Recently in holiday Category

1. I made myself a heart-shaped burger for Valentine's Day. I don't need a man to make heart-shaped meat product for me. But it would be nice.

2. On Valentine's Day morn Chelsa and I grabbed brunch at Blue Bayou where I had a crawfish omelet and we split some beignets.

Then we met Joe and Alina and Cornie and some others to see Casablanca at Music Box. Can you believe I've never seen it before? It was really good but it kind of took me too out of it that I kept thinking "Oh, that's where that line is from!" and the fact that the couple in front of me kept making out...

3. I haven't watched the Olympics since I think the Nancy Kerrigan/Tonya Harding year...I just never really cared. But for some reason I started watching it on Saturday and can't get enough. It's been pretty awesome.




4. My Valentine's Day hair was pretty cute. Just sayin.

(semi-inspired by the women's skiers...its how I wear my hair when I ski. Which is never. Because I have a nervous breakdown at the top of bunny hills. But I wear it like that because I need to keep my hair out of my face but still want to look like a girl.)




5. I took a lot of photos of Mr. Bo. I swear I am not a bitter old cat lady. He's not even my cat!

I kind of think I hate New Years. And last night kind of solidified my hatred. For once I was actually really excited about my New Years plans. I was going to be around single people. I was going to get all dressed up. I was going to go out and have fun. But instead I spent it alone on my couch eating ice cream sandwiches and watching the ball drop on TV.

My back still hurts. A lot. I mean I can still walk but standing for any length of time and walking take its toll on it. I can't even take a shower without having to sit halfway through. And I did leave a message for a doctor but I haven't heard back yet. I guess I should try to call a hospital today.

On top of that my wrist also hurts. It started hurting a bit a few weeks before but now it is getting worse too because I keep having to put pressure on it to hoist myself up.

So there was no way I could go to a crowded bar where there was slim chance that I could even get a seat.

Alternatively I was going to go to MK's house party, because I knew I would at least be able to sit there. But there was too much snow on my car and it hurt to clean it all off.

So I stayed home. Happy New Years to me.

2009 was just such a crazy year. It had such amazing ups and such amazing downs. Let's take a moment to stop thinking of everything that is bad and focus on the good. I drove to Alaska. I had a V.I.P. ticket to the 4th of July hot dog eating contest. I had a press pass to Krystal Square Off. I was involved with a reality tv show taping. I took three photography lessons and shot a wedding and had a real professional photo shoot. I saw Mat again for the first time in three years. I moved in with Heather. I watched six good friends and a cousin get married. I met my first nephew. There was a lot of good in there.

So, here's to 2010. I guess if it has started out this badly for me there's no place for it to go but up...right?

Christmas Eve was playing with Dylan.
Dylan playing with my cell phone.
Stefanie and Joe coming by.
Bagels and pierogis.
Cookies and kolachkis.
2 dogs running amok.
Ordering pizza.
Watching He's Just Not That Into You (which was a movie that basically went against everything in the book...)

Christmas Eve Photos.

Christmas was playing with Dylan.
Going to see Sherlock Holmes (I wasn't that impressed).
Opening presents.
Dylan getting a camera and cell phone of his own.
Pasta because it was the only thing I could think to make that everyone would eat.

Christmas Day Photos.

Heather's presents under the...(Christmas?) turtle...

All my shopping is done, my presents are wrapped (in pink, of course!), and my tree is trimmed (in silver and blue!)

My dad was the family cook. Since he had been bedridden I had been planning on taking over this year anyways. There was no question in my mind that we wouldn't have Thanksgiving dinner. Ever. Even if, at first, because the big turkey is my favorite meal of the entire year. And even if, at last, I had already bought $200 worth of groceries that I didn't want to go to waste.

When the question over the holiday first came up my mom threatened...I mean offered...to make Thanksgiving dinner this year. Considering that her culinary expertise includes opening a can of Beef-a-Roni and her idea was to buy a Butterball (the thing pops up when it's done) and premade refrigerated mashed potatoes I knew it was up to me. I had always been the one to take after dad in the kitchen. Although we definitely had our differences in that he mostly liked to wing it and I mostly liked to follow recipes.

He also would plan weeks in advance and write a schedule on a white board in the kitchen. I went shopping the weekend before, looking up recipes right before and writing down ingredients without proportions. And then I researched for said recipes the night before because I forgot to make notes about which I had chosen. And I hastily wrote out how long things took to cook so I could get them in at the right time the morning of.

But I somehow got it done. And we ate a delicious turkey and all the sides at the same time. And no one complained that they didn't get to the table until an hour and a half after I said they would.

And I know I did my dad proud.

And here was my day. I made notes along the way.

***

10:00 - Thankful that Starbucks is open. Pumpkin Spice Latte is much appreciated, and holiday-appropriate.

10:30am - After making good time driving to the burbs I decide to stop at Jewel because I am freaked out I don't have enough butter. End up buying more of everything because I suddenly become freaked out I don't have enough of anything.

