Oh, man. So annoying. I do not get why the contractors on this project consistently refuse to read the frelling guidance I have provided them. The NPS is the expert on historic preservation, and they have these really handy materials that I have sent them electronically, for free, that explains what should be done -- this, in addition to the actual terms of our contract.
Do they read the guidance? No, they do not. Instead they send a question to the PM, and then to the contract manager, and eventually after a couple of days someone forwards it to me and I look it up in the guidance and answer the question.
Seriously, people. This ain't rocket science.
Bah, I still haven't called the insurance company about my stolen bike. Partly because it's my own damned fault for leaving the garage door open. Partly because I barely rode the bike. I just feel stupid. I should call them, though.
Homeowner's insurance? Unless it was a really pricy bike I'd think twice.
For those who celebrate Christmas, do you have traditional meals you make? We'll have my in-laws for Christmas Eve and Day, and my SIL and her (incredibly picky) kids are coming the 26th. I think I will do lasagna on the 26th, with Italian sausage and no spinach, because I am pretty sure at least one of the incredibly picky kids will eat that, and it is hard to feed 9 people, but lasagna is one of my staples for that. For Christmas Day we will probably do a boeuf bourguignon (Julia Child/Jacques Pepin). I am sort of at a loss for Christmas Eve - my SIL always does pizza, but that seems a little boring. I want something easy but not boring. Ideas?
My mother has started doing a "traditional" meal (of about 4 years now) on Christmas Eve of Trader joes appetizers. Cheese, little things, chocolates, whatever looks good
Honey-baked ham? Like, from the actual Honey-Baked Ham store.
I want something easy but not boring.
Soup and salad? My family traditionally does lasagna on Christmas Eve, but a big pot of hearty soup might do.
Around here one of the traditional things is Dungeness crab...
I would like a ham tradition, but my mother mixes it up. Christmas Eve we have family, and sometimes a ham, sometimes tourtiere (pork pie), this year I think she's doing pulled pork. So I guess we always have pig? Turkey on Christmas, because we don't have Thanksgiving at home.
None of those are especially onerous to make, aside from time and pulling the pork.
I was actually looking at shrimp scampi recipes. Part of the problem is negotiating between what I would like to eat (TJ's appetizer dinner is right up my alley!) and what my 73 year old in-laws from Cleveland would like to eat (Honey Baked Ham is right up their alley.)
My family often does a standing rib roast. Pricey, but we only have it once a year or so. Other years we've had a ham.
