Guess what I got for Christmas. Hint: check out my dorky stage mom shadow(s).
enjoying the sun in the “kitty playroom”
tired of me chasing him taking photos
roast beast, marinated for days and cooked to perfection
a somewhat simple spread for two: roasted meat, brussels sauteed with sunchokes, mashed red potatoes and homemade gravy, spitzbuben cookies, Costco brand pinot noir, and mulled cider spiked with Costco spiced rum
awesome gift from my sister — when the pocket isn’t pulled down it just looks like an innocent cat peering out of the pocket…
leftovers: roast beef and cheddar sammies on homemade rye
too much christmas
mandatory blurry bokeh tree photo taken with camera phone
Our Christmas was pretty low key and wonderfully so.
- We didn’t really ‘do gifts’ much this year though we have never really been the type of people to go crazy with holiday presents. We sent our family a big box filled with edibles (a holiday tradition for us) from Korea and small items picked up from our travels. My sister sent me an awesome cat tshirt and a package we have yet to receive (stupid holiday mail). My mom sent me some vintage jewelry and a bread knife that Sly and I have been wanting and don’t yet have. We have been slicing everything with the knife since receiving it.
- Sly gave me a GoPro, something I have been coveting for over five years. Can you tell I’m not an impulse buyer? When it comes to camera equipment I’m definitely the type that likes to research extensively and prior to now I haven’t really seen any photos that I thought couldn’t be taken with what I currently have. I was *this close* to getting a GoPro before our trip to Hawaii but again I hesitated. I told Sly that I wanted to really take note on our upcoming trips to see if I really needed another camera. Time and time again I found myself saying out loud, “I wish we had a GoPro for this,” or “imagine how cool this would look taken with a GoPro,” or ” one day, when we get a GoPro.” Well, I got a GoPro. Finally. Along with all kinds of accessories that will make me look like the ultimate xtreme dbag. I cannot wait to document this year using it. Get ready for lots of selfies, fishbowl lens photos, and videos of us doing totally extreme (not really) activities.
- I gave Sly a pair of (made in the USA!) Danner hiking boots and a Korean calligraphy book.
- Christmas day was beautiful — sunny and not too cold. We spent a lot of time lounging around with the kitties in their ‘play room,’ sipping on mulled cider spiked with rum, and eating cookies.
- Movies/shows watched: A Very Murray Christmas, Brooklyn 99’s Chrismas episode (hilarious take on Die Hard), Happy Christmas, and A Christmas Carol.
- I never did get around to making that rum cake. Probably a good thing.
- The day after Christmas, also known as “Second Christmas” aka “Christmas back in the States” was spent Skyping our families. We got to watch as my family opened the box of goodies we sent and watch their faces as they tried some of the stranger snacks. It was kind of a surreal experience thinking that the package that was here in Korea not too long ago was now in DC and we were watching them open it in real time. Technology still amazes me, I guess.
- The best part of any holiday: holiday leftovers! Sly baked several loaves of fresh rye bread — his best yet — and we ate leftover roast beef and cheese sandwiches. At one point we looked at each other and remarked, “you know what would be good with this? Chips.” We essentially dropped everything, went to get some chips, then came back and finished our sandwiches. Then ate some more cookies.
- Only one cookie remains. We agreed to split it tonight.
- I’m pretty sure we consumed at least 8 sticks of butter in the past few days.
- We did a bit of day after Christmas (sale) shopping though the only thing I bought were some Guittard chocolate chips marked off 50% because they were considered holiday candy. I bought several bags (and might need to go back and hoard some more) to make “New Year’s cookies,” which is just a fancy way of saying chocolate chip cookies.
I wasn’t quite sure how I would feel this Christmas being away from family for the first time since my Dad died when we celebrated the holidays on his birthday instead of actual Christmas day. Even then my sister came out to SF to spend Christmas with me and her bf so it wasn’t quite the same.
Our Christmas was simple but it was a good one. We ate a ton, then ate even more. We watched movies we have watched since we were little kids. We were able to watch each other open gifts from across 15 time zones and laugh at/with one another like we always do. Even though we were far away and technically celebrated Christmas on different days, we still felt so close to our families. It was our first Christmas with just us — me and Sly and the kitties — and our first Christmas abroad; in Korea. And despite time differences and distance, it still felt like Christmas.
