New Year In Italy, Austria

6:01 p.m. Eastern Time, December 31, 2024, here in southeastern Florida is 12:01 a.m., January 1, 2025, for my many cousins in Italy and Austria. I celebrate twice every year: now and in six hours. Happy New Year. Buon Anno. Frohe Neues Jahr.

Aileen Santos

My Lucky Coin

Here is my lucky New Year's coin that I purchased from the Austrian mint in 2001. Obverse Side: PROSIT NEUJAHR 2001 (Happy New Year 2001), with the lucky frog. Reverse Side: "BIN ICH AUCH NUR KLEIN UND RUND, BRING DOCH GLÜCKICH JEDE STUND," which means "I'M ONLY SMALL AND ROUND, BUT I BRING HAPPINESS EVERY HOUR." (translated from German)

December 31, 2024, at home

Aileen Santos

"Funka Fliaga"

Happy New Year !!!

Frohes Neues Jahr !!!

December 31, 2024, at home

I am a huge fan of the pop music duo Bluatschink. They have been called The Austrian Simon and Garfunkel. I discovered them on one of my many trips to Austria to visit my Austrian cousins and to go skiing in the Austrian Alps. In the early 1980s, my father and I spent New Year's Eve at our Austrian cousins house on the side of a snowy mountain in the westernmost province of Vorarlberg. We watched the fireworks from above the small city where they lived.

There are only a few songs that make me feel like dancing. This is one of them. Feel free to dance or just sing along; the lyrics are on the screen. They are singing in an Austrian dialect of German called Tyrolean.

This music video for their song "Funka Fliaga" has a Happy New Year's theme, showing the traditional fireworks exhibited at midnight across Austria to usher in the new year. However, I do not know if the song is related to the new year. I do understand the basic German language, but I can only barely figure out the Tyrolean dialect which has vastly different spellings. 

https://youtu.be/3armVDCmF-s?si=a0cKKeQEukp7H3Fi

Aileen Santos

Today Is ...

I prefer Prosecco to Champagne.

December 31, 2024, at home

Today Is ...

From 1992 to 1996, I was a reporter, writer, editor, and researcher for an international weekly magazine on the financial and technical aspects of the chemical industry. We were based in the financial district of New York City, quite close to Wall Street.

In 1993, I was sent on a business trip to the town of Rifle in northwestern Colorado, near the border with Wyoming, to cover the opening of a sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) solution mine. Hot water is pumped into the ground to dissolve the bicarb, and then the solution is extracted through another hole in the ground. The solution is then dehydrated, leaving only the powdered bicarb. The factory produced six grades of baking soda for various industrial and home uses.

I remember making the mistake of wearing black patent leather shoes in the factory. When I emerged, they were covered in white powder.

December 30, 2024, at home

Mo, Continue To R.I.P.

December 30, 2024, at home

gone 30 years

On December 30, 1994, Maureen Starkey Tigrett, also known as Maureen Starkey, also known as Maureen Cox, died at the age of 48. I was heartbroken when I read the news of her passing. She was Ringo Starr's ex-wife. On The Beatles album "Let It Be," you can hear a Beatle (probably Paul McCartney) say, "Thanks, Mo." That's her. Trivia: The red jacket that Ringo wears during the rooftop concert belonged to Maureen. Continue to R.I.P.

Sunday Dinner

This afternoon, my wonderful wife made a large batch of beef and egg noodles with onions and mushrooms.

December 29, 2024, at home

Frittata

This morning, my wonderful wife made this delicious frittata.

December 29, 2024, at home

Tick Tock Day

Tick Tock Day, observed annually on December 29th, reminds us to complete any unfinished business that might need addressing before the end of the year.

December 29, 2024, at home

Today Is ...

