The first light of Advent

Doesn’t it feel like we are just plowing through the holidays. It does for me. Halloween and Thanksgiving are checked off the calendar, the first candle of Advent has been lit, Xmas lights were strung with care and it feels like I’m riding a runaway train to Christmas. Yesterday, Abel our painter, was over to repaint the sun porch and deck. He spent an hour hand sanding the sun porch, sweeping, vacuuming and mopping. Then he cut in with a brush with our insanely expensive Farrow and Ball oil base paint. If you care, We are using New White on the sun porch and Mouse’s Back on the deck. This stuff runs about $40.00 a quart. Jeez. After Abel applied the paint with brush and roller on the sun porch floor he barricaded the area. I was just putting up ropes around the deck with WET PAINT sign. The kids were home from school , had snacks and were dressed for a tennis party at Riviera. The boys were goofing off and for what ever reason Theo waltzes (pushed by Henry) across the WET PAINT. Needless to say, Theo and Henry didn’t make it to the tennis party.

You knew something was bound to happen

I see this is one of those posts where I work backwards in time while memories are still fresh in my mind like we paint I guess. We’ve been having a leftover party for as long as I can remember. Every year, the Saturday after Thanksgiving friends and family arrive at our place with leftovers and usually a bottle of wine. It’s lots of fun reconnecting and it is always funny to hear guests asking whose leg am I eating or whose stuffing is this?

Simon and Sookie at the bar

"Heaven in a Tupperware"

I promised Debbie that I would get the Xmas lights up by the Leftover Party. And, with the help of some of the boys, was able to do it in record time. Ollie was the biggest help, with Theo coming in a close second. Henry came up just to yell at pedestrians and cars passing by our house. Theo did launch a couple of burned out bulbs onto the concrete basketball court just to see what would happen. What happens is Daddy gets angry.

Ollie at work

Up on the roof top

Sam and I went to Topanga Saturday morning and was greeted by offshore breezes, shoulder to head high waves and a fast-moving current. We always start checking out the waves while driving down the California Incline. Charthouse is a surf spot which only breaks a couple of times a year. It need a big swell and it only works at low tide. I’ve never actually surfed Charthouse.  I always think (hope) there will be waves here while driving by. I sometimes see people in the water at Chartthouse and tell Sam, “Charthouse is breaking!” Sam always says, ” Dad, that’s not Charthouse, that’s Sunset.” We try to avoid Sunset. This morning was no different. I said, Look, Charthouse is breaking!….And Sam said it’s Sunset.” Then WHACK! My side view mirror hit an orange parking cone. Debbie doesn’t know about this yet. Luckily it’s just the glass and not the housing. And I can still see a little with what is left of the mirror.

You can't look back

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There’s been a rash of rat sightings amongst our group of friends lately. I have developed quite reputation as a ratter of sorts. I’ve many stories to share about my exploits. This was just your basic remove large rat from the jaws of a snap trap from Jakki’s attic space. I actually found 3 victims in her attic in varying degrees of decomposition.

I brought my helpers

Let’s see where are we? Oh yes, Thanksgiving! We we 16 this year. Debbie’s mom was under the weather and Henry and my mother fought to save her one of the coveted turkey wings. She’ll be back next year to fend for herself I’m sure. I just barbeque the turkey. Debbie prepares everything else.

The bird at rest

Every year is different when barbecuing the turkey. It’s like driving down a long windy road that you’ve driven down a million times before but like with each season the condition of the road varies. But enough about me. Like I said before,  Debbie prepares everything else, the stuffing, cranberries, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, brussels sprouts with bacon and chestnuts, pumpkin pie, apple pie and cranberry cake. I think that’s it.

This didn't make it to the Leftover Party

Our friend Teresita came over early with her kids and actually cleaned our house for us. This was an amazing treat and one that I’m truly grateful for. Our boys were farmed in and out but mainly wanted to stay home and (certainly not help clean) but just steep themselves in Thanksgiving productions. This year we made one long dining table in our living room and moved the furniture from the living room and put it in our dining room. We had two blessings. The first one was our traditional, “Earth who gave to us this food, Sun who makes it ripe and good…And then Henry recited the Armenian blessing which Debbie’s dad used to recite every year. For some reason, said in Armenian by Haig this blessing would sometimes take up to 3 minutes. He would have these long pauses where people would grab their forks and knives and just about start to eat and he would start-up again with the blessing. It was great. We all miss him.

Is that all there is?

Anyways, everyone has gone upstairs except Sam, Ollie and I. Sam is palying Take Me Out to the Ballgame on the piano. There’s a stuck key. Ollie is staring at candle flames and wondering if that’s all there is. I’m wondering the same thing.  If there isn’t, it’s plenty for me. In fact it’s perfect.

I always mean to thank all our friends and family who help us out throughout the year before we start our meal but this year was no different. The meal just started and you can’t look back. Thank You, Everyone, really!