Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

You cannot shame the shameless.

Jesus watching the most hateful people claiming to be his followers

rich, arrogant assholes who equate luck with genius

You’re just a puppy masquerading as an old coot.

The real work of an opposition party is to oppose.

This fight is for everything.

When you’re a Republican, they let you do it.

Only Democrats have agency, apparently.

We still have time to mess this up!

He wakes up lying, and he lies all day.

Speaker Mike Johnson is a vile traitor to the House and the Constitution.

Fuck these fucking interesting times.

The rest of the comments were smacking Boebert like she was a piñata.

Republicans are the party of chaos and catastrophe.

Make the republican party small enough to drown in a bathtub.

They punch you in the face and then start crying because their fist hurts.

Too often we confuse noise with substance. too often we confuse setbacks with defeat.

Some judge needs to shut this circus down soon.

Since when do we limit our critiques to things we could do better ourselves?

Bark louder, little dog.

Today’s gop: why go just far enough when too far is right there?

Let there be snark.

… gradually, and then suddenly.

If you tweet it in all caps, that makes it true!

You are here: Home / Open Threads / Merry Chistmas!

Reader Interactions

272Comments

  5. 5.

    A Mom Anon

    Merry Holidays everyone. And for the love of gawd,please let 2010 suck ever so much less than ’09.

  6. 6.

    GReynoldsCT00

    Merry Christmas and don’t take any triple-dog dares today!

    A wonderful day to you JC and all the rest of the Juicers.

  8. 8.

    Ming

    Merry Chistmas to you, John, whatever that is!

    and all best for the coming year to all the Juicers.
    thanks for all the laughs, insights and kindnesses!

  9. 9.

    schooner

    As a mostly lurking viewer of the Juice, I’d like to wish a Merry Xmas and thanks to all bloggers and commentators.

    Nobody shoot their eye out.

  10. 10.

    geg6

    Merry Christmas to John, Lily, Tunch, DougJ, Tim F, and Anne Laurie. The best bloggers on the whole Toobz, bar none. And to all my fellow Juicers, BOB and Makewi included.

  11. 11.

    demkat620

    Merry Christmas all! Well whatever I did this year, the DH, kids and even the dog are happy.

    Hallelujah!

    Breakfast will be served in an hour, bacon eggs, biscuits, potatoes and sausage. Y’all are all welcome.

  12. 12.

    DougL (frmrly: Conservatively Liberal)

    Merry Christmas to all! On the schedule for today: family, presents, eat, drink, smoke and pass out.

    Sounds like a perfect day! :)

  13. 13.

    Walker

    Merry Christmas all.

    The wife and I celebrated Wigilia last night, so it is my turn to cook Christmas dinner today. Going for the American stand-by: standing rib roast.

  14. 14.

    Joey Maloney

    Picture caption: “White House press offers holiday greetings to Dick Cheney, 2003.”

    Happy Solstice to Juicers, families, friends, and pets. TUUUUUUUUUUUUUNCH!!

  15. 15.

    Elroy's Lunch

    Merry Christmas to John and all the Juicers out there! I’m thankful we have this community. Be safe. Don’t shoot your eye out.

  16. 16.

    mai naem

    Mele Kalikimaka. That’s in Hawaiian to y’all.

    Gotta second what An Anon Mom said. Can’t deal with another ’09 again.

  17. 17.

    geg6

    I just have to gush a little here. I am reclining on the couch in the sun room, surrounded by two lugs of dogs with big red bows around their necks, smelling the eggs Benedict in the making my man is preparing while sipping great java and watching the CBS Early Show. I might be a little bit in love with Harry Smith.

  18. 18.

    AngusTheGodOfMeat

    Going for the American stand-by: standing rib roast.

    We who are about to be eaten salute you.

    Despite this tragic note, my entire herd wishes you a Happy Pagan Holiday.

    Santa Cow is on his way.