Holy Innocents Day, observed annually on Dec. 28 (sometimes 29), commemorates the execution of the innocent, male children in Bethlehem as told in Matthew 2:16. On this day, it is custom to give the youngest son in the household the power to rule the day. From what to eat, where to go, and what to do, the youngest son is in charge. In Mexico, it is a day for children to play practical jokes and pranks on their elders.

December 28, 2024, at home

In the mid-1980s, while studying at Villanova University, I wrote and created an eight-minute-long movie for my film-production course. A few of my friends were in my film which was somewhat of an Alfred Hitchcock-type thriller. I also took courses in film analysis, television production, theater production, and print journalism. That was after two-and-a-half years, when I changed my major from pre-med to communications with a minor in the French language. I graduated in December 1984. Soon after, I would secure a master's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri in Columbia in May 1988.

December 28, 2024, at home

My favorite chocolate-related candies are chocolate-covered marzipan and chocolate-covered candied orange peels.

December 28, 2024, at home

My preferred card game is Hearts.

December 28, 2024, at home

Back in the 1960s, when I was a young kid, at school, we would face the flag in our classroom and recite The Pledge of Allegiance every school-day morning.

December 28, 2024, at home

National Fruitcake Day

Today (December 27, 2024) is National Fruitcake Day. My wonderful wife made these two fruitcakes (below) from scratch several days ago (on December 22, 2024). She plans to make panettone (Italian fruitcake) from scratch.

December 27, 2024, at home

Boxing Day

December 26, 2024, at home

Today Is ...

December 26, 2024, at home

Happy Christmas

Happy Christmas

December 25, 2024, at home

Christmas Greetings: Video

I uploaded a Christmas greetings video onto my YouTube channel. (length: 4'22")

Christmas Greetings (Dec. 25, 2024)

Happy Christmas
Buon Natale
Frohe Weihnachten

Happy Hanukkah

https://youtu.be/B4IYIGEgLHw?si=yBFDiNJuQEgj9OJi

December 25, 2024, at home

Cordial Cherries Tradition

Every Christmas for many decades, my dad would give me a box of Cella's chocolate-covered cordial cherries from Santa. (They HAD to be Cella's.) After he passed away in February 1997, I continued this heartfelt tradition by purchasing a box of them and giving it to myself from Santa (from my dad) every Christmas. (They must always be Cella's.) Here is this year's box for Christmas 2024. I have yet to fill out the tag.

December 25, 2024, at home

Aileen Santos

Christmas Day Dinner

Christmas Day Dinner prepared by my wonderful wife: beefsteak with onions and mushrooms; pickled beets; red cabbage; green beans with slivered, toasted almonds (from Christmas Eve Dinner); and red wine ... just the two of us

December 25, 2024

Aileen Santos

Long Island Memories

December 25, 2024, Christmas Day at home (in southeastern Florida)

Winter Memories On Long Island, New York

I have listened to "Holiday Sing Along With Mitch," which is Mitch Miller and the Gang's Christmas album, every Christmas season since its release in 1961, the year of my birth. I still have the original album from 1961, plus a later release also on vinyl, plus two CDs of the album, the second CD repurchased because I misplaced the first CD during the Christmas season.

Nowadays, while I live in southeastern  Florida, listening to it produces memories of the snowy winters of my youth on Long Island, New York, in the 1960s and 1970s, and even into the 1980s:

Christmas Eve dinner and opening presents around the tree slightly before midnight at our home with my father's side of the family; we spent Christmas Day with my mother's side of the family at my grandparents' home ... snowball fights at Bayview Elementary School ... sledding ... spearfishing for eels with a thick, ten-foot-long wooden pole on a frozen Willetts Creek, which was only about 50 feet from my house; we would chop a small hole in the ice with a hatchet, spear the eels that were buried in the mud, and then have my dad's friend with the smokehouse smoke them for us: delicious ... "skitching" with my friends: grabbing onto the bumper of a slow-moving car that was passing by and sliding down the snowy road on our feet, trying not to fall and definitely trying to avoid the car's exhaust pipe in our faces ... and skating and playing hockey with Cousin Scott after hiking through the woods to a half-frozen Southards Pond, sometimes skating until 10 p.m. by the light of the moon, with our long, thick rope nearby in case someone fell in; this was often followed by Indian food take-out, beer in coffee mugs, classical music (WQXR-FM from New York City) on the radio, and discussions of Nietzschean philosophy at Scott's apartment. ... truly halcyon days.

