Christmas at Home

Ahhhh, Xmas. Well, it's over once again.

Yes, it is now the evening of the 26th. I got a digital camera. And a wrong espresso maker. What I mean is, my mom is like, what do you want for Christmas? And I'm like: money. And she's like Oh, no, I mean gifts. I'm like I want x amount of dollars. And she's like that's crazy, we aren't giving you that much money. So, I'm like, okay, then this much. I cut it down by 25%. And she's like, you're crazy, we're not giving you that much money. And so, I'm like, we're bargaining here, I'm coming down, but you're not going up.

So, we were out and at Williams-Sonoma, and they had that awesome, beautiful, objet d'art there, you know that classic Espresso maker they have there. So, I'm like, this is what I want! And I assumed she got it for me.

Come Xmas Eve, when we open our gifts, she's all excited because the guy at WS talked her into buying this dumb, albeit cheaper, push button modern espresso maker. The classic one is called the FrancisFrancis and it is beautiful. It comes in several different awesome color choices, royal blue, pale light light blue, orange!, chrome (more expensive), light yellow, bright light green.

So, that's going back. In it's place, I will be buying a new DVD player from the UK, that plays all region dvds. If you don't know what this means, read the next paragraph, if you do, skip the next paragraph.

There are 6 different zones, or regions, in the world for DVD players and DVD's. U.S./Canada is Zone 1. Much of Europe is Zone 2, etc, until you get down to Zone 6 for Antarctica and Chad. This is simply a way for all the corporations and companies to keep things in working order (money making order). US films are released in the US first, and often times are released on DVD in the US before they've even played overseas in theatres. So, obviously, they don't want everyone in Italy ordering the DVD of Gone in 60 Seconds until they've had a chance to first lose $8 per to see it in the theatre. Get me?

So, anyway, there is this dope outfit in the UK that tinkers with DVD players and then re-sells them, I guess, and I guess, too, at a mark-up. Plus the $100+ shipping costs from England.

But, Ted, you're in the US, what do you want this for? Because, I LOVE French cinema. And a ton more French films get released on DVD in France than in the US. But, Ted can you speak French? No, not really. Not really at all. Just a few words and phrases -- right now. But, many of the French films on DVD also have a English subtitle track!

I got Joanna 5 CDs, the great new PJ Harvey disc, Kylie Minogue's latest (expensive import), new Bjork (songs from Dancer in the Dark), new Belle & Sebastian, something else and Henry Miller's Tropic of Cancer.

I got Steve the first Elastica album, which he requested and I burned him an awesome 15-track CD of Elastica B-Sides and live tracks, that I happened to have. And I got him a Playstation game, Driver 2? Something like that.

At Sak's Fifth Avenue New York, I got Mom a small Kate Spade bag, Dad an awesome Gucci tie (which will soon be mine...), and Grandma, a black pashmina scarf from Kenneth Cole New York. The scarf has these little strings of beads that help to weigh down both ends of the scarf.

And a merry Xmas was had by all.

On the 22nd I went out to the East Bay to see Chocolat again with Mom, Grandma and Joanna. Great, grand stuff. Not an Important Film, but for what it is, really well done in all fields. I would toss out Oscar noms to Juliette for Actress and Molina for Supporting Actor.

Then, on the 23rd, Joanna, and my brother Steve and our dear friend Hillary went to see the lame new Nic Cage movie (The Family Man) at Blackhawk. Steve had to get up and leave the theatre a few times, and he laughed inappropriately at several parts. Joanna and Hillary enjoyed it. I found it to be rather awful, when you get right down to thinking about what it is saying.

Like, don't do anything, or live, or have a career, or move to Paris; no no. You must get married and have children and make career sacrifices and live in the suburbs and all that. Well, first of all it's rather ridiculous for people like Nicolas Cage and Tea Leoni to preach to the stupid masses about how to live when they don't have to live that way. Second, they try to sugar coat the hell that is suburbia, middle class, emptiness, unhappiness, failure. Quite a disturbing film, actually.

Christmas Eve morning we had my very famous and very delicious Egg Nog French Toast. I invented this treat four years ago. Hillary stayed over night and was shocked at how delicious it was. Mmmmm. Xmas Eve we went over to the McClung's for a little Xmas Eve drink-fest with all the old family friends. A few extremely cute girls, just out of college too.

So, then home. Annual Xmas Eve fondue. Two cheese fondues and a beef/oil fondue. Mmmm. And then we opened presents. Then we stayed up late in the living room tinkering with toys and reading (The Novellas of John O'Hara) with the fireplace and the tree and the Xmas music going on through the house. Como, Cole, Crosby, Sinatra, Charlie Brown Xmas, Jackie Gleason Orchestra Easy Listening classic, etc.

Bed. Next day, Xmas. Xmas breakfast tradition of Eggs Benedict. Oh, and a few other "stocking stuffer" gifts. Mom and Grandma were really pleased with everything they got, Joanna was less disappointed than usual, I was not too disappointed, Steve was okay. With us spoiled kids, there is always some disappointment when we don't wake up to find a new car out front with a giant red ribbon tied around it -- for each of us. Dad is never disappointed, he's just usually moody, or in a bad humor. He hasn't been excited over an Xmas gift since he was 4. No, that's not true, 5 or 6 years ago we got him a Louis Prima 8-CD box set and he was really happily surprised with it. He read all the liner notes right then and there. Not liner notes, but a booklet that came with it. Turns out, Louis, had a big penis, lots of affairs and a rather silly toupee. But he was pretty cool. Lots of neat music.

Anyway. Turkey and all the trimmings for dinner and pumpkin pie. The 26th is Mom's famous day off. She does no work or cooking on the 26th. It's leftovers day. Which is fine with all us, cause we love turkey.

Also, Joanna brought her dog up with her again. I guess it's growing on me. I used to hate it. But, what are you gonna do?

Anyway, that's a lot of Christmas reporting. So long... Coming soon... New Year's Eve!

December in New York, "Shoes V", is here.

Thanksgiving at Home, "Shoes IV", is here.

Mid-November Tales, "Shoes III", is here.

Trip to Los Angeles Story, "Birthday: Shoes Pt II", is here.

American Rag San Francisco story, "Shoes", is here.