  19. 19.

    geg6

    Angus @18: Just so you know, my John and I decided to eschew the traditional standing rib roast in favor of roast duck in your honor. He likes you for some reason, my John. Some sort of bovine man crush or something. ;-)

  20. 20.

    Zzyzx

    I’m up early (as always) and enacting my tradition from my bitter Jew – pre-Xian gf (now wife – days of watching Fiddler on the Roof…

    …skipping over the middle part of course which drags.

  22. 22.

    Emma

    Feliz Navidad, everyone. Last night’s dinner went well. We went through three loafs’ worth of tomato-garlic bruschetta. I copped a lot of nice presents. Today, big brunch at my sister’s with all the artery-clogging one could wish for.

    For those of you in the paths of all that snow, be warm. For all of you, be safe and happy. You guys as the best group ever!

  25. 25.

    jeffreyw

    [blink blink] [slurp] ahh, I may make it now

    mmm…coffee…where was I? Oh! Happy Holidays!

    hmm…time to fire the oven…the duckling is not laughing

  29. 29.

    Mino

    Merry Christmas to everyone and their pets that help to keep us sane amid the insanity–or at least try.

  30. 30.

    Rey

    To all ‘llooners – Y’all have a good one ya hear…

    and what A Mom Anon said- 2009: please just turn around and leave quickly….

    Peace

  32. 32.

    Josie

    Merry Christmas. I just discovered this blog in the last couple of days and consider it my special Christmas present to myself. Hope there is room for one more. I’m a refugee from a couple of other sites which have jumped the shark and shall remain nameless. Love the posts, comments and pictures of pets and babies. Just my cup of tea.

  33. 33.

    valdivia

    @jeffreyw:

    that cracked me up.

    Merry merry John, to you and your family. and to all Juicers. You rock like no other blog. Where else would I have found out about the Jesus key?

  34. 34.

    General Winfield Stuck

    Good morning Juicers. I am so relieved because Joe Scarborough told me on my teevee not to worry, that the good white wingnuts of Alabama loves them some Barrack Obama and reports to the contrary are false. Teehee!!

    Happy Holiday to all, No Exceptions!!

  35. 35.

    Paris

    “If anything, this new discovery shows how minor a place Nazareth was and draws new light to a central paradox of the Christmas narrative: Why would a pregnant mother from the Galilee travel as far south as Bethlehem to have a child?”

    http://tinyurl.com/yacorxx

    Mary, the original Sarah Palin?

    Happy Birthday Jesus!

  37. 37.

    Keith G

    @geg6: Cold AM in Houston, so the two “Worlds Best Kittehs” can not snuggle any closer. Their purring is almost synchronized. Occasionally Meredith lifts her head and meows plaintively for a belly rub.

    Merry Christmas all!!

    David Sedaris is once again Crumpet the Elf on NPR. I am waiting for 9 AM when my NPR station begins its classical holiday and sacred music program. Magic.

    Random thoughts:

    Someone leveled Benedict. Maybe god does have a sense of humor.

    My heart goes out to the family of the soldier shown on the Taliban video. I can not imagine the emotions.

  40. 40.

    Annie

    Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all, most especially to Tunch, Lily, Charlie, Smudge, Raven, Shadow, Chompers, Samantha, and all of the other BJ darlings. May today bring you lots and lots of kittie and doggie treats…..

  41. 41.

    debbie

    It’s been great discovering and reading this blog over the past year. (Wish I knew more of its origins.)

    Best hopes, dreams, and wishes for 2010!

  43. 43.

    bey

    Merry Christmas everyone! One of the cats let me a little Christmas Puddle on the bathmat, despite having 4 pristine boxes available.

    Ho Ho Ho. Damn cats.

  44. 44.

    Punchy

    Let’s hope 2010 doesn’t suck for Apple as much as Apple sucks apples.

    /makes fists, bobs and weaves……

  51. 51.

