Dave Squatch Ward: Who's a Fat Bastard - I haven't even got to Christmas dinner yet!

December 23, 2014

One Gal Construction Crew

I was up at 8:00, made a pot of drippy Joe and started working on my blog. Every day closer to Christmas seems to go by faster.

Hopefully it will go fast enough that I'll blink and it will be over.

While I was writing my blog the lovely Lisa got out of bed and got herself a cup of drippy Joe. Next thing I know I hear the mixer going at warp factor five. Chef Boy R Lisa was whipping up a batch of royal icing to build the gingerbread house with. Royal icing is the main reason we bought the monster mixer that we have.

Chef Boy R Lisa burned out three hand mixers in three years making royal icing! This isn't the 350 watt London Drugs special this is 1000 watts of icing making power!

Monster Masher, bigger motor than my RAV 4!

I was just about finished my blog when I was summoned to the kitchen. Piping bag in hand Chef Boy R Lisa expertly laid down the foundation of the first wall. "Hold that in place would you " not actually a request. It's a Chef thing.

Gingerbread Elf

I tell you that girl knows how to handle a bag, of icing. That Gingerbread house went up faster than a Vancouver special.

We'll list it in West Van for $1.6 million

We're going to give it to the grandkids to decorate later on today. For now it was to be Christmas family lunch with Peter. He is spending Christmas with his girlfriend's family this year so Mama Lee wanted to get together for a lunch. Brother Steve came in from Deep Cove and played guitar while we waited for Peter. I could listen to him play all day.

Making people happy making music.

Peter was supposed to be here at noon. Peter is always at least an hour early. I called him at 10:00 to remind him about lunch. There was no answer and he doesn't have an answering machine.

I assumed he was on his way. I assumed wrong.

At 12:15 I went to pick up Mama Lee. While I was picking up Mama Lee I got a phone call from the lovely Lisa telling me that she had gotten hold of Peter and he had forgotten about lunch. We went to lunch without him!

We went to a Greek place in our neighbourhood called Kefi. The food was good, prices were reasonable and the atmosphere and service were excellent. The conversation was stimulating?

Bro Steve and Mama Lee at Kefi Taverna

After lunch I took Mama Lee home and Bro Steve and the lovely Lisa went to buy candy to decorate the gingerbread house with.

I was planning, when I got home, to do a workout. I couldn't do it. One look at those floors and I was riding the vacuum. I vacuumed all the floors and then mopped them. They were a little bit crusty. What happens is, the lovely Lisa leaves me on my own and the place goes to crap! So I spill a little coffee, it will dry. Dropped that tuna salad lettuce wrap, the dogs will get it.

I think you can see my general philosophy on house work. I am usually notified of my household responsibilities by the lovely Lisa. She's been so busy with work and Christmas lately, my fat, slovenly ass has been skulking under the radar. I was just finishing the last of the floors when the lovely Lisa got home.

Our friend Duffy dropped by to wish us Merry Christmas on his way to the Okanagan. We set him up with shortbread and gingerbread cookies and sent him on his way.

We were now on a mission we had a number of stops, and a couple of things that we wanted to do. First thing we needed to do was take the gingerbread house to Bella and Christo.

We got there about 6:00. Christo was sporting his new Christmas haircut and looking ready for basic training.

Yes Sir, Papa Sir

Between the gingerbread house and Nutmeg, Bella was losing her mind.

Can we decorate it tonight?

We hung around long enough to watch the kids start to decorate their tree and the gingerbread house.

Custom homes our specialty!

They were having a blast!

Our next stop was a visit with Mama Lee. We had three boxes of mandarin oranges in the trunk of the car. Its Mama Lee's Christmas gift to her fellow residents. Christmas is always a tough time for Mama Lee. She wants to give everybody everything. There are over one hundred people between residents and staff.

Nurse Marylyn and her funky Christmas Sweater

Mandarins will do just fine. The next few days will be very busy for her. When we left Mama Lee we meandered our way through the side streets enjoying the Christmas lights.We took the Barnet Highway in from Port Moody, cruising down Hastings Street and grabbing a couple of slices at a pizza joint on our way to North Vancouver. I haven't had pizza in a long time, and I'm going to tell you it was good! And the least of my problems I have lost count of how many short bread / gingerbread cookies I have eaten. I'm sure I'll pay the price on weigh Day. I haven't even got to Christmas dinner yet! This is where I started on Sunday.

Monday I started making/eating Shortbread. I haven't even got to Christmas dinner yet.

Michelle was expecting us at 8:00 and we got there right on time. She still cat sitting so the Rat dogs had to stay in the car. The cats are five times the size of the Rat dogs. We knew it was going to be a short visit. She had a previous commitment. It's the only time we would be able to see her before Christmas. She whipped us up a quick cup of coffee, which is why at 1:00 a.m. I am still bouncing off the walls. Well, at least I'll get the blog written!

The lovely Lisa and I went on the most extensive and far ranging Christmas light tour we have ever done. Leaving North Vancouver on the Lions Gate Bridge we ducked into Stanley Park it was dark.

The only lights were the lights of the bridge we had just gotten off of. We didn't see any Christmas lights at all until we got to English Bay.

English Bay

The giant trees are all lit up down there. As we neared Burrard Street we decided to go and check out st. Paul's Hospital.

Pretty amazing.

St Paul's Hospital

We then cruise Davie Street where there were these cool lights we have never seen before. We drove across the Burrard Street bridge and turn into Kitsilano, through Point Grey and Dunbar, weaving our way back and forth on the side streets looking at the Christmas decorations.