Christmas Treats

One of the great things about working at See's Candies is the discount that we get. It's not as good as it used to be. I used to be able to get 1/2 lb. for $5, a whole pound for $10. Now I only the same discount everyone can get. If you get the gift certificates from Costco, you can get 1 lb. for $12, which is a good savings off the regular price of $15.60. It's good for anything in the store too, whether you grab a box off the shelf or pick out your own stuff.

But as an employee, I can get stuff through the employee discount store. They take bulk candy that has been returned from the stores. Last year I got some fudge that was perfect and some milk buttercreams that had stuck together, but still tasted yummy.

This year I got 2 kinds again, a dark buttercream which had stuck together, and milk buttercreams which are a little lopsided, but still taste great. I wound up getting 10 lbs. of candy for $20, compared to $150 it would normally cost.

Now all I have to do is make sure most of it goes out as gifts, and doesn't get eaten at home!

Feeling Board?

With us spending a little more time together this time of year, it's time to bring out the games. We have a few definite favorites, but we're always interested in more. Here's a brief little run-through of our top picks.

William loves Cranium. Plenty to do, not just a sit there sort of game, much more to his interest than say Monopoly. He likes being able to act things out, sculpt, draw, etc. He did a great job of sculpting a corn of the cob. Good for crowds and easy to adapt the rules.

Sarah likes Scattergories and Pictionary. She is very quick with drawing. She's also good at strategy and bluffing, so anything where you have to do that is cake for her. Since she and Will are dyslexic, games like Scrabble or Boggle are harder for them.

Ellen loves Apples to Apples. I think it is her very favorite, but she also loves Boggle and other word games.

Randy likes Risk, but he enjoys just about any game. My favorites are word games, like Huggermugger or Oxford Dilemma, both good ones for older kids and adults, and Scrabble.

We also love card games, but those always send to wind up getting lost. We have two half-decks of Uno, which is fine, but half a game of The Great Dalmuti does not work at all.

Maybe this holiday we can have another game night with friends, but even with just us, it's still a lot of fun.

Depression Sucks.

That's all I have to say.

New and Improved!

As I've mentioned before on here, I have been working on my weight this year. I am happy to report some progress! I have in fact lost 20 lbs! Unfortunately, this includes the 10 lbs. I gained earlier this year when I decided to go on a diet. Grr. But the key to losing it was to get serious - to cut way back on the calories, give up regular soda for diet - and don't try to tell me they taste the same, because they don't - and be more active. I am still not working out regularly, but I am not such a couch potato.

Even though it's really only 10 pounds less than last year, I could tell a difference when I put on my uniform for See's this month. It was much looser than last year. Of course, all I needed was to go back to work at a candy store, right? But I have actually lost a pound since starting back to work. I'm still trying hard to eat less, especially cutting off after dinner snacks.

I am proud of myself for losing the weight, and I am confident that I will keep losing next year as well. Hurray for the skinny jeans!

Book Review: Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome

Nothing like a little holiday to refresh the spirits, right? So George, Harris, and J. all set off for a nice little trip down the river, along with Montmorency the dog, and confidently await nothing but rest and relaxation.

As anyone who has ever taking a holiday can tell you, things don't go quite as planned. The tent, described as so easy a child could set it up, takes all three men, and puts them quite out of temper. Their accommodations are not quite up to par. A tin of pineapple proves especially obstinate. Montmorency is defeated by the tea kettle.

And yet, there are the times on the river which go quite well. They pass through some truly beautiful countryside. They learn to make a hearty Irish stew. And they discover, as again, every traveler knows, that the best part of the holiday is coming back home.

This book was just what I needed! By turns rather philosophical and then suddenly hilarious, it was a quick and fun read. The tin of pineapple had me laughing out loud. I love this passage:

"I like work: it fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours. I love to keep it by me: the idea of getting rid of it nearly breaks my heart. You cannot give me too much work; to accumulate work has almost become a passion with me: my study is so full of it now, that there is hardly an inch of room for any more. I shall have to throw out a wing."

Story after hilarious story follows, from the German folk singer to the speaker's experiences with rowing, rafting, and sailing, the perils of sharing a house with a courting couple, all funny and worth reading. I'm so glad I heard of this one.

Late, but adorable!