Puttin’ On the Ritz, Company Holiday Party, Employee of the year
We headed over to the Ritz for a company holiday party. Despite just being an overnight trip, we were loaded down with tons of baby stuff.
I put the pack-n-play up, but Princess Fussybottom preferred the king size bed.
My buddy HW and I started a tradition of going to the Ritz early and enjoying a swim and a steam. HW wasn’t there this year, but I kept the tradition alive.
After some laps, a brief steam, and some sauna time, I enjoyed some refreshing citrus and fruit water.
I broke in a new garment bag, which I highly recommend. It has a cool clasp at the top for the hangers, and plenty of storage room for shoes, socks, pocket squares, cuff links, braces, bourbon, etc.
We left the girls with Mona (thanks again!), and headed downstairs for the festivities.
I broke out the blackwatch draws and bowtie, and paired them with a midnight blue velvet jacket. Very xmas-y ensemble in corridge.
HB won employee of the year, and was super excited. I’m very proud of her.
The next morning, I turned on the tv and Joel Osteen was on. It was strange because I think the TV turned on to the same thing last year. Joel was talking about going with the flow and not letting things get to you (message #636). I can see why hes popular. After a chicken biscuit we packed up and headed home. It was a great time, HB was recognized, and now EF can say her first hotel stay was at the Ritz. I’d sum the weekend up by paraphrasing Marteen, “This has been a banner year for all of us.”
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Decorating the tree (round one, two to go)
This morning I made HB some oatmeal. Then I went and got the tree out of the truck and drilled it out for the stand. In case you run into a similar issue, you need a 1/2″ bit, and a little kitchen spray oil for lube never hurts either.
Later, HB had her first taste of mercury in nine months. I had a pretty interesting roll topped with lobster salad.
Then it was time to decorate my parents’ tree. I mostly sat back with some brown and enjoyed the company and music.
FJ and Swaggy-we did most of the work.
Candy was in town, so she got to hang a Maryland crab that she’d gotten us.
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EF’s first xmas tree
I used to work an xmas tree lot for the boy scouts. I’d prefer to get a tree at the scout lot still but we can’t get the first pick anymore as we don’t unload the trucks, and maybe we got a little too fancy. Case in point: cedar garland (it smells amazing).
Fraiser fur is where its at, but I guess a douglass will do in a pinch. We’re definitely not a long needle tree family. Our next door neighbors used to get pines and then decorate them with their weird bubble lights and clip-on candles. Its a miracle they didn’t burn their house down.
After securing a fancy tree, I had a not so fancy meal of kapow duck and malt liquor.
Oddly enough, Bender was also getting down on malt liquor tonight.
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Jerk chicken for Parker
My uncle has been laid up recently. I thought his favorite meal might be a welcome change from hospital food so I went to the teets (‘Merica). Parker taught me a lot about the joy of cooking during holidays and at Bulldogs in Ocean City. He also taught me about jerk chicken. I gathered the requisite ingredients, and then went to EF’s photoshoot.
Hours and hours later, I got down to business.
I used a cheater marinade, but did grind my own jerk spice mix. I do what I want.
The different between good jerk and everything else is pimento wood. If you don’t get pimento smoke on your jerk, it isn’t jerk.
Kate and Dan made some excellent fried plantains and black beans and rice.
Heaven. Pro tip, guinness is what one drinks with jerk. I did also have some red stripe and ginger beer though. Treat yo-self.
Marteen brought a gift, and a very nice new gf.
Hope you enjoyed the jerk Parker!
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Thanksgiving (I-talian style) with the inlaws, FJ’s Bday
With the new addition, we couldn’t make it out to the inlaws this year, so they came to us for lunch. I went to the Italian Store for some milanos on hard.
FJ got a nice port, a flight of Madeira, and a fancy new wine contraption for his bday (also, his first grandchild).
We put on some jazz, mulled some wine, enjoyed some leftovers, and then had my sister’s blackberry jam cake.
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Happy Thanksgiving
Thursday I had a little wine, and headed out into the cold. I got the smoker going, and threw in the ducks.
FJ got the turkey on the rotisserie.
If you’re still doing some holiday shopping, check out that pic above of my dad using his blo-poke. Its handy by the hearth, but also very useful for smoking/grilling. You can get one at Orvis, but they’re cheaper factory direct and the guy that makes them even called me to make sure I was happy with mine.
Then we headed inside to enjoy the meat and cheese we scored at arrowine.
FJ’s turkey came out great, and we didn’t have any rotisserie motor failures this year.
Otto is enjoying some sauce next to some champs that Kate will be able to saber next year (practice makes perfect…).
I know its been a while, but how about a (beer) cocktail recipe. I had this at McCormick & Schmick’s a couple weeks ago. Their version included sugar, or some sweetener. I prefer mine with straight pumpkin. Pour a guinness into a glass. Add about 1.5 oz pumpkin puree. Stir it in well. Top with some pumpkin pie spice. Enjoy.
This was my great uncle’s pipe.
My sister’s bf Ry brought me some holiday brown sauce, so I poured the guys a couple fingers. Then it was time for dinner.
Everything came out great. My cousin’s fiance came in a little late, so we had a second round much later that evening. It was great to finally meet Dan.
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Post be-be catch up
It snowed in in VA on Wednesday, but we braved the cold and went out on the baby’s first errands anyway to prepare for Thanksgiving. We started at Heidelberg Bakery to get some sweets. I grew up in Arlington, but it was HB’s first visit, and she was quite impressed.
Then we swung by Arrowine for some cheese, meat, malbec, and sparkles. Arrowine has an incredibly knowledgable and helpful staff. I really only go around the holidays or when HB and I throw a dinner party, but each time is a treat.
Then for dinner my mom swung by Taste By Katie (and has been super helpful in general. I don’t know what we’d have done without her these first weeks home). I’d had some leftovers from when Katie catered my wife’s baby shower, but I’d never had her dinners. I was very impressed. The pork dish was delicious and substantial.
I capped off the evening with a little Russell’s Reserve.
Then it was back to the grind (sort of).
My sister and her bf came over for EF’s first picnic. It was a beautiful day out, and the Italian store sammies were great.
Then EF had a checkup, and all was well.
Shelier made the best leftovers I’ve ever had: duck and turkey pot pies.
EF watched her first western. Her great-papaw would be proud.
And I made a risky breakfast decision.
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Baby was healthy, Momma was hungry: Gypsy Soul catered the delivery
We had brunch at Gypsy Soul just before our daughter was born. While there, Chef RJ graciously offered to make HB some food after she gave birth. HB abstained from deli meat and uncooked/cured meat for nine months, so she was in desperate need of some charcuterie. The team at Gypsy Soul sent over a selection of sandwiches, homemade salt and vinegar chips (that were subtle and delicious), bread, a selection of meats, condiments, and desserts. It was a decadent lunch to say the least.
Nicole was in hog heaven. I can’t imagine what nine months of no prosciutto is like.
We can’t thank Chef RJ and Chef John enough. Everything was amazing. If you missed my other Gypsy Soul posts, check out a dinner post here, and a brunch post here. If you’re in the area, definitely check them out.
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HB delivered a beautiful, healthy, baby girl
After a short but stressful wait…
Our daughter was born.
We celebrated the next 18 years of responsibility.
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