Holiday Eating

Libby brings down gingerbread cookes made from Recipe in The Times last week. Do not recall recipe. Libby explains in way that makes it clear that she thinks I am practically illiterate. Behind LIbby, the Contessa rolls her eyes and makes crazy circle with index finger. Have to pinch inside of thigh violently so that don't get giggles. Libby explains that special Times gingerbread Recipe calls for bacon fat instead of butter. Try not to pre-judge cookie, but firt bite reveals that for self, bacon and ginger an unhappy and unnatural combination. Feel strongly that a cookie shouldn't taste porky. Would like to spit cookie out into trash but am prevented by rules of polite behavior. Eat rest of cookie very quickly, without chewing. Counter littered with gifts of sweet things presented by friends from other floors. To cleanse palate, gobble down three fat slices of stollen, half of lemon bar (split with the Contessa), half of another lemon bar (again split with the Contessa). The Contessa says she is so nervous for her date tonight with Phil (don't care for the name which reminds me of the verb, but, naturally, keep thought to self). Says she is so nervous that she can't eat At All--this assertion directly contradicted by the way she is cramming cranberry bread (from Molly in dean's office) into mouth while wondering out loud what she is going to wear tonight and whether or not she should get a hair cut beforehand.