'Tis the Season December 24, 2018 3:14 AM Subscribe
Happy Christmas! Happy Hanukah! Happy Saturnalia! Happy Kwanza! Glad Yul! Happy just another day of work or rest! Whether you celebrate the Christian religious holiday Christmas, or not. I wanted to have a place for us to share some happy with each other. Stay safe and warm. Hug your loved ones and know that you matter. Cheers!
Merry holidays, y'all. Get to leave work at 12:30 today, going to go home and watch The Muppet Christmas Carol with the kids.
Stay safe and warm
Or safe and cool, as the case may be.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 4:16 AM on December 24, 2018 [8 favorites]
Stay safe and warm
Or safe and cool, as the case may be.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 4:16 AM on December 24, 2018 [8 favorites]
Merry Christmas from my little yule log people!
posted by uncleozzy at 5:12 AM on December 24, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by uncleozzy at 5:12 AM on December 24, 2018 [10 favorites]
Greetings of the season returned to you, Fizz; I've left one to all MeFites somewhere in a previous Meta.
It is sunny tho' chilly, here in the rural East Midlands, so a walk is imminent to a pub (or three) in the nearby villages. One suspects there will be a small beverage (or three) involved somewhere, perchance. {puts on layers} Tally-ho!
posted by Wordshore at 6:00 AM on December 24, 2018 [12 favorites]
It is sunny tho' chilly, here in the rural East Midlands, so a walk is imminent to a pub (or three) in the nearby villages. One suspects there will be a small beverage (or three) involved somewhere, perchance. {puts on layers} Tally-ho!
posted by Wordshore at 6:00 AM on December 24, 2018 [12 favorites]
My holiday gift to my co-workers/staff was working all this week (except Tuesday) so that they could travel and be with family (my family had our gathering early in the month), so I'm wishing for a quiet week. I won't be totally alone in the office, but we'll be pretty minimally staffed. I'm trying to figure out how pajama-like I can get away with my work clothes being...
posted by lazuli at 6:03 AM on December 24, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by lazuli at 6:03 AM on December 24, 2018 [7 favorites]
Happy Nittel Nacht! And by "happy," I mean "don't engage in the pleasurable activity of studying Torah."
posted by maxsparber at 6:53 AM on December 24, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by maxsparber at 6:53 AM on December 24, 2018 [10 favorites]
now it is time to hit the festive log with a big stick and command it to poop out delicious treats for the whole family
posted by poffin boffin at 7:20 AM on December 24, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by poffin boffin at 7:20 AM on December 24, 2018 [8 favorites]
now it is time to hit the festive log with a big stick and command it to poop out
I've just done an FPP about that very topic. With my 50 year old and increasingly unpredictable innards, am finding that Peppermint Tea is most effective for optimum passage.
posted by Wordshore at 7:29 AM on December 24, 2018 [7 favorites]
I've just done an FPP about that very topic. With my 50 year old and increasingly unpredictable innards, am finding that Peppermint Tea is most effective for optimum passage.
posted by Wordshore at 7:29 AM on December 24, 2018 [7 favorites]
i do not see a tio nadal but i will take your word for it
posted by poffin boffin at 7:32 AM on December 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by poffin boffin at 7:32 AM on December 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
Listening to A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, live from the Chapel of King's College, Cambridge, BBC Radio. Live now, will be available to stream later. I really like choral Christmas music, started late, so now I can fast forward through the lessons, because I am a non-believer.
posted by theora55 at 8:00 AM on December 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by theora55 at 8:00 AM on December 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
Happy everything!
posted by zarq at 8:15 AM on December 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by zarq at 8:15 AM on December 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
No, you!
posted by Freelance Demiurge at 8:36 AM on December 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Freelance Demiurge at 8:36 AM on December 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
My husband is out delivering those last minute presents for the USPS so I am relaxing next to the Christmas tree with the Christmas program (maybe it's the BBC one?) on the local classical radio station while doing laundry. I'll deliver lunch to Santa's helper in blue polyester at lunch and then do the last minute shopping run (unless I decide I don't really need thyme.)
posted by vespabelle at 8:45 AM on December 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by vespabelle at 8:45 AM on December 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
I probably should be working on a work project, but instead I’m just hanging out with the cats and deciding which podcast I want to listen to. It’s a pleasurable mix of guilt and indulgence.
posted by GenjiandProust at 8:58 AM on December 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by GenjiandProust at 8:58 AM on December 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
this sort of speaks for itself:
Sugar Plum Peaceful - a not entirely awful Christmas mixtape
posted by philip-random at 9:00 AM on December 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
Sugar Plum Peaceful - a not entirely awful Christmas mixtape
posted by philip-random at 9:00 AM on December 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
A glorious day off for me and happy tidings to all my Meeple!
I have baked a cake and thought twice about posting a slice to wordshore but fear the results could be mutant by the time of delivery.
Aiding and abetting monsters are out in the kitty kompound. The weather is cool but sunny and I've turned on the self clean cycle on the oven to both provide a bit of heat and get rid of the year's build-up.
Good kitty is in my lap and she joins me in wishing hope and peace to all; healing for those who are facing hard times; joy as it can be found in unexpected.
posted by mightshould at 9:43 AM on December 24, 2018 [9 favorites]
I have baked a cake and thought twice about posting a slice to wordshore but fear the results could be mutant by the time of delivery.
Aiding and abetting monsters are out in the kitty kompound. The weather is cool but sunny and I've turned on the self clean cycle on the oven to both provide a bit of heat and get rid of the year's build-up.
Good kitty is in my lap and she joins me in wishing hope and peace to all; healing for those who are facing hard times; joy as it can be found in unexpected.
posted by mightshould at 9:43 AM on December 24, 2018 [9 favorites]
I'm at work and it's generally chill here, we have too many people staffed but if that is what corporate wants, then thats what corporate gets, a bunch of people just hanging out and waiting for the clock to run out.
Lots of cookies and we even had an impromptu Super Smash Bros battle take place. I lost. Hope everyone else has a chill day and are finding the good things in life to hold on to. Sending my love to all you out there.
posted by Fizz at 9:57 AM on December 24, 2018 [7 favorites]
Lots of cookies and we even had an impromptu Super Smash Bros battle take place. I lost. Hope everyone else has a chill day and are finding the good things in life to hold on to. Sending my love to all you out there.
posted by Fizz at 9:57 AM on December 24, 2018 [7 favorites]
Cheers, Fizz, and thank you for the warm MeTas this year!
The gifts are wrapped, the cards are out, the cookies are baked, and I don't have to report for festivities until 5:30. Tomorrow I make a lasagna for dinner at Mom's. The 26th begins what misterussell and I call Sloth Week. Books, videogames (he: Red Dead Redemption 2; me: trying out Path of Exile), and naps.
May we all find moments of light and peace in these last days of 2018.
posted by kimberussell at 9:57 AM on December 24, 2018 [7 favorites]
The gifts are wrapped, the cards are out, the cookies are baked, and I don't have to report for festivities until 5:30. Tomorrow I make a lasagna for dinner at Mom's. The 26th begins what misterussell and I call Sloth Week. Books, videogames (he: Red Dead Redemption 2; me: trying out Path of Exile), and naps.
May we all find moments of light and peace in these last days of 2018.
posted by kimberussell at 9:57 AM on December 24, 2018 [7 favorites]
Pandora's "Folk Holidays Radio" station is playing nice acoustic instrumentals. Weirdly heavy on versions of "Bring a torch," but that was a carol I learned in high-school French class so it's nice to feel international by mentally singing along in French. But it's a nice accompaniment to a rainy foggy Christmas Eve at work.
posted by lazuli at 10:52 AM on December 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by lazuli at 10:52 AM on December 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
Happy holidays, everyone - Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Fabulous Festivus, whatever is being celebrated in your home. Wishing you all the best for these last days of 2018 - whether that is lots of time with family and friends, or some time for peace and solitude, may you get what you want.
The office is shutting down here, so I'm about to head off for the making of the eggnog, the final wrapping, and then the Christmas Eve gathering.
posted by nubs at 11:43 AM on December 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
The office is shutting down here, so I'm about to head off for the making of the eggnog, the final wrapping, and then the Christmas Eve gathering.
posted by nubs at 11:43 AM on December 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
Cheers, Fizz, and thank you for the warm MeTas this year!
Let me sign the card, too! Fizz, you aren’t the only happy MeTa poster this year, but You’ve been a banner carrier for positivity and good thoughts in a year that’s really needed that. I’ve said before that Dark Souls is a metaphor for Fizz’s posts, but they’re really too upbeat for that...
posted by GenjiandProust at 12:10 PM on December 24, 2018 [10 favorites]
Let me sign the card, too! Fizz, you aren’t the only happy MeTa poster this year, but You’ve been a banner carrier for positivity and good thoughts in a year that’s really needed that. I’ve said before that Dark Souls is a metaphor for Fizz’s posts, but they’re really too upbeat for that...
posted by GenjiandProust at 12:10 PM on December 24, 2018 [10 favorites]
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO EVERYONE!
posted by Going To Maine at 12:15 PM on December 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Going To Maine at 12:15 PM on December 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
We just listened to Jingle Rock Bell twice in a row. The older kid asked for the repeat, and on the high notes the younger kid asked, “Is he in pain?”
Pretty sure that means I’m a good dad.
posted by nickmark at 12:31 PM on December 24, 2018 [10 favorites]
Pretty sure that means I’m a good dad.
posted by nickmark at 12:31 PM on December 24, 2018 [10 favorites]
Happy holidays! I just took a two hour nap and now my cat is lying on my belly. Tomorrow I will see humans but for now the quiet is everything.
posted by wellred at 12:57 PM on December 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by wellred at 12:57 PM on December 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
Having a nice quiet evening in watching Die Hard and having some wine and cheese.
However, the wine is making me tired and it's not even 9:30 PM yet. WHY DO YOU BETRAY ME, BOOZE?
