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Santa's sleigh was packed and ready to go and the long awaited day was here! The elves got a day off to hit the links, and 13 of them showed up at Mt. Si Golf Course at 8:30 AM on Christmas Eve morning for good fellowship and rock hard greens. This included eight BBRC members and five friends and family members in Tom Helbing's elf posse.
The first group of Santa's helpers teed off on the frozen ground at 29°F and watched as the sun turned the day into a balmy and crystal clear 41°, causing many to take off at least one layer of clothing, or perhaps two. Some of these elves looked like they could have just as easily gone on up I-90 to the Summit for a day of skiing. The elves received discounted greens fees by bring non-perishable food items for the Mt. Si food bank.
Pictures of the elves do not include elf Norm (behind the camera) and elf Cary (grounded by a "honey-do" list of sleigh packing that was a bit too long for him to enjoy the fellowship of this annual outing.)
Former longtime BBRC member Wally Mahoney and his wife Bernadette recently sent photos from their holiday trip to Colonial Williamsburg, VA, letting themselves "go back in time."
Wally & Bernadette Mahoney
- We took a 3-day trip to Williamsburg and had a guided tour of the public and private decorations, given by an interpreter who has lived all his life in the town and has many anecdotes about growing up there.
- The decorations are extensive, although you will recall the early Virginians didn't really celebrate Christmas. Decorations are made from such items as oranges, apples, pomegranates, artichokes, and even clam shells. One decoration relied heavily on okra. Another decoration made on a piece of plywood, with nails stuck in it to hold apples and a pineapple had to be refurbished almost daily, because the squirrels like the apples.
- The high point was Thomas Jefferson's talk and Q/A about issues of the time and today. The interpreter looked the part, and spoke eloquently about slavery, the militia, equal rights in education, the banking system and other issues which were important to his constituents from Albemarle County.
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Courtesy of Phil Salvatori
HOLIDAY EATING TIPS
1. Avoid carrot sticks.
Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the holiday spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.
2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare.
You cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!
3. If something comes with gravy, use it.
That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.
4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk.
If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.
5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating.
The whole point of going to a Holiday party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it.
6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's.
You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.
7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge.
Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.
8. Same for pies ... apple, pumpkin, mincemeat.
Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?
9. Did someone mention fruitcake?
Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.
10. If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention.
Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.
