Christmas Season

December 19, 2011
I go to the mall. I spend a decent amount of time there, almost 4-5 hours. I actually don’t get much done though. I get a sweater for grandma. I return some clothes I bought online that were too big. After so much time in the mall, I realize how hard it is for me to shop. Small guy like me who wears clothes that fit tight and well, things need to be XS. There are people my size, so I just blame it on Americans being larger or more importantly, wearing loose fitting clothing so they look like idiots.
My brother got me a very cool sweater that “peel” open across the chest, but even Urban Outfitters’ Small was a bit too long on the arms. I returned it, got credit, and now went to buy something with it. I end up getting this sick ass (faux) leather jacket. As Charlie from Always Sunny would say, “That is baaaad ass.” I’ve been on their site, and it feels like H&M, they just put their ugly shit for sale because no one will buy it.
Bolanos actually feels bad about the weird cigarette thing from Saturday and stops by to drop off two packs. Yeah, that was completely unnecessary for him to do and I’m really completely over it.

December 20, 2011
I’m obviously trying to be productive these days and get shit done with my break. However, my sleep is weird and end up sleeping for about 12 hours until 2-3PM. I chat with Ela a bit who got my present, but hasn’t opened it yet. Good traditions. I then run some errands. I go to mail this camera I sold on eBay. My mom got it for free and it was pretty shit. Gotta invest in a decent one.
I then go to Filene’s Basement, which is closing. I spend most of my time in the basement, which is basically shoes. Actually, it’s all pretty empty except for the racks and display things. They’re actually selling those. Jeez, this place really is liquidating. The shoe area is a fucking mess. It’s been picked apart by what seems like hounds, boxes empty, boxes with one shoe, one shoe there, one shoe there, hardly pairs together.
I try to pick through the stuff and see there are Cons and some cool ones too. Shit’s all mad cheap by the way (50% off). Unfortunately, they just have huge sizes, so I end up buying a pair for Bola. Just too cheap not to get it for him. He needs shoes anyway, kid’s always out with the same shit.
I end up getting two pair. One brown a bit booty looking. Another straight black, slick looking/a bit dressy.
We don’t end up doing anything for the night because Atron is done with law school, but has a flight to Aruba in the morning.

December 22, 2011
I go into the city after brunch with the family. I meet up with Evan because he’s in the city. We go to the American Apparel warehouse sale. I don’t end up getting anything, shopping for me is the worst. Size issues, etc. etc. We then grab a bite at City Bakery. We split up while I go to Uniqlo and spend an hour there, also not getting anything.
I then go to Rockefeller Center to take some pictures of the tree and to get a macaron at La Maison Du Chocolat. I meet back up with Evan, we take the train back, and then go to Juliebelle’s for dinner. He splits, I meet up with Kenny, Miah, and Erdem at BHT for a little bit.

December 23, 2011
We make it a lazy night and Scott, CNF, and Bolanos go to my basement bar to chill. CNF’s first night back here for the break.

December 24, 2011
It’s a long day today for me because I’m making the feast for everyone. I brined the turkey the night before. I made cake batter for these gingersnap cookies. I then place this caramel/fruity Mexican candy that my mother got as a gift on the cookies. It actually works out pretty well giving more sweetness and texture to the cookie.
It’s pretty much an entire operation from 11AM to 6:30PM, no breaks and also with the help of my grandmother. There’s a cream of mushroom soup that I wish was a bit thicker, but still turned out well.
Then there was a pretty good mac n’ cheese with a BBQ potato chip topping. The topping didn’t taste like BBQ, but the potato chip crunchy topping is a great idea. I did Brussels sprouts, which I didn’t really end up liking too much. I cooked it with bacon and a splash of balsamic then finished olive oil. Next time, I would cook it more to cut the bitterness and also cut it in half so more flavors can get into it.
The turkey was made with lemon, rosemary, garlic butter under the skin. The turkey turned out alright though maybe it could’ve been cooked less so it would be less dry. I usually cook a sick gravy, but this time it didn’t turn out too well. Ramsay’s recipe called for the entire lemon that I cooked in the turkey to be cut up into the gravy. However, this just make the gravy super bitter because the peel is basically inedible. Next time, I’ll just skip that part. I do like the way he makes it though. You use the unused bits of the turkey as the pan, which is deglazed. No extra fat is added, but it still has chunks of turkey and onion. Apple cider vinegar can lighten the flavor.
The sweet potato with marshmallows turned out pretty well. I also like the machego gougeres I made. One batch had rosemary and the other had Spanish pimenton.
My mom ends up coming home with an iPhone, which I’m too busy to deal with while I’m cooking. It’s nice finally getting into the 21st century and have a new phone.
For dessert, Hasan brought a pie as well as some champagne. Bolanos makes the rookie mistake of drinking a heavy 14% alcohol beer with the meal. He’s literally passing out and it’s barely 9:00. Him and Hasan end up going home, whereas the champs, CNF and I go with Miah and Kenny to Astoria.
We go to Sweet Afton and see Jeff Cohen from high school. I mention how I saw him in college at a Gym Glass Heroes show in Rochester. He’s very kind and walks up to chat with us for a bit. We catch up with him and he tells us that he now has a fiancé. After some delicious beverages at Sweet Afton, we go to Studio Square which is closed. After a quick stop at Irish Rover, we call it a night.

December 25, 2011
I can’t seem to get people to do stuff tonight. I was excited to go into the city for Christmas, but it turns out that only Scott and Jon are going in, but they’re also staying in the city. I’m not really in the mood to be freezing cold and have to take the trip home myself, so I just stay in. Turns out that Bolanos and Hasan are free, so we go to Astoria after finding out that BHT is closed. We go to Irish Rover, which is also closed, but find a place called MexiQ. It’s mostly a restaurant, but actually has a sick beer menu. I get a winter wheat, which is delicious. I then get a pumpkin beer, which is the best I’ve had so far.

December 28, 2011
We meet up with Jon and Tom at Coalyard Bar. We then go to Tile Bar, which is a place we always walk by. It’s a very cool and chill dive bar. Man, there are so many great bars in this area and we found a new one.
We then go to Cienfuegos. We go through two punch bowls and Tom and Miah take the 1:19 back. Bolanos and I man up because it’s our break and have nothing to do during our break. We go to Sophie’s and Jon gets an announcement that Peel is one of the best designs. It’s great to hear the good news for him. I’m proud of our boy.
That’s about the night pretty much. It’s good to be out finally in the city. Bolanos actually asks when the last time I got drunk and I feel I did that tonight.