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 1:15 PM on December 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
However, the wine is making me tired and it's not even 9:30 PM yet. WHY DO YOU BETRAY ME, BOOZE?
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 1:15 PM on December 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
Happy all the things to everyone!
I ♥ you all.
posted by Lynsey at 1:19 PM on December 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
I ♥ you all.
posted by Lynsey at 1:19 PM on December 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
I just saw either the UPS guy drive by dressed as Santa, or Santa drive by in a commandeered UPS truck.
On an unrelated note, I just found a lump of coal someone left on my front doormat. Which is weird, as I only have electric heat...
posted by Greg_Ace at 2:07 PM on December 24, 2018 [10 favorites]
On an unrelated note, I just found a lump of coal someone left on my front doormat. Which is weird, as I only have electric heat...
posted by Greg_Ace at 2:07 PM on December 24, 2018 [10 favorites]
I hope everyone around here has the opportunity to spend some time with their loved ones...
I love you all so much mefites, you have no idea....
posted by ouke at 2:11 PM on December 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
I love you all so much mefites, you have no idea....
posted by ouke at 2:11 PM on December 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
I am playing the Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack. In vinyl form. GREEN vinyl. Vince Guaraldi, you are totally swingin'.
posted by JanetLand at 2:22 PM on December 24, 2018 [17 favorites]
posted by JanetLand at 2:22 PM on December 24, 2018 [17 favorites]
Yay it's time to think about all the things (and people) that make us happy! Hey you, (YEAH YOU!) thanks for being one of those things.
posted by kinsey at 2:39 PM on December 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by kinsey at 2:39 PM on December 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
Happy holidays mefites! Wishing you all as much relaxing as possible.
posted by ellieBOA at 2:46 PM on December 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by ellieBOA at 2:46 PM on December 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
Success! I chased all the employees out of the office. Someone has to cover the phones for next couple hours, but there was no reason for all of us to be here with nothing to do.
posted by lazuli at 2:49 PM on December 24, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by lazuli at 2:49 PM on December 24, 2018 [11 favorites]
The walk to the pub was splendid. It was also good to get back and read the comments of MeFites about what they will eat for Christmas Dinner tomorrow - or, for those in an increasing number of timezones, later today.
The BBC has also just shown a new (to the UK) slow TV, namely a two hour distillation of the reindeer migration recently shown in real time on Norwegian TV. It was good - no presenters, and the only human sounds were the occasional Sami voice and song. Apart from that, there were reindeer. Many, many, reindeer. It was slow TV, but with a bit more incident than usual.
And, maybe I am getting soft in my older age, but possibly the unexpected highlight of the TV year was within, when one herder, married to Ravdna, fed some of the reindeer in such a way that ... well, see for yourself (closer).
For the last hour before Christmas Day itself here, I have the predicament of staying in front of the fire, or going to Midnight Mass (checks) yes, the local vicar is still going strong through her epic day of services, so maybe I should. There will probably be mince pies afterwards, anyway...
posted by Wordshore at 2:53 PM on December 24, 2018 [9 favorites]
The BBC has also just shown a new (to the UK) slow TV, namely a two hour distillation of the reindeer migration recently shown in real time on Norwegian TV. It was good - no presenters, and the only human sounds were the occasional Sami voice and song. Apart from that, there were reindeer. Many, many, reindeer. It was slow TV, but with a bit more incident than usual.
And, maybe I am getting soft in my older age, but possibly the unexpected highlight of the TV year was within, when one herder, married to Ravdna, fed some of the reindeer in such a way that ... well, see for yourself (closer).
For the last hour before Christmas Day itself here, I have the predicament of staying in front of the fire, or going to Midnight Mass (checks) yes, the local vicar is still going strong through her epic day of services, so maybe I should. There will probably be mince pies afterwards, anyway...
posted by Wordshore at 2:53 PM on December 24, 2018 [9 favorites]
I’m down with BlueNorther’s family for Christmas. My mother-in-law has been filling us with food and drink and discussing Neolithic axe heads, and my father-in-law spent a good forty minutes enthusiastically showing me his model tank collection (and his articles published in ‘Tankette’ magazine).
Best. In-Laws. Ever.
Merry Christmas to those who celebrate it. Happy Holidays to those who do not. Love to all. xx
posted by Morfil Ffyrnig at 3:01 PM on December 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
Best. In-Laws. Ever.
Merry Christmas to those who celebrate it. Happy Holidays to those who do not. Love to all. xx
posted by Morfil Ffyrnig at 3:01 PM on December 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
⃟E⃟N⃟J⃟O⃟Y⃟ Y⃟O⃟U⃟R⃟ H⃟O⃟L⃟I⃟D⃟A⃟Y⃟ O⃟F⃟ C⃟H⃟O⃟I⃟C⃟E⃟.⃟
⃟O⃟R⃟ N⃟O⃟T⃟.⃟
⃟I⃟ D⃟O⃟N⃟T⃟ W⃟A⃟N⃟T⃟ T⃟O⃟ B⃟E⃟ P⃟U⃟S⃟H⃟Y⃟.⃟
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 3:53 PM on December 24, 2018 [14 favorites]
⃟O⃟R⃟ N⃟O⃟T⃟.⃟
⃟I⃟ D⃟O⃟N⃟T⃟ W⃟A⃟N⃟T⃟ T⃟O⃟ B⃟E⃟ P⃟U⃟S⃟H⃟Y⃟.⃟
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 3:53 PM on December 24, 2018 [14 favorites]
I worked all day at my retail job and almost everyone was pleasant. I'm on my own tonight - my partner is spending tonight with her dad, but someone has to stay home with the dogs - but I'll join them tomorrow morning. I'm making coffee cake to bring down in the AM and enjoying one of my favorite local beers. I think I'm going to have frozen pierogi and roasted broccoli for dinner. There's a fire in the pellet stove, the dogs are wrestling, and I'm sitting down for the first time in 9 hours, so everything seems a-okay.
posted by coppermoss at 3:55 PM on December 24, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by coppermoss at 3:55 PM on December 24, 2018 [7 favorites]
Happiest of Midwinters to all of you "long-term internet friends" I refer to so often in conversation. I've said it frequently, but y'all are my people.
posted by salt grass at 5:19 PM on December 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by salt grass at 5:19 PM on December 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
This site has been a boon to me. Thank you all.
posted by MovableBookLady at 5:30 PM on December 24, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by MovableBookLady at 5:30 PM on December 24, 2018 [12 favorites]
Cheers, all! The stockings are hung, the gifts are wrapped, the drama is brewing with my mom that might potentially turn tomorrow into a shit show... so typical year in the ol' Bondcliff world.
I wish you all a happy whatever, and hope that you have a peaceful day tomorrow, or any other day where you find you need a bit of peace. In some weird way that I could never explain to anyone outside of this place, you are a family to me.
posted by bondcliff at 5:30 PM on December 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
I wish you all a happy whatever, and hope that you have a peaceful day tomorrow, or any other day where you find you need a bit of peace. In some weird way that I could never explain to anyone outside of this place, you are a family to me.
posted by bondcliff at 5:30 PM on December 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
Merry Christmas, all you Christmas celebrators! Belated Solstice Greetings, everyone else!
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 5:40 PM on December 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 5:40 PM on December 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
Happy everything and merry whatevers to all of you!
posted by notaninja at 5:43 PM on December 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by notaninja at 5:43 PM on December 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
Just finished our Christmas Eve tradition of cheese fondue, just the four of us enjoying a peaceful meal before chaos tomorrow. It’s been a rough year, and having a chill evening is priceless.
posted by gryphonlover at 6:22 PM on December 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by gryphonlover at 6:22 PM on December 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
pro tip. if you must use that store bought eggnog, consider cutting it half and half with good ole fashioned milk -- frees the taste buds up to actually taste the rum. You are mixing it with rum, I hope.
posted by philip-random at 6:26 PM on December 24, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by philip-random at 6:26 PM on December 24, 2018 [7 favorites]
Just arrived at my parents' place after a couple of hours on the bus and sitting down to some Xmas Eve lasagna before unpacking gifts. Happy holidays Mefites!
posted by sevenyearlurk at 6:47 PM on December 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by sevenyearlurk at 6:47 PM on December 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
Hey! I just had a funny Christmasy thing happen!
So my conservative catholic parents are visiting and they want to go to Christmas Eve mass, so I’m like hey why don’t I go, I haven’t been to mass in ages and I’ll bring the boys for, like, cultural reasons.
Well the seven year old is super antsy like 10 minutes in. “Uhhg. When is it going to be over?” Loud enough for everyone to hear. So I take him on a walk around the church which is like a really old ornate cathedral looking building with gargoyles and flying buttresses and explain Christianity to him in like half an hour. We light some votives and say thank you prayers for our family and good fortune. He’s fascinated by the confessionals with the screens and the whole thing. When it’s time for communion he’s like “Daddy you can have my wine if you’ll give me your bread.”
Anyway, during communion we go up to the nativity display and the Christmas tree up front, and an elderly nun comes up and whispers in my ear.
“Do you know Jimi Hendrix?”
Um?
“Yes, sure.”
“Well this is his nephew right here.”
Um?
“Hello, sir? My name’s Slarty, this is Baby Bartfast”
“Nice to meet you.”
The nun says “Jimi’s sister was the secretary here for a long time until she had her big stroke. The family has been donating the Christmas trees for many years.”
“And now you know the funniest little piece of trivia about this place, welcome. Merry Christmas.”
“And Merry Christmas to you, Mr. Hendrix.”
Truth be told, you could see the family resemblance. Except he was super tall.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 7:01 PM on December 24, 2018 [29 favorites]
So my conservative catholic parents are visiting and they want to go to Christmas Eve mass, so I’m like hey why don’t I go, I haven’t been to mass in ages and I’ll bring the boys for, like, cultural reasons.
