1.10.11 — It's a Law in Hawaii

Hawaii is a popular vacation destination for Seattlites, especially during the height of our annual Seasonal Affective Disorder Festival (October through May). I think that just as giving tourists a flowered lei as they get off the plane (and then having Ricardo Montalban and a midget fulfill their every fantasy - weird, but don't knock having midgets in your fantasies) is a Hawaiian tradition, making sure that the same tourists leave with a box of chocolate-covered macadamias is a state law. The mega jar of flavored popcorn is a new twist.

Interestingly, the jar remained unopened for quite awhile, but as soon as that seal was broken, it was gone shockingly fast. The chocolates made it an hour or two.

12.14.10 — Gift Basket, Ho!

The first gift basket of the season. I honestly expected more of them to have shown up already. This one didn't disappoint as it was loaded with cookies, cheese sticks, kettle corn and two kinds of peppermint bark. It was attacked mere moments from the email announcing its arrival went out.

I'm sure there will be more to come, each more elaborate and overflowing with high calorie tidbits. They will be conveniently placed nearby where the urge to graze will be strong. A nibble here, a chunk there, a handful of this and that — before you know it you've eaten the equivalent of a damn Big Mac.

That isn't the worst news, however. A coworker's father sends us a big batch of peanut brittle each year. She posted a photo of the brittle as it cooled in the snow outside her father's house with the promise that it was on its way.

The brittle may break me. More to come...