My annual Ladies Lefse Party was this past Wednesday. I’ve been hosting the LLPs on the second Wednesday in December for…a long time. LAH, SCM and daughter P, Belle, JWW and I had a grand time, and SCM graciously left behind her homemade pumpkin whole wheat soy milk cranberry biscotti [1] to torture me the following morning. Stalwart attendees SS, RB and JR were not able to attend this year, due to pressing other engagements, respectively, a son’s band concert, jury duty, and a husband’s laparoscopic cholecystectomy . [2] Besides her joi de vivre and take-no-prisoners wit, JR is known for her festive, self-made millinery, which was much missed – my Bieber Meets Santa Pez creation of a few years back was a poor stand-in.
While cleaning up after the party I was reminded of the late [3] great, dear friend and neighbor Glenda Jones. Seventeen years ago, back in The Old Neighborhood (Jackson School Neighborhood of Hillsboro), Glenda had been tickled pickled beet pink when I brought lefse to one of her parties. Being of Norski stock herself Glenda expressed something akin to shame at never having made lefse, and asked me for detailed written instructions, which I gladly provided. A few weeks later, I received a frantic/embarrassed phone call from Glenda one Saturday night:
“I’m following your instructions exactly….and…uh…
there’s flour ALL OVER the kitchen.”
I assured Glenda she must be doing it right.
Here is a copy of the party invitation, just so y’all won’t feel left out. Even though you were.
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Mark your calendars and set your e-minders:
Here comes the second Wednesday in December….
Which this year, 2013, falls on December 11. Yes, there are only 20 days remaining
ntil 2014 rears its nagging head
and demands you account for the past 365 days.
Notable events on past December 11s include:
*1688: James II of England abdicated the throne by throwing the Great Seal of the Realm into the River Thames (my guess is the great seal smelled like lutefisk.).
* 1941: Germany and Italy declare war on the United States, following the U.S.A.’s declaration of war on Japan (the Ladies’ Lefse Lovers Society’s “Make Lefse, not War” slogan was for naught in those troubled times.)
* 1962: Convicted murderer Arthur Lucas is the last person to be executed in Canada (in an unusual punitive snit, prison officials denied Lucas’ last meal request for lefse).
Royal peeves; war, execution…let’s redeem December 11.
Hold on to your fruitcakes; it’s time for the annual
Ladies Lefse Party
Wednesday December 11, 2012, 6:30 pm
As always, your high-minded hosts will provide lefse preparing accoutrements and serve lefse and Norwegian meatcakes for supper, in a festive, Gangnam style-free environment.
Ladies hosting:
-Robyn Parnell & Belle
Ladies Likely to make an appearance:
– why, you, of course
Ladies Unlikely to make an appearance (but we can dream, can’t we?):
– Lady Marmalade
♫ Gitchi Gitchi ya ya lefse…♫
* * *
In an interview with Parade magazine, producer-writer-comic-actor Mindy Kaling made a brilliant point about the assumptions we make about women. “I always get asked, ‘Where do you get your confidence?’ I think people are well meaning, but it’s pretty insulting. Because what it means to me is, ‘You, Mindy Kaling, have all the trappings of a very marginalized person. You’re not skinny, you’re not white, you’re a woman. Why on earth would you feel like you’re worth anything?'”
(The 28 Most Iconic Feminist Moments of 2013, Moment #8) [4]
Favorite albums; best song parody; the year’s tops in food, art, journalism, political boners, drone strikes – it’s that time of the year, when pundits both significant and who-the-F-is-that –worthy trot out their Best of The Year ® lists.
I already know my best of the Best of Lists—it’s going to be difficult to top The 28 Most Iconic Feminist Moments of 2013 . They’re all kick-ass, and I love that the Heavy Issues Moments (Malala Yousafzai Speaks at United Nations, Wendy Davis’s Tex-ass fililbuster) are balanced by more light-hearted but nonetheless significant moments, such as Tina Fey’s and Amy Poehler’s hosting the Golden Globe Awards.
Be sure to check out # 17: the Awesome Rape Prevention Video Parody From India that Traveled ‘Round the World.
* * *
Here’s my vote for Best Shortest Best of List: Best Holiday Rap Song, of any year:
Along with Run D.M.C., I wish that you may be chilling and coolin’ just like a snowman, and thus the hijinks will surely ensue.
Thanks for stopping by. Au Vendredi!
