At a holiday party, i ran into Jim Wei who asked if I had my camera and so I took his picture.
Although the holidays were around the corner, they hadn't arrived yet and so I hosted a faculty lunch for Alec Dun (History), Amit Singer (Math and PACM), Carol Greenhouse (Anthropology), David Spergel (Astrophysics), Jeffrey Eugenides (Lewis Center and Creative Writing), and Mark Aguiar (Economics).
At a holiday party, i ran into Jim Wei who asked if I had my camera and so I took his picture.
My break having arrived, I drove to Philadelphia where I knocked on this door
and was greeted by DrLen
and after a suitable amount of time, we made our way to Honey's Sit 'n Eat
where these were the specials
the menus
and the placemat
not to mention an artistic photo
before we admired the blueberry jam
and DrLen's pancakes arrived
as did my enfrijoladas
which made both of us happy
before we went out into the street and noted the inner city news stand
and made our way to the Provenance salvage store
where Brian
gave my his business card.
Back at home, it was time to prepare for the relevant night of Hannukah and so drinks (with olives) were made
and the table was set
with lights sparkling
as hors d'ouveres were set out
which amused Michelle
and Suzanne
so that I took this self portrait
before Jeff arrived
and food was on the table
including brisket
kasha varnikes
salad
and latkes.
When gifts were opened, I found myself with this bottle which seemed to set the theme for this holiday season for me (maybe people are trying to tell me something?)
and there were also gifts including these stale candies
old pasta
and wine from Jeff.
By and by, Jane arrived all aglitter
with the bark she had made for her colleagues
and I drank some vitamin water.
The next night, we went into Hannukah in high gear with the second table set
as Suzanne prepared some hors d'ouveres
and opened the gift we had received via Harry and David from dansyl
along with crudite and obscenely good nuts
as the main table was set
and the kitchen chaos began.
Katy arrived
and we made our miracle drinks of goldschlager and vodka (so called latke and vodka drinks)
and began to taste the foods
which made Ben happy (in his new T shirt)
as the foods were unwrapped
and Suzanne and Ben sat together
before the Weinstein's arrived
followed by the Straus
and soon after by Harry and Emma Cummins.
This caused the adults to gather their food and grab seats
as I admired the vegetarian chili
and others embraced the buffet of foods
before eating and then settling at the table for the candle lighting
which caused it to be a real festival of lights as Cara and Ben observed
including the donuts
and chocolate
and ruggelach and cookies.
I then admired the nice bottle of grapa Harry had brought and we called it a day.
On Christmas Eve Day, we welcomed Matt Traylor
and settled down for a lunch of various dips
as Katy
Jane
Matt
and I
admired the movies we had rented
and prepared the dip we had purchased at Sam's Club
complete with scoops
and the two movies that were due back sooner
and so we began to watch The Trip which was a bit painful as Matt left
and Jeff arrived
and the fruit and nuts were brought back
as the table was set
with appetizers
and green beans
and carrots
and I was served this bowl of vegetarian chili
before Jane took over the camera and took these photos of Suzanne and Ben together
followed by shots of the kitchen
and the grandfather clock
and then using the seltzer can
and Ben
these highly artistic shots of the two together
and apart
which signified that it was time to light the candles
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Next it was Christmas day as well as the next day of Hannukah and so Suzanne and Jane lounged in the bed
as we observed the diminishing fruit and nuts
and then Katy joined them
as Ben and Matt prepared for the day
which began with Annie Hall and this key scene which raises the central question (of the movie and, of life)
and then continued on to bacon
as a cake was being prepared in mixer
and on the counter
as sour cream
pre-melted chocolate
and eggs were gathered for the task.
Before there could be the cake, we gathered in the car
for the trip to Washington's Crossing
where we walked along the side of the road
past the Santa Claus house
to the crowds gathered at the river
to watch Washington cross the Delaware (though he did it on a snowy night and we watched on a warm day).
We found Catherine Marchetta
and admired the old flag
as the crowds on the bridge watched
and the first soldiers emerged from the boats
as we watched
the fife and drum corps march
all the while observing the local regulations
as yet another boat crossed
and the shadows grew long
as we watched
the troups approach
and head down the highway
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and Jane and Ben arrived
to watch the spectacle and the old flags
and study the photos from the retro Polaroid camera
before I took a group photo
as more troups marched by on their way to Trenton
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and so I recorded the Marchetta family
even as a misplaced Santa tried to join the Delaware crossing
and amidst the flags
and well dressed dogs
and this genuine replica of a soldier
complete with posse
we made our way to the dividing line
and the important marker
and had our picture taken at the fire engine
by this gentleman.
The festivities being over, we made our way past the Santa house
and walked up the hill to the car.
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and eat meatballs
as Peter Kramer arrived to collect a lemon (or two)
and we headed to the destiny theater where it was our destiny to have chosen the one movie they had to cancel
so we headed to the AMC to see New Year's Eve
before returning home where Peter and Seva
and Sara
were preparing to eat shrimp
and then to gather around the table
for brisket
potato pancakes
salad
and chocolate cake
and, of course, vegetarian chili
as potato pancakes were gathered
and the assembled ate
as Matt Traylor returned from his journeys
to a lively conversation at the table
before the chocolate cake was served
with cookies
and Peter worked at Polaroid repair
as Katy took her Larry David shots
which made us know that it was time to light the candles
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and Katy and Jane posed for a cousins photo
as we almost finished the fruit and nuts
leaving a few pistachio shells
and quite a mess in the kitchen
Monday began with Jane posing in her (faux) fur coat and we called it a night.
to the bewilderment of Matt
and Ben
especially as the car was loaded
and three of us made our way
to the traffic waiting for the Holland Tunnel
where we saw Zeppelin Hall Biergarten where Jane had been
and made our way further
past this unfortuante man
to the high toll
and then with the tunnel in sight
we made our way through and into the city
where we found 12th street
and Jane's apartment
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After unloading and some unpacking, we headed to the Tavern on Jane
where Jane
Suzanne
and I
had bloody Mary's on empty stomachs
and then had our breakfasts of French toast
with bacon
omelette
and eggs Benedict.
