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Thanks, Liz. I hope you enjoy it.

In the Italian tradition, you're not allowed to eat meat on Xmas Eve, so you have all these different kinds of fish. But my grandmother hated fish, didn't know how to cook it, and it was always these platters of inedible yuck. Unless you can make a full meal out of bacala [sp?]. I assume your masked neighbor had much tastier offerings on those trays!

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Dec 25, 2022Liked by Greg Olear

Merry Christmas to you and your family, Greg, with hopes that you all recover quickly.

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Thanks! You too!

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Ah Gregg, one g or two? Add one or more for Covid-19 and take Paxlovid and order monoclonal antibodies just in case, add extra virgin olive oil from Greece, organic. And sip the red.

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Greg, don’t inhale or exhale in an elevator.

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One G. Well, two total, but only one at the end.

I have not even gone outside since Wednesday, so no worries about elevators...

Thanks for checking up on me, Sandy.

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I can’t wait to make this. A vendor gave me a mirror with John Paul II, and said I was Roman. I’m Jewish. Italy is in my heart, and my mother told me Roma is in my blood. I love to cook, and Italian cuisine is my favorite and pizza is a speciality. The ingredients are perfect. Look up Al Gorgoni, a great guitarist, the guy who played the guitar on S&G’s “Sounds of Silence.” We trade recipes. Anyhow, thanks and Merry Christmas!

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Oh, wow, I bet you make great pizza. My grandmother only made pizza every once in a blue moon, but it was amazing.

Enjoy!

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Dec 25, 2022Liked by Greg Olear

Hi Greg,

I just forwarded this post onto my wife and told her not to discount it before she finished reading the whole post. She is the part of this partnership who does the cooking, and she is trying to keep me alive after too many years of drinking and eating things that caused me into quintuple cardiac bypass surgery. We are now vegans and have been for eight years. The conversion was a workout, but we did it, or I should say that my wife did it for us, and I am still alive as a result of her nutritional planning and the skill of a good surgeon. But even though olive oil is no longer an ingredient that we should cook with and neither is fish of any sort, this recipe sounds like one that we should indulge in once a year to honor your grandmother while going rogue from our quest to keep me alive. Thanks for sharing it and Merry Christmas to you and your family.

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Thanks, J.P. I'm glad to hear that your wife is such a good cook and so committed to your survival. Anchovies are really good for you, but are obviously not vegan. Everything else is. We'll leave this to the one in charge...

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Merry Christmas Greg! Thanks for all the magical words and vibes for this, and years past! Be sure to take care of yourself as you continue to travel through this shit-strewn path, in challenging times!

Even we atheists can find the words comforting, enjoy your day!!

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Thanks, Patrick. You too!

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Merry merry back to you and GTFB

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Thanks!

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Dec 25, 2022Liked by Greg Olear

Greg is right, folks. I've used anchovy in my pasta sauce for years.

Terrible news about covid raging through your family, Greg.

Merry Christmas!

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Thanks, Sharon. I'm okay, but it's weird. I'm spacey, but in a sort of stoned kind of way. And of course it takes so much effort just to go from room to room. Hopefully I'll continue to feel better.

Hope you had a nice Xmas!

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We’re so lucky to have you Greg 💟. My life parallels with yours quite often & I am always grateful for your writings, you seem to bring things back around so we can make sense of them. This fight we’re in requires us to side eye a lot of would be traitors & it’s real easy to start lumping in the innocent bystanders 😂. I wish balance for us as a society bc right now it’s nearly impossible. I felt guilty having the required 10 days off over Thanksgiving when I too finally got covid but dammit we’ve worked harder than most ppl to NOT get it so just enjoy your downtime my friend 🥹

Merry Christmas & ♥️ HNY! Thanks for the recipe 😋

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Thanks, Jenn. I much appreciate the kind words and the support. That's the thing about covid. When it hits, it hits, and there's nothing you can do but shelter in place, the place being, in my case, a toggle between bed and couch. Happy New Year!

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Dec 25, 2022Liked by Greg Olear

Hope you and yours make a full recovery. Paxlovid will make a difference if you start it soon enough. Keep up the good work.

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Thanks, Peter. So far, so good. Not out of the woods yet, but the main thing is I'm just tired and spacey. Like, I went back and read the piece and there were...I hesitate to even call them "typos." Just wrong words entirely. So have to step back although I have good ideas for new pieces down the line...

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Dec 25, 2022Liked by Greg Olear

Merry Christmas! Sending positive vibes for a quick recovery for you and your son. And to your wife who is taking care of you both! Ahh...the 18th birthday! My daughter turned 18 this summer and what a shock to the system it has been. We didn't realize the full extent of having our child turn 18 and all the ways we were not able to access information we needed to continue to parent her. Medical records, prescriptions, insurance were out of our reach, just to name a few. Very eye-opening! Welcome to this next phase of parenting!

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Thanks, Gail! Thanks for the warning. It's always a challenge, this parenting thing. Just when you think it'll get a bit easier...nah. Let the record show that on his 18th birthday, he was fast asleep at 8pm.

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Awesome! Every phase brings a different version of joy and appreciation. Feel better soon!

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Dec 25, 2022Liked by Greg Olear

Merry Christmas, Greg! Get well soon and keep doing what you do! Peace/

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Thanks, McLain! So far, so good...

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Stuck at home with mild covid, just like you. My song this Christmas 🎄.. https://www.dropbox.com/s/jeu74olb26lryj4/20221224_170045.mp4?dl=0 enjoy

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My god, that's fantastic. Is that you?

Feel better!

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Yes, Greg, this 80 yr old ex catholic seminarian and musician writing and performing my own lament. Alone, but not lonely. My first bout with covid... 5 vaccinations, paxlovid... isolated but No Symptoms! Love your writing.

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Merry Christmas to All 🎄 🎁

And to All a very Abundant and Joyous new year

🥰 🥳 🦋 🦚 🦜 🌺 ☘️ ✨ 🌎

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You too, my friend!

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Dec 25, 2022Liked by Greg Olear

Merry Christmas! May you and your son recover fully and SOON from covid!

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Thanks, Ellen. I hope you are keeping warm in TX.

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So far, so good! Power stayed on and no pipes burst! Outside cats found warmth somewhere and are happy that the temperature is rising!

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I'm one of the few who adore anchovies, and I can't wait to make oily oilies. Thanks!

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Bon appetit!

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