    Joey Maloney

    @Zzyzx:

    Every year until this one I celebrated Christmas in the traditional Jewish fashion – Chinese food and a movie. But this year I’m in Israel and it happens to be Shabbat as well as Christmas so everything is closed, including all the nearby Chinese restaurants and movie houses.

    So I’m spending the day with the internet, some good science fiction books, and for dinner I’m making an old favorite, 40 Cloves & A Chicken, or in local parlance ארבעים שום ועוף אחת.

  52. 52.

    Proper Gander

    Merry Christmas from a semi-lurker!

    I’m off to the Vietnamese restaurant for some pho, because I’m stuck in Cedar Rapids with a non-operational clutch and couldn’t make it to see the family.

    Hope your Christmas is better than mine!

  53. 53.

    jager

    My Baby Aunt Liz (farm wife, Mom and superb special ed teacher) edited all of Grandma’s old home movies, going all the way back to 1947 onto a CD. Amidst all the birthday parties, Christmas gatherings and film of our old dogs was the gem of gems; a piece of video she got years ago from a local TV station, her young, DFH, farmer husband at a meeting with Nixon’s Ag Secretary Earl Butz…the qoute from Uncle Gary was priceless, “When’s the last time you were on a fucking family farm, Mr. Secretary?” The best Christmas present ever!

    Have a great day with family and friends, chilly this morning in SoCal. Merry Christmas! BTW, the black Cocker I had when I was about 6 was a pretty damn cool dog, good to see her again!

  54. 54.

    valdivia

    @Joey Maloney:

    say dash ham to the holy land. I am very jealous….

    I am doing the same minus the chinese food. Two movies in manhattan with the fam this afternoon.

  55. 55.

    donovong

    Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy Kwanza, Cheerful Boxing Day, and at the very least A Very Pleasant Friday to everybody here at BJ, and especially Lily.

    May 2010 suck a lot less than 2009, and 2008, and…well, may 2010 just not suck, please?

  56. 56.

    HRA

    I had been reading blogs for some years. Some of my favorites left the blogosphere. I was surfing around for one to replace them and found BJ. I did not have to look further.
    I have enjoyed it immensely.

    Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all.

  57. 57.

    strawmanmunny

    Want to wish everyone here a Merry Christmas and/or Happy Holidays. My New Years resolution is to post more here so y’all have been warned. :)

    John, Doug, and all the main posters and the commentators are great and it’s nice to have a place to read about politics that isn’t batshit crazy just crazy.

  58. 58.

    Notorious P.A.T.

    Same to you John, and everyone else here. Thanks for making it my favorite internet haunt.

  59. 59.

    phoebes-in-santa fe

    Happy Christmas and Merry New Year to all.

    I also found BJ this year, and it, along with Steve Benen’s Political Animal, are my daily required reading, whether home or on the road.

    I’m still as glad today as I was on January 20th, when I was standing with my family in the infamous Purple Section, that Barack Obama is our new president. He inherited a hell of a mess and seems to be dealing with it – for the most part – pretty well. Obviously, I am not one of the legion of disappointed liberals who view Obama as not having done “enough” to advance the liberal cause. I wish these disappointed ones would sit back and realise that this country was so far to the right from 2001-2009 that Obama is trying to get us back to the middle!

    I hope that 2010 will bring the beginning of universal HCR by passing a bill to get to the president by State of the Union. And that that bill will only be the START of HCR. Minnesota’s Amy Klobuchar reminded us that the much-vaunted Civil Rights Bill began as a tiny bill in 1960 and then expanded over time to the full bill by 1965.

    I also hope that this blog will return to showing as many pictures of John Cole’s cat as it does his dog. I mean, the dog’s nice and all…but we cat people, who are owned by our pets, need a daily fix of cat pictures!

    Hope it’s a happy holiday for all the BJ’ers!

  60. 60.

    Tomlinson

    @Paris:

    Why would a pregnant mother from the Galilee travel as far south as Bethlehem to have a child?”

    Jeebus! Nobody tell Sully!

