Little Gustav Mahler, 1865
Stayed in bed all morning just to pass the time.There's something wrong here
there can be no denying...
It's Too Late, Carole King
You know those arrogant, energetic people who boast that they "never get sick?" Well, they're the worst when they do. First the denial (no, I'm fine, really) then the ignoring (if I just carry on, it will go away). A few days later and there's an exhausted, red-eyed hag staring back at you in the mirror.
After John went back to work yesterday morning, I did something I never do-- I just stayed in bed. I dozed, daydreamed, took vitamins, drank tea and did nothing. I didn't fire up a computer, smart device or TV screen. I didn't even turn on NPR to keep me company. My connection to the outside world was the land-line, which didn't ring all morning. There was no blog written. This sounds like depression, but it was more like the cure for post-holiday depression. It was so peaceful. It took me back to when people used to sit and gaze out of windows when they got bored, instead of staring at a screen. Eventually I got up, ate a turkey sandwich, and put on the tragic Mahler 9th Symphony so I could feel sorry for both of us for 85 minutes. The tribulations of Mahler's life will put even the worst head cold into perspective.
This new Mahler CD set was a Christmas present from John, who always gives me wonderful gifts, like a year's worth of new hardcover fiction. A five pound box of Mahler music is a bit on the heavy side, but there's a time and a place for everything.
The Mahler Project Complete CD Box Set contains the complete recordings by San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. Hours and hours and hours of listening pleasure.
Are your Christmas decorations down yet? Twelfth Night is just around the corner and it's considered unlucky to have evergreens indoors past January 6th.
O Winter, ruler of the inverted year... 
The Mahler Project Complete CD Box Set contains the complete recordings by San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. Hours and hours and hours of listening pleasure.
If you've ever boiled down a turkey carcass for soup, then you know it's not a pretty sight. But roasted turkey bones and brown skin simmered for hours with onion, carrots and celery makes a broth like nothing out of a can.
The longer you cook it down the better. Then you have to strain the boney mess through a fine colander. There will be a lot fat floating on top, so the best thing is to refrigerate it overnight and pull off the fat when it solidifies.
Finally! The next day you have a beautiful gelled broth you can keep in freezer and use later for all kinds of dishes. Or make a big pot of soup.
The soup is usually topped with cheese, avocado slices and fried tortilla strips.
