It’s been ages since I’ve posted, but not for lack of trying. Every entry I drafted was whiny in tone, complaining about how overwhelmed I was feeling. I don’t know why I allow things to happen in such a way that I end up stressed and extremely cranky. The only reason I could come up with is that I secretly hate myself. Why else would I plan multiple things at the same time and not give myself enough time to do it all? Strange, I tell you. Because I didn’t feel like posting variations of the same whiny entry, I kept mum.

But enough about that! I hosted my Christmas fête this past weekend and I think it was a good time. My sister showed up for me in a big way that day and I’m forever grateful. She helped me move furniture around, cleaned, cooked, picked up missing food items, and decorated cookies. She kept me on track time-wise. She basically saved the day and prevented a full-on panic attack.

Number of adult guests: 19
Number of guests under the age of 5: 4
Ratio of food to guests: way too much
Food highlights: bacon-wrapped waterchestnuts, seven-layer dip (served with tortilla chips), a cheese platter (more on that later) served with pita triangles and baguette slices, a veggie tray with dip, my mom’s akara (a Nigerian delicacy made from black-eyed beans), meat pies, cheesecake, sugar cookies, chocolate chip cookie squares. I supplemented these made-from-scratch items with a “heat and serve” appetizer assortment and mint M&Ms.

Because I was so rushed, I didn’t have time to take pictures of any of the food that was served…it was quite a spread when all was said and done. I have hosted three “big” parties in my home in the past two years and almost eight months I have lived here: a house warming, my 30th (dessert only) and this party. At one of the earlier parties I decided I had to have a candy buffet or the event would not be complete, and I spent more time than necessary finding a nice mix of glass dishes to put various candy in, and I bought a Lazy Susan to put the varieties of candy on. This time my obsession was on creating a cheese platter, which incidentally was also displayed on my Lazy Susan. My colleague Wendy is a cheese-aholic so I think it was the yummy cheese that I had at her house a month ago that put cheese on my brain. I spent far too much time researching how to create a cheese platter and I went on two cheese scavenging trips with my friend Eli’s wife before I was satisfied with my selection. I spent far too much time agonizing over how the cheese platter would be received, but just like the candy buffet I’m glad I did it. I wish I had a picture of the cheese platter though!

The party was a learning experience like everything I do, so here’s what I’d do differently next year:

• do as much of the baking ahead of time as possible (even if I don’t want to bake things several weeks before the event, just having the dough made would save time)
• do a deep cleaning (dusting, vacuuming, scrubbing) of the house a few days before rather than the night before
• prep as many of the dishes I want to serve ahead of time, rather than while my guests are hovered around me
• have little flags identifying the varieties of cheeses—I really wanted to do this but just ran out of time

Though it wasn’t a perfect event, people seemed to enjoy themselves so I want it to be an annual event: I’ve already put a reminder in my phone that on November 3, 2012, I’ll send out an invitation for the second annual Christmas fête, to be held on December 1. I like the idea of developing traditions: Christmas tree up the last weekend in November and now a Christmas fête the following weekend (first weekend of December). Fantastic!

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I love Christmas, especially when I have time to get ready for it. Because I’m hosting a Christmas fete (party) less than three weeks from now, I’ve had to start thinking of Christmas earlier than usual.

Here’s what I’ve done so far to get ready for the season…and the party. They’re not big things but they have helped me feel like I’m on track:

• I’ve brought out all my Christmas gear and two red plastic storage tubs are taking up prime real estate in my living room.
• I’ve set up my festive tea light holder.
  
• I’ve made a yarn-wrapped wreath and I’m addicted to making them now (it only took one!). Maybe I should have a giveaway for one of the others I’m planning to make…that would be very fitting with the Christmas spirit wouldn’t it?
  

• I have put a bunch of Christmas-themed cds on hold at the library. I’ve received four or five so far and transferred the music to my computer.
• I went through all my magazines that have Christmassy recipes and bookmarked the ones I want to make.
• I bought Christmas stamps.
  
• I have my wreath hanging on my front door
  

  (and “hanging” is right: it’s currently on display in such a way that every time I open or close the door the wreath sort of swings and bounces around…so annoying! If that sign with the number of my house wasn’t there the ribbon would lie flat against the door.

I decided last year that I want my tree set up during the last weekend of November. This year, I may set it up a little earlier so I don’t have to have it on my pre-party to do list.

How do you get ready for Christmas?

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Today’s date will probably always spark a twinge of remembrance within me.