Karen
December 28, 2015 at 2:42 pm1. Sounds like Christmas found you this year, I’m so glad it was a good one! 2. You got me hooked on Making a Murderer. SOOoooooo slow in spots, but since I am usually doing something (ornament making) while watching it, so it doesn’t matter – good stuff. 3. So happy my card made it around the world to you! 4. Yes – I will get out this week to buy H is for Hawk. Yes I still buy the actual books, I’m old fashioned. If I start the book in 2015 will it count for my 50 in 2016? I think yes. We need to see if Rachel wants to join us, if she hasn’t already read it.
veronika
December 28, 2015 at 7:10 pmYes! Finally someone I know who is watching/has watched Making a Murderer. It is slow when they go over all the details time and time again but I imagine they had to do that for non-binge watchers. I’m curious to know what you think. I admit to spending a good amount of time on reddit reading more about it. Did you ever listen to the Season 1 Serial broadcast?
I’m going to check out H is for Hawk – hopefully I can still find it via online library.
Funnelcloud Rachel
December 29, 2015 at 8:35 amI’m in, I’m in! Added H is for Hawk to my library holds – hoping it’s available soon! My mother actually had a pet hawk when she was a kid (!!!), so this should be an extra fun read!
Added Making a Murderer to my queue, too. Loved listening to season 1 of Serial last year. Keep meaning to start season 2, but my phone keeps dying (I like to listen while walking the dogs)!
Funnelcloud Rachel
December 29, 2015 at 11:53 amAlso, your Christmas sounded wonderful, I LOVE the kitty shirt, and I cannot wait to see what you do with the GoPro!
Kevin
December 29, 2015 at 4:41 pmHoliday leftovers are the gifts that keep on giving. And those cookies look magically delicious.
I’m glad it finally felt like Christmas.
Keeping Good Thoughts…
veronika
December 30, 2015 at 10:42 amSweet! I created an online book club page for us:
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/179208-virtual-book-club
I know, I know, this means y’all will have to sign up for goodreads (finally) but I think it will be a good way to add books and create discussions? Is that how book clubs work?
I added H is for Hawk as our first book.
veronika
December 30, 2015 at 10:42 amSweet! I created an online book club page for us:
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/179208-virtual-book-club
I know, I know, this means y’all will have to sign up for goodreads (finally) but I think it will be a good way to add books and create discussions? Is that how book clubs work?
I added H is for Hawk as our first book.
veronika
December 30, 2015 at 10:44 amI’m pretty much nerding out over the GoPro. I feel like I should go skydiving or something just so I can record it on my GoPro!
Hope you had a wonderful Christmas too!
veronika
December 30, 2015 at 10:45 amall that watching virtual fireplaces seemed to work out.
hope you’re eating lots of holiday leftovers…
veronika
December 30, 2015 at 10:47 ami’m also curious to see what you think of making a murderer…
Karen
December 30, 2015 at 10:54 pmVeronika, you might have to do a blog post about the GoPro someday, I have no clue what it is, even after looking it up on Amazon . . . for some reason, I think I do have a GoodReads account, will figure it out before I start reading. And I am on episode 8 of Making a Murderer and all I know right now is that I would be a horrible juror. Also, the teacher in me is sick to stomach about how the police treat Brendan. But maybe he deserves it? See? I would never be able to decide. I won’t give too much away until I finish the series.
veronika
December 31, 2015 at 12:05 amI might post about GoPro vs my other comparable gear once I have used it more. Basically a Gopro is a tiny wide angle camera with a bunch of accessories (like waterproof casing) that allow you to take or strap it anywhere. It’s popular with extreme athletes, surfers, outdoorsy people and wannabes like me. You can also take photos at timed intervals which allows for time lapse type pix/movies. The camera and setup is very simple which makes it easy to operate in various scenarios. It’s probably the smallest and lightest camera I own – good for when I have to pack light.
I don’t want to give anything away with Making a Murder but the reason the story is so compelling is that I still have no clue as to who is guilty /innocent/involved…though I agree with your thoughts on Brendan. The way he was treated did not seem right at all. Like I said I have spent waaayyy too much time on reddit trying to piece it together. If you liked MAM then you definitely need to download the Serial Season 1 podcast. It’s another case that made me feel conflicted, though after spending countless hours on reddit reading more court docs and getting info not presented in the podcast, I feel a little more decided.