Well the seven year old is super antsy like 10 minutes in. “Uhhg. When is it going to be over?” Loud enough for everyone to hear. So I take him on a walk around the church which is like a really old ornate cathedral looking building with gargoyles and flying buttresses and explain Christianity to him in like half an hour. We light some votives and say thank you prayers for our family and good fortune. He’s fascinated by the confessionals with the screens and the whole thing. When it’s time for communion he’s like “Daddy you can have my wine if you’ll give me your bread.”
Anyway, during communion we go up to the nativity display and the Christmas tree up front, and an elderly nun comes up and whispers in my ear.
“Do you know Jimi Hendrix?”
Um?
“Yes, sure.”
“Well this is his nephew right here.”
Um?
“Hello, sir? My name’s Slarty, this is Baby Bartfast”
“Nice to meet you.”
The nun says “Jimi’s sister was the secretary here for a long time until she had her big stroke. The family has been donating the Christmas trees for many years.”
“And now you know the funniest little piece of trivia about this place, welcome. Merry Christmas.”
“And Merry Christmas to you, Mr. Hendrix.”
Truth be told, you could see the family resemblance. Except he was super tall.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 7:01 PM on December 24, 2018 [29 favorites]
There’s just no way to follow a story like that. My night of watching The Nightmare Before Christmas and drinking hot chocolate just... pales.
posted by greermahoney at 7:19 PM on December 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by greermahoney at 7:19 PM on December 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
There’s just no way to follow a story like that. My night of watching The Nightmare Before Christmas and drinking hot chocolate just...
....sounds awesome. Simple pleasures are truly wonderful.
Love that story Slarty Bartfast, but also, I love movies and chocolate. :)
posted by Fizz at 7:27 PM on December 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
....sounds awesome. Simple pleasures are truly wonderful.
Love that story Slarty Bartfast, but also, I love movies and chocolate. :)
posted by Fizz at 7:27 PM on December 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
It was actually very nice hot chocolate. I’m not always a fan, but it was perfect tonight. :-)
posted by greermahoney at 7:32 PM on December 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by greermahoney at 7:32 PM on December 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
Back from one batch of family, and now I'm a bit tipsy, and watching the 1987 broadcast of A Muppet Family Christmas.
Watch out for the icy patch!
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 7:46 PM on December 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
Watch out for the icy patch!
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 7:46 PM on December 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
I've spent the evening watching The Nutcracker with Triceratops. It is just about perfect.
posted by ChuraChura at 8:06 PM on December 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by ChuraChura at 8:06 PM on December 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
Yeah, Christmas, that too...
But my biggest joy today was the three perfectly ripe smooshy persimmons that I made into a persimmon bread with satsuma zest and whisky and walnuts and golden raisins which came out so incredibly good - caramelized and gooey and perfect for a rainy cold day. Please try it some time, lovely people of Metafilter - if anyone deserves it, it’s you!
posted by The Toad at 8:21 PM on December 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
But my biggest joy today was the three perfectly ripe smooshy persimmons that I made into a persimmon bread with satsuma zest and whisky and walnuts and golden raisins which came out so incredibly good - caramelized and gooey and perfect for a rainy cold day. Please try it some time, lovely people of Metafilter - if anyone deserves it, it’s you!
posted by The Toad at 8:21 PM on December 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
Happy whatever you celebrate or don't. I love you all, thank you for being here and helping when I needed it and making me laugh when I didn't know I needed it. Thank you.
posted by cooker girl at 8:31 PM on December 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by cooker girl at 8:31 PM on December 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
happy winter holidays -- wishing you all warmth in the cold places and light in the dark ones.
posted by platitudipus at 8:39 PM on December 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by platitudipus at 8:39 PM on December 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
Merry Christmas from the future!
It's Christmas afternoon and I unwrapped the things (mostly calendars) and ate the things (mostly prawns) and now I'm recovering from all that hard work on the couch with a cat and the nutcracker suite on the stereo and trying to decide if it's time to start on the cocktails.
We even had a visit from the traditional Christmas bluetongue lizard. (Lizard with your tongue so bright, won't you drive my sleigh tonight? )
🦎🎄🍹🎄🍤🎄🥭🎄🦘🎄🎅🎄🥂🎄🦎
posted by lollusc at 8:43 PM on December 24, 2018 [11 favorites]
It's Christmas afternoon and I unwrapped the things (mostly calendars) and ate the things (mostly prawns) and now I'm recovering from all that hard work on the couch with a cat and the nutcracker suite on the stereo and trying to decide if it's time to start on the cocktails.
We even had a visit from the traditional Christmas bluetongue lizard. (Lizard with your tongue so bright, won't you drive my sleigh tonight? )
🦎🎄🍹🎄🍤🎄🥭🎄🦘🎄🎅🎄🥂🎄🦎
posted by lollusc at 8:43 PM on December 24, 2018 [11 favorites]
(spoiler alert: turns out it was time to start on the cocktails.)
posted by lollusc at 8:57 PM on December 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by lollusc at 8:57 PM on December 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
After spending eight hours listening to acoustic instrumental Christmas carols, I am mostly DONE with Christmas, except that I am listening to Dar Williams "The Christians and the Pagans" on repeat and it is giving me joy and hope.
posted by lazuli at 9:01 PM on December 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by lazuli at 9:01 PM on December 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
Oh! Thanks for reminding me! It’s just not Christmas if I don’t listen to White Wine in the Sun.
posted by greermahoney at 9:07 PM on December 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by greermahoney at 9:07 PM on December 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
Christmas lizard!!!
posted by lazuli at 9:18 PM on December 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by lazuli at 9:18 PM on December 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
As I am an old - an older old, even - my holidays ceased to have family drama decades ago, because I refused to participate in that mess. However, as of about 5:30 this evening, there was a development, and tomorrow looks to be a little dramatic. And it kinda sucks, and I’m too tired for this. But I’ll get through it and I refuse to let it get me down, because in 10-14 days, my SO, with whom I’ve been long distance for two years as of Dec. 28th, is moving in with me. And so 2019 will be excellent.
However, (and sorry to be a downer) I am still sad about Samizdata.
Christmas Lizard is bringing me joy, though. Yay, Christmas Lizard!
posted by MexicanYenta at 9:50 PM on December 24, 2018 [15 favorites]
However, (and sorry to be a downer) I am still sad about Samizdata.
Christmas Lizard is bringing me joy, though. Yay, Christmas Lizard!
posted by MexicanYenta at 9:50 PM on December 24, 2018 [15 favorites]
Ugh. I threw my back out yesterday and was bedridden for 24ish hours. Managed to make it to candlelight service tonight, thanks in part that we'd invited out of town guests and I didn't want to let them down. And now we've just barely put down the kids and put the Santa key out (we don't have a chimney) and put the cookie plate out and presents and stockings... this is one time that I'm grateful that my anxiety forces me to have things done in advance "in case something happens".
Love to all my MF peeps, you have no idea how much I rely on you and the sense of community here every day of the year. Whether we're friends IRL or not, you're a major part of my world and I love you all.
posted by vignettist at 10:00 PM on December 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
Love to all my MF peeps, you have no idea how much I rely on you and the sense of community here every day of the year. Whether we're friends IRL or not, you're a major part of my world and I love you all.
posted by vignettist at 10:00 PM on December 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
I just came home from work and my Jew-"ish" roommate is on the couch with tea watching a particularly spectacular David Attenborough documentary and I still have a giant bowl of spicy garlic green beans from the bar where we had a MeFi meetup yesterday, and this is a spectacular way to start the 36 hours of being unable to do anything because everything shuts down. An acquaintance who came to the same meetup is threatening Chinese food and a hike around SF tomorrow. I will stop stressing about my work problems. I will stop stressing about my work problems.
posted by twoplussix at 10:03 PM on December 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by twoplussix at 10:03 PM on December 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
Merry Christmas to everybody! Hope you all have a wonderful holiday!
posted by Sphinx at 10:09 PM on December 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Sphinx at 10:09 PM on December 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
I walk around a lot at night and talk to people sleeping rough.
Tonight: I spent a couple hours outside talking to Todd who is very funny. We shared our life stories and our life traumas and watched SNL videos on his phone.
At one point he got very serious and said, "I've been wanting to tell you something..." I also got very serious and said "what?" He said, "if you switch to Geico you can save 15 percent or more."
That was definitely one of the high points of my day/week/month...
I hope, my friends, that you're all warm and well-fed and well-loved tomorrow and the rest of the year too.
posted by bendy at 11:26 PM on December 24, 2018 [13 favorites]
Tonight: I spent a couple hours outside talking to Todd who is very funny. We shared our life stories and our life traumas and watched SNL videos on his phone.
At one point he got very serious and said, "I've been wanting to tell you something..." I also got very serious and said "what?" He said, "if you switch to Geico you can save 15 percent or more."
That was definitely one of the high points of my day/week/month...
I hope, my friends, that you're all warm and well-fed and well-loved tomorrow and the rest of the year too.
posted by bendy at 11:26 PM on December 24, 2018 [13 favorites]
Motherfuck I was just about to email something to rtha.
posted by bendy at 11:34 PM on December 24, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by bendy at 11:34 PM on December 24, 2018 [8 favorites]
here's the thing -- this is the Christmas I've been dreading all my life. The one that has absolutely no time for my concerns. My final parent, my mom, is officially old and probably dying. Eighty-seven and going through an overall system breakdown. Meanwhile, she's insisting on doing all of this on a remote island in a region caught in the whiplash of a storm system that has nothing on the likes of what hit Puerto Rico recently, but nevertheless shuts the grid down whenever it wants to. I won't go into details. It's a struggle and we all know that gravity will win in the end.
I'm not complaining. I sure she went through way worse with me.
I'm not even having that bad a time. Because it's Christmas and pretty much everyone I encounter is smiling, generous and genuinely concerned. Good will toward man (everyone obviously) and all that.