11:30am - Sweet potatoes "scrubbed" (my dad always said that dirt is an ingredient), punctured (I wasn't sure how many fork wholes I needed to put in so I put in a lot), oiled and salted. Put into the oven to roast. I have never made real sweet potatoes before. We always used can ones but I wanted to try something new. Actually there are two different types of yams and sweet potatoes in the roasting pan. The two different yams because I wasn't paying attention at Whole Foods to the fact that there were two different kinds in the bins. The Sweet potatoes because they were one of the items I freaked out about this morning. Note: I will be able to feed three times as many people as will be here. But mmm, leftovers.

12:20: Decide that the sweet potatoes are not soft enough. Bake more.

12:50: Decide that the sweet potatoes have to be soft enough because I am tired of them baking. Take out of oven.

1:10: Sweet potatoes whipped. Did I mention my thumb is permanently callused because I have the tendency to not wait for food to cool before I handle it?

1:20: melted the butter and cream. Mixed them into the sweet potatoes with brown sugar and maple syrup and nutmeg and salt. Added more brown sugar until it started tasting like sugar.

2:00: Unbrined the Turkey. Made stuffing.

Cuteness Break:

3:00: Dressed turkey all purdy. Olive oil rub and then butter mixed with fresh herbs. I didn't truss it because I didn't know how and forgot that I think you are supposed to do that.

3:07: Turkey in the oven!

4:00: peeled enough potatoes to feed a small country. I like leftovers, OK?

4:15: diced onion and garlic in preparation for the gravy.

4:45: Prepared the green bean casserole. Trying to keep ahead so when the time comes all i have to do is stick everything in the oven.

4:50: Luckily people understand when you say "We'll be eating late because I don't know what I'm doing."

4:53: Don't forget the cranberry sauce. Don't forget the cranberry sauce. My mom is the only one who likes it. And she likes the jellied kind from a can. Easy.

5:15: filled a giant pot with boiling water to eventually cook the potatoes in. Needed something to do.

5:25: Put out butter. Let it soften I guess.

5:27: Put out the cranberry sauce. I don't think it matters if it sits there?

5:30: Put the sweet potatoes in to heat up... Started boiling water for potatoes... Feel as if I am jumping the gun...but I am IMPATIENT! Also, took temperature of turkey: one said 190 the other said 145...

5:59: Potatoes are in the boiling water. Well, almost boiling water. Did I mention I'm impatient?

6:10: 150 degrees says one thermometer...come on 15 more degrees!!! Also, took out sweet potatoes...may have added a little more butter. Everything is better with a little more butter. Also, still cooking mashed potato potatoes. Probably too soon.

6:15: Drained potatoes. Too soon I say! But I can reheat them over the stove as I add the butter and cream.

6:45: ~ 160.

6:50: This turkey is never going to be done. I think I burned my finger. Can't find the potato masher. Using a whisk I found. Whipped the potatoes while I am waiting. Will add butter and cream later though.

7:00: GOGOGO!!! All three thermometers I found are now registering at least 165. Turkey out! Sweet potatoes back in! Green bean casserole in! Stuffing in! Mashed potatoes whipped! Gravy fixings stirred!

7:15: Stirstirstir! Don't forget the rolls!

7:17: In grand Bromann tradition...almost forgot the rolls!

7:30: Take everything out of the oven! Finish the mashed potatoes! Finish the gravy! Carve the turkey! DONEDONEDONE!!!!

7:35: Eat! Eat! Eat! I always take a drumstick for myself :-)

Later: Pies. From the store.

Halloween.
Last weekend. Well, two weekends now.
Friday Rocky Horror. Midnight.
So many virgins. They threw their toilet paper at the wrong time.
Watching costumes out the window and making up what they were.
Bobby Flay met Emeril. A headless cow.
Saturday parade.
I was a jackalope.
Heather was a superhero.
Ron was from Where the Wild Things are.
Don was pinhead.
I also got an oil change. Like a big girl.

1.
Happy Sweet Goodness Day!

2.
To kick off the pre-sweet goodness celebrating I met with Brian and others at Clarke's for a dinner at midnight on Friday.

3.
I ate Swedish pancakes.

4.
I mangled my pancakes.

Saturday was the Fourth of July! For some that means fireworks. For others that means barbeques. For others that means donning winter coats and sleds and joining the parade! But for me, the Fourth of July only means one thing: The Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island!

Since it started airing on ESPN I would watch it every Fourth of July. It was my favorite part of the holiday and last year Nadia and I went to New York to see it in person! Unfortunately Nad couldn't join in this year, but I decided that I just couldn't miss it and went on my own!

I got to Coney around 8:45am. I managed to get myself a VIP pass but I wasn't exactly sure where that meant I could be. I'm glad I got there early though 'cause I soon met up with Jamie and Sadie and Carrie again and we managed to get right up front near the stage. I decided to stick it out with them because the VIP area looked to be a little more off to the side. Although, since it is such a fan favorite/media frenzy/thunderstick clapping/signs in the air event it is nearly impossible to get a good photo from anywhere! Maybe next year I can get a media pass...does running two blogs make me media?

