The Geekend That Was, 12/18

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So this post was going to be filled with awesome live-action images of the cool stuff I did this weekend, but I forgot my camera every time we left the house! So instead, here's a picture of part of my sister's decorations last Christmas for tea (since you will remember IMichael forgot to take any this year!)

Friday night we went to see Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (most awkwardly punctuated title, ever) in real IMAX (as opposed to the retro-fitted regular movie theater screens now calling themselves IMAX). WOW. It was fantastic...or should I say, "incredible," since it was directed by Brad Bird (who directed The Incredibles, as well as Ratatouille and The Iron Giant). You could absolutely tell what was going on in the action scenes (no close-cropped, hyperactive editing) and Tom Cruise failed to annoy me. =) I feel like the trailer was incredibly cheesy; the movie is not. Also, I completely missed the switches from IMAX to regular format during the film (only part of it was filmed in the large-format IMAX). Go see it in IMAX!

Saturday it was all about the cookies. I did not get as much done as I intended; my original plan (before Mission: Impossible intervened) was to have the cookie list and shopping list done on Friday. I did try to work on the list in the car as we drove to the IMAX theater (it's about 45 minutes away), but lack of protein tanked my efforts. So Saturday I made the list and sent Michael off to grocery shop while I attempted to clean up and wrap his presents. I got exactly two teeny stocking stuffers done before the dulcet tones of the garage door opening caused me to throw everything back into bags. Too much cleaning!! I managed to mix one dough and make one batch of Peppermint Cream Bars...

 

...the surprise break-out cookie from last year, to take to one of my favorite annual parties, Cookies & Carols, hosted by The Roses. It's just what it sounds like...tons of Christmas cookies and singing every Christmas carol from "Angels We Have Heard on High" to "I'm Getting Nuttin' for Christmas". (Geek alert: One of the attendees brought his ukulele to play the fastest ever versions I've heard of "Santa Baby" and "Frosty the Snowman". The ukulele was signed by Jonathan Coulton!!! Who played a bit of "Still Alive" on it!!!!!1!!one!!! I got to touch it. =)

Sunday after church and errands to buy remaining cookie ingredients, all I had time to do was put up my Advent calendar post before it was time to get ready to go to one of my favorite Christmas concerts/performances: Carol Sing! One of my coworkers invited me...two years ago? Three?? After the first year, I said, "Just try and stop me from showing up every year!" His church has not one but TWO hand bell choirs, and they do a concert...but the audience is the choir. Sit and listen to gorgeous bells and organ and sing Christmas carols as loud as I want for an hour?? YES, PLEASE!!! That's about as perfect as I can imagine. He plays the bass bells, and it's so fun to watch him and his co-bass-player manage their table of giant bells! Also, afterwards they have a vast table of Christmas cookies in the fellowship hall, and if you're quick, you can get a Buckeye (they go fast)!

So, yeah...cookies for dinner two nights in a row. I expect Eating Well to show up any day to interview me for tips on how they can emulate my healthy lifestyle.

JiffNotes
It's all about the cookies. And the carols.