Christmas Gifts

I have spent all day baking brownies and would love to share them with all of you. This is the only way I can. Merry Christmas. Myretta's Brownies Ingredients: 1 # bittersweet chocolate 1/2 # (2 sticks) unsalted butter 1/3 cup strong brewed coffee 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar 4 large eggs at room temperature 1/2 cup flour 2 cups chopped walnuts (optional) Preheat oven to 375 Line 9 x 13 inch pan with double layer of aluminum foil with 2 inches extending over ends. Butter foil. Melt chocolate, butter and coffee in top of double boiler over hot (not simmering) water (you can also do this in a microwave). Let cool for 10 minutes. Beat eggs with electric beater on high until frothy. Slowly beat in sugar. Continue beating on high for 2 minutes. Reduce beater speed to low and add chocolate. Do not overbeat. Stir in flour with wooden spoon. Stir in nuts. Bake for 28 - 32 minutes until toothpick inserted in center comes out with moist crumbs attached. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cover with aluminum foil and refrigerate over night (or at least 8 hours). Using aluminum foil lift out of pan. Peel off foil. Cut into square. Buy 1 gallon of milk. Enjoy *the better the chocolate, the better the brownies. I try to make these with Callebaut bittersweet. **these are pretty gooey and should be refrigerated. You can also eat them right out of the freezer.

Thanks, M...I'll make them when I get home! ;)

I am going away tomorrow until Jan. 4/5th. We are driving to Adelaide - a journey of about 14 hours - to see family and friends, and indulge in some sea-bathing. I will probably not be in touch unless I can hijack a computer somewhere along the way (like when everyone is snoozing after Christmas dinner. You will all be in my mind, and I will miss you. I enjoy your company vastly. My love to you for a very happy Christmas and New year.

Have a pleasant ride across the outback, Hilary. And Merry Christmas to you too.

I just recieved this from my pastor (a big-time computer geek- it's his fault that I'm on line and am with you all, so blame him!) and thought you all might get a chuckle from it. The twelve days of Christmas for the politically correct: On the 12th day of the Eurocentrically imposed midwinter festival, my Significant Other in a consenting adult, monogamous relationship gave to me, TWELVE males reclaiming their inner warrior through ritual drumming, ELEVEN pipers piping (plus the 18-member pit orchestra made up of members in good standing of the Musicians Equity Union as called for in their union contract even though they will not be asked to play a note), TEN melanin deprived testosterone-poisoned scions of the patriarchal ruling class system leaping, NINE persons engaged in rhythmic self-expression, EIGHT economically disadvantaged female persons stealing milk-products from enslaved Bovine-Americans, SEVEN endangered swans swimming on federally protected wetlands, SIX enslaved Fowl-Americans producing stolen non-human animal products, FIVE golden symbols of culturally sanctioned enforced domestic incarceration, (NOTE: after members of the Animal Liberation Front threatened to throw red paint at my computer, the calling birds, French hens and partridge have been reintroduced to their native habitat. To avoid further Animal-American enslavement, the remaining gift package has been revised.) FOUR hours of recorded whale songs THREE deconstructionist poets TWO Sierra Club calendars printed on recycled processed tree carcasses AND a Spotted Owl activist chained to an old-growth pear tree.

Thanks, Cheryl. I'm going to pass it on.

I just found a special collector's gift set from "Sense and Sensibility" at the Videoflicks web site. The address is: http://www.videoflicks.com/VF/99/999952.htm

