How Yule Went

[dr_pretentious]

Everything that we intended to set fire to burned.

Only one thing caught fire that wasn't supposed to. (Never decorate a combustible dessert with holly sprigs. Flaming rum burns at a low enough temperature that it won't hurt the human hand, but at that temperature holly sprigs will light right up.)

The MD and RN who were attending the ritual never needed to act in their professional capacities. In fact, once the holly sprigs were extinguished, the MD and RN went happily back to pouring flaming rum on combustible desserts.

Nothing like hot wassail for loosening up the vocal cords. We sounded great on all the traditional songs.

We had liturgical theater! With puppets! That fight! And everybody laughed in the right spots. As long as we can still laugh, we'll be fine.

Three small children were in attendance, and they all behaved well enough that, after their respective parents took them home, people still at the gathering commented on how good it had been to have kids around.

I only suggested once that we ask George's advice before I remembered he had died.

The house is still cleaner after the event than it was a week before the event.

There are enough feast leftovers, I won't need to cook for the rest of the week.

Life is good.

Comments

[sonofhephaestus.livejournal.com]

It was indeed a great time, dr.p. Thanks for hosting it!

[vgnwtch.livejournal.com]

It sounds like it was absolutely marvellous!

[dr-pretentious.livejournal.com]

You and T were much missed and often mentioned, both at Yule and at George's memorial.

[vgnwtch.livejournal.com]

It's all lies! Lies, I tell you! Infamy! Infamy! They've all got it infamy!

[vgnwtch.livejournal.com]

Except for the good stuff. That's all true.

[evaelisabeth.livejournal.com]

Happy Yule Sweetie

[citabria]

What a wonderful, wonderful write-up!

[sligoe.livejournal.com]

Yule blessings! I'm sorry that I couldn't be there---but I am glad that everything was good and Yule was celebrated. We'll think of you when we celebrate down here in the wilds of Baltimore this Friday night.

[castalusoria.livejournal.com]

I had a wonderful time-- thank you for including me. I laughed a lot that night, and that made it all the better. Good Yule!

[shakti-lemaris.livejournal.com]

Yeah, hosting big events is huge fun! And the clean house and leftovers are an excellent benny. Fighting puppets?! Evergreen may need to steal that little gem...

[dr-pretentious.livejournal.com]

The puppets went over well. I recommend putting bits of songs in the script for audience participation. Make all attending into one big Greek chorus.

[shades-of-nyx.livejournal.com]

It was a lovely Yule!
Thank you for inviting the Balefire folks and the spice of Balefire folks.
You are a brave woman to have all those folks over!

[happy-dr-friend.livejournal.com]

Happy Yule...Is having the fire limited to the places it's supposed to be unusual? Sounds ominous. Are you still thinking of coming into NYC sometime this week? You mentioned it earlier and I'm afraid I never replied (usual chaos interfered).

[dr-pretentious.livejournal.com]

I am, indeed. I'll probably arrive at Penn Station around noonish on Wednesday, maybe a little earlier. I'm dropping my car off for service in the morning, and the shop is near a train station, so I figure I might as well head in early. I'll be going to a reading at the KGB Bar (near Astor Place) at 7pm, but aside from that, I'm pretty persuadable. It would be great to see you---and M and S, too, if they're out and about on a Wedensday afternoon.

[happy-dr-friend.livejournal.com]

Maybe an early dinner somewhere near Astor Place so you could get to the reading easily?

[freefloat.livejournal.com]

Never decorate a combustible dessert with holly sprigs. Flaming rum burns at a low enough temperature that it won't hurt the human hand, but at that temperature holly sprigs will light right up.

oakleaves wants to know if he can quote this for the Coven Cookbook?

[dr-pretentious.livejournal.com]

I'm honored. He should go right ahead.

Suddenly I have a crazy notion about writing a version of "Oaken Logs Will Warm You Well" that catalogs the virtues and challenges of various famous combustible desserts. I don't think there are quite enough of them to carry it off. Plum puddding, baked Alaska, bananas Foster... It would be a very short song, which might perhaps be for the best.

Hey, it looks like I may be in NYC on Wednesday. If you guys are still going to be in Brooklyn at that point, is there a cell phone number I can use to reach you?

[tracyandrook.livejournal.com]

There is nothing wrong with creating an experience for the sake of the song. The only thing to run out might be the booze.

You could experiment with the flammability of the various garnishes. Hey, a fun activity for a Litha dinner. Don't mind if I do.

[freefloat.livejournal.com]

Crap. Wish I'd seen this sooner. Of course, we were actually touring Manhattan (for my benefit, never having visited this neck'o'thewoods) on said Wednesday.

Indeedy, cell number would have been available.

*insert gratuitous offer to establish contact with me through email, instant messenger, etc*

[tracyandrook.livejournal.com]

Would you please take a photo of the puppets? My camera is busted. I like to take pix and tape them into my sketch book. Thanks