"Sleigh Ride" is my favorite song from this album and is the reason why I always eat pumpkin pie on Christmas Day, but never, ever on Thanksgiving Day, as per my longstanding personal tradition.

Why? Pumpkin pie is mentioned in the song "Sleigh Ride," which I considered to be a Christmas song when my age was in single digits in the later 1960s. As an adult, I realized, I think in the mentally foggy 1990s, that in reality, this song technically isn't a Christmas song but a winter-seasonal song.

Here is a link to my personally memorable song:

https://youtu.be/TWVSS-Fy6dc?si=1ndW4zxMO5S_amEr

Now, at age 63, I am once again following my childhood tradition today (December 25, 2024), as I have done every holiday season since the late 1960s. Many thanks go to my wonderful wife for making me this pumpkin pie (from scratch) to satisfy my decades-long, personal tradition. I will be enjoying a fairly large piece soon. Of course, I will continue to follow my longstanding tradition during every future holiday season.

By coincidence, this year, today marks National Pumpkin Pie Day, which date changes every year.

I also recently realized that pumpkin pie is also mentioned in the Christmas song "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree."

Aileen Santos

Pumpkin Pie On Christmas

Many thanks go to my wonderful wife for making me this pumpkin pie (from scratch) to satisfy my decades-long, personal tradition to eat pumpkin pie on Christmas Day. I will soon be enjoying a fairly large piece.

My tradition forbids me from eating pumpkin on Thanksgiving Day. Actually, I allow myself to eat pumpkin pie on any date throughout the year, except on Thanksgiving Day, but Christmas Day is an absolute must.

Why? Pumpkin pie is mentioned in the song "Sleigh Ride," which I considered to be a Christmas song when my age was in single digits in the later 1960s. As an adult, I realized, I think in the mentally foggy 1990s, that in reality, this song technically isn't a Christmas song, but a winter-seasonal song.

Now at age 63, I am once again following my childhood tradition today (December 25, 2024) as I have done every holiday season since the late 1960s. I will be enjoying a fairly large piece soon. Of course, I will continue to follow my longstanding tradition during every future holiday season.

I have listened to "Holiday Sing Along With Mitch," which is Mitch Miller and the Gang's Christmas album, every Christmas season since its release in 1961, the year of my birth. "Sleigh Ride" is my favorite song on the album. I still have the original album from 1961, plus a later release also on vinyl, plus two CDs of the album, the second CD repurchased because I misplaced the first CD during the Christmas season.

Here is a link to my personally memorable song:

https://youtu.be/TWVSS-Fy6dc?si=1ndW4zxMO5S_amEr

By coincidence, this year, today marks National Pumpkin Pie Day, which date changes ever year.

I also recently realized that pumpkin pie is also mentioned in the Christmas song "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree."

Big As Jesus? Never!

Happy Christmas 2024

While my religion is Gaudiya Vaishnavism (Hare Krishna), a sect of Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism), and formerly Roman Catholicism, I still celebrate Christmas as I have done every December for 63 years.

While I often listen to Hindu devotional music, including a Hare Krishna punk band named Shelter, I occasionally listen to Christian rock 'n' roll music, including the band Jars of Clay. However, my favorite Christian rock song is "Never Gonna Be As Big As Jesus" by the Christian band Audio Adrenaline. I hereby share it with you in His honor today on Christmas Day.

https://youtu.be/9SVahsiPQx8?si=T42rcLbqyJNpghcR

At some relatively short section of time in the latter segment of those personally foggy 1990s, I fell asleep while watching television all alone. I awoke around 2:11 a.m. A few moments later, this music video started to play on the TV screen and concurrently on the TV speakers. I liked it immensely, and because it mentions The Beatles, I liked it even more. I liked it so much that I procured the group's greatest hits CD. I discovered that this is the only song that I actively like. Maybe I will revisit it. (This song was initially released in 1996.)