From: Dan Galvin Subject: Thought for Friday, Dec 08, 1995 Urgent: Famous Reindeer Terminated The recent announcement that Donner and Blitzen have elected to take the early reindeer retirement package has triggered a good deal of concern about whether they will be replaced, and about other restructuring decisions at the North Pole. Streamlining is due to the North Pole's loss of dominance of the season's gift distribution business. Home shopping channels and mail order catalogues have diminished Santa's market share. He could not sit idly by and permit further erosion of the profit picture. The reindeer downsizing was made possible through the purchase of a late model Japanese sled for the CEO's annual trip. Improved productivity from Dasher and Dancer, who summered at the Harvard Business School, is anticipated. Reduction in reindeer will also lessen airborne environmental emissions for which the North Pole has received unfavorable press. I am pleased to inform you that Rudolph's role will not be disturbed. Tradition still counts for something at the North Pole. Management denies, in the strongest possible language, the earlier leak that Rudolph's nose got that way, not from the cold, but from substance abuse. Calling Rudolph "a lush who was into the sauce and never did pull his share of the load" was an unfortunate comment, made by one of Santa's helpers and taken out of context at a time of year when he is known to be under executive s ress. As a further restructuring, today's global challenges require the North Pole to continue to look for better, more competitive steps. Effective immediately, the following economy measures are to take place in the "Twelve Days of Christmas" subsidiary: - The partridge will be retained, but the pear tree never turned out to be the cash crop forecasted. It will be replaced by a plastic hanging plant, providing considerable savings in maintenance; - The two turtle doves represent a redundancy that is simply not cost effective. In addition, their romance during working hours could not be condoned. The positions are therefore eliminated; - The three French hens will remain intact. After all, everyone loves the French; - The four calling birds were replaced by an automated voice mail system, with a call waiting option. An analysis is underway to determine who the birds have been calling, how often and how long they talked; - The five golden rings have been put on hold by the Board of Directors. Maintaining a portfolio based on one commodity could have negative implications for institutional investors. Diversification into other precious metals as well as a mix of T-Bills and high technology stocks appear to be in order; - The six geese-a-laying constitutes a luxury which can no longer be afforded. It has long been felt that the production rate of one egg per goose per day is an example of the decline in productivity. Three geese will be let go, and an upgrading in the selection procedure by personnel will assure management that from now on every goose it gets will be a good one; - The seven swans-a-swimming is obviously a number chosen in better times. The function is primarily decorative. Mechanical swans are on order. The current swans will be retrained to learn some new strokes and therefore enhance their outplacement; - As you know, the eight maids-a-milking concept has been under heavy scrutiny by the EEOC. A male/female balance in the workforce is being sought. The more militant maids consider this a dead-end job with no upward mobility. Automation of the process may permit the maids to try a-mending, a-mentoring or a-mulching; - Nine ladies dancing has always been an odd number. This function will be phased out as these individuals grow older and can no longer do the steps; - Ten Lords-a-leaping is overkill. The high cost of Lords plus the expense of international air travel prompted the Compensation Committee to suggest replacing this group with ten out-of-work congressmen. While leaping ability may be somewhat sacrificed, the savings are significant because we expect an oversupply of unemployed congressmen this year; - Eleven pipers piping and twelve drummers drumming is a simple case of the band getting too big. A substitution with a string quartet, a cutback on new music and no uniforms will produce savings which will drop right down to the bottom line; We can expect a substantial reduction in assorted people, fowl, animals and other expenses. Though incomplete, studies indicate that stretching deliveries over twelve days is inefficient. If we can drop ship in one day, service levels will be improved. Regarding the lawsuit filed by the attorney's association seeking expansion to include the legal profession ("thirteen lawyers-a-suing") action is pending. Lastly, it is not beyond consideration that deeper cuts may be necessary in the future to stay competitive. should that happen, the Board will request management to scrutinize the Snow White Division to see if seven dwarfs is the right number. Happy Holidays!

CAN YOU NAME THESE CHRISTMAS SONGS? The following Christmas carols were written by government officials. Can you guess the original titles? 1. Move hitherward the entire assembly of those who are loyal in their belief 2. Embellish interior passageways 3. Vertically challanged adolescent percussionist 4. Natal celebration devoid of color as a hallucinatory phenomenon for me 5. Majestic triplet referred to in the first person plural 6. Twelve o'clock on a clement night witnessed its arrival 7. Soundless nocturnal period 8. The Yuletide occurance preceding all others 9. Precious metal musical devices 10. Omnipotent supreme being who elicits respite to ecstatic distinguished males 11. Caribou with vermillion oilfactory appendage 12. Allow crystalline formations to descend, allow crystalline formations to descend, allow crystalline formations to descend 13. Jovial yuletide desired for the second person singular or plural by us 14. Bipedal traveling through an amazing acreage during the period between December 21st and March 21st 15. Exclamitory remark concerning a diminuative municipality in Judea southwest of Jerusalem