First of all, it is the anniversary of when I started work with my current employer. It has been six years. I can’t remember if I ever shared the story of how I came to work there (oh, I made a long story short on my one year work anniversary post), so let me share it with some more detail. One good thing that came out of my tumultuous university career (another blog entry that needs to be written, “for posterity” as they say) is that I realized during the process of working in the lab for my fourth year project and thesis that I did not enjoy lab work. I disliked the rush to discover something, and the lack of time to enjoy the discovery before it was off to discover the next thing. And the pressure to publish is not something that appealed to me.

This discovery didn’t stop me from applying to lab jobs after I graduated in 2004, because I wanted to start earning the money I was told I’d earn with a degree. I got a job working for an hourly wage with a Psychologist who needed a writer and research/administrative assistant, and while I was working there in early 2005, my dad asked me if I had heard of a particular job search engine. I had and I was using it (rather passively), but I decided to check it out that day. I saw the ad for a scientific writer position with my current employer and hemmed and hawed about applying, since they were seeking someone with a Masters in science. My good old pops of course had to encourage me that having two Bachelors degrees, one in science and one in arts, could be an asset. So I got my writing samples together and hand delivered my application. The receptionist was nice enough but I thought she’d toss my application because I was submitting it on the last day (not because I was procrastinating; it was just the timing of when I saw the ad).

Well she didn’t toss application and I was called in for an interview. I was nervous (I’m always nervous, even now), but I thought it was a good interview. The office manager at the time was not pleased by the fact that I had a part time job (the clothing store), and I got the feeling that I had answered her question regarding what I would do about my part time job if I got this job incorrectly (I had said I’d keep the job since I didn’t see a conflict between them). I didn’t get the job.

But then about six months later I got a call from the organization asking if I’d like a one year position to cover a maternity leave. They stroked my ego by telling me I was their second choice (I’ll never know the truth: maybe all their other applicants had found better jobs by then!).

(It looks like I documented my third year work anniversary and wrote a snippet about work in my entry about three years ago.)

Less than six months after I began work there, a permanent position was created and my boss pushed me to apply for it. Again I didn’t think I had a chance because I didn’t feel I was qualified but things worked out well (I was still nervous at the interview; my boss said something like “Jummy, you know us!”). Since then the position has morphed a bit and the title has changed, but I feel very, very blessed. I have made friends on the job and I’ve learned a lot too. My writing has improved as well. Six years later, I’ve gotten a little sloppy, and I plan to change that. I have become comfortable, possibly too comfortable, and I need to regain that old fear from my early days where I felt that I’d be axed if I did something wrong. It might be a weird thing to want but I think someone out there might know what I mean.

I’m celebrating my six-year anniversary by taking the day off! Maybe I should go to work but um, it’s almost 4am!

***

The other significant thing about November 14 is it’s World Diabetes Day. Four years ago, that motivated me to rulk (that’s run/walk) to raise money for the Canadian Diabetes Association. The reason that diabetes means something to me is because my mom is diabetic.

Since 2008 I haven’t done anything else for the cause, except sign some online petitions. I actually tried to sign up to run/walk this year but it was sold out very early (I may have breathed an inward sigh of relief but I was also disappointed at the time). I may have agreed to do try the 5K race in 2012 with my friend Allison, but I can also see myself trying to get out of it. The thought of running 5 kilometres fills me with dread for many reasons, but hey if there’s one thing I got out of Oprah’s Lifeclasses it’s if running that race is a dream of mine, it is achievable.

And another bit of good news: it appears that reruns of the five weeks of Lifeclasses begins today, which is yet another reason to appreciate November 14.

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Tonight I went to a sit-down restaurant for dinner. All by myself.

I was a bit uncomfortable at the thought, so I bought myself a magazine as my date. Just like my first foray into a gym back in university, I thought people would be looking at me, possibly with pity, but of course everyone was engrossed in their own dinners and dinner partners.

It turns out that eating alone in public can be just as relaxing as it is at home. The rest of the restaurant quickly disappeared, especially once I got over myself and realized that no one cares about the 30-something girl eating alone. I got lost in my magazine, stopping only to answer the occasional text message as I ate.

In the end I felt empowered and even a touch smug, because I know most people haven’t done this before, and probably never will. I know Rhona would in a heartbeat though! Today: dinner alone. Tomorrow? Maybe I’ll tackle painting my house or booking a solo trip further away from home than Montreal. The sky’s the limit!

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