December 22-January 3

Wife on vacation for last two weeks (you know, at home vacation) so practically forgot about the strike - I usually get these weeks off for a paid hiatus while working so I guess I kinda pretended that was still the case and had a really good time. Too drunk, tired, or full to blog -- or play Scrabulous. Anyway, the first few days we had holiday events to attend with friends and family. Miraculously kept the eating in check and gained no weight. Fell apart with visit from friend from NYC. First night was tenderloin and lobster fest. Then off to mutual friends' place in Corona Del Mar for four days of gorging. Pasta night, with whole chicken thighs coooked in the sauce. Wife also made sausage appetizers (our kitchen looked like an abattoir)-- buffalo/sage/mushroom and Moroccan chicken/scallop. Sushi night followed, where an average of two big bottles of Kirin was consumed per person, negating any "healthful" effects of sushi. New Year's Eve BBQ Extravaganza - smoked garlic prime rib, lamb chops with fresh rosemary and thyme rub, black bean pork ribs and a few vegetables thrown in. Last night was New Year's BBQ Extravaganza leftovers. Went home on the 2nd and realized there was still some tenderloin with the port mustard sauce in the fridge, so had last hurrah. Baby caught cold from friends' baby and was uncharacteristically cranky. I'm taking care of Baby solo for a couple of weeks, so probably won't have much time for therapeutic blogging, let alone bathing or eating. It's all good. Must post more recipes and maybe a couple of fascinating personal anecdotes, though.