This is my gift- to be sung to the tune of *If I had a million dollars* by Barenaked Ladies, a group with a truly Canadian sense of humour. For *I I H A M D* , read- If I had a million dollars. If I had a million dollars, (I I H A M D ) I'd buy you a house (A great big house with a swimming pond.) If I had a million dollars, (I I H A M D ) I'd buy furniture for your house,(A chippendale table or an ottoman) I I H A M D (I I H A M D ) I'd buy you a nice carriage- a barouche-box or a phaeton. I I H A M D I'd buy your love. I I H A M D I'd build a wilderness in your yard. I I H A M D You could help, it wouldn't be that hard. I I H A M D Maybe we could put an orangery in there. Wouldn't that be fabulous? I I H A M D (I I H A M D ) I'd buy you a fur muff, (but not a real fur muff, that's cruel) I I H A M D ( I I H A M D ) I'd buy you an exotic pet (like a Knightly, or a Darcy!) I I H A M D (I I H A M D) I'd buy you your own Tapes, (a complete set, and all the books too!) I I H A M D We wouldn't have to walk in the mud. I I H A M D We' take the horses,it's more fun! I I H A M D We wouldn't have to eat Kraft Dinner. But we would- in between the white soup and the roast partridge, I I H A M D (I I H A M D ) I'd buy you a green dress (muslin and lace, and a garnet necklace) I I H A M D (I I H A M D) I'd buy you some Art,like your picture done by Gainsborough. I I H A M D (I I H A M D) I'd buy you a grand piano (havn't you always wanted a piano?) I I H A M D (I I H A M D) I I H A M D (I I H A M D) We'd be Rich!

Barenaked Ladies--very cool Caroline. Are you from Canada?

My body language gave me away,eh?Yup, I'm calling from the land of Labbatt's Blue and Hockey, Hockey, Hockey! But I was born in Hongkong, raised in England (Hampshire, actually), lived in Germany, France and around the Med, so marrying a Canadian seemed a logical thing to do. And since we are being personal, may I enquire as to your location?No Canadian Rebecca of my acquaintance would call herself Becks. We are most particular about such matters as these.Only Beckys in the colony (Colin-y?)Becks sounds like a Britishism to my ears(now, be careful or I'll get homesick again.)

Today, we exchanged Christmas gifts at work. My friend Ron gave me a book called "Jane Austen In Style" by Susan Watkins. I have only had a chance to glance through it. I am at work, after all. But it looks like fun. It's a description, with lots of pictures, of society, houses, interior styles, fashion and entertainment during the later decades of the 18th century. It's published by Thames and Hudson in 1996. ISBN 0-500-27900-4. Myretta

I just received a very clever custom electronic Christmas greeting from Matthew which was created at the following site: http://www.inet-images.com/nad/greeting/ Check it out - it is very user-friendly and is a free service; it provides graphics that you can select and use or permits you to use a graphic of your own making (or stealing) by using its URL.

There's supposed to be another one of these greeting card sites at: http://holidays.traveltex.com

I'm from Toronto, dearest. Where exactly are you? (Becks is a nickname given to me by my friends.)

Just posted this on another thread because I didn't realize we had this one. So to repeat, has anyone read this book which I received for Christmas from my older daughter: "Jane Austen, A Family Record" by Williams Austen-Leigh and Richard Arthur Austen-Leigh and Revised and Enlarged by Dierdre Le Faye. It's a Barnes and Noble book 1996. Would appreciate hearing how it is rated by others.

How do folks rate the Penguin compilation? Is this the best compilation of Jane Austen's works?

Mary, the book Jane Austen, A Family Record by Williams Austen-Leigh and Richard Arthur Austen-Leigh, Revised and Enlarged by Dierdre Le Faye, is the standard "family-approved", comprehensive, and factual biography. There are a lot of other biographies, but most of them aren't so comprehensive in dealing with all the possible source documents, and are often more "interpretive"...

Terry, the Oxford Chapman edition is the traditional standard edition, but the Oxford World Classics and Penguin books are more or less the same (footnoted scholarly editions, edited from the appropriate early printings or original manuscripts). There's also the Norton Critical Editions, but they don"t cover all of Jane Austen's writings yet, I think...

HC - I appreciate your response, you have helped whet my historical appetite. I'll try to let you know how I like the book. I am reading Northanger Abbey at the moment and my reading time is somewhat precious so I don't always move through a volume very rapidly.

I have the Penguin edition, and my only problem with it is that the print is much too small. I like to use it as a reference, as I have the novels separately. It is good only as a reference and I do not think it is annotated. I don't have it with me know, but I did read P&P in the compendium. Hope that helps. Laura

Can you believe after close to 3 months I stumbled on your Bare-Naked-Ladies-like song Caroline. Cannot believe I've missed it! It's just wonderful. For those who want to know what they sound like, here's McDonald's Girl : http://www.nfld.com/~craig/gp/mm/mcd-girl.wav