Buried Alive

I'm not sure how to start this post.... "I'm sorry" seems appropriate as does "Time flies when your ass is stuck working too many hours to the point of exhaustion." I guess a combo will do... I'm sorry for disappearing for a few weeks from writing while I got my ass carved like a turkey at work. Yeah! That about sums it up. I wish I had more eloquent ways of saying it but reality dictates that I just lay it out there clean and simple. So the holiday season for a chocolatier turns out to be not so much fun! The people of the world need sea salt caramels and toffee almond bark. They demand it.

Not much has been going on around here for the past few weeks worth reporting on... it's been cold outside, snowy. We are just kinda plodding along waiting for the quiet season to descend upon us to allow for more fun and photo taking like back in the day. "Back in the day" referring to the time before I started workin' for the man. That's right Jeff Keenan I am talkin' about you.

We are staying put in Santa Fe for Christmas. I am actually pretty excited to finally be here for the big Canyon Rd Christmas Eve celebration. We have never spent Christmas here and it is a really gorgeous place to be for the holidays. I will be sure to take and post loads of photos from the Canyon Rd walk (supposedly thousands of people show up for it to go caroling, drink hot cider and dip in and out of the galleries for goodies and cheer.... and all this will be going on two blocks down the road from our apartment.) The whole road is already lit up with ga-zillions of lights. My favorite display is this one.... Hooray for these people. They are doin' it right!





That is all in one yard. Hot tamale! I love it. I get so excited when I drive by that house at night that I usually end up punching my window. That may make no sense to you at all.... but just know it is a good thing... coming out of a place of pure happiness. It's the purest window punching happiness there is. Also know that I basically stole like a thieve in the night through the gate of this place to creep around the yard to take these pictures. I'm cool like that.

Last night was our holiday party for The Chocolatesmith. I can tell you that I have felt mildly nauseous all day because of it. Why? Two glasses of wine and three of champagne that's why. It's the most alcohol I have consumed in years. We hooked up at The Rio Chama Steakhouse downtown and ate til we were stuffed and then crashed the party of our work neighbors (The Axis Salon) who happened to be having their own soiree in the wine cellar of the restaurant. This was where things got a little rough around the edges (but in a fun way.)

Here I am drunk as a skunk and loving up on Victor who does hair at the salon and is a gem of a fun person. Please note the aura of cruise ship romance in this photo. Funny no?




Here's the boss lady and I laughing ourselves sick over back waxing stories and Victor's wacky dance moves.



And the whole group... making asses of ourselves after dinner. It was of course my big idea to make everybody do the hands face. What do you call that hands face thing? Does it have a name?



Four more days of crazy at work and then we get a little respite until Valentines Day rolls in like a Mac Truck full of ass whippin'. How many times have I referred to asses being kicked, whipped or carved up in this post? So telling.

I have been baking cookies all day today.... I took a break to sit down and bust out this post. Our tiny kitchen is overflowing with baked goods and I still have about 4 more things I want to make. I am baking with fresh local eggs I bought from the farmer's market on Saturday.... and oodles of supplies came in a huge box from my Mom. She sent me just about everything you need to bake yourself in to a coma. The first cookies in and out of the oven were molasses crinkles.





Billy and Rudy are doin' just fine for those of you who keep tabs. Especially now that the house is full of cookies. Word.

Have a great holiday week peeps! Cheers!