I will remember this Christmas unlike many of the comfortable ones. Always Love
posted by philip-random at 11:48 PM on December 24, 2018 [8 favorites]
I'm not complaining. I sure she went through way worse with me.
I'm not even having that bad a time. Because it's Christmas and pretty much everyone I encounter is smiling, generous and genuinely concerned. Good will toward man (everyone obviously) and all that.
I will remember this Christmas unlike many of the comfortable ones. Always Love
posted by philip-random at 11:48 PM on December 24, 2018 [8 favorites]
Happy holidays everybody! I am so happy to be here with you all and am excited to spend another year on this website that I’ve spent so much of my life on already. So much love from me to all of you ❤️
posted by gucci mane at 12:03 AM on December 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by gucci mane at 12:03 AM on December 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
Happy holidays, MeFi! I saw this Christmas wish list/card design the other day and found it very appropriate.
Had a good night -- dinner and tabletop gaming with family. Nice and low-key. Earlier in the year I was really scared after more than one serious health-related event in the family, and to get to the point where I can spend the holidays with them like this -- I feel incredibly grateful.
> In some weird way that I could never explain to anyone outside of this place, you are a family to me.
I feel the same way. I have shared some things that other people in my "IRL" space don't even know about. It has been a challenging year and I am really glad you are here! (Rhyme not intended but happily accepted.)
> an elderly nun comes up and whispers in my ear. “Do you know Jimi Hendrix?”
I mean, it's a great story, and I think this is my favorite part.
posted by rangefinder 1.4 at 1:04 AM on December 25, 2018 [7 favorites]
Had a good night -- dinner and tabletop gaming with family. Nice and low-key. Earlier in the year I was really scared after more than one serious health-related event in the family, and to get to the point where I can spend the holidays with them like this -- I feel incredibly grateful.
> In some weird way that I could never explain to anyone outside of this place, you are a family to me.
I feel the same way. I have shared some things that other people in my "IRL" space don't even know about. It has been a challenging year and I am really glad you are here! (Rhyme not intended but happily accepted.)
> an elderly nun comes up and whispers in my ear. “Do you know Jimi Hendrix?”
I mean, it's a great story, and I think this is my favorite part.
posted by rangefinder 1.4 at 1:04 AM on December 25, 2018 [7 favorites]
My current way of staying safe in public is to belch as loud as I can and as frequently as I can. So far so good.
posted by bendy at 2:30 AM on December 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by bendy at 2:30 AM on December 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
I haven’t had a date in eight years.
posted by bendy at 2:31 AM on December 25, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by bendy at 2:31 AM on December 25, 2018 [8 favorites]
It is Christmas morning and I’m laying in bed just a bit longer before going in to work. I’ll be opening the gardens, checking the holiday light display and tidying up after last night’s hot chocolate tent. It will be just me in the still garden surrounded by thousands of lights.
Merry Christmas to those who celebrate. If you’re surrounded by too much whirlwind today, I’m sending you some of my quiet morning in the gardens.
posted by sciencegeek at 3:11 AM on December 25, 2018 [9 favorites]
Merry Christmas to those who celebrate. If you’re surrounded by too much whirlwind today, I’m sending you some of my quiet morning in the gardens.
posted by sciencegeek at 3:11 AM on December 25, 2018 [9 favorites]
Two people in my partner's awkward-but-well-meaning family have already asked me if Chanukah is Jewish Christmas.
So, uh, PSA: Chanukah was two weeks ago and it's not Jewish Christmas. Happy holidays to everyone celebrating holidays!
posted by marfa, texas at 4:37 AM on December 25, 2018 [13 favorites]
So, uh, PSA: Chanukah was two weeks ago and it's not Jewish Christmas. Happy holidays to everyone celebrating holidays!
posted by marfa, texas at 4:37 AM on December 25, 2018 [13 favorites]
Well I got treated to another sighting of a bald eagle wheeling on thermals above the Hudson River along the Palisades.
Now it is time to go home and be with family.
posted by sciencegeek at 5:36 AM on December 25, 2018 [11 favorites]
Now it is time to go home and be with family.
posted by sciencegeek at 5:36 AM on December 25, 2018 [11 favorites]
Happy Holidays and drive safe, y'all!
posted by TrishaU at 5:38 AM on December 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by TrishaU at 5:38 AM on December 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
I saw Santa being pulled by ten tiny reindeer in the skies over New Jersey last night. I'm over 50 so that ,makes me pretty marginal. right?
posted by zaelic at 5:43 AM on December 25, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by zaelic at 5:43 AM on December 25, 2018 [6 favorites]
See this comment if you didn't get everything you wanted for Christmas and would like something else. Maybe we should have a post-holidays swap thread?
posted by JanetLand at 5:49 AM on December 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by JanetLand at 5:49 AM on December 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
Last night we rescued the errant toys from under the couch so the cats would maybe let us sleep in. This morning we awoke to a concert of mousie howls while they clustered round with visions of cat food cans dancing in their heads. Now my hallway is festively decorated with toy mice. I love those ridiculous furballs.
My immediate family doesn't swap gifts anymore, but a few weeks ago I visited my parents and sneakily left them a bunch of goodies to spice up their festivities today. The "WHUT?!" phone call I'll get in a few hours will be delicious.
Later this morning we're going to a friend's house where we'll divide and conquer: she's hosting and I'm catering. Win/win! Most of the cooking is done and all that's left is to make scrambled eggs right before breakfast. For now everything is quiet. I'm drinking tea and watching the star lights shift colors.
Love, peace, and heartfelt thanks to you all. ♥
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 5:55 AM on December 25, 2018 [6 favorites]
My immediate family doesn't swap gifts anymore, but a few weeks ago I visited my parents and sneakily left them a bunch of goodies to spice up their festivities today. The "WHUT?!" phone call I'll get in a few hours will be delicious.
Later this morning we're going to a friend's house where we'll divide and conquer: she's hosting and I'm catering. Win/win! Most of the cooking is done and all that's left is to make scrambled eggs right before breakfast. For now everything is quiet. I'm drinking tea and watching the star lights shift colors.
Love, peace, and heartfelt thanks to you all. ♥
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 5:55 AM on December 25, 2018 [6 favorites]
Christmas Day church service, with a collection of Druids, Pagans, Atheists, oh and Christians - done. A nice mixture of inclusitivy, informality, merriment, and solid Anglican singing. The vicar and curate (in headgear during the service) can now take a break of a few hours until their next event.
Christmas Day breakfast and lunch: both done.
My Neighbour Totoro: Film4, playing in the background.
Queen's Annual Speech to the nation: in about an hour. Watching it as I suspect it'll be the last one, for her and/or me living in (chooses word carefully) England.
Then a walk, then dinner, then some Skype calls to friends in the US of A, and then the radio commentary for the first ball and beyond of the traditional Boxing Day match at the MCG (one day I'll make it there). And at some point after that, sleep.
posted by Wordshore at 6:06 AM on December 25, 2018 [7 favorites]
Christmas Day breakfast and lunch: both done.
My Neighbour Totoro: Film4, playing in the background.
Queen's Annual Speech to the nation: in about an hour. Watching it as I suspect it'll be the last one, for her and/or me living in (chooses word carefully) England.
Then a walk, then dinner, then some Skype calls to friends in the US of A, and then the radio commentary for the first ball and beyond of the traditional Boxing Day match at the MCG (one day I'll make it there). And at some point after that, sleep.
posted by Wordshore at 6:06 AM on December 25, 2018 [7 favorites]
Continuing on the Christmas lizard theme, I just gave the cats their second Christmas gifts, catnip-stuffed toy lizards, which they are happily chasing around the cottage. I set out almonds for the scrub jays, a hummingbird greeted me when I took out the recycling a moment ago, and the turkey flock successfully de-roosted itself from the trees by the creek this morning. Merry Christmas to all!
posted by lazuli at 7:40 AM on December 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by lazuli at 7:40 AM on December 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
BTW, any Portland, OR christmas orphan peeps - I'm having steak 'n beer at the bar at the Hotel Duniway at 4 PM. Please come by if you'd like.
posted by bendy at 7:54 AM on December 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by bendy at 7:54 AM on December 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
Have a happy goofy Oriental shorthair Christmas all.
Also: Best. Xmas mashup. Evar.
posted by The Ardship of Cambry at 8:29 AM on December 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
Also: Best. Xmas mashup. Evar.
posted by The Ardship of Cambry at 8:29 AM on December 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
Last week was the museum holiday party, and every year my co-worker Eric makes some over the top confection/tableau. This year he made "artifacts" out of cake, cookies, candy, chocolate and fondant. Here is a photo (everything except the lamp, camera tripod, and laptop is something he made.)
Mr. gudrun and I are doing the holiday just with the two of us, and despite me having some kind of bug or other. On the 23rd, we went to a wonderful concert at the Folger Theatre. Turns out they have a Spotify playlist so I can share (last year's program was nice as well). Christmas eve dinner Mr. gudrun and I did ourselves, with ham, mashed potatoes, etc., and cherry pie for dessert. This morning we had panettone as part of breakfast (traditional in Mr. gudrun's family), while watching holiday episodes of Futurama and opening presents. Tonight we go out for great Lebanese food.
My sister sent me lots of photos of my incredibly photogenic hometown, so I am feeling kind of homesick for my parents, both now gone, and times long ago ... sigh.
Sending good wishes of the season to all on Metafilter, and my heartfelt thanks for helping to keep me sane in the era of Tr*mp.
posted by gudrun at 8:30 AM on December 25, 2018 [8 favorites]
Mr. gudrun and I are doing the holiday just with the two of us, and despite me having some kind of bug or other. On the 23rd, we went to a wonderful concert at the Folger Theatre. Turns out they have a Spotify playlist so I can share (last year's program was nice as well). Christmas eve dinner Mr. gudrun and I did ourselves, with ham, mashed potatoes, etc., and cherry pie for dessert. This morning we had panettone as part of breakfast (traditional in Mr. gudrun's family), while watching holiday episodes of Futurama and opening presents. Tonight we go out for great Lebanese food.
