The 11th Hour

And the question that's on everyone's lips these days...

Are you ready for Christmas?

Do You Hear What I Hear?

It's beginning to sound a lot like Christmas...

Okay, so maybe that isn't really how the song goes. But everywhere you turn, it really does sound like Christmas. From the stores packed with holiday shoppers, mindlessly humming Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer as they search for the latest bargains, to the always present, never overdone Hershey's commercial wishing you a Merry Christmas in the form of little ringing kiss shaped bells, Christmas songs are everywhere.

Now if you're in the Chicago area, you know it's sounded like Christmas since November 1, thanks to the Lite's mission of overwhelming the listening area with the sounds of the season before we've even polished off the last of the Halloween candy. They've been decking the halls and rockin' around the Christmas tree before the first flakes of snow even fell. But you really know it's Christmas when the rock stations start busting out their versions of the holiday standards, whittling down your resistance to the sounds of the season with each additional chord.

Love them or hate them, Christmas carols are a quintessential part of the holiday season. What songs never fail to bring a smile to your face this time of year?

I'm dreaming of a ... ?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. We all know you want world peace. That's a given. But what do you reallllly want? And don't say, "I want a million dollars so I can be independently wealthy and never have to work again." So do we.

'Fess up. When you're bored in your monthly staff meetings and daydreaming about all of the possibilities, what do you imagine is waiting for you under the Christmas tree on Christmas morning?

We need a little Christmas!

Sorry, sorry... we've been slacking here at Two Peas. Sickness, busy-ness, just plain blah-ness. Since I received my first piece of hate mail yesterday (thanks for the reminder, sunshinesams!), I figured it was time to get off my bum and come up with a question. A Pea has been very patient with me, and for that, I am grateful. :)

We know we have lots of lurkers out there, so I'm dragging you out of lurkdom today! This is a question in which everyone can participate! If you read the blog, you must answer!

Since the creative juices are not flowing today, I'll launch right into it:

What is on your Christmas list this year? (This is realistic now... tomorrow, we'll think bigger!)

How do I love thee...?

[rriinngg]
"It's a great day at Two Peas in a QOD, this is T Pea! How can I help you?"
Silence.
"Hello?"
"Ms. Pea, I have your family."
"Excuse me?"
"I have your family. If you want to see them again, you need to come to the corner of Lincolnway and Washington immediately."
[Click.]

Lincolnway and Washington? What's at the corner of Lincolnway and Washington? Did Gil kidnap my family?

I race out of my office, fly through town and come to a screeching halt in front of the court house. As I run to the corner, I see my husband and two children gagged and tied up. Behind the hot dog cart. I start to run toward them when suddenly, a masked man steps out and stands between us. He lifts the lid of the cart. And starts to prepare a hot dog -- loaded with ketchup and mustard. He hands it to me.

"If you want to save your family, you must eat this."

I gulp. I look at him, then look at my family. Their eyes are pleading, "Eat the hot dog... eat the hot dog..."

Finally, I can't take it anymore.

I blow them kisses through my tears as I hop in my car and drive back to work.



What food disgusts you so much that you wouldn't even eat it to save the ones you love the most in the entire world? (This can't be something that everyone would traditionally agree is gross -- disgusting combinations like sardines and ice cream or whatever. It needs to be something that is accepted in the general population as a "normal" food but that literally turns your stomach to think about eating it.)

Just Like Mom Made

There are certain foods that mom or grandma makes/made that no one else out there can quite duplicate. Try as they might, nobody can capture the creaminess of her mashed potatoes, recreate the taste and texture of her apple pie (with homemade crust) or find the perfect crispy/chewy balance of her chocolate chip cookies fresh from the oven.

You may have even tried a time or two to make these coveted dishes yourself after painstakingly writing her exact recipe and following the directions to a T, but you were still a little disappointed that your efforts lacked that certain special something. There's no way to recapture the extra dash of this or pinch of that that make her everyday dishes outstanding.

Fill in the blank: "No one can make _____________ quite like my mom/grandma."

Food for Thought

You're tired. You're cranky. You're sore. You're depressed. You're... well you don't even know. It's just a feeling that makes you want to do nothing more than curl yourself into a ball and shut the world out. No matter who is knocking, you don't really want to open the door.

Unless it's Ben. Or maybe his friend Jerry. Each of them holding a pint of goodness guaranteed to take away your troubles for an hour or two. Heck, maybe you need an entire meal, but cooking is out of the question and only the cheesy goodness of Kraft Mac n Cheese (like mom used to make) will do the trick.

