since we have many birthdays to celebrate among grandchildren and children, the children decided to make reservations at the childrens’ favorite restaurants.  But 1. it’s christmas eve, and it seems that since Judaism is becoming more and more extreme around here, Christianity is becoming the happy alternate.  We’ve seen Santas putting on tfillim.  2. It’s shabbat, so everyone is meeting up for dinner somewhere.  So we’re doing a delivery at home.

Why am I not cooking?  I do dream of chopped liver, chicken soup, tsimmes, chicken, and lemon meringue pie for dessert, just like Friday nights at home.  But at least half my family doesn’t eat anything I cook.  Half my family loves it.