Rainy Dayz--homecooking

Dear Gentle Readers,

If you know me, then the question I was just asked, will be a funny one. I was just in the kitchen when the cook asked me, "Do you like to cook?" HaHaHa--no--that's why I always dated people who could cook. If I ever tried to cook, there were usually ulterior motives involved. The last time I tried cooking in my old house, the entire range caught on fire since the cats had used the stove more than me. What's even funnier is that my ministry to the house (everyone has a ministry to the house --whether its dishes, housekeeping, sacristy/chapel work, portress(answering phone/door when the receptionist isnt here), hospitality or guest relations) is going to food service management. I have told them over and over again, that I do not cook nor do I have a cooking gene anywhere in my DNA makeup. With that said, they patiently told me that it's more my management skills, attention to detail and people handling abilities that make me suited for this job. The community has a cook and dishwasher so it's more of a management position. I guess planning all those parties and lunches for the college group will come in handy. So, to answer the cook's question, no, I don't like to cook. I never cooked at home and I never ever cooked when I was growing up. My mom didnt want people in the kitchen and even then, she didnt cook much herself, except for her big dinner parties that she threw a few times a year. The only home cooked meals I grew up with were at my grandparent's house on Sunday afternoon where the entire family and all the kids and cousins and everyone else, including people who just dropped by and the priests from the local rectory came over for Sunday dinner with us. It was a long, drawn out, home style affair. It usually began around 3pm and lasted until the last bottle of wine was finished or Grandpa walked everyone to the door in his underwear. It was at these meals that I saw first hand drunk dialing when my grandfather would slurr---"lettttzzzz, callllllll (hiccup) myyyyy brotherrrrrrrrr..." If they ever make a sideways movie part two about wine consumption in the elderly, my grandfather would have been a fantastic character.

Last night, gentle readers, I fell asleep listening to David Sedaris's audio book entitled _Dress your family in corderoy (spelling?)_ . I had my earphones on and my laptop on my chest and when I woke up 4 hours later, the book was still going strong. However, when I looked at my clock, I saw that it was early morning on the 25th and I said to myself, "it's my birthday". You all know that you do this too....this internal joy of another year passing and a new year beginning. What a time for new beginnings and a new decade of living!

The weather is atrocious and the wind is whipping around and the trees are flailing and the leaves are being yanked off the branches. It's a great day if you don't have to go outside. It's supposed to get even worse this afternoon as the storm, which is a spin off of Hurricane Wilma, moves up this side of the country.

Thanks to all who sent cards and packages. It was greatly appreciated.

Love to all,
Monk_1975