Merry Christmas! Be sure to laugh.

Happy holidays and, today, MeRrY ChRiStMaS!

Don't be wasteful! Re-use that Christmas wrapping

paper that looks so delightful on your gifts by

constructing a festive, Christmas-friendly outfit!

Me: "Mom, I am your Christmas present!"

Mom: "Liz, has anybody told you you are really

bizarre?"

Ah, yes. Merry Christmas!

Farewell, Kirsten! Farewell, youth!

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/34477922/ns/today-today_fashion_and_beauty/?GT1=43001

Okay. Some of you may not have been rabid American Girl readers. On the other hand, maybe some of you have had the privilege to own one or a few or even all of the American Girl dolls. If you're in either of the above mentioned groups, then this post is not for you.

Why, you ask?

Because you will never know my pain! The Kirsten doll, Kirsten the wholesome, smart, brave Swedish pioneer represented in the American Girl series, is being retired! RETIRED! (Just see the link above if you don't believe me.) It may be a marketing strategy-- let's see how many nostalgic women buy the doll when we threaten to retire her!-- or Kirsten's retirement may have something to do with the fact that snotty, vapid little children ever-egocentric in their pursuits would rather build a doll that looks like them (yes, you can do that) than get a classic, history-promoting doll.

All of this is deeply saddening to me, but the worst part of it is... I never got a Kirsten doll. I desperately wanted her, of course. I begged my mom on multiple occasions, but she could never justify shelling out 88 dollars on a plastic doll. (Anyone could have seen that it wasn't just a plastic doll-- look at her perfect braids! Her simple, clean, blue cotton dress! Her bonnet! Not to mention the accessories one could buy like her bed, her midsummer's dress, her lamb...)

I was just telling Laura the other night: "You know what? When I get married, my husband will buy me a Kirsten doll! It will be one of the best gifts ever!" Of course Laura teased me, hinting that my husband probably wouldn't have the slightest idea of getting me a Kirsten doll unless I told him to, but now I won't even be able to tell him to buy her.

Well, I suppose there's always ebay...

But finally, what I think a lot of this boils down to is this: the American Girl company is catering to the wants of a newer generation, which, business-wise, makes perfect sense. Kids don't want history, and they have very little interest in a doll that doesn't come equipped with a cell phone or i-pod or some other technological feature. Or, if something isn't totally modern and overly plugged in (like many of today's children) it has to be really fantastical. Perhaps Kirsten's family's horses should really be purple unicorns? Or Kirsten could actually secretly be a princess?

But what about people like me (or, less creepily, younger girls like me) who don't want all of that? I loved Kirsten (and most of the original American Girls) because they were so simple and so hardworking and actually DID stuff.

Blast. Another part of my childhood dead.

Maybe I'll go play my Kirsten Christmas CD to make myself feel better.

It was St. Lucia's Day on Sunday and I forgot to post something! It is one of my favorite holidays that I've been trying to honor since my days of reading the American Girl collection (specifically, Kirsten the Swede's books.)

Here's what Camilla Engman (a Swedish designer I've mentioned recently) says about it:

First some history. According to Wikipedia - Saint Lucia Day is the Church feast day dedicated to St. Lucia and is observed on December 13. It retains traditional forms of celebration mainly in Scandinavia, parts of the United States and southern Europe. In Scandinavia, this was also the date in the Gregorian calendar earlier celebrated by the hedonic population that was afraid of Lucifer (the devil himself) which still today somewhat lives through the tradition of Lussevaka - Stay awake on the night between 12th till 13th and guard oneself against being taken by Lucifer lord of darkness by having an all night party. This is still carried out today mostly by the younger population having great parties (= drinking a lot of alcohol). When the light then arrives with the morning you are safe again.

In traditional celebrations, Saint Lucia comes as a young woman with lights and sweets. It is one of the few saint days observed in Scandinavia. In some forms, a procession is headed by one girl dressed in white gown, red sash and a crown of lingonberry branches wearing a crown of candles (or lights), while others in the procession hold only a single candle each. Accompanied by boys dressed as "star boys" also with long white gowns and white cone-shaped hats adorned with golden stars. Lucia carries a tray of coffee and the traditional pastry, called Lussekatter (Lucy Cats), which are saffron buns with a few raisins, baked in symbolic shapes.Lucia is coming with the light.

***

Unfortunately I was in S.L.O this St. Lucia's Day, but I think I'll play St. Lucia on December 24 instead. There are no star boys (I'm the only star the family can handle). My St. Lucia rolls are the best. My family will attest to this fact.

Disregard

Disregard last post.

I found the essay.

Here's a charming picture (last Christmas) to distract you from my foolishness.

I knew I was a little disorganized, but this is crazy!

I can't find one of my student's final essays! I've looked everywhere and it's nowhere to be found. I'm sure it will turn up soon--it has to--but right now I feel so bad.
"If worse comes to worst I'll have to-"
"I don't want to hear it! Do whatever you're going to do!" my roommate cut me off.
Now I feel super bad. Am I a terrible teacher?
I e-mailed my student and told him to e-mail me his essay again (in case I can't find it by tomorrow.) I hope he checks his e-mail.
Can I be fired for this?
No. I'll find it. I always do. Not that this has happened before. I meant that things always turn out okay in the end. Oh, gosh.
Did I mention I hate grading?
Why am I doing this?
And is this going to be the quarter I get straight Bs?

This book looks so neat! ( http://shop.uppercasegallery.ca/products/suitcase-series-camilla-engman%20)%20It features the work of Camilla Engman, a Swedish designer. I really love her work. You should all check it out if you get the chance.

The painting "Baby, where are you?" is pictured here. (Yes, I know that I used the passive voice!) I really admire people like Camilla Engman and her friend/designer Karin (forgot her last name) because they are able to be so creative and original but simple and subtly thought provoking, if that makes sense.

Rainy December

Rainy Decembers are the best, (even if they cancel Farmer's Market) because it's the closest thing southern Californians get to snow.

<-- This is a picture taken somewhere in S.L.O with my cell phone in my car. I don't know why, but I like it. It would be cool to try to paint.

Chopin keeps me going

For some people (re: Emilie) it's Bach that keeps them on track. For some (unoriginal) people it's perhaps Mozart. For me, it's Chopin (1810-1849). You can't beat his piano works. Of course, I am madly devoted to Rachmaninoff, but his music is so beautiful that it is distracting--I can't study to him at all. Chopin is just perfect.

Thanks to Heather who sent me: Chopin: The Piano Works performed by Vladimir Ashkenazy.

And here's the man himself. (Pretty attractive as far as 19th century composers go, eh?)

Kålpudding blues

Whenever I feel a bit down or overwhelmed, I turn to Kålpudding, even when I actually should be writing a research paper and don't have time to bake anything. It's good, simple, Swedish stuff. (Far better comfort food than the clich mashed potatoes or macaroni and cheese.)

Ingredients:

1 head of white cabbage

some heavy whipping cream

salt and pepper

one egg (not necessary)

chopped onions

ground beef (or turkey)

Fry the cabbage and onions with a bit of butter and cream

Mix the meat with the cabbage

layer of cabbage

layer of meet

layer of cabbage, etc.

Bake for 45 minutes at 390

While it's baking, avoid writing a creative research paper on Alexander Pope's "The Rape of the Lock." Think about why in the world you aren't living on a farm in Europe somewhere. Contemplate why your cat loves playing with earplugs so much.

Then get back to work.