Amusing anecdote:

If you look up "pleurisy" on Wikipedia, it includes a list of famous people who died from it. Apparently Charlemagne died from pleurisy. So the other night I was reading the list to The Boy, and he asked, "Who was Charlemagne? I know he was famous, but...for what?"

I boggled at him, so he read over my shoulder what Wikipedia said: "Charlemagne, known as the father of Europe for reuniting much of the Roman Empire..."

So fast-forward to tonight. I overhear The Boy on the phone with his brother, and he mentions that I have pleurisy. And they're making chit-chat about it, and Tim says, "Lots of famous people have died from pleurisy! Like Charlemagne...from Europe!"

Charlemagne from Europe. It made me laugh and laugh. Like "My cousin, from Spain!"

Happy holidays! I post to you from Budapest, where it is 130am. But see, I was feeling massively jetlagged today, so I went to bed at dinnertime and my brother went out to a pub quiz I found in the paper. He apparently joined a team of "cute girls" and won, the prize being a weekend driving a Mercedes! But nobody wanted that so try traded it for beer. And he just stumbled in a few minutes ago...and now I'm awake. Doh!

Am entertained reading everyone's Christmas stories, but now I want cookies! Though we've been eating plenty here (and I'm much looking forward to Vienna in a few days!) Tomorrow we head to my brothers place in Brno, where we plan to chill for a couple days while everything is closed, then on to Prague. Whee!

OMG I WENT SHOPPING!

In possibly the I am the dumbest person ever news, I went out shopping for jeans for myself on Christmas eve eve. Good news is I found some. Also got mac something for the stocking. I kinda failed on stockings this year, like I still need to go out tomorrow, failed.

Tonight we are having our first sleepover......with the boy who is afraid of the cats. yeah, I'll update y'all.

sara, in the second batch, I just cut the dough super thin, baked them then made sandwiches with the caramel. I think I might make some with ganache! or cream cheese icing! NOM NOM NOM.

I have no stocking stuff. I suck. Oh well, everyone will survive.

I did make sausage, lentil and spinach soup using some sofrito which smells delicious!

Kelly and I were in and out of the grocery store without much worry. We did have a very specific list and stuck to it. And we were able to hit the self-check without waiting in a line. I feel like that is a major accomplishment.

Tomorrow - pumpkin pie baking, egg-nog whipping, and green beans to prep. Oh, and some banana bread. I think all shopping is done and all prezzies are wrapped. I'm at a point where I don't wanna spend another dollar until I absolutely, positively have to.

Since we are heading out Christmas Day afternoon for a 2 part roadtrip to family, I am only cooking things that can travel in my igloo cooler for eating at the first stop. I am also packing muffins and general food because the first place we go, we stay at an empty house and I really do not want to eat out every meal.

So a little before 4:00, one of the secretaries asked why I was still there, since all of them had been told everyone could go home at 1:30.

At least I'm home now! And it looks like I may have beaten the UPS guy here, so I won't have to worry about it tomorrow.

which I cut with cookie cutters I got from Ginger (?)

Yes, I am the cookie cutters.

I made one type of sandwich cookie this year and the dough was miserable. They needed to be thin, but I couldn't get the thin ones from rolling to cookie sheet without their falling to pieces. Those were, of course, everyone's favorites. Maybe I'll try more flour next time.

Yay! I love those cutters, Ginger.

Am almost done wrapping, but took a scone break, and I'm not going to lie, mine are better than my mother's. She works the dough too much and often overcooks.