December 25, 2024, at home

Aileen Santos

No "L" Day

December 25, 2024, at home

Christmas Eve Dinner

Christmas Eve Dinner 2024 (December 24, 2024) with my wife, my mother, and me: Shrimp Scampi with Fettuccine (pasta); Green Beans with Slivered, Toasted Almonds; Caesar Salad; Bread and Butter; Black Olives; and Cookies. Many thanks go to my wonderful wife for making this delicious dinner.

Aileen Santos

Perfect Eggnog: Video

I uploaded a short video about eggnog onto my YouTube channel. (Length: 4'36")

I like to drink eggnog in the traditional way: with a shot of whiskey, specifically Wild Turkey bourbon whiskey. I also freshly grate nutmeg for the top. Many people like it with rum, but almost all people around the world drink it with whiskey. Today (December 24, 2024) is National Eggnog Day. HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVE !!!

Perfect Eggnog (Dec. 24, 2024)

https://youtu.be/2muM2kLjRUM?si=44GGsKafq6Pv6Dfi

December 24, 2024, at home

Aileen Santos

Proper Eggnog

I like to drink eggnog in the traditional way: with a shot of whiskey, specifically Wild Turkey bourbon whiskey. I also freshly grate nutmeg for the top. Many people like it with rum, but almost all people around the world drink it with whiskey. Today (December 24, 2024, at home) is National Eggnog Day. HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVE !!!

Aileen Santos

Eggnog With Whiskey

I like to drink eggnog in the traditional way: with a shot of whiskey, specifically Wild Turkey bourbon whiskey. I also freshly grate nutmeg for the top. Many people like it with rum, but almost all people around the world drink it with whiskey.

December 24, 2024, at home

Pfeffernüsse & Heritage

I do particularly like Pfeffernüsse. I recently purchased online a small bag from Germany, so I have been eating them. I am part Austrian, so they are somewhat part of my heritage. I will definitely eat a few of them today, as per a Christmas tradition.

Translated from German to English, Pfeffernüsse means "pepper nuts." They are iced, spiced cookies similar to soft gingerbread.

The spices shown in the photo are cinnamon/cassia, cloves, and star anise (slight licorice flavor).

December 23, 2024, at home

My heritage is: 50% Italian; 25% Portuguese; 12.5% Austrian; and 12.5% Swiss.

December 23, 2024, at home

Homemade Fruitcake

My wonderful wife made homemade fruitcake (from scratch) this evening (December 22, 2024) using a new recipe.

UPDATE: It is absolutely delicious.

Date Nut Bread Day

My wonderful wife sometimes makes date squares. I also like whole, pitted dates wrapped in bacon and then baked.

December 22, 2024, at home

Hamburger Day Yesterday

Yesterday (December  21) was National Hamburger Day is today, as well as on May 28. I like my burgers in two ways:

1. fried egg, ketchup, and cheese (either Swiss or Provolone)
2. only peanut butter (no ketchup, no anything)

I never put vegetables on my burgers: no lettuce, no tomatoes, no onions. However, my exception is the McDonald's cheese, which I like. It has fried, minced onions; pickles; and American cheese.

December 22, 2024, at home

Fried Shrimp Day

I do occasionally like fried shrimp. I haven't eaten them in quite a long time.

December 21, 2024

Christmas Items

My wife and I ordered several items from Amazon for the Christmas season. Here are four of the five items I purchased: chestnuts from Italy (for roasting); a chestnut cutter/scorer; Torrone (almond nougat candy from Italy); and Pfeffernüsse (iced gingerbread cookies from Germany). I also ordered Archway Cashew Nougat cookies that I ate already.

