mothers on the verge

Yes, it's that time of year again. Time when I break out the sugar, flour, eggs and butter and decide that I should provide cookies for every single person I have ever met in my life, and a few I don't even know. Holding our annual holiday party this Saturday night and if you haven't received an invitation yet, it means you don't live near us, we don't know you, or perhaps I like you so much I want to protect you from the 23 screaming children who are bound to invade my 1,000 square-foot apartment and hopped up on sugar attempt to pulverize its bones. Actually, this year we sort of banned kids after the situation last year where we found our single friends hovered for protection in the kitchen around the gin and ginger cookies trying to numb themselves from the horror. This year The Rabbit knows she is actually going to her great aunt's for a sleepover at bedtime. Yes, she's aware that really it means she's banned and as retaliation has dissed every batc...

No Resolutions here people. I promised. But some things I think that keeping in mind may pep up my 2008: 1. You Don't Have to Answer the Phone. Just because someone calls you doesn't mean you have to be available at that moment. Voicemail anyone? My own grandmother actually refuses to get an answering machine because she doesn't even want the messages. She answers when she wants, and if not, "If it's important they'll call back." 2. Ditto to Email It can wait 10 minutes. Even from the boss, client, daughter, wife, Prince, you get my point. In fact if we all waited 10 minutes, a lot of angry flames, would go up in, well, flames. A magazine publisher I knew answered e-mail twice a day. Twice a day. Didn't even open the program so he couldn't see the letters load in. Try it. Nice. 3. You're Going To Die Okay, a bit of a downer. But think of this: Nothing really counts in the long run. All those extra hours working for more money, better job, bigg...

This morning I got out the cookie recipes. I collect cookies recipes. I love cookies. And every year I try out at least one new recipe for our party to see if I can add to the mix. Usually it's a dud-a-thon. Like the key limes cookies that never harden and turned into panier-like lace things the size of my head. And the sandwich cookies with filling that never hardened and dripped on everything. On my satin skirt for example. Or my favorite: a Martha Stewart recipe that promised disks of candy-colored crisp. And required so much food coloring I felt I was eating a cleaning product. The Rabbit and I sat as she ate breakfast deciding which 5 batches I should make -- never more than 5 different kinds. I've tried six. And The Prince didn't speak to me for a day after leaving me at 3 am crying into the flour.....He keeps tally now. She hates meringues (so cute though...!) so those were out. Ditto to anything with nuts since we have too many friends now with kids who are allergic...