The Perfect Day Off

Doug: One of the great boons of teaching is the built-in break every so often. Sure, I often fill those times with work-related activities (lesson planning, summer school, teaching at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, etc.), but certainly not all the time. Today we'd like to hear about your perfect day off -- and the conversation is even better if you add some details concerning the time of year when this fabulous day off might fall.

Doug: For me, there's no better day off than the anticipated-and-now-it's-true snow day! A little unplanned sleeping in, followed by some time on the treadmill and a "no worries" breakfast just spent watching the snow fall. That... is a great start to a day off. Follow it up with a little time spent clearing the driveway and sidewalks and an opportunity to read and it's as if it were heaven sent.

Doug: In the fall or spring, when it can be cold in the morning, I like to follow the same early routine of working out, showering, and then having some coffee while I enjoy the outside scenery. If I'm on top of my game, I've already chosen some comics to read and write about. I really enjoy that 1-2 hours of solitude, just studying the comic art, reflecting on the story, and the nostalgia of it all. I may follow that time with some more reading (books or comics) just for fun. Once afternoon hits and the day has warmed, a brisk walk somewhere outside is great -- either around the neighborhood or at a forest preserve.

Doug: Things are a little different when my wife plans the day off. I, as you might tell, am a homebody; she would prefer to get out and go and do. If she's in charge, we're probably going to make the 50 mile trek to downtown Chicago. Her idea of a great day off is to pack a lunch, take the lawn chairs, and head to the museum campus on the shores of Lake Michigan. We set up shop with our goods and a radio, a couple of books, and sit and enjoy the skyline and the sunny weather. If we are in the Loop, we will just walk around for hours. We did a weekend stay downtown a couple of summers ago and walked almost 20 miles during the 36 hours we were there. Those are great times, too!

Doug: So how about you?

Sin Boldly, Vice Squad, Whatever...

Doug: The holidays -- very unkind to one's mid-section! However, the taste buds demand more-more-more!

Doug: So what are those treats, and I don't necessarily mean sweets, that really get you into trouble during this period around the holidays (and we can certainly stretch this back to Thanksgiving if you'd like). Think of this six week run or so of family, office parties, going out to dinner, special breakfasts, etc. -- sheesh, I'm making myself hungry just typing all this -- and fill us in on your particular vices.

Doug: One tradition we have, and it's really quite simple, is to enjoy Pillsbury cinnamon rolls for breakfast on Christmas morning. I think we started it when the boys were young because it was simple -- pop those babies into the oven as we were about to commence gift giving and they'd be done around the time we were finished. As I helped the boys wade through the mountains of torn gift wrapping, making certain to not throw anything valuable away, my wife could finish up and prepare to serve. Man, I love those things, and now that the boys are men there are never enough to go around!

Doug: There are of course other treats that you only seem to find during the holidays. Here's another one that's pretty simple, but that I can honestly recall eating around the holidays my entire life. Take a couple of slices of Buddig roast beef, slather a little cream cheese on it, place a dill pickle on one side and roll it up. Then slice it into 3/4" pieces and set on a plate like an hors d'oeuvre. Man, those are good. My mother-in-law makes crab rangoon that is out of this world, as well.

Doug: So here we sit smack in the middle of Christmas gatherings, with New Year's Eve and -Day a week away. What's your poison?

Who's the Best... Christmas Movie?

Karen: Which movie (we'll leave cartoons out of the discussion since we debated it last year) is your favorite at holiday time? Many people go for the classics, like It's a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, or any of the many versions of A Christmas Carol (the 1951 Alastair Sim one is my own favorite). Others like  more modern films, like A Christmas Story, Christmas Vacation, or Scrooged. What do you like to watch during the season, and why?