I have enjoyed the Torrone candy (vanilla, lemon, and orange flavors) since I was a kid at my Italian grandparents' home in the 1960s and 1970s.

I am closest to my Italian and Austrian heritage than I am to my Swiss and Portuguese heritage.

December 20, 2024, at home

Today Is ...

December 20, 2024, at home

I have been the quintessential underdog for my entire life so far, and I am proud to continue that tradition.

December 20, 2024, at home

I sort of like sangria (meaning blood). I haven't had in decades, and I am somewhat sure that I have only had it once, maybe twice.

December 20, 2024, at home

I don't think that I have ever been caroling, at least not in contemporary decades. I may have gone door to door with a group when I was a kid in the 1960s.

December 20, 2024, at home

I don't have any ugly Christmas sweaters, but I did come in second in an ugly necktie contest at work in the 1990s. There were only two entries. My pig tie was determined to be cute, but not ugly. I lost to a guy with a dark brown-and-orange,  wide-striped tie.

December 20, 2024, at home

Have you heard the expression "My name is mud"? Well, this is Mudd, Dr. Samuel Mudd. So, the expression is actually, "My name is Mudd." Actually, the former iteration existed before Mudd existed, according to DayCalender.com, which explains:

After assassinating Lincoln on April 14, 1865, John Wilkes Booth rode with co-conspirator David Herold to Dr. Samuel Mudd’s home in the early hours of the 15th before crossing into Virginia. Mudd performed surgery on Booth's fractured leg and allowed both men to stay the night. At some point, Mudd must have learned of the assassination. However, he did not report Booth’s visit to the authorities for another 24 hours. This delay appeared to link him to the crime, as did his various changes of the story under interrogation. On April 26th, authorities arrested Mudd. A military commission found him guilty of aiding and conspiring in a murder and sentenced Mudd to life imprisonment. He escaped the death penalty by a single vote. President Andrew Johnson pardoned Mudd, and he was released from prison in 1869. Despite repeated attempts by family members and others, Mudd's conviction has never been overturned, nor has his record been expunged.

Today Is ...

NATIONAL HARD CANDY DAY - December 19, 2024

I am not fond of hard candy. I believe that the day I start eating hard candy is the day I admit that I am old. (I'll be 64 in February 2025 ... 64?) Notable exceptions: When I was a kid in the 1960s and 1970s, my paternal grandmother always had raspberry hard candy (large lozenges) imported from Austria; her heritage was Austrian and Swiss. I liked them, and I still do. I have found them recently. In fact, I think there's an open bag of them in one of our kitchen cupboard. Also, I have been known to enjoy the occasional horehound lozenge as an herbal remedy. More recently, I have enjoyed Werther's Original caramel candies, specifically their semi-hard ones with cream filling; I don't consider them to be hard candy.

NATIONAL OATMEAL MUFFIN DAY - December 19, 2024

I am not a fan of muffins.

NATIONAL RE-GIFTING DAY - Thursday Before Christmas (December 19, 2024)

"Each year on the Thursday before Christmas, people across the United States participate in National Re-gifting Day. The day acknowledges the office parties and the unique Christmas gift exchanges that they do. This particular December Thursday appears to be the most common day for companies to hold their annual employee/company Holiday parties." - National Day Calendar

Roast Suckling Pig Day

Today Is ...

 NATIONAL SAY IT NOW DAY

December 17 is National Say It Now Day as a day to tell friends and loved ones how important they are to us by expressing gratitude for all the ways they’ve impacted our lives. - National Day Calendar

NATIONAL MAPLE SYRUP DAY

Get the flapjacks ready for National Maple Syrup Day. December 17th calls for orders of pancakes, french toast, or biscuits topped off with butter and delicious maple syrup. - National Day Calendar