lots of cubes of Swiss cheese, lots of baba ganouj and edamame

See, I *like* Swiss cheese (not just to taunt Perkins), baba ganouj, and edamame (dear god yes), but if I were putting together the menu for a holiday party at which there would be a wide variety of people, I'd go for more luxe tidbits. And maybe keep the baba ganouj and edamame as well.

Because, seriously? NOBODY'S heart health (even my dad's) is going to be trashed by one plate of nibblies at one holiday party.

And shrimp and smoked salmon are actually outstanding for heart health. So there's that.

he loops his paw into the handle

Our cat Toke plays in the water dish endlessly. She'll stand there forever (okay, probably 5 minutes, but it seems longer) dipping her paw in the water, taking it out, shaking it, looking at it as if to ask, "WTF, paw??? Why are you all wet?", and then repeating the whole procedure.

She'd be so happy if we got her a fountain.

See, I *like* Swiss cheese (not just to taunt Perkins), baba ganouj, and edamame (dear god yes)

I like them fine, too; but, yeah, they're just not very luxe. The baba ganouj even had olive oil drizzled right on top, and yet somehow it still didn't quite sing out to the soul of a ray of hope in darkest midwinter.

Not like a good baked brie wrapped up in butter-drizzled phyllo, which may not be heart-healthy but is oh so good for everything else. It's like a light box for your tongue!

No joke - you can have perfectly lovely party fare that is heart healthy.

What I really need right now is inside pants and a hefty martini.

lines up with JZ for inside pants and tasty beverage

Still at school, but headed home soon. We had auditions today and yesterday for our winter show. I will have 2 casts for this: one is a curricular cast of 8th graders and the other is extracurricular and all grades can audition. Between the 2 casts, I will have 97 kids in the show.

Now I have to go home and cast them. Dear heavens me.

Our cat Toke plays in the water dish endlessly.

5 minutes is forever to a cat!

Devi rocks the other water tank just so she can chase the bubbles in the tank. But she doesn't knock it over.

She just did that to 3 different humidifier tanks and broke them.

headdesk

These people do not know the meaning of last, final or deadline.

Ha ha ha STAB. I had the most bananas day today. All morning, busting my ass to get this thing done, while people were making changes all around me. I got it done, and probably 90% right. I know I screwed up a couple of things, but I think not too bad. But ugh.

Then it was the diversity potluck, which was fine, if mostly boring, and we left a little early, so I got a drink with a couple of coworkers, which was nice, until a screaming group came in, and then I just had to go.

I hope I can relax again some day. Probably this weekend.

For an example of my day, I had to ask around for the safe-for-work version of "clusterfuck" before I talked to the COO. I ended up with "somewhat frustrating."

Despite the lack of fresh dill in my hometown, holiday party spinach dip is accomplished! Now I just have to remember to take it and one of those frozen Mediterranean foccacia things with me when I leave for work tomorrow.

One co-worker talked herself out of baking stuffed shells and instead decided to make manicotti—doubtless it'll be very good, but I don't know how that's going to work as party favors...

Not like a good baked brie wrapped up in butter-drizzled phyllo, which may not be heart-healthy but is oh so good for everything else. It's like a light box for your tongue!

Yeah, but -- when you're at a holiday gathering, and you have to compete with dozens of other party-goers who all want the brie (oh, yum), you're only going to end up with a few bites; there's no way to bogart the entire wheel of brie (don't ask how I know that).

And a few bites of baked brie are not going to make or break someone's cardiac health.