Kevin
December 31, 2015 at 3:35 amI’ve knocked the dressing and sweet potatoes out of the park. Still working on non-rum rum balls.
28m05s. He’s crossed his legs.
Keeping Good Thoughts…
Funnelcloud Rachel
December 31, 2015 at 7:16 amLOL! I actually do have a Goodreads account. I created it years ago, decided I didn’t need any more social media to keep up with, and never used it. I’ll dust it off. If it says I’ve been reading the same book for the last 8,000 days, that’s not true! 😉
veronika
December 31, 2015 at 9:35 amoh, just wait until you get to 28m43s!
veronika
December 31, 2015 at 9:37 amI hear you with keeping up with social media! I don’t think I really started using goodreads until recently even though I signed up ages ago! I like using it as a place to hoard book recommendations for books I most likely will never get around to reading…
Karen
January 1, 2016 at 12:40 pmI did listen to Serial and I believe he is guilty. 100%
***spoiler alert***
A lot has been on the news just this week here about Steven Avery due to the show on Netflix. I don’t know what is true and what isn’t, but apparently Netflix left a few things out to make Steven Avery look a little more golden, a little more innocent. But I think for sure something is fishy about the police investigation. Maybe they knew he did it and were sloppy and in a rush to prove it, and almost lost the case because of their rush. Or maybe they were just out to prove they might have got it wrong the first time, but now they want SA to look like he really is a creepy murderer for. I highly doubt the police would murder a woman just to make one man look bad, so the question is, if SA didn’t do it, who did?
veronika
January 1, 2016 at 4:32 pmI was iffy initially when listening to serial but after time passed and I read more about it I also believe he’s guilty.
As for Making a Murderer
*spoiler alert*
I’m in total agreement with you. I don’t know if SA was necessarily a “good” person but with what was presented I have a lot of questions. Why cause trouble when you stand to be a millionaire. That doesn’t make any sense. I think the way the police handled the case was highly questionable, esp when it came to how Brendon was treated. But then if Brendan was lying then does that mean SA is innocent. That’s what I can’t figure out. Agree that the documentary left a lot out for sake of story and editing which is why I went to reddit to read some of the court docs we didn’t get to see. I still feel the same way – lots of questions.
As to who did it – no clue. I can see how logically the police would think SA did it but then bc they were chomping at the bit maaaayyybbbe tampered with evidence. Something is just fishy about the evidence/the police.
Anyway check out the reddit feeds or if you google MAM you can come across the various theories as to who did it. On reddit you can also find some appeals documents that present various other suspects and why they are suspect. They weren’t allowed to present that in the original trial.
Karen
January 2, 2016 at 6:46 amI wonder if SA did do it, if he felt some kind on “invincibility” after all the drama and press the first time around. I wonder if he thought, I can get away with anything. I mean, it’s not like he’s the brightest crayon the box. But definitely not the dullest either.
Or maybe he did it, framed the police to make them look bad and sloppy, and thought he would walk away again! Ha, a mastermind! Just kidding on that theory. I hope . . .
veronika
January 3, 2016 at 7:48 amYeah if he did do it he’s either the dumbest or the smartest person ever. Would you have voted guilty?
He may very well have done it, I don’t know but the one sticking point for me was where was the blood? Wouldn’t it have spattered somewhere, at least a drop? It didn’t seem like SA was the most meticulous of people. But for sake of argument let’s say he cleaned up the blood with the precision of Dexter. Why would he them leave obvious blood in random places in the car? Why not just crush the damn car and be done with it? It makes no sense.
On the other hand, while the key seemed really fishy (how it was found, lack of TH dna, lack of keys, when it was found, etc) how the hell did his sweat get on in? Then again how the hell does anyone sweat on a key. And why not burn the key along with everything else.
So many things don’t add up hence I like to pop over to riddit/makingamurderer to read other people’s more in depth theories.
Karen
January 3, 2016 at 10:54 amremember the press conference after Brendan supposedly admitted his part? They kept referring to SA as sweaty. I swear they said sweaty at least 4 times. it was weird. Apparently I can talk about this forever! Will hop over to reddit soon.
veronika
January 4, 2016 at 3:20 pmThey probably said sweaty to drive home their point so that when the key was mysteriously found out of the blue with…sweat…it was like omg he did it!