Nina Lewis

One of the things that I love about this time of year is getting a new calendar. There are generally only two types that I get: ones depicting lush gardens or ones with pictures of tropical islands. I dream of growing lush gardens and of visiting those tropical isles.

At the end of December, I found a calendar (25% off) in the bookstore at the university where I work.  It was of tropical islands and had a picture of one of my most favorite islands in the world — Bora Bora.  (You know, its ranking might change once I visit more islands . . .  like Bali . . . )

I love gazing at those pictures while at work — especially in the deep of winter when the temperature is below zero and ice and snow abound. Those pictures give me hope that the weather WILL warm up. Eventually.

A map came with the calendar. I was thrilled.  For quite some time, I have had the intention of putting a map on the wall and placing pins in all of the places that we have visited.  I think getting this calendar will provide the final push to do that.

Both the calendar and the map was published by the National Geographic which means (of course) that they are of high quality.

While growing up, I was never interested in maps — neither high nor low quality maps.  I wasn’t interested in geography. I was bored to tears when I tried to read the National Geographic.  (My apologies to the National Geographic.  My fault — not yours.)

All that has changed now that I am grown up and mature — and now that I’m traveling.  Because there are so many places in the world that I want to visit, I enjoy finding the country on the map. Maps and geography have much more meaning to me now.

I’ve created a bucket list of places that I want to visit:  Bali, Morocco, Greece. the Mediterranean, Sicily, Iguassu Falls in Argentina, England, France, India, Thailand, and Egypt to name a few.  Later this year, we will go to New Zealand and Australia.  I can’t wait.

So many places and so little time.

If you ever happen to be in the neighborhood, feel free to drop in for a visit and see my map on the wall with all of the pins.  That is if you can catch me when I’m home . . .

What do you think of when I say ‘Christmas music?’

Do you think of Silent Night, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, the First Noel?

That’s all good and well.

Do you think of Little Drummer Boy, Frosty the Snowman, It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas?

Yes, we definitely think of these songs at Christmas time.

I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas, I’ll Be Home for Christmas, Greensleeves?

Those, too, indeed.

What about Fur Elise?

What?!? Fur Elise? By Beethoven?  Christmas music?

Nay, you say?  I totally agree.

I just think that we need to tell the folks at Pandora Radio.  For the last week as I listen to Pandora Radio on my computer at work, I’ve set a channel for Christmas music.  At least once a day (if not more), I hear the song Fur Elise.

Now, Fur Elise is a nice little ditty.  I learned it on the piano back in the dark ages when I was taking piano lessons as a child.  (Yes, we had pianos way back then.)

After hearing it for the umpteenth time, I decided I would track down the reason why it is included with Christmas songs.

Ah ha! I found the answer.

In the TV special, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Schroeder plays Fur Elise.  Because the TV show is a Christmas show, and because people watch it in December, and because they hear the song in December, in a convoluted way Fur Elise is now connected with Christmas.

Interesting.

Funny thing, I connect it with sweaty palms and a queasy stomach felt prior to playing it at a piano recital.

Last week, I made caramels.  I love caramels.  Especially homemade ones.

They were for a little plate of goodies that I was putting together to give to friends.

I was in the middle of making them when the doorbell rang.  I was stirring the boiling mixture so my husband answered the door. It was our next door neighbor.  She came to give us a little Christmas treat.

She came into the kitchen and chatted with me.  I was stirring and stirring.

“Oh, do you have a candy thermometer? I do but it doesn’t work.”

I have one.  It works.

“Oh, I always seem to scorch the caramels when I make them.”

I’ve never scorched my caramels.

“They end up really hard — like hard tack candy.”

Mine are always soft and chewy.

“Well, I saw this little book in the store and thought about you.  It’s a snowman story and has songs in it.  I thought that you might enjoy this with your grandchildren.”

I tried to act as if I was paying attention to what she was saying.  But, I was at a critical juncture.  The candy had almost reached the soft ball stage.  I needed to pay close attention so that I could remove it from the heat at exactly the right moment.

She kept talking.

The time came.  I yanked the pot off the stove, grabbed a hot pad, and poured the mixture into my buttered pan. When I had scraped it all out, I set the hot pan down and sighed.  Then I paid better attention to my neighbor.  We chatted for a few more minutes and she left.

When I got back to the caramels, I discovered that I had scorched them.  I had cooked them too long.  They were so hard I needed a hammer to break them into pieces.  It made me wonder if my candy thermometer was working.

Next time I make caramels, I’m not accepting visitors!

My sister sent me this.  I thought it was funny and wanted to share it with you, Dear Reader.

IRS KEEPS SENDING MY RETURN BACK.

The IRS just sent my Tax Return back! AGAIN!!!

I guess it was because of my response to the question: “List all dependents?”

I replied:

“12 million illegal immigrants;
“3 million crack heads;
“42 million unemployable people on food stamps;
“2 million people in over 243 prisons;
“Half of Mexico; and
“535 fools in the U.S. House and Senate.

Apparently, this was NOT an acceptable answer.