My sister sent me lots of photos of my incredibly photogenic hometown, so I am feeling kind of homesick for my parents, both now gone, and times long ago ... sigh.
Sending good wishes of the season to all on Metafilter, and my heartfelt thanks for helping to keep me sane in the era of Tr*mp.
posted by gudrun at 8:30 AM on December 25, 2018 [8 favorites]
Merry Christmas, MeFites. Love to you all.
posted by lazaruslong at 8:46 AM on December 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by lazaruslong at 8:46 AM on December 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
The topside of beef took longer than expected (but was beautiful) and the butternut squash was abandoned (it will go into squeak tomorrow) but the roasties were magnificently crispy. The chef (me) was well lubricated with fizz and it was all part of the joy of cooking a large scale meal in a gas oven that I haven’t had vast cooking time with yet.
Hope all your christmases are going well.
posted by halcyonday at 8:48 AM on December 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
Hope all your christmases are going well.
posted by halcyonday at 8:48 AM on December 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
After a solid week of the worst gastrointestinal virus of my life, I woke up feeling just fine and took my dog for a walk! It's amazing how merry and bright the world looks when you're not doubled over gasping in agony.
Happiest holidays to my internet friends, who year in and year out make me smarter and kinder. I am so grateful for you all.
posted by HotToddy at 8:51 AM on December 25, 2018 [10 favorites]
Happiest holidays to my internet friends, who year in and year out make me smarter and kinder. I am so grateful for you all.
posted by HotToddy at 8:51 AM on December 25, 2018 [10 favorites]
Happy Holidays, everyone! I am on my mom's couch, in my pajamas, surrounded by tissues, since I have my Annual Christmas Head Cold.
posted by sarcasticah at 9:23 AM on December 25, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by sarcasticah at 9:23 AM on December 25, 2018 [5 favorites]
The sick foster cat that I was worried that I'd be burying today has done a wonderful turnaround and is back to eating and playing while happily purring. I'll take it.
posted by Candleman at 9:40 AM on December 25, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by Candleman at 9:40 AM on December 25, 2018 [14 favorites]
Oh; embedded as a video clip in a tweet, the BBC have put up the aforementioned bit from the Reindeer Migration programme, with the Sami and their herd, last night. So, how to declare your love for your partner using reindeer feed.
posted by Wordshore at 9:59 AM on December 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Wordshore at 9:59 AM on December 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
Happy for all of you peeps. Sad for so much. Happy/sad. Good idea to get outside and enjoy some nature. Hope will help heal and get us through. Love you Meta!!!
posted by goodsearch at 10:23 AM on December 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by goodsearch at 10:23 AM on December 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
Peace and good will to all!
I'm about to hit Christmas round 3... First round was a very traditional Ukrainian feast with extended fam on solstice, which one of my aunts made a point of bringing back an old tradition of naming the dead, which was surprisingly poignant. Last night was a second traditional (but slightly less formal) Christmas eve feast with more excessive feasting. Today is the partner's fam's dinner.... 5 hrs of travel thus far.
It's been good and the least drama filled holiday we've ever had. I like it.
posted by larthegreat at 10:40 AM on December 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
I'm about to hit Christmas round 3... First round was a very traditional Ukrainian feast with extended fam on solstice, which one of my aunts made a point of bringing back an old tradition of naming the dead, which was surprisingly poignant. Last night was a second traditional (but slightly less formal) Christmas eve feast with more excessive feasting. Today is the partner's fam's dinner.... 5 hrs of travel thus far.
It's been good and the least drama filled holiday we've ever had. I like it.
posted by larthegreat at 10:40 AM on December 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
I'm working today, but it's work I like, and I chose to, and I'm getting paid A LOT for it, so yay.
My housemate bought me a white mug that just says FUCK. I am drinking delicious hot cocoa with little marshmallows and a generous glug of Kahlua out of it right now.
HAPPY WHATEVER, METAFILTER
IF THE <font color="$COLOR"> TAG WORKED HERE, THOSE LETTERS WOULD BE ALTERNATING RED AND GREEN
posted by tzikeh at 10:49 AM on December 25, 2018 [10 favorites]
My housemate bought me a white mug that just says FUCK. I am drinking delicious hot cocoa with little marshmallows and a generous glug of Kahlua out of it right now.
HAPPY WHATEVER, METAFILTER
IF THE <font color="$COLOR"> TAG WORKED HERE, THOSE LETTERS WOULD BE ALTERNATING RED AND GREEN
posted by tzikeh at 10:49 AM on December 25, 2018 [10 favorites]
The mister and I are drinking coffee, watching Doctor Who, and trying to stop time so we don’t have to go to my Wicked Catholic Aunt’s later. (That’s wicked in the Southern Mass/RI sense of the word, btw.) We got out of it for the last two years so this year is exceptionally unmotivated. There’s also some stupid political drama going on with a family member that I’ll have to see tonight and I just do not want. I’m already fantasizing about smashing a meat pie in their face so, you know, that’s a great sign.
posted by Ruki at 11:26 AM on December 25, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by Ruki at 11:26 AM on December 25, 2018 [5 favorites]
in london and had to do laundry. several of the serviced apartments I've stayed in previously have had a washer/dryer in the unit. this place has ONE TINY OF EACH FOR THE WHOLE BUILDING....and I can't adjust the dryer temp to do a load of cottons which means it takes a minimum of 3 hours and in reality more because I'm jockeying with the other guests. finally managed to get them damp dry, watched Lillibet, showered and made it over to Heddon St for dinner.
i did try the walker sprout crisps....interesting.
posted by brujita at 12:01 PM on December 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
i did try the walker sprout crisps....interesting.
posted by brujita at 12:01 PM on December 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
A Peacock Spider Christmas! (sound up)
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 12:07 PM on December 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 12:07 PM on December 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
Just got off the phone with some friends in Cote d'Ivoire - the pig I bought made it to the village and was distributed amongst the families of the guys I work with. One pig, six families-worth of Christmas dinner plus money to the family that raised the pig. I have had a very nice day here with my family and cat and dog, but I do really miss being in the village with my Ivorian family and eating pepper soup with offal from a pig that had spent it's life running around the village, warm beer, home-distilled liquor, and lots of little kids running around in their very fanciest new clothes.
posted by ChuraChura at 12:10 PM on December 25, 2018 [15 favorites]
posted by ChuraChura at 12:10 PM on December 25, 2018 [15 favorites]
Mr. Freedom and I had a quiet Christmas at home - we just got back from visiting my in-laws in another state and I think the ringing in our ears from the shrieks of our three very excited niblings are finally fading. We opened presents this morning. Many of the gifts we got were stuff that my mother passed down to us: her set of Japanese dishes she bought in Tokyo in the 70s, as well as my grandma's china and silver set which was probably made in the 50s. Had to rearrange the china hutch to fit it all in! I also got a sweet knitting bag, and Mr. Freedom got the Kitchen Aid pasta attachment.
Right now I am crocheting and Mr. Freedom is whistling happily in the kitchen, preparing the roast duck and freshly baked bread that we will eat later tonight. For now, everything is good.
posted by chainsofreedom at 12:14 PM on December 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
Right now I am crocheting and Mr. Freedom is whistling happily in the kitchen, preparing the roast duck and freshly baked bread that we will eat later tonight. For now, everything is good.
posted by chainsofreedom at 12:14 PM on December 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
I just got 8192 in 2048!
(But apparently I first started playing this game in 2014, so maybe this comment belongs in the fucking-fuck thread.)
posted by paper chromatographologist at 12:57 PM on December 25, 2018 [8 favorites]
(But apparently I first started playing this game in 2014, so maybe this comment belongs in the fucking-fuck thread.)
posted by paper chromatographologist at 12:57 PM on December 25, 2018 [8 favorites]
Wicked Catholic Aunt’s
You need a wicked bad aunt, not a wicked, bad aunt.
posted by GenjiandProust at 1:14 PM on December 25, 2018 [6 favorites]
You need a wicked bad aunt, not a wicked, bad aunt.
posted by GenjiandProust at 1:14 PM on December 25, 2018 [6 favorites]
Happy holidays to everyone!
I’ve been alone and super sick for the past few days, so in all honesty it’s been a pretty rotten Christmas. But I’ve been able to talk on the phone with family, and my girlfriend gave me some great gifts I’d been pining over for a while.
And as dopey as it sounds, I’m at least happy that for once, our cat doesn’t have to be alone on Christmas. I know she isn’t aware of the holiday, but she gets lonely and I’m glad she has company right now.
I head back to work tomorrow, but in the meantime I’ve got movies to watch and a cat to pat.
posted by shapes that haunt the dusk at 3:26 PM on December 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
I’ve been alone and super sick for the past few days, so in all honesty it’s been a pretty rotten Christmas. But I’ve been able to talk on the phone with family, and my girlfriend gave me some great gifts I’d been pining over for a while.
And as dopey as it sounds, I’m at least happy that for once, our cat doesn’t have to be alone on Christmas. I know she isn’t aware of the holiday, but she gets lonely and I’m glad she has company right now.
I head back to work tomorrow, but in the meantime I’ve got movies to watch and a cat to pat.
posted by shapes that haunt the dusk at 3:26 PM on December 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
My Christmas plans (as outlined in the happy things thread) went spectacularly. Woke up early-ish, looked through the bag of stocking stuffers my mom dropped off last week, then re-purposed my stocking as my medical supply bag before heading off for a quick round of work, checking up on folks in assisted living. Friend picked me up at work and we went to Rite Aid, where I found this so bad it’s kind of awesome singing Christmas poop emoji. Then to our photo shoot, where me stocking did its third job of the day as a festive prop. And then back home, where I have done very little except read and nap all day and things are glorious. This weekend I’ll do a low-key dinner and gift exchange with my parents and brother, but today is a vacation on my terms. Happy first Christmas alone to me.
posted by ActionPopulated at 3:45 PM on December 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by ActionPopulated at 3:45 PM on December 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
Happy Holidays, Metafilter!
