It’s not easy to get on a Santa Train, because these days, there is only one train instead of two, and it runs on different CTA lines at different times. Igor and I were discussing how we can get the girls on the train, and the only option seems to be to try to get on it after the Nutcracker, which was a little bit tight, even taking into account the usual holiday train delays. But then Igor realized that we could catch it in the opposite direction, when it departs from Howard, and take it to the Nutcracker instead.
The girls were impatient, so we left well in advance, and it turned out to be perfect, because there were picture-taking opportunities and tons of candy canes.
A line for pictures with Santa
Finally, the train doors were open, and we got inside (Igor joined us by then). It was super crowded, so even though we got the seats, it was difficult to see the rest of the car.
The ride took significantly longer than it would be on a regular train, but we still managed to get to the Nutcracker on time!
So, I have Nadia and Kira here with me for the first part of Christmas break, which means I do not have time for anything else :), so I will make a post tomorrow, when everyone leaves.
So far, we have done Santa Train, Christmas crafts, the Joffrey Nutcracker, the Art Institute, and cookie decorating. Next on our list is Christkindle Market and a holiday manicure :). And then early Christmas presents giving and the Merry Merry Chicago concert on Tuesday.
On Thursday, I got on the Santa Train, just because it happened to be one after the next train, and because the next train was so crowded that I almost couldn’t get on.
It was also super-crowded, but I really needed to get to my next destination, and an Elf reluctantly let me on when she saw an opening.
It became less crowded towards the end of the route, and an Elf started to move around the car and distribute candy canes.On that day, I actually had to go to the final stop, and had a chance to take a lot of Santa’s pictures
The picture below was taken on Friday, and that was a Fannie May holiday trolley:
And more presents – from Scotland and from Sweden:
The skating season this year is going to be very short, due to the rink closing in early February, and my two trips in between, and I am using any opportunity to go skating, including skating with a big crowd 🙂
On Tuesday, I took a whole box of non-decorated cookies, along with several tubes of icing and multiple containers of sprinkles, to the ODS for our traditional cookie-decorating session.
As I already mentioned, this year was not smooth, and I was not sure how many residents would be there, and how many would be interested (because there is always this balance between these teens being teens and being “too cool” for cookie decorating and not having enough fun when they were kids). So I started decorating with one of the girls, J., who is always ready to cook with me. Then one of the male residents joined and decorated a cookie, and said he was going to eat it. I asked to take a picture first:).
Then one staff member, J.L., joined, and she was not even trying to hide her excitement and enthusiasm :). And all of a sudden, the rest of the residents pulled up to the kitchen island, eager to participate. Some of them did a rather clumsy job, some – a very neat one, but everyone was creative:).
One of the relatively new residents, M, asked J.L.: if you could get anything in the world for Christmas, what would you wish for? And J.L., who is young, energetic and anything but sentimental, replied: If I could have anything in the world, I would want my grandma back! M. looked at her and said: You know, that’s what I would want, too! I would want my grandma back!
It struck me, since one more time, it reminded me about the life expectancy gap which everyone is talking about…
I said, that if I could get anything for Chirstmas, I would want the war i Ukraine stop, and Russians being out and never come back. They nodded: yes, they kill people, even children!
We kept talking about Christmas, and I mentioned Finland, and it turned out that most of them knew about Finland, and the “real Santa living there.” I told them about the snow that falls quietly, and about the granite crumbs used instead of salt on the roads, and mentioned how many people in the US don’t even know that Finland is a country. M stared at me in disbelief: Even I know! If many people don’t, I am seriously concerned!
Everyone loved how the cookies turned out. At some point, I thought I should have brought more cookies (I had more), but in the end, it was just the right number. Here is what was not eaten by the time I was ready to leave (as “too pretty to eat”):
.. and it was one of the best nights in the shelter I had this year!
I need to count how many total packages I have already mailed; I think it’s more than twenty. Even when I have more than half the addresses in the USPS address book, it still takes time to weigh the parcel, click “does not contain,” enter the dimensions, print the label, cut it out, and attach it. To be honest, when I did it at the kiosk during the after-hours in Palatine, it seemed faster! Or maybe I am getting older and becoming slower 😂.
The last batch was shipped yesterday:
And if you look closer, you will see one more small cookie tin in the background: I received a parcel from Kentucky!
One more angel – or is it a firebird? – on my tree!One more card over my fireplace!… and the cookies will mostly go to my girls 🙂
Shipping update:
Most of my US parcels have reached their destination
The total mailed is twenty-seven.
Also, there are(will be) five that I am passing, not mailing, because I will see people in person.
And so far, six more I gifted, plus I brought cookies to work twice.
I didn’t finish this post on Sunday, because I got the news about our neighbors, and with all understanding that life goes on, I couldn’t bring myself to finish. Now, I put the final touches on it and am ready to publish.
We had our Holiday Party on Saturday night, and it was held at the Geraghty, an innovative event space, converted from an old paper mill. I have only been to a corporate party at this job once, and it was so loud and hectic that I didn’t want to go after that.
This year, it was different. When I read the party description, I immediately wanted to go! The event description we received was as follows:
Event Timeline 7:00PM As our evening begins, enjoy elegant passed canapés and a glass of wine. Pick up your event map and set out to uncover the wonders hidden throughout the venue. Choose your first stop: The Kingdom of Ice, home to our exquisite raw bar and the captivating sounds of the Arctic Pianist, The Wizard’s Library, where you can sample imaginative elixirs at the Potion Station led by Chef Richie Farina, The Enchanted Forest, where you can feast at abundant food buffets and enjoy live entertainment throughout the night, or the Bullseye Pub & Darts, competing for your chance to win VIP festival tickets,
7:30PM Journey into the Enchanted Forest where lavish dinner buffets await. Grills blaze while the stream and stone evoke the quiet presence of a woodland brook. Flickering flames and forest-foraged flavors beckon you into a world where nature, earth, and magic converge.
9:30PM As dinner service winds down, delight in dainty passed sweets and indulge at the Yule Log Carvery in the Enchanted Forest. Visit the Dragon Hatchery in The Wizard’s Library for a sweet surprise.
10:30PM The night heats up as The LVB takes the stage in the Enchanted Forest. The darts competition wraps up in the Bullseye Pub & Darts, but free-play boards remain open for casual fun while you mingle.
11:00PM Recharge with savory late-night bites passed throughout the Enchanted Forest as anticipation builds for the night’s grand finale.
11:30PM Return to the stage in the Enchanted Forest where Spencer Ludwig ignites the dance floor with an electrifying performance.
1:00AM As our Holiday Party comes to a close, we hope you leave with memories every bit as magical as the night itself.
I knew I would not stay until 1 AM, and ideally not even until 11 PM, but I was hoping to catch the desserts, so I planned to leave after 10 -30 PM.
It was very cold, so I bundled up from top to bottom, including ski pants. We were told there would be a coat check, so I planned on it.
I took the Red Line and the bus there, and it took me about 1.5 hours from door to door, having timed everything as well as I could. Aside from time, it was a very good idea, and I liked taking bus #60.
The bus stopped just one block away from the venue.
I got it, and there were ten attendants at the coat check ready to pick up my things, but I told them it would take me a while to unbundle myself. Watching me take off the snowpants, a lady asked: Did you walk here? I replied: I used public transportation. She continued: You are brave! For which I replied; No, I just know how to use public transportation. It was especially appalling because it’s just an industrial neighborhood, not even something scary.
I didn’t post about our corporate party yet, although the post was almost finished, because it is still difficult to operate in a holiday mood after the tragedy that happened practically at home, but nevertheless, life continues.
Aside from the party, I spent the weekend decorating the cookies and baking additional batches. Saturday started with a trip to Jewel-Osco, the only store that still carries inexpensive plastic cookie boxes, which are not only affordable but also super light, which makes them perfect for shipping.
Also, I baked two kinds of gluten-free cookies, mostly to mail to our exiting team manager, whose wife has a severe gluten intolerance, but then I also had leftovers for others. I loved the GF flour I got this year, and will make sure to stick to it.
This weekend was record cold, down to negative in the mornings, and here is how my balcony door looked from inside – I thought it’s increadibly pretty:
To my surprise, the lake was not frozen!
Also, I received one more international package, this time from Ireland:
The new ornament is already on the tree!And the chocolate awaits 🙂
Yesterday, I was busy finishing baking cookies, packing, and preparing them for shipping. I was very cold, but sunny, and I felt happy staying inside in my beautifully decorated home, surrounded by the smells of baked cookies. I was thinking that overall life is good, and my crazy time at work is about to be over, and how lucky and fortunate I am.
Then I saw a message onmy phone. It was from onw of our condominium board members, and he asked me to call him back.
When I dialed, he said: I have some sad news for you. Then he told me, that one of our neigbors – an absolutely lovely couple in their 40s with no kids and two beautiful dogs were in the car crash. The husband passed away and the wife was in critical condition in the hospital.
And that was it.
I still can’t process these news. Can’t conprehend them. We were not close friends, but we saw each other several times a week, and their “Hi Hettie” was one of these things which are “always here,” and make our community the way it is.
I don’t know why New Zealand is the closest place to Chicago in the whole world, but my New Zealand Christmas present always arrives first, without fail!
Hettie's Reflections 