    Merry Christmas too all!

  61. 61.

    Citizen_X

    Merry Christmas (if that is your wont) and, to quote Kinky Friedman, “May the god of your choice bless you.”

    And here’s hoping the next decade is not as full of deadly suck as the last one has been.

  63. 63.

    Montysano

    @A Mom Anon:

    And for the love of gawd,please let 2010 suck ever so much less than ‘09.

    Amen. 2009 was brutal. 5 deaths in our immediate circle, and our income at 55% of 2008. So: 2010 has to be better!

    Merry Christmas to all! Thanks to John, DougJ, Tim, and Annie for running the best blog on the toobz.

    First: presents. Then: Gumbo!

  65. 65.

    gbear

    Someone’s gotta do it:

    Bah f*ing humbug.

    It is now raining in St. Paul f*ing MN on top of the 8 or so inches of snow we got yesterday. Perfect heart attack snow. By monday it’s supposed to be back down in the teens. F*ing wonderful.

    Family get-together not until second weekend in January because of distant siblings who work retail. Today is read, sleep, pet cats, watch birds. And go out to shovel slush every now and then.

  66. 66.

    Jackie

    Merry Christmas to all and Best Wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. This is a great community of folks and you deserve nothing but the best.

    PS May I nominate “theological friendly fire” for comment of the year? I’m still breaking out in random giggles.

  67. 67.

    Brent

    Happy Festivus all you loony juicers! I too discovered BJ this year and it is my fav blog, required daily reading. I mostly lurk as I often find myself on the learning side of the podium. Amongst my fellow travellers I am usually the pontificator, so it is a nice treat to sit back and soak in the wit, intelligence and humor you all bring. There is just the right mix of irreverence, disestablishmentarianism, rudeness and good natured sarcasm to go with the insights. I especially enjoy the contraries who buck the groupthink tendency to suck the noodly appendages of whatever point of view presented by the front pager, whether the mighty Cole or DougJ the lesser. Let’s eat and drink til we puke!

  68. 68.

    geg6

    Menus, people! Menus! For us, appetizer of pate, spinach salad with hot bacon dressing, honey glazed carrots, my famous twice baked potatoes, roast duck with sausage and mushroom dressing, and a surprise dessert. Accompanied by a Mondavi Private Reserve chardonnay, a Jacob’s Creek shiraz, and a Martini and Rossi proseco. I will be a +10 again.

  69. 69.

    SIA aka ScreamingInAtlanta

    Joyeaux Noel all you crazy BJ curmudgeons,DFHs, lurkers,philosophers, anarchists, and kindly, smart people.

  70. 70.

    Monado, FCD

    Gbear, get a scoop and just shove it around. Wait til it freezes again, anyway, or you’ll have ice on your nice smooth surfaces. Ice is much easier to remove if it has snow under it.

    Bey, feed the cat in the bathroom for a few days. They don’t like to pee where they eat.

    Happy Winter Solstice, everyone! May your days get longer from here to June!

    And you Americans, congrats on electing Barack Obama—I never thought I’d see the day.

  72. 72.

    SIA aka ScreamingInAtlanta

    A special thanks to you John Cole, you have a great creation here.

    Chuck Butcher, you’re in my thoughts today.

  76. 76.

    Phyllis

    Been raining almost nonstop here in the almost-South Carolina lowcountry since midnight or so. We’re also under a tornado watch till noon.

    The ham is in the oven, ‘The Man Who Came to Dinner’ is on TCM, and the SO was most pleased with his new all-weather jacket.

    Happy happy & merry merry to y’all at my favorite daily stop on the ‘nets. Y’all have a great day.

    And more Smudge photos, pleez?

  77. 77.

    Jean

    Merry Christmas to all! My kids and pets are happy today, especially my dog Simon who no longer has to wear a cone on his head. He is healed! Thanks, Santa.

  78. 78.

