gifts to the states so they get there in time. Also I thought about buying some Christmas cards. Does anyone do that anymore or is it just me? 

I guess barbeque season is over, how depressing is that?

Advents Calendar Day Two

First Sunday in Advent and I suppose I should be hanging up the Christmas curtains, taking out the advent candles and putting some decorations around the house. Truth be told, after a long night with too much festivity in that bottle of wine, or maybe it was the aquavit…I am too lazy to do anything. Just the thought of digging in that hole (where we keep a thousand things,) to find anything having to do with Christmas wears me out. Last night my youngest son came over for Mom’s pot roast and Dad’s newly acquired Christmas Aquavit. Just so you know that is a Norwegian tradition not to be messed with!

So what am I doing today? NOTHING! and more of the same. It is already dark outside and the time is 4pm so what I feel like doing the most is crawling back into bed with a good book. So how are you spending this first sunday of advent? Have you already started celebrating christmas too?