Maybe the worst week of my working life is over. I can't even go into all the crap that is going on in my office except to say that a large number of attorneys decided to take an early retirement buy out, we are being reorganized, I am losing my boss of 2 1/2 year and getting an off-site boss, and the work load is about to double as they are not replacing the people who left (who were all our most experienced trial attorneys.)

But it's Saturday, and the last weekend before Christmas, and I have calmed down enough to get revved up for the holidays.

Besides the regular Christmas chores, we are celebrating Julia's 13th birthday tomorrow with a family party (she graciously agreed to postpone the friends' party until January). I was only going to have a cake, but then I felt badly that her birthday gets short shrift - after all, she was due on the 27th and it's not her fault she came a week early.

 

She requested cup cakes because she doesn't like cake, so I made about 50 cupcakes: 1/3 devil's food; 1/3 white with confetti in the batter; and 1/3 yellow. The devil's food will get 7 minute frosting tomorrow; the yellow will get mocha buttercream, and the confetti will get plain butter cream with sprinkles. Then i made about 10 pounds of breaded chicken cutlets which I am serving along with penne with vodka sauce and salad. Lastly, I made the dough for two batches of gingerbread cookies. It is my dear aunt's recipe and she used to make probably twenty batches at Christmas and give us all our fill for at least the last 30 years of her life. The kids really miss it (and the grown ups too). I'm too tired to roll, cut, and bake tonight, so I just decided to roll them out and bake tomorrow, then have the kids decorate them at the party.

 

We were going to drive into NYC and see the lights and the tree, but saner and tireder heads prevailed and we ordered sushi. Now I am going to read my new book, PD James, The Murder Room, and collapse on my bed with a cup of tea.

 

I hope you are all relaxing with your feet up or dancing at a party, your choice!