    ACK

    Mostly a lurker, occasionally a poster — but have followed Balloon Juice daily since John’s conversion (welcome comrade!).

    The best blog bar none. And thanks for helping me keep my sanity, during those dark days.

    Oh, and you can tell John is now a fellow comrade as he has taken the “r” out of Christmas (Chistmas). lol

    Merry Christmas!

  79. 79.

    Mary

    Merry Christmas John & Co. Your blog is great because it has such heart and such humor and such animal lovingness. I even love the trolls.

  81. 81.

    jeffreyw

    @geg6: Hmm…let me sort the menu out in my head here, been working a few days on this as the mood struck.

    Centerpiece will be roast duckling with a cranberry/lemon glaze. I made two dressings, a fresh cajun pork sausage dressing and another gumbo themed dressing. Sweet potato casserole with walnut topping. Brussel sprouts sauted in bacon fat with diced ham, pan deglazed with basalmic and then finished in the oven. Cranberry relish. Mashed Idaho potatoes with boudin gravy. Sweet potato pies, cherry pie with crumb topping, said pies to be topped with fresh made whipped cream. And lastly the Free Range Fruit Cake from an Alton Brown recipe that I made a week ago and have been spritzing with brandy everyday since.

  87. 87.

    Demo Woman

    Merry Christmas all. I’m waiting for the sons to arrive and watching Love Actually. Yeah, I know chick flick, yadda, yadda, yadda.
    Chuck, if you are around, just wanted to let you know, that you are in my thoughts.

  96. 96.

    4jkb4ia

    You too, John!

    My husband insisted on “The Young Victoria” so we are going. This year there were three possible movies. I cannot take the abundance.

    And I guess I should thank everybody here for putting up with me from the bottom of my heart.

  97. 97.

    South of I-10

    Thanks John, I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas. Merry Christmas to everyone. Little South is about to come out of her skin, she is having so much fun. We are off to my parents for lunch.

  101. 101.

    IndyLib

    Happy Holidays to one and all here at BJ. We’re having a wonderful if soggy Christmas Day here in S. Wisconsin. At least the rain has melted the ice sheet that was our driveway and when it refreezes it will only be half as thick. Thank FSM for small blessings.

    edit: Holy hell, I haven’t commented in awhile and I now have an edit button! Merry f’n Christmas indeed!

  103. 103.

    HRA

    @geg6:

    The main menu is at our one daughter’s house -2 blocks away. All I know is 2 different turkey offerings – Turkey Tetrazini and Pulled Turkey with chili sauce. Everyone else is given an assigned dish to bring. I was told to make oreo cookie cake.

    Tomorrow is when they come to our house to eat. Lasagna with my own tomato sauce (meatballs, sausage and country spareribs) , pasta (the usual and rice pasta), green salad, peppers, olives, cheese, 2 breads (Italian and Portuguese), Strawberry Trifle and Christmas cookies. Oops – Chicken noodle and cream of broccoli soup, too.

  104. 104.

    Citizen_X

    @Montysano:

    2009 was brutal. 5 deaths in our immediate circle, and our income at 55% of 2008. So: 2010 has to be better!

    Holy FSM, that’s appalling. Sincere condolences, and here’s hoping for an infinitely better 2010.

  108. 108.

    geg6

    HRA: We are doing pasta for my family’s holiday celebration on Sunday (too many conflicting schedules and travel difficulties to do it today). We’ll be at my next older sister’s, who bought my parents’ old homestead when they passed. Caesar salad, lasagne, meatballs, hot sausage, and homemade pastas. Dinner is geared for halftime during the Stillers/Ravens. Pre-dinner munchies will be shrimp with cocktail sauce and buffalo chicken dip. Desserts will be an assortment od oldest sister’s homemade cookies, my favorites being pecan cups, pineapple squares, and lady locks. All I have to bring is the shrimp and sauce. Everyone will be in black and gold.

  109. 109.