I've been on vacation with partner-BmH to visit our parents (both sets) in Florida. Thanks to therapy, Zoloft, and growing up(?) I had a good time with my parents! We flew back today to find a not-dead basil plant (his name is Basil Weshouldhaveeatenhim, because last time when our basil plant died, I lamented that we should have eaten him), and I watched the Lion King and Frozen (both for the first time) on the plane.
On return we had pancake dogs (oblong pancake as hot dog bun) and we just took a walk around the neighborhood to see if anyone had notable lawn ornaments.
posted by batter_my_heart at 4:04 PM on December 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
I've been on vacation with partner-BmH to visit our parents (both sets) in Florida. Thanks to therapy, Zoloft, and growing up(?) I had a good time with my parents! We flew back today to find a not-dead basil plant (his name is Basil Weshouldhaveeatenhim, because last time when our basil plant died, I lamented that we should have eaten him), and I watched the Lion King and Frozen (both for the first time) on the plane.
On return we had pancake dogs (oblong pancake as hot dog bun) and we just took a walk around the neighborhood to see if anyone had notable lawn ornaments.
posted by batter_my_heart at 4:04 PM on December 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
belated addition, but:
You are mixing it with rum, I hope.
I am not enormously fond of eggnog, but when I do eggnog, it's Baltimore Eggnog, with apricot liqueur substituted for the schnapps. And it is very good. Though I haven't much of a sweet tooth, and prefer a simple rye flip, myself: 2oz rye, half-teaspoon of sugar, one whole fresh egg. Shake, then shake with ice, then strain into a chilled coupe, grate some nutmeg on top.
posted by halation at 4:28 PM on December 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
You are mixing it with rum, I hope.
I am not enormously fond of eggnog, but when I do eggnog, it's Baltimore Eggnog, with apricot liqueur substituted for the schnapps. And it is very good. Though I haven't much of a sweet tooth, and prefer a simple rye flip, myself: 2oz rye, half-teaspoon of sugar, one whole fresh egg. Shake, then shake with ice, then strain into a chilled coupe, grate some nutmeg on top.
posted by halation at 4:28 PM on December 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
Apricot liqueur eggnog sounds pretty good. I like it with coffee liqueur and crushed ice. Must research this.
posted by theora55 at 4:49 PM on December 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by theora55 at 4:49 PM on December 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
Frangelico hazelnut liqueur also works well with eggnog, for future reference.
posted by Greg_Ace at 5:14 PM on December 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Greg_Ace at 5:14 PM on December 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
I am sending so many peaceful and joyous thoughts to all of you tonight. This community has meant so much to me this year; I don't feel like I could ever give back as much as I've gotten out of it. All the schmoop!
The Chipotle taco bar went over fantastically. After seeing how sick I am, my brother basically did all the reheating and setting up (and paid for half of it too, good kid). We all talked, ate, opened gifts, all of the dogs were very very well behaved (2 of them were in puppy prison , but they didn't even fuss that much; Figlet ate up all the attention from his "grandparents"), and watched an episode of 'Nailed It' which had everyone cracking up. My family was gone by 5. I saw a FB post from a local friend looking for a lemon, which I happened to have because I've been making lots of hot toddies. I ran that over and got to be the Santa Claus of Miraculous Lemons so that was fun. Then, I sent an email to my boss saying that I was very sorry, but I'm not going to be able to come in for inventory tomorrow because the cold I had last week is relentless. So that's off the table. Now, snuggling in with those well-behaved pups and a hot toddy to watch some more Great British Baking show. Overall, A+++ , would Christmas again. Beats expectations, minus being sick. But for leaving my husband 6 weeks ago, not too shabby.
posted by Fig at 5:17 PM on December 25, 2018 [11 favorites]
The Chipotle taco bar went over fantastically. After seeing how sick I am, my brother basically did all the reheating and setting up (and paid for half of it too, good kid). We all talked, ate, opened gifts, all of the dogs were very very well behaved (2 of them were in puppy prison , but they didn't even fuss that much; Figlet ate up all the attention from his "grandparents"), and watched an episode of 'Nailed It' which had everyone cracking up. My family was gone by 5. I saw a FB post from a local friend looking for a lemon, which I happened to have because I've been making lots of hot toddies. I ran that over and got to be the Santa Claus of Miraculous Lemons so that was fun. Then, I sent an email to my boss saying that I was very sorry, but I'm not going to be able to come in for inventory tomorrow because the cold I had last week is relentless. So that's off the table. Now, snuggling in with those well-behaved pups and a hot toddy to watch some more Great British Baking show. Overall, A+++ , would Christmas again. Beats expectations, minus being sick. But for leaving my husband 6 weeks ago, not too shabby.
posted by Fig at 5:17 PM on December 25, 2018 [11 favorites]
Guys. Guys. GUYS.
I just inherited a banjo.
posted by Melismata at 5:50 PM on December 25, 2018 [27 favorites]
I just inherited a banjo.
posted by Melismata at 5:50 PM on December 25, 2018 [27 favorites]
Our condolences. For both your loss, and your "gain" of a banjo albatross.
;)
posted by Greg_Ace at 5:54 PM on December 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
;)
posted by Greg_Ace at 5:54 PM on December 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
You should gift it to a secret crush. I hear it’s a big romantic gesture guaranteed to make this person fall in love with you.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 6:42 PM on December 25, 2018 [19 favorites]
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 6:42 PM on December 25, 2018 [19 favorites]
Too... Much... Food... Can't move.
posted by octothorpe at 6:55 PM on December 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by octothorpe at 6:55 PM on December 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
Back from Christmas dinner at my parents' (lovely) neighbors' house. There were a number of Christmas miracles:
1. It was a potluck, and my dish turned out ok, despite my forgetting to buy eggs, accidentally adding a cup too much sugar, and not realizing that the stove burner was turned on for an extra ten minutes.
2. I heard an actually funny Sven and Ole joke.
3. I was seated next to a guy who is in some way affiliated with the Cato Institute, and we managed to have a perfectly pleasant conversation that did not touch upon politics at all.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 7:00 PM on December 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
1. It was a potluck, and my dish turned out ok, despite my forgetting to buy eggs, accidentally adding a cup too much sugar, and not realizing that the stove burner was turned on for an extra ten minutes.
2. I heard an actually funny Sven and Ole joke.
3. I was seated next to a guy who is in some way affiliated with the Cato Institute, and we managed to have a perfectly pleasant conversation that did not touch upon politics at all.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 7:00 PM on December 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
I was sitting in the grocery store parking lot on Sunday, thinking I needed to shop for dinner for today, and the words "BEEF STROGANOFF!" appeared in my head. I have never made beef stroganoff, and I haven't eaten it in probably three decades, but there you are. I made it tonight, and it was good, but I should have somehow calculated that one person cannot equal two pounds of beef, one pound of mushrooms, and one pound of egg noodles. I'm hoping it reheats moderately well and even then I don't think I can get through all these leftovers.
Is there just a mushroom stroganoff? I should google. Not that I need more stroganoff.
posted by lazuli at 7:02 PM on December 25, 2018 [5 favorites]
Is there just a mushroom stroganoff? I should google. Not that I need more stroganoff.
posted by lazuli at 7:02 PM on December 25, 2018 [5 favorites]
There is a portobello stroganoff and it is amazing.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 7:13 PM on December 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 7:13 PM on December 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
There is a portobello stroganoff and it is amazing.
Amerika amirite?
And I overslept and missed my dinner plans. :(
posted by bendy at 7:32 PM on December 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
Amerika amirite?
And I overslept and missed my dinner plans. :(
posted by bendy at 7:32 PM on December 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
Dude we all had steak and beer and were wondering which one of us was bendy.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 7:36 PM on December 25, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 7:36 PM on December 25, 2018 [6 favorites]
I mean, there was this one person having a salad and Perrier that said she was bendy but we knew better.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 7:38 PM on December 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 7:38 PM on December 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
Had the Traditional Christmas Feast of Chinese food, and my fridge is stuffed with wonderful leftovers.
Can't wait to eat the tofu and mushroom stirfry for lunch tomorrow!
posted by spinifex23 at 7:39 PM on December 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
Can't wait to eat the tofu and mushroom stirfry for lunch tomorrow!
posted by spinifex23 at 7:39 PM on December 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
I’m saying fuck it and having kippers for dinner, even though they make the apartment smell like smoked fish. Nothing says Christmas dinner like kippers and peas and rice.
They’re very rich in iron or something.
posted by shapes that haunt the dusk at 7:50 PM on December 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
They’re very rich in iron or something.
posted by shapes that haunt the dusk at 7:50 PM on December 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
Dude we all had steak and beer and were wondering which one of us was bendy.
