Howdy True Be-loggers - Welcome to a very snowy edition of Sunday Leftovers. For those readers not in the American east coast, we got hit with 20+ inches of snow. Since you are all watching Jersey Shore you probably think New Jersey is a year round Guido paradise... not so much. While this is one of the biggest snowfalls in recent memory, Jersey still gets cold. With that in mind there is nothing in my god-damn fridge this week because we didn't go to the stores to get supplies - so I am reaching deep to find what is left over.
[The Back Window]
CREDIT: No idea - but I will love them forever for taking this picture
CREDIT: James Brown - "Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto"
[X-Mas]
Since the snowy weather has everyone talking about a "White Christmas" and it took me 4 hours to shovel 40 ft of driveway, it is time to put on my Grinch cap and restart my anti-X-Mas rant.
REMINDER (from past rants): If you are wondering why I am calling "Christmas" X-Mas, it is quite simple: There is no Judeo-Christian origin for what is occurring this time of year. Christ was not born in December - it was most likely March or April. Christmas was picked in December due to the Romans merging Christianity with the Pagan belief system. December 22-24 is the Winter Solstice which I have read was one hell of a party in ancient times. When Christianity became the flavor of the century, they renamed the old gods saints and changed the Pagan celebrations into Christ-friendly versions. So anybody who says we need to keep the "Christ" in Christmas needs to shut the fuck up.
From a strictly economic perspective I am pro X-Mas. The X-Mas time period keeps small family run retail stores open - they make most of their money this time of year. For that reason alone, I am in favor of this ridiculous pastime. My cold evil heart is also melting a little bit for the kids. Seeing my cousin's three year old freak the hell out for the tree is a heart-warming site. With that said, I am tired of everything else. I don't have kids and I don't want to decorate my house. When I have kids, I will buy into the bullshit, but for now, I should be able to enjoy my quiet time. Nope. The wife calls me the king of the Grinches and I can see my neighbors looking at me funny so the lights and the tree come out. Thankfully I am not up on the ladder yet, but I know my time is coming....
My main issue is the presents. I am a generous dude - I gift people up year round when they are in need, stressed out, or because I see something I know they will like. I feel a ton of pressure right now to find meaningful gifts for everyone in my circle and it is totally overwhelming. I am sure you are saying "just keep those gifts you buy until Christmas". No. I am not a storage house and if I see something for someone I think they should use it now. Fuck waiting. Plus the thing might not work and then I can't return it. The Italian in me says just to give money. Which works, but I am getting to the point that an exchange of dollars seems somewhat insincere.
SIDE STORY: My buddy calls me this week asking my opinion on a gadget he bought for his wife. There are a few versions of this tool, but it is all still first generation stuff and pretty expensive. I suggest to him that the first generation tech + the kids + the questionable support model at the moment - he should return it, which he accepted but he was so worried about what to buy his wife. I told him to chill out, keep the money in the bank and wait for something she really wants. That simple. My wife said she needed something recently and it was something she could use during this time of year, so I bought her want she needed. But if that didn't come up, I would have just said - Your gift will be the next trip we having coming up (which with this weather will be quite soon).
Couple that need for sincerity with this manufactured "X-mas spirit" that greeting cards and Coca-Cola (The modern version of Santa Claus with the red hat was invented for Coca-Cola in the 1930's - hence the red and white color scheme) have created to make you go out and buy more shit and my head explodes. But that takes me back to the whole "go out and buy stuff for the small business so they keep their doors open" and we are back to square one.
Fuck you X-mas.
[Recipe of the Week: Beef Stew Too]
I know I have done a beef stew recipe somewhere before, so I am calling this #2. It was easier than the last one that I can't really remember doing.... I don't mess around with flour because I think it kills the flavor. Everyone really liked this version.
INGREDIENTS:
2 lbs of beef chunks (the store sells them chunked - you don't need a super great cut since it will be cooking for a few hours)
6 Cups Beef Stock
3 Cups Water
6 carrots (cut any way you like them - I do 1 inch pieces)
Half a stock of celery
2 large Spanish onions
3 bulbs of garlic - crushed, diced - any way you like it
2 Tablespoons of Worcestershire Sauce
1 small can of tomato paste
SEASONING PACK
2 bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon of sage
1/2 teaspoon of thyme
1 teaspoon of oregano
2 Tablespoons of Sea Salt (you can add more or less to taste)
1 Tablespoon of black pepper
DIRECTIONS
1. In a large soup pot, splash some olive oil in the pot, heat it up, and add the meat chunks. Allow it to brown.
2. Remove the beef and then add the onions, allow them to cook for a few minutes (soaking up all the beef juice).
3. Add the garlic, carrots, and celery. Let that all cook down for 5 minutes - give it an occasional stir.
4. Add the tomato paste and mix it in well
5. Add the Beef Stock, Water, the seasoning pack and Worcestershire Sauce and bring it to a boil.
6. Add the beef back and drop down to a simmer.
7. Allow it to cook for an hour (up to 90 minutes).
8. Take the bay leaves out.
[DIY of the Week: Cardboard Laptop Stand]
In a pinch and don't have the means to get to the store to buy a stand? Check out this surprisingly study laptop stand:
Green Upgrader: Cardboard Laptop Stand
[Random Coolness: Hobbit House]
I have always had an odd fascination with underground houses. I am not a huge Lord of the Rings fan (the movies were awesome, the books were written poorly - Yes I said it) but this house (whether it was inspired by LOTR or not) is fucking awesome:
Inhabitat.com: Hobbit House?
NOTE: The picture about is hosted and provided by Inhabitat.com - control freak Joey normally downloads the pictures, but I felt I shouldn't for this one, so if it disappears, blame them :-)
[Video of the Week]
In keeping with my pissing on the religion origins of X-Mas, here is a Secular song that was donated to WorldVision.com (Charity that gets third world countries self-sustaining supplies like livestock)
[Conclusion]
Okay, I have pissed on your beliefs enough today (and I am really cold). I actually wrote a few more things for this week's blog that I am going to break out and make their own articles. I will spread them out throughout the the week. If you need to reach me, you can do so via email at: "blog at joeylombardi.com". As always, don't take shit from anybody.
Smell You Later,
~ Joey
Joey Lombardi | Create Your Badge
