THE CROWN

December 9, 2020

No, I wasn't thinking of the Netflix series about Queen Elizabeth II, though I have watched it up to the latest season and think it excellent.

I have to keep reminding myself that this is not a documentary and that a lot of the things are stories, but not necessarily true.

But one thing the show does show -- and I suspect that is true, whether documentary or not -- is what a dysfunctional family this is.  When you are raised to learn how to keep all emotions from being shown, it's difficult to raise children who are normal.

I'm sure it's not something the queen ever said, but in one episode she talks about how when Charles was born she was determined she was going to be a "real mother" to him...and when she went to give him a bath, found that she couldn't touch him, and had to let his nannie bathe him.

The other thing about this show is Prince Philip.  He's played by Tobias Menzies, who plays Black Jack Randall in Outlander and I didn't know how I could believe him in this other role, but he's such a wonderful actor that Black Jack never enters into his scenes.  He is Prince Philip all the way.

BUT, as I said, I wasn't talking about the TV series, but the crown I had put on at my dentist's office yesterday.

I have said in the past that I never have any pain whatsoever at Cindy's office and so I don't mind the poking and prodding she does during a procedure because it gives us the opportunity to visit.  Cindy was my friend for many years before she became my dentist and so we have lots to talk about, to remember, to learn about our families.

In my biking days, Cindy and I used to go biking about 15 miles 3 mornings a week.  She would pick me up at 6 a.m. and we went out into the country and then back and down through campus, downtown, and home again.  She tells me she now goes out at 3 a.m. instead of 6 a.m., to avoid other bikers.

Apparently I have "old salivary glands."  She says my mouth is very dry and that is perhaps why I am still getting cavities.  I told her I drink a lot of water, but she says that isn't the same as having your glands produce saliva. 

But I was there for two hours and she got the temporary crown on and I go back in January for the permanent crown.

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Marna Dee, on Facebook, wrote recently:  How can it be that I am 57 years old and am now just discovering Starbucks Cranberry Bliss???????  Her comment was followed by dozens of replies all talking about how good they are.  Omg. They are so good. I won't even go to Starbucks during the holiday season.

Someone mentioned that home made ones were better, so I checked out the recipe and yes, they sounded wonderful -- white chocolate, cranberries, cream cheese...what's not to like?  I decided I would make a batch to give, along with the peanut butter chocolate cookies, to our mailman, and so I made a batch.

They are indeed delicious and I hope that the mailman will like them.  I know we will like them when I get them cut into serving sized pieces.

So my Christmas cookie baking is now over.  We don't eat that many cookies, and we won't be seeing others to give cookies to, so there is no point in making a bunch of different kinds of cookies.  But at least I got two batches made.