I love everyone on Christmas but especially Slarty and lazuli and Todd.
posted by bendy at 8:03 PM on December 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
I love everyone on Christmas but especially Slarty and lazuli and Todd.
posted by bendy at 8:03 PM on December 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
I love you all, too.
posted by lazuli at 8:04 PM on December 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by lazuli at 8:04 PM on December 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
I love you more.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 8:16 PM on December 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 8:16 PM on December 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
ALSO! (And this has absolutely nothing to do with the love I feel! Nothing!) My aunts bought me Texas bourbon (and also bought my either my father or my brother Texas bourbon and he could not fit it in his return luggage so it got left with me) and while I debate the idea that it is "bourbon," it is damned good whiskey. Especially when consumed with the chocolate, hazelnut, and bing cherry bark I just had for dessert.
posted by lazuli at 8:20 PM on December 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by lazuli at 8:20 PM on December 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
I moved into my new (to me) house in Astoria, Oregon three days ago! I mean, my son and I actually moved in ten days ago to frantically paint and rip up carpet but my furniture and 53 boxes of books joined me on the evening of the 22nd. So it is pure chaos around here and thus Christmas didn’t really happen, but it also did! Frosty, the 4 foot light up plastic snowman I’ve been lugging around for, uh, 25 years or more is stuck in the living room window being festive. I made mushroom spinach lasagne even though it looks like one kitchen box didn’t make it - the box with the lasagne pans. We had cheesecake for dessert because Christmas = cheese and what with that and an expensive ($13, I am livin’ large) bottle of Christmas Zinfandel I am feeling rather kindly towards the universe. I live here now! It is a strange land indeed but I like it! And almost every day I take my dogs to run on the beach and that makes us all so very happy.
posted by mygothlaundry at 8:20 PM on December 25, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by mygothlaundry at 8:20 PM on December 25, 2018 [14 favorites]
Yay, mygothlaundry! Welcome to the West coast.
posted by lazuli at 8:22 PM on December 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by lazuli at 8:22 PM on December 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
Thank you! It is a very excellent coast y’all got here and I am going to stick around! I just have to make sure Fred Meyer has collards for New Years and mail order some grits and all will be well.
posted by mygothlaundry at 8:35 PM on December 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by mygothlaundry at 8:35 PM on December 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
It’s the North part of the west coast which is the best. The one right on the Pacific Ocean. Are you in fact in the Pacific Northwest now? PNW MeFites are the best, we totally have your back in a street fight. Have you selected a gang yet?
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 9:31 PM on December 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 9:31 PM on December 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
As I mentioned in another post, I wound up having a nice xmas day, with Chinese food (all else closed) from a new to us restaurant, and it was good. Then I cracked open a bottle of Chat. Suduiraut sauternes to sip while playing Crazy Rummy with some boardgame geek friends. Am now finishing off the bottle myself as I type. Nice interlude.
posted by MovableBookLady at 9:50 PM on December 25, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by MovableBookLady at 9:50 PM on December 25, 2018 [6 favorites]
53 boxes of books! Wow.
I had Chinese food with my brother's family, and it was great because homemade hot pot made by good cooks who are Chinese is far better than mediocre cashew chicken. The tiny stuffed lama I gave my 2-year-old nephew was well-received, at least until someone else gave him a radio-controlled car. :D
My 10-year-old niece now has 3 stuffed dragons: Temeraire, Silver Bell, and Midnight. So great.
Anyway, I am now happily reading Yuletide and finishing up a small glass of Irish whiskey before bed.
posted by suelac at 11:05 PM on December 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
I had Chinese food with my brother's family, and it was great because homemade hot pot made by good cooks who are Chinese is far better than mediocre cashew chicken. The tiny stuffed lama I gave my 2-year-old nephew was well-received, at least until someone else gave him a radio-controlled car. :D
My 10-year-old niece now has 3 stuffed dragons: Temeraire, Silver Bell, and Midnight. So great.
Anyway, I am now happily reading Yuletide and finishing up a small glass of Irish whiskey before bed.
posted by suelac at 11:05 PM on December 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
Thanks to alla y'all for taking care of all the holiday celebrations. I've had a lovely long nap.
posted by a humble nudibranch at 3:49 AM on December 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by a humble nudibranch at 3:49 AM on December 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
My parents loved the dual pestle & mortar carved from a small boulder we got them. My brother and gf loved the solid rock serving platter we got them (same store, natch). My lovely wife got me a kick ass new backpack. The kiddo loves the Lollapalooza tickets to go see Twenty One Pilots in March.
And, this is a big and, I lost 1kg over the Xmas weekend! Yay me. This brings me down to -4kg over the last month, on an easy to stick to low-carb, high protein and lots of veggie diet.
posted by signal at 4:13 AM on December 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
And, this is a big and, I lost 1kg over the Xmas weekend! Yay me. This brings me down to -4kg over the last month, on an easy to stick to low-carb, high protein and lots of veggie diet.
posted by signal at 4:13 AM on December 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
We're spending Xmas in Canada with our favorite cousins and their bouncing baby boy. They're the two very kindest people we know and it took them six years to have a kid, so this is extra special. He's only ten weeks old and he's a little pheremone explosion of pure happiness. It's been a good holiday.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 4:44 AM on December 26, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 4:44 AM on December 26, 2018 [7 favorites]
MetaFilter: a little pheremone explosion of pure happiness.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 7:15 AM on December 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 7:15 AM on December 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
I forgot to take my daily dose of Cymbalta since at least Saturday, and more likely since Friday night, and I got basically every antidepressant discontinuation syndrome symptom that exists over Christmas. But it was a nice day all the same!
Also I feel better now.
posted by elsietheeel at 7:27 AM on December 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
Also I feel better now.
posted by elsietheeel at 7:27 AM on December 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
Banjos are great because they're tuned such that even if your fingering isn't super accurate, it's probably going to sound nice a good deal of the time.
posted by Smearcase at 12:22 PM on December 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Smearcase at 12:22 PM on December 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
It was a perfectly lovely Christmas and I'm glad for the time I spent with family, enjoying their company, tasty food, and our traditional cranberry cosmopolitans (aka "the hooch"), which could incapacite a rhinoceros if consumed in anything but the moderatest of moderation. Ingredients: two parts homemade cranberry vodka, one part orange liqueur, and one part fresh lime juice. Mix, WATER DOWN, and enjoy. In moderation.
For the homemade vodka, we pretty much follow this recipe but we also include some sugar. Also, and this is key, you have to use bottom shelf vodka. Like, the worst rotgut imaginable. Ours was distilled in Pikesville, Maryland and cost about 6 bucks for 1.75 liters and it turned out just great and hasn't blinded me yet.
Christmas Eve was unusual. Earlier in the day, two older members of my tiny little church died, which of course was very sad. Late in the service I had changed out of my handbell choir robe and was set to rejoin the worship service when my friend and fellow church member Deb stumbled in, loud and unsteady on her feet and in tears. She'd been to the Ukrainian church downtown but was speaking every third word in Polish (her parents' native language) and she was acting just suuuuuper drunk, but I couldn't smell any alcohol on her breath, which would have been obvious, because she was very huggy and smoochy and teary and just all out of sorts. It was surreal. I think she was just lonely and sad, and I know her furnace had died a few months ago and she's so very tired of fixing things around the house at age 67, so I gave her lots of hugs, and some kisses, and just kind of held her as "Joy to the World" could be heard from the sanctuary, and, I dunno, I guess it was an apt metaphor for a weird Christmas and a bizarre year. Maybe my new year's resolution can be to offer some sort of hopeful, kind, human outreach to everyone in my life who is lonely and sad and tired as the calendar turns to 2019. Which is just about everyone I know, but it's still a nice thought. Merry Christmas, everyone.
posted by cheapskatebay at 1:30 PM on December 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
For the homemade vodka, we pretty much follow this recipe but we also include some sugar. Also, and this is key, you have to use bottom shelf vodka. Like, the worst rotgut imaginable. Ours was distilled in Pikesville, Maryland and cost about 6 bucks for 1.75 liters and it turned out just great and hasn't blinded me yet.
Christmas Eve was unusual. Earlier in the day, two older members of my tiny little church died, which of course was very sad. Late in the service I had changed out of my handbell choir robe and was set to rejoin the worship service when my friend and fellow church member Deb stumbled in, loud and unsteady on her feet and in tears. She'd been to the Ukrainian church downtown but was speaking every third word in Polish (her parents' native language) and she was acting just suuuuuper drunk, but I couldn't smell any alcohol on her breath, which would have been obvious, because she was very huggy and smoochy and teary and just all out of sorts. It was surreal. I think she was just lonely and sad, and I know her furnace had died a few months ago and she's so very tired of fixing things around the house at age 67, so I gave her lots of hugs, and some kisses, and just kind of held her as "Joy to the World" could be heard from the sanctuary, and, I dunno, I guess it was an apt metaphor for a weird Christmas and a bizarre year. Maybe my new year's resolution can be to offer some sort of hopeful, kind, human outreach to everyone in my life who is lonely and sad and tired as the calendar turns to 2019. Which is just about everyone I know, but it's still a nice thought. Merry Christmas, everyone.
posted by cheapskatebay at 1:30 PM on December 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
Wicked Catholic Aunt’s
Now I'm just reading this as a name of a restaurant, although such a restaurant would probably get boycotted out of existence or something. But I would totally go there!
posted by limeonaire at 2:39 PM on December 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
Now I'm just reading this as a name of a restaurant, although such a restaurant would probably get boycotted out of existence or something. But I would totally go there!
posted by limeonaire at 2:39 PM on December 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
I got a killer, well to me since I really wanted to try a ventille material jacket, deal on a Einride jacket by Klattermusen.
That discounted price plus free shipping from Europe plus no Duties Due on Delivery plus 20% off that plus my current GoLite jacket of 10 years or so suffering from some serious seam tape delamination plus having a 10 day NOLS Wilderness First Responder course on the horizon in two weeks meant it was time to pull the trigger.
Plus travel went really well for visiting the wife's family not to mention that the political stuff was well and truly kept in check at the usual friction points... so, good times!
posted by RolandOfEld at 6:29 PM on December 27, 2018 [3 favorites]
That discounted price plus free shipping from Europe plus no Duties Due on Delivery plus 20% off that plus my current GoLite jacket of 10 years or so suffering from some serious seam tape delamination plus having a 10 day NOLS Wilderness First Responder course on the horizon in two weeks meant it was time to pull the trigger.