Anyways, we stood there. For a long, long time. But we were entertained by both the stage and the crowd! The guys behind us were die-hard Kobayashi fans. And the guys next to us were all about Chestnut. I think me and the Hungry Sisters didn't care too much who won since we love them all! I mean, on one hand I have never seen Kobayashi win live, so I'd love to see him win, on another keeping the title in America is cool so I totally want Chestnut to win. But on my third and fourth hands I would die to see Pat Bertoletti or Tim Brown win it and do Chicago proud! So, in conclusion, I just want to see lots of people eat a lot of hot dogs!

The on stage entertainment was great as well. There was everything from a strong man to dancing dogs to music groups to the musical stylings of Badlands Booker himself!

Finally at noon the broadcast began! We watched Bunnettes dance and an ESPN reporter put hot dogs in a blender and drink them!

And then the competitors were announced and everyone took the stage...

As the giant Nathan's Famous clock counted down we all prepared for what surely would be an epic battle. And boy was it.

As soon as the clock ran down the eaters were off, hot dogs were dunked and stuffed and pressed and consumed. I had a good view of Tim Janus who seemed to be eating at a pace I'd never seen from him before. Joey and Kobayashi were pretty much neck and neck but with Joey always seemingly just that much ahead. I tried to keep up with my favorites Pat Bertoletti and Tim Brown, but unfortunately they were at the other end of the table and tough to see.

They ate. And ate. And ate. And then something completely crazy happened. Not only did Joey Chestnut break his ten-minute hot dog eating record from last year...he broke his twelve-minute record from the year before! With 68 hot dogs and buns Joey Chestnut won and edged out Kobayashi (who ate 64.5) for the third year in a row! Pat came in third with 55, which, by the way, just four years ago would probably have been enough to kill the competition. It's amazing the pace and capacity that has built up over these last few years!

After the competition I headed over to Ruby's where the eaters congregate after the contest. It was fun to catch up with the people I have met and I really do find it funny when I have conversations that go like:
Me: "Hi I'm Val."
Eater: "Wait, Val Bromann?"
I'm supposed to be following you, not the other way around! :-)

After drinking some beers that were just handed to me I headed back to the hotel, grabbed a pizza and Advil because by this point I had had almost nothing to eat, no caffeine and had a splitting headache. I ended up watching a few old contests on ESPN classic and then headed out to a bar for the after party.

It was tons of fun and I have to admit the fan girl in me was totally excited that I was sitting at a table in a bar with Kobayashi and Joey Chestnut. Totally. Joey's friend kept buying me drinks. Like, a lot of them. I know I had bought myself at least three. And I think he bought me at least three and two shots. I lost count. So I kind of felt bad when I ditched him to leave with Tim and his friends to go get food. But only kind of.

At maybe 2am or so we ended up going to get crepes at some crepe place. I had a smore crepe but...remember how I had like a million drinks? and remember how all I had had to eat was a piece of pizza? And remember how I have said countless times that I can't handle my alcohol? Well, I may have ended up throwing up in a garbage can outside. I figured though that it was OK. I mean Tim's a competitive eater so he's pretty much used to vomit. Right? Anyways, after feeling like a totally lame girl we went and ate hot dogs, because apparently a person who ate 30 hot dogs earlier in the day still feels the need for more! And then they dropped me off at my hotel.

And then I passed out. And that was my Fourth of July. And it kind of rocked.

View July 4th Hot Dog Eating Contest Photos here!

I hope Heather doesn't hate me for this one...

So I've decided to go this year without a 100 list. For the last two years I carefully crafted a list of things I wanted to do during the upcoming 12 months and tried desperately to accomplish them. This year I've decided to try and go without the list for a couple of reasons:

1. The fact that at the end of the year my list of more than half incomplete forces me to focus on my failures instead of my successes.

2. I'm hoping that I don't really need it.

I started the list as a way to kind of force me to do things. It's funny now when people tell me that I have a great life, because I never really think I do. But I used to do nothing and now I do things. And yes, that is great. I needed the list two years ago to force me into planning things and force me to actually go out and do the things I wanted and not just sit home alone all the time. But I'm hoping that I don't need that anymore. I'm hoping that I can just continue to do it.

What I am working on is a list of ONE THOUSAND things to do in my life. It's not done. And I suspect that it will not be complete for a very long time. But I will continually update that and hopefully continually cross things off. This list will focus on the big things I want to see and experience and accomplish. (Right now it is mostly travel with some things I want to learn and some foodie things thrown in). Here it is, about 50 things so far. I'll keep it (and you) updated.

I do have a couple of things that are on my list of things to do for the year. I have about 17 goals that I want to finish or work towards this year. I'm not publishing them all here, but if you want to know send me an email and I will probably tell you.

I am also apparently in a race with Walter over three of them: move, find a significant other, and gain (him)/lose (me) weight. It's on Walter. It's ON.

I hope everyone has a great 2009 and a Happy New Year! What do you want to accomplish this year?

(and sorry Heather, this means no more monthly updates for you.)