    Chris

    Merry Christmas to everyone! I hope your holiday brings you cheer, peace and good will. I am glad I’ve found such a reasonable place on the tubes full of literate, reasonable people. This place gives me hope for our republic. Thanks for all the laughs from John, Dougj and Anne Laurie. Thanks for all the laughs and serious analysis too…by all the commenters. GWS, aimai, eemom geg6 you guys help keep me informed and keep me from going off the deep end and spending too much time at FDL and the GOS. Thanks!!!

  111. 111.

    Gwangung

    Merry Christmas to Juicers everwhere!

    Headed off soon to my brother’s for the afternoon gathering. Then this evening to the brother’s in-laws place for an intimate gathering of a hundred or so. EVERY food imaginable, from turkey to rib roast to tamales to suu Mai to bitter melon to fried rice….need to diet to prepare for it…..

  112. 112.

    phoebes-in-santa fe

    @Keith G: Being a life-time Jew, I will tell you that in years past, Chinese restaurants were often the only restaurants open on Christmas Day. So, not wanting to actually cook after seeing the requisite movie on Christmas, Jews went en-masse to Chinese restaurants for dinner.

    Obviously, things are better now, with more restaurants remaining open on Christmas and Christmas Eve – albeit, often with really expensive menus – so the dining choices have widened for us who don’t cook traditional dinners.

    Most Jews, however, do sorta celebrate Christmas by getting together with family and friends. Maybe without the tree and decorations, but with loved ones just the same. Out here in Santa Fe, I’m celebrating with my 30 year old son and my sister and brother-in-law, who are visiting from Chicago. We’re meeting for lunch in a little while at a hotel restaurant and then we’re going to the movies – my son and I to see “Up in the Air” and my sister and BIL to see “It’s Complicated”. Then we’re returning to my house to watch football and maybe a movie and feast on our “holiday” dinner, fresh shrimp, corn-on-the-cob, pasta, and dessert. It’s kinda a wild menu but we all like those things!

    So, again, Happy Christmas and Merry New Year to all the posters on this site.

  113. 113.

    Phoebe

    XOXO! I love you all. Happy EID, too. Their stamps are prettiest.

    I’m not phoebes-in-santa-fe, obviously, but my name is Phoebe and I’m currently in Santa Fe, so, high five!

  116. 116.

    SIA aka ScreamingInAtlanta

    Montysanto here’s to a better year ahead. I had a death year like that in the 90’s. Very very excruciating. Hang in there. .

  117. 117.

    CaseyL

    The process of rendering pie cherries creates quite a lot of sour cherry juice, which makes a great morning drink while checking in with my fellow BJers.

    Deck the halls
    For whatever hols
    You fancy

    Get all festive
    And unrestive
    Be dancy!

    So heed the call
    “Good season all!”
    And keep your spirits prancy.

    Love you all!

  119. 119.

    Ailuridae

    is it wrong that I have Alton Brown’s Duck recipe in the works and this post has made me delay it to get Chinese take-out?

  120. 120.

    Chat Noir

    Merry Xmas to everyone on this fab blog. I found Balloon Juice in early spring after Kos linked to it on numerous occassions. Now I click here daily. I have learned a ton from everyone.

    I’m also glad that the horrid 2009 is nearly at an end (my job of nearly 20 years goes away next Tuesday). Best wishes to all you folks here. I look forward to the posts, comments, snark, and pets in the new year.

  121. 121.

    Anya

    This is the first Christmas I am spending by myself. I am a product of Christian and Muslim parents (both are agnostics but their families are religious), so at home my mom (the christian parent) made a big deal about Eid and every Christmas we visited our grandparents in Boston to spend the Christmas with them. This year, I did not celebrate either and it feels really weird.

  122. 122.

    eric

    Today will be spent tooling around and doing much of nothing, playing some guitar, maybe Lebron/Kobe for a few later. Missing the most beautiful daughter in the world who is visiting family with her mom. I give thanks for her health every day and wish the same to each of you here. My biggest wish for the holiday is the HCR really works for people and millions of Americans can live better more sane lives because of if. I have my concerns about the legislation, but if that wish comes even a little bit true, then this progressive guy will have many more very merry christmases.