No matter the circumstances, there is always those one or two tried and true favorite foods that have gotten us through so many rough times. Lost loves weren't quite as bad with your new boyfriend Papa John serving up a hot, steaming pizza to your doorstep of despair, followed up by your other new love, E.L. Fudge, offering up cookie after cookie of heart filling goodness for your dessert.

Yes, we've all been there. The days when nothing goes right and it seems like the world is against you. Until you remember the hidden gem in your cupboard/fridge/freezer that holds the ultimate power to make your universe right once again. So go ahead. Reach for your never fail, instant comfort pleasure foods. What do you choose?

Home Jeeves

You're sunburned. Your hair would give the Unibomber a run for his money. You're sick of pineapple and you've seriously considered BBQing your dream castaway. Your crossword puzzles are mere threads because you've erased and refilled them so many times you've lost count. Your book has long since gone, since it was used as kindling for you to roast your nightly dinner of coconut and seaweed. You've finally resigned yourself to a life of tattered rags (where are Ginger and Lovie when you need them?) and salt water. Then suddenly, you spot it. Your rescue ship.

Before you can say "I vote MYSELF off the island!" you are standing on the edge of the beach, frantically waving it in. Your significant other, children, parents, etc. are all practically diving over the edge to come to your rescue. As they pull in, you and your dream castaway start to climb on board when suddenly, you are struck with a pang of sentimentality.

But only a pang. You're not crazy... you know it's time to go. As your family is smothering you with hugs and kisses, you manage to get away long enough to hear the captain ask "Where to?"

You take a deep breath and tell him where you want to go. Other than home, where would this dream destination be?

Whistle While You Work

The pages of your book are frayed and soon to become kindling for your nightly fire. It's time for another hobby, but what else does your deserted island have to offer?

There are no Hut Building 101 workshops, and it seems like you just missed the last Beach Bod workout session. That means it's up to you and you alone to find something to pass your time.

Just when you think you'll drive yourself crazy from trying to figure out how to while away the hours, a magical package drops down from the sky! Although you're really starting to wonder where these things are coming from and when the rescue plane is going to arrive, you saunter over to see the newest addition to your little slice of heaven.

What do you find there? What object would be waiting for you, ready to bring endless hours of entertainment?

East of Eden

Blah blahh. Blah blahhh. Blah blahblahblah. Blah.

Okay, so maybe your dream castaway turned out to be a bit of a flake. Who won't shut up. And yammers on all day long about...well...you're not quite sure. You tuned him/her out 3 days ago.

So fine. We'll allow you a distraction -- something to help you escape from your misery. Something to stimulate your mind but that, mercifully, does NOT TALK BACK.

As you're strolling along one day (on the other side of the island, of course), you suddenly trip. What's this? A book! You've covered every inch of the island and have never found this before! A book a book a book! Hallelujah!

You just may stay sane another day.

Which book do you hope to discover on your walk?

Just Sit Right Back

Holy shipwreck, Gilligan. You're stranded.

We've all heard it before. The question is nothing new, but the answers always change. And rather than dive into an ocean of deepness after a long holiday weekend, let's relax in the sunshine of simplicity with an old favorite. So, there you are - stuck on your deserted island. What to do? Scream for help? Enjoy the peace? Make like Jack Shepard and search for the secret hatch while hoping to God the others don't get you?

At any rate, you know this is no three hour tour. You're going to be there a while, so you may as well make it enjoyable. Ahh yes... now this little jaunt becomes your fantasy trip to a desert island. (That's fantasy trip - not Fantasy Island. No Ricardo Montalban or Tattoo on this ride.) You've landed in paradise, my friend. Sun, sand, surf and solitude.

But wait! Among the palm trees swaying in the wind, there's someone walking toward you. A gorgeous stranger? Your childhood best friend? Tom Hanks and Wilson? It's up to you.

So, if you had to choose any person to greet you when you arrived at your island of isolation, who would it be?

And oh yeah... no spouses or significant others allowed. Too obvious, thank you very much. Silly, serious or sinful... who would you really want to meet there?

Thank You for the Music

Without a song or a dance, what are we?

This has been a great trip down memory lane this week! It's been so much fun to relive some of the memories that have been created over the years. I have such amazing friends and family and for that, I am blessed. And I am so thankful for the friends, loves and music of my past that have made me who I am today.

