Christmas recap

[vaneramos]

Mom and Dad with Emma on the road behind their house this morning


My confusion about the new television has been cleared up. When my parents ordered themselves a new DVD/CD/VHS player, the price got chopped so low they purchased a second one. Mom asked Brenna whether this would be a good gift for me, but my daughter said I had a crappy TV. So I ended up with a whole new entertainment system. I'm grateful, as I enjoy movies, and videos are becoming hard to find.

Tonight we bought an old favourite, The Princess Bride, and one I've never seen, Silence of the Lambs (but I'm a Jodie Foster fan). The girls are watching the former right now.

Christmas at my parents' went well.

On Christmas morning a Carolina wren started singing outside. I opened the sliding door and stood on the threshold, letting fresh, moist air and brilliant sound wash over me.

The roast duck was delicious. Thirty minutes before the end I drizzled both ducks with a glaze of cranberry jelly, brown sugar, lemon juice and rind, and rum extract, and laid bacon strips overtop.

My parents are addicted to susandennis's jigsaw puzzles.

Everyone loved the knitted gifts. Brenna hasn't taken her hat off since Sunday, except presumably to sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~

Other gifts I received:

• From Brenna: a salad spinner (she has been frustrated with my old, broken one)
  
• From Marian: an aluminum sculpture of a seal from Hoselton
  
• From my parents: two Naxos recordings of Marin Alsop conducting the London Philharmonic in Brahms' Symponies 1 and 2, the game The Da Vinci Quest, a warm long-sleeve shirt, and other items

Comments

[missprune.livejournal.com]

I gave "the family archives" the DVD of The Princess Bride this Christmas too! It's so excellent, I wanted to have a copy to keep. "My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die." Unforgettable! And that other one i rather love, "Life is pain, princess. Get used to it." Ah! Happy post Christmas relaxing days to you.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

I've seen that movie a handful of times over the years, and unforgettable is exactly how I felt about it. The albino and the impressive clergyman are two of my favourite peripheral characters.

[daisydumont.livejournal.com]

yow, Silence of the Lambs is scary! gee whillickers. i'll be interested in your reaction.

it's good to see your folks looking cheery. the dog is looking patient, as in, "can we finish this walk and go back inside now?"

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Emma's strained patience had a lot to do with being asked to sit and pose for the camera. But my parents were in good spirits this holiday; it was good to see.

I'll let you know about Silence of the Lambs. I might watch it with Marian next week (we'll have to find a good comic book for Brenna; she doesn't care to see it).

[ubermunkey.livejournal.com]

great post
makes me warm to think of you surrounded by love
parents and the girls

be well
love
munkey

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Thanks Connor. It was warm indeed.

Love and cheers,
Van

[bitterlawngnome.livejournal.com]

I never realised how much like your dad you look!

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Yes, I take after Dad a great deal. I hope I'll be as fit as he is at 72. I'm just glad Marian and I inherited Mom's nose, not Dad's.

[eloquentwthrage.livejournal.com]

Silence of the Lambs does indeed rock. There's a lot of crap out there about it's anti-gay leanings, but observed in its indiviuality, it's horrifyingly wonderful.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

I'm looking forward to seeing it, probably next week. I'm a big fan of Jodie Foster, and of course Anthony Hopkins.

[susandennis]

They are as cute as they can be and I'm so delighted to hear they are puzzle junkies! I hope you thanked your Dad for me!

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

After almost 55 years my parents are certainly suited to one another, and they do enjoy puzzles and games of all kinds. If I didn't already, I'll be sure to pass on your thanks.