    To all of the people who are having a trying holiday season, please rest easier knowing that you have friends here in the “impersonal” blogosphere that are always willing to help.

    Finally, in loving memory of the baddest of the badasses on the intertubes: fuck the fucking yankees.

    eric

  123. 123.

    CaseyL

    @cleek:

    today = bacon-wrapped fillets, some kind of tater, sauteed spinach. wine + wine + wine + wine.

    Um… (wipes drool off chin)
    …. where did you say you lived?

  124. 124.

    D-Chance.

    One side effect of Christmas is Christmas Day television. I’ve got a choice of Christmas parades, Christmas specials, Divorce Court (on THREE different channels), Christmas sermons, soap operas in Christmas settings, or some basketball featuring the Knicks (teams wearing green and red).

    Divorce Court… hmmm….

  125. 125.

    demkat620

    Sauce is in the crockpot, meatballs on the stove.

    Lasagna will be prepared for tomorrow’s potluck with the family.

    Wine in my glass, happy kids, dog has a new toy and all is right with the world.

  128. 128.

    Bonnie L. McLellan

    My kid moved to Albequerque; my at-least-10-year-old (she showed up on the front step ten years ago) dog is blind and incontinent most days (I realized today I have to let her go); I work from 11 am until 11 pm today; and I only have one present in the house (not from said kid, because tuition is so damned expensive). Here’s to tomorrow sucking less than today.

  130. 130.

    Tsulagi

    Merry Xmas BJers wherever you may be.

    We’ve already had our main Xmas dinner. Following a tradition in some SA countries, you party till midnight on Xmas Eve then sit down to dinner at midnight as it becomes Xmas.

    We had a lot of expats without other family in the area in our house. The Scot with his thick accent who’s hard enough to understand when sober was hammered. For comedy value, at dinner I thought of asking him to say grace.

  131. 131.

    geg6

    Betsy @126: Come on over! We have a whole second bottle of cheap champagne we have yet to crack and plenty of the fixings! That said, I’m thinking a nap will be in order before I start on the twice-bakeds.

  132. 132.

    r€nato

    Merry Xmas to all.

    Finally, just saw the commercial that Ben Stein does for “Free Credit Score”. Holy crap, I don’t know whether to be appalled or laugh my ass off at Ben Stein for how shamelessly he is cashing in.

  135. 135.

    Ailuridae

    @D-Chance.:

    The Knicks have actually played really well the last ten games. The color schemes are a bit much however (especially with the blue and orange still on the floor)

  136. 136.

    Midnight Marauder

    I hope you’re all having some good times wherever you may be on this fine, fine day. I certainly hope these guys are–it is the holidays after all.

    On a different note, I want to go on the record of going beyond mere optimism and outright declaring that 2010 is going to be a fan-fucking-tastic year. The analogy/metaphor that I’ve taken to using as of late about my feelings on the new year, is that I feel like I’m about to get a hot hand in a game of dice. A very hot hand. So I guess what I’m telling you is that the bandwagon just pulled into the station and there’s plenty of room (and booze) on board. I think we’re going to be in for a surprisingly good run in the next 365. Or maybe I’m just delusional from an impending schedule of 18 hours of NBA action today. Who knows?

    Merry Christmas, gang!

  138. 138.

    MP

    From someone who mostly lurks and enjoys the humor and intelligence of this community, Merry Christmas. Now, to the kitchen for a little wine and cooking.

  147. 147.

    The Moar You Know

    Merry Christmas, all!

    Next stop; 2010 and the end of this rather strange decade. Can’t recall a weirder one since the 1970s.

    Hooray!

  151. 151.

    eemom

    Bhahoo bhores, dahoo dhores……Merry Christmas to all