President of Pyrogy Day Produces a Playlist!

On Nov. 28, my family got together to participate in Pyrogy Day 2010. Pyrogy Day is capitalized because I, self-proclaimed president, decided it would be and I didn't even wonder what Caps and Spelling would say about that... not. Anyways Pyrogy Day is an annual event that brings the Polish (and significant other) side of my family together. We spend the day making a billion dozen pyrogies (cheese and potato, sauerkraut, soy cheese, potato and garlic, pizza) and drinking. By the end of the day, we all sit around eating our creations and trying to keep our eyes open from a hard day's work. I feel like that's the closest I will ever get to being a Hutterite. 

Anyways, this tradition has been in my family since I was just a little kid and over the years, as people have gotten older, they have tried to get out of it. Well since I labelled myself the president, people have gotten their shit together. (Pardon the language) Anyways, I'm good at harrassing people into doing stuff and organzing events, like this, and making them fun. Since there is somebody who cares enough to plan it out, I think the others feel obligated or possibly feed off my excitement. Anways, enough about me.

It's important to know that there are only three important rules to Pyrogy Day:

1-It is important to have a drink in your hand. I believe in this rule for most social situations. But this will make things more fun. It will seem like less of a job and more of a ...hobby!

 (Which it should be. If it still seems like a job, you're not doing this step right)

2-It is very important to create an unusual pyrogy- one year we added an M&M to the pyrogies when we thought perhaps we would elect a new president (that didn't work out), another year we added pink dye to one batch of pyrogies (this was vile), and this year the pyrogy purse was created.

3-Lastly, it is important to not stop until it is over. Don't think that because the dough duo is having issues with rolling, that that means the pinching people can take a break. NO. We are all here for a purpose people. (I've been told I'm a slave driver. Except I'm not- I brought spinach dip to the event)

So this year, to keep the rythym going, I decided to make a playlist of all songs that reflected, made me think of, or reminded me of all things pyrogy. The criteria for this was rather broad. It could be a song that I've heard in the past on Pyrogy Day or one that reminded me of someone in the group or just something to encourage the masses to keep going when they feel like they can't pinch another pyrogy. (It's hard to believe this happens but, for some, it does.)

Warning- this is one of those times to exercise the act of taking nothing I say seriously.

So I will just provide an excerpt of my playlist (since there were 32 and I'm not that energetic right now)with a description as to why I chose such song:

1) Tom Petty- Free Falling: I chose this song because when he says he is "free, free, free fallin'" and is "gonna fall out into nothing" that he really means he is going to free fall out into nothing but pyrogies. And when he says he is "going to leave this world for awhile" it is to live in pyrogy land where nothing eles matters. I was there on Sunday. It was a real treat. 

2)Cyndi Lauper- Girls Just Want to Have Fun: Obviously, right? Not many parties can happen without Cyndi's tried tested and true contribution. This song is good for a mood lifter, a pace quickner, and, don't forget, the embarrassing family singalong. Not that we do that. We are way to cool for that garbage...much to Morgan's dismay. (brother's girlfriend)

3)The Beatles-Here Comes the Sun: Not only does the lovely guitar music put a smile on the faces of many, but the lyrics are relatable. Besides keeping my spirits high, it was also for the pinching people who may feel as though there job is never over. This song was to tell them that "here comes the sun," which means that though you're job isn't over yet, it will be at some point. So chin up and keep on pinching. (yeah, I'm just that lame)

4) Telekinesis!- Coast of Carolina: This song was picked because it is how I think pyrogies feel about their pyrogy makers. Its really a deep connection that can exist only between creator and creation. Like a bond between parent and child. 

5)It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year- Andy Williams: Also from that super annoying Staples commerical my dad would always sing when it was time to go back to school. In this case, however, it is for Pyrogy Day, which is a magical time. Fantastic really. Other than my birthday, it ranks pretty high on my list of favourite days. 

The pyrogies from this day are destined for consumption on Christmas Eve when my family gets together for a Ukrainian Christmas Dinner, which is meatless. However this "meatless" rule is not really a rule as we have pickerel as well. And that is a meat, in my opinion, anyway.
Until next year, that's all for the P-Day of 2010.