The Hungarian offered to take us to Golden Corral for Christmas dinner. I think it probably had a lot to do with the fact that someone gave her a $20 gift certificate for GC. We said, nah, but how about we get take-out and eat it festively at our place? I retrieved the fancy stuff, china, crystal, etc., and set the table prettily, and off we went to get the take-out. Damn, the buggers were closed. So we started foraging all over Durham for something to eat. The Pan Pan diner was open but we knew from their Health Department rating that we didn't want Christmas dinner from there. Shoney's was closed. We know the Hilton is overpriced and, besides, we were dressed for GC not Conrad's place.

We passed Japan Express, which was open. It was put on the list as last resort, after the shrimp in my freezer. (The food there is to Japan as hot dogs are to the Ritz.) On we went for an hour and a half, up and down highways and interstates, back roads and short cuts. Not even the Indian places were open--you'd think they would be, being Hindus an' all. Then we saw a flashing light--it was a Salvadoran-Mexican place, packed with poor buggers who apparently couldn't go home because their fragile papers wouldn't get them back in the U.S. We ordered tons of great stuff--plantains, yucca, shrimp in a wonderful spicy sauce, steak and shrimp for Sweetie, nachos, tortillas, oh I can't remember it all. And the owner gave us some free calendars advertising the restaurant. I shall now be able to say the names of the months in Spanish.

We broke out the chilled Perrier and cheap champagne and had a feast, toasting illegal aliens and their need for a place to go on Christmas. Beats hell out of Golden Corral!

-- Anonymous, December 26, 2001

Answers

You had quite an adventure, OG!

My day was quiet. I roasted a turkey breast, made mashed potatoes, and worked on my room. About mid-afternoon, I got a frantic call from one of the neighbors: her van wasn't running, and she needed a ride to the airport because her son (26) was coming in, so I took her. The airport was just about deserted. Her son said that his flight was about 1/4 full and that no one hand searched his carry-on bag, patted him down, or even gave him a second glance. I'll bet that will change when he goes back on Saturday.

-- Anonymous, December 26, 2001

I got my Christmas wish (the one I had for Thanksgiving), that Dad was not only at home (instead of the hospital, where he spent Thanksgiving week), but also felt well enough to eat most of his dinner.

Ginger got her wish, which was to pig out on freshly roasted chicken. (Are all y'all familiar with the story of The Little Red Hen? Ginger is the only one who "helps" me cook these meals, so she's the only one who is given the treats when they are ready.)

-- Anonymous, December 26, 2001

One thing I did in this holiday season was see the Nutcracker Suite for the first time ever, performed by the National Ballet. (I have friends who have been surprised that I'd never seen it, even on TV). Anyway, although I didn't think the music in the first act was all that wonderful, the music in the second act (the child's dream) was glorious.

-- Anonymous, December 27, 2001

I sat in the recliner, opened a few gifts, hobbled to the kitchen and worked on the puzzle from hell.

It was a great day, however the menu wasn't quite what it would have been if I were cooking. But hey, I got food! At least I didn't have to clean up the mess in the living room after all the gifts were opened.

-- Anonymous, December 27, 2001

Hang in there, Apoc!

-- Anonymous, December 27, 2001