Plus travel went really well for visiting the wife's family not to mention that the political stuff was well and truly kept in check at the usual friction points... so, good times!
posted by RolandOfEld at 6:29 PM on December 27, 2018 [3 favorites]
First Christmas as a single parent with no backup adult: achieved. I was a little concerned when my kiddo blew Santa’s cover at preschool by loudly announcing that Santa was actually their music teacher in disguise. (“Mama, NO ONE ELSE NOTICED! But he had the same voice and the same eyes! Why didn’t anyone else notice?”) But I bamboozled her by putting a couple of jingle bells on the floor in front of the fireplace, and she was so excited that she made me put them in her shadow box as evidence of magic. Gifts were a hit, Santa brought me bourbon and field guides, we made some of my family’s cookie recipes, my brother gave me Pop Chart’s fruit and vegetable taxonomy poster to nerd up the dining room, and I managed to knit a very nice Christmas stocking for the kid in a week while working full time. I only cried twice. I think I’m gonna survive this.
Metafilter has been a lifeline this year. I am pretty new here and had some heavy bad experiences right after walking in the door, and the smarts and compassion here have done a lot to help me keep it together. Thank you all.
posted by centrifugal at 11:01 PM on December 27, 2018 [10 favorites]
Metafilter has been a lifeline this year. I am pretty new here and had some heavy bad experiences right after walking in the door, and the smarts and compassion here have done a lot to help me keep it together. Thank you all.
posted by centrifugal at 11:01 PM on December 27, 2018 [10 favorites]
Due to non-overlapping terrible colds and also non-overlapping extended family I had two Thanksgiving dinners and three Christmas ones this year, four of which I cooked for, only two of those alone. Oh, and a pie for the fifth. This was a lot, but tolerable.
I think I have butter coming out my pores.
posted by clew at 1:00 AM on December 28, 2018 [6 favorites]
I think I have butter coming out my pores.
posted by clew at 1:00 AM on December 28, 2018 [6 favorites]
Butter coming out of one's pores is a good thing right? Hopefully or I am in trouble.
posted by AugustWest at 6:54 AM on December 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by AugustWest at 6:54 AM on December 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
It just means you'll be deliciously moist when the roasting is finished.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 6:59 AM on December 28, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by EndsOfInvention at 6:59 AM on December 28, 2018 [8 favorites]
Julia Child: "Giving up butter ... means that in about two years you will be covered with dandruff."
[Science...]
...better be ahead of the curve I guess.
posted by Namlit at 7:23 AM on December 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
[Science...]
...better be ahead of the curve I guess.
posted by Namlit at 7:23 AM on December 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
Both my kids came back from college for a few weeks and then we all took turns getting a stomach bug! I spent 24 hours vomiting with a high fever, but at least it passed after that. My poor wife has had it both better and worse - no vomiting but just three days of stomach pain and low fever. And both kids got it for 24h apeice.
Other than that, what a lovely holiday! Best wishes to everyone and for the love of everything, wash your hands when you're out this week because you don't want any of what we got!
posted by GuyZero at 10:13 AM on December 28, 2018 [4 favorites]
Other than that, what a lovely holiday! Best wishes to everyone and for the love of everything, wash your hands when you're out this week because you don't want any of what we got!
posted by GuyZero at 10:13 AM on December 28, 2018 [4 favorites]
Extremely trivial first-world-problem, but I was supposed to be spending New Year's weekend in Las Vegas and spent hours arranging for shows, restaurants, etc. Our flight was scheduled to leave 5:00 AM and when we got to the airport at 4:15 the flight had been cancelled and we stood in line for two hours to try to get rebooked and the folks at the American Airlines desk claimed to have booked us on a different flight on Delta, but when we went to the Delta counter to check in (after waiting another 45 minutes) they said American had made a mistake and all the Delta flights were sold out. So after getting up at 3:00 to be at the airport for the 5:00 flight, we spent 2 hours and 45 minutes standing in various lines and then came home.
On the bright side, home's actually not a bad place to be, and we're not spending a bunch of money on the trip, so I went to the liquor store and spent $200 on various nice bottles of stuff, which $200 would have been one evening's bar tab in Las Vegas. And earlier this week I cooked Christmas dinner for my husband, son, mother-in-law, and sister-in-law, and everyone was nice to each other and we're all still speaking to each other. So on the whole counting my blessings and wishing a Happy New Year to everyone, except perhaps American Airlines.
posted by Daily Alice at 11:09 AM on December 28, 2018 [5 favorites]
On the bright side, home's actually not a bad place to be, and we're not spending a bunch of money on the trip, so I went to the liquor store and spent $200 on various nice bottles of stuff, which $200 would have been one evening's bar tab in Las Vegas. And earlier this week I cooked Christmas dinner for my husband, son, mother-in-law, and sister-in-law, and everyone was nice to each other and we're all still speaking to each other. So on the whole counting my blessings and wishing a Happy New Year to everyone, except perhaps American Airlines.
posted by Daily Alice at 11:09 AM on December 28, 2018 [5 favorites]
The chef (me) was well lubricated with fizz
Wait, what?
posted by Fizz at 12:47 PM on December 28, 2018 [15 favorites]
Wait, what?
posted by Fizz at 12:47 PM on December 28, 2018 [15 favorites]
The mister and I survived Christmas at Wicked Catholic Aunt’s (trademark pending). Previously mentioned politically maligned family member did not get a meat pie in the face but did try to tell a story about me in an attempt to embarrass me in front of Kid Ruki. Joke was on the them because I just shrugged and said she already knew that, at which point family member visibly deflated and the story didn’t get told. It was glorious!
I did get to tell the story of my mom’s FBI file, created as a result of being on Federal Hill in Providence one day and running into someone she knew, who then formally introduced her to his friend, an elderly man called Louie. “If you ever need anything, let me know. A friend of (redacted) is a friend of mine,” Louie told my mom before getting into a Caddy and driving away. “Hey, watch this,” her friend said. Two black SUVs pulled out after him. “FBI.” Louie, dear reader, was none other than Luigi Manocchio, then boss of the Providence Mafia. AFAIK, she never “needed anything.”
Hmm, I just realized how differently many Rhode Islanders use the phrase “I know a guy.”
posted by Ruki at 2:27 PM on December 28, 2018 [6 favorites]
I did get to tell the story of my mom’s FBI file, created as a result of being on Federal Hill in Providence one day and running into someone she knew, who then formally introduced her to his friend, an elderly man called Louie. “If you ever need anything, let me know. A friend of (redacted) is a friend of mine,” Louie told my mom before getting into a Caddy and driving away. “Hey, watch this,” her friend said. Two black SUVs pulled out after him. “FBI.” Louie, dear reader, was none other than Luigi Manocchio, then boss of the Providence Mafia. AFAIK, she never “needed anything.”
Hmm, I just realized how differently many Rhode Islanders use the phrase “I know a guy.”
posted by Ruki at 2:27 PM on December 28, 2018 [6 favorites]
Like, Christmas in Connecticut with Walter Brennan as Boss Santa.
Teasing besides my godmother was a Genovese.
I need some post Christmas cheer/toss me a cat.
posted by clavdivs at 6:07 PM on December 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
Teasing besides my godmother was a Genovese.
I need some post Christmas cheer/toss me a cat.
posted by clavdivs at 6:07 PM on December 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
The Patriarca family has close ties with the Genovese family. That makes us practically related!
Because of my Christmas gift to one of my girl gang’s shark obsessed son, there is now a female nurse shark swimming off the coast of Florida that is tagged for research and is officially named Sharkasaurus. Isn’t that a great name for a shark?
posted by Ruki at 6:55 PM on December 28, 2018 [6 favorites]
Because of my Christmas gift to one of my girl gang’s shark obsessed son, there is now a female nurse shark swimming off the coast of Florida that is tagged for research and is officially named Sharkasaurus. Isn’t that a great name for a shark?
posted by Ruki at 6:55 PM on December 28, 2018 [6 favorites]
My sewer pipe decided that right before Christmas dinner was the best time to fully clog and back up! yay! The kids arrived to our frantic attempts to snake the drain and sop up the mess draining down the stairs to the basement...
Plumber came out and had to jet the line and diagnosed an issue with root intrusion.
I knew there was a separation in the line, but I thought we'd make it a few more years before having to shell out for replacement. (prior bids were $3500-$5500)
posted by vespabelle at 6:59 PM on December 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
Plumber came out and had to jet the line and diagnosed an issue with root intrusion.
I knew there was a separation in the line, but I thought we'd make it a few more years before having to shell out for replacement. (prior bids were $3500-$5500)
posted by vespabelle at 6:59 PM on December 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
Or safe and cool, as the case may be.
I looked at the map but it seems even 45c in Canberra wouldn't warm hearts enough to fix Nauru.
NB: Pack of arseholes used for experimentation. Results may not be transferable to normal humans.
Like you could entice normal humans to live in Canberra...
posted by pompomtom at 5:56 AM on December 29, 2018
I looked at the map but it seems even 45c in Canberra wouldn't warm hearts enough to fix Nauru.
NB: Pack of arseholes used for experimentation. Results may not be transferable to normal humans.
Like you could entice normal humans to live in Canberra...
posted by pompomtom at 5:56 AM on December 29, 2018
Happiness - I got my renewed passport.
I turned in all the documents that were required on the Monday before the shutdown, because I didn't know how the shutdown was going to affect passport issuance. Well, in my case it didn't; now I have a 10 year passport, both book and card, with my correct name and gender on it.
The sense of relief I feel is indescribable.
posted by spinifex23 at 10:51 PM on January 3, 2019 [5 favorites]
I turned in all the documents that were required on the Monday before the shutdown, because I didn't know how the shutdown was going to affect passport issuance. Well, in my case it didn't; now I have a 10 year passport, both book and card, with my correct name and gender on it.
The sense of relief I feel is indescribable.
posted by spinifex23 at 10:51 PM on January 3, 2019 [5 favorites]
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posted by taz (staff) at 3:23 AM on December 24, 2018 [4 favorites]