Well, it’s that time again…CHRISTMAS!  I love the season and it doesn’t really totally hit me until I am done finals.  I am done finals!  It feels so good to say that.  I even got one of my marks back and I was pleasantly surprised.  I won’t brag about my mark, but it was awesome (snicker). 

Anyways, back to the topic at hand.  Christmas present shopping is one of my favorite things to do.  Scratch that.  Thinking up what I will buy for people for Christmas presents is the best.  The shopping-for-something-I-invented-in-my-head is a little tougher.  I just love the moment when you hand the loved one the present when you know they are going to love it. 

So far I have celebrated Sinterklass (St. Nicholas) on Dec. 5 with Arne’s family.  I think the gifts were a hit.  An aerator for Arne’s Dad, a crocheted scarf and gift card for his Mom, and a corduroy blazer with elbow patches for my husband in pursuit of academic happiness.  Now I have my Mom’s name for Christmas.  I went out today (yes it is already uncomfortably busy at the mall) to look for a few things.  Found one, still looking for other parts.  Mom, did you really think I would spill the beans, I know you read this, hahaha! 

So, the moral of the story is, if the malls are too busy and you want to give something to someone that will make more than one person happy…

A $50 donation to Right To Play provides one child with one year of regular sport and play programming. With your help this holiday season Right To Play can reach even more children. Donations to Right To Play’s holiday campaign, can be made at www.righttoplay.ca

That was a little cheesy, but seriously this is a cool gift for the person who has everything.  Check out the link under my favourite links.

It’s been a while, but I finally took some new pics of dinner the other night.  This is another one of our favourites.  I’m always in the mood for pasta when it is chilly outside.  Guess, it’s just one of those comfort food for me.  We ate Arne’s favorite comfort food this week too.  It’s a Dutch specialty called Boerenkool (mashed potatoes mixed with kale, with sausage and hot mustard on the side - Yum!).  Back to the recipe at hand… This one is barely a recipe, but that is why it is so good and very easy.

Fusili or some type of twisty or curled pasta (so all the good stuff gets stuck in it)

a clamshell of small tomatoes (grape or cherry)

fresh buffalo mozzarella balls

fresh basil

garlic

salt and pepper

canola oil (or whatever oil you have on hand)

Ok, so boil the pasta in salted water.  Don’t overcook it because then it will all fall apart with the sauce.  For the sauce, pour a couple tablespoons of oil in a pan.  Cut the tomatoes in half and place them cut side down into the oil.  Simmer until they become very soft.  When soft and smelling delicious, squish them down with a fork.  Voila, a fresh tomato sauce.  Add some garlic and salt and pepper.  While the sauce is simmering, cut or tear the mozzarella and basil into a big pasta dish.  (We got a pretty cool one from the Mollison’s for our wedding - Thanks!)  When the pasta is done, drain it and pour it over the basil and mozzarella in the dish.  Finally, pour the sauce over, mix and enjoy!  The cheese gets melty and it tastes super fresh.  A nice thing in the winter when everything ends up getting cooked to mush.

Why does it always seem like you didn’t learn a single thing right before the most important test of the semester!  Arg!  I just finished writing a 20 page paper for child development and now am studying for my phonetics final.  I am trying to match spectrograms to words.  Bet that doesn’t make too much sense to you and it sure it not making a lot of sense to me either at the moment.  Good thing I have my blog to vent and take a breather from all this mental anguish!  Ok, I feel better now - back to work…

This is a spectrogram - now you know what I mean

If you follow this blog you will already know that I fell at trials and won’t be competing in the Fall World Cups.  Boo-erns!  But I just got some good news.  The next best thing to racing in the world cup is racing directly before.  That is precisely what I will be doing.  I will be fore-running on Friday for the 500m.  Basically, I just race 1 minute before the races start,  in order to test the timing system.  It will feel like I am in the competition, which is good for practising the feeling of a big comp.

Just a reminder that the 4th speed skating World Cup will be held at the Olympic Oval this friday to Sunday.  You can check out details at http://www.speedsk8.ca/.  It’s a fun family event, so come cheer on Canada!