But never fear, today will not be a sappy "What are you most thankful for?" question. No, no. Yes, I know, today is about giving thanks. But it's also about the food, man. It's all about the food. Since we do need to tie it in to music somehow, here goes.

In the immortal words of Adam Sandler, "Gobble gobble goo and gobble gobble gickle. I wish turkey only cost a nickel."

What Thanksgiving food do you love so much that you would write a song about it?

More Than Words

The sounds of young love. Nothing expresses those three little words louder than the perfect song. Admit it. You have a few mix tapes hiding among the skeletons in your love closet, complete with the songs that defined your first forays into romance. With the first few chords, you're transported back to the butterflies of young love and the memories of the first person that you wished could be your special someone, as well as the first person who really was .

They're the songs that still stir a reaction inside you when you hear them. You press play and hear the slow, awkward warblings that remind you of that unforgettable first crush. The person that made you sit up and take notice... and then run to the radio and desperately press record every time you heard the song that captured the essence of your (sometimes unrequited) love. The chorus rings out and you're transported right back to the awkwardness of your first journey down that rocky relationship road. Maybe your dream guy or gal doesn't look so dreamy in retrospect, but the songs stay the same.

Fast forward a bit, and you arrive at the songs that take you back to your first taste of true love. Crush, no more... this is the real deal. These are the melodies with meaning that, despite your best attempts, still tug at your heart strings with each note. Sure, the tape may close with a bittersweet song of love gone bad, but this isn't a tale of heartbreak. You're young and in love once again, staring wide-eyed in wonder at the first person who ever made you feel like you were part of something amazing. Even years later, a little part of you reawakens with the opening chords of these songs and you remember, if only for a brief moment, the innocent bliss of your first love.

Yes, we all have them. The songs that define the highs and lows, happiness and heartbreak of our first crushes and first loves. Make a mix tape of these memorable first experiences all over again. What's on it?

The Glory of Love

There you are. Lined up against that giant pad that hung on the wall underneath the basketball hoop. The lights are dimmed, streamers are crookedly twisted wherever the decorators could find places for them, balloons bob around the floor, and the smell of last hour PE still lingers in the air. You're standing there with a group of your friends, look up and see Him. (Or Her, as the case may be.) Panic starts to set in. This is it. Your first slow dance.

Dumbstruck, you make your way out to the middle of the gym and join the ranks of equally uncomfortable couples. Your arms are stuck straight ahead and locked at the elbows, you are rocking back and forth from foot to foot to something that might quite possibly resemble the beat, and staring anywhere but in your partner's face. Your mind races for something to say. You wish you were anywhere but here, yet pray that the song never ends.

When the song is finally over, you give your partner a nervous laugh ("Heh heh!"), say thanks ("Thanks... see you around!"), and race back to your friends.

Phew. You survived. Your first dance.

What was the first song you ever slow danced to, and who was it with?

Hit Me Baby One More Time

Girl, you know it's true. You rock out to Manilow when no one is looking and tear up every time you hear Eternal Flame. You haven't felt the same about Open Arms since your first slow dance in the seventh grade. And a time or two you've even asked your friends to tell you what they want, what they really really want.

Ahh yes. They're the songs you truly cherish but wouldn't ever admit to knowing, let alone loving. They hold a special place in your iPod under "Guilty Pleasures" and should anyone find them, you'll swear they were put there by accident... until you're busted belting out I Will Survive like the disco fan you really are.

So, go ahead, 'fess up. You owe it to yourself, not to mention Hanson, Britney, Bolton and all those other guilty pleasure providers out there. What are those songs you hear that should make you cringe but instead make you turn up the volume a little louder and get down with your bad, guilty self?

I've Got the Music in Me

Growing up, I guess my family was pretty music-oriented. My mom was the church organist, my sister and I both played the piano and were in various choruses, choirs and bands, and my dad ... well... okay, he couldn't play or sing, but he did like to listen to music. It is because of him that I love Dick Biondi. The man has a talent. I mean, he can Name That Tune in 3 notes, tell you who sang it, what year it was popular and where he was the first time he heard it. It should come as no surprise to me, then, that music has been so intertwined in my life. I can be driving along, hear a song on the radio and instantly be transported to another time or place.

I know there are songs that remind you of certain people, places or things. But I am talking -- you hear the first few notes and you are immediately there. All of the sounds, smells and feelings come rushing back and you. Are. There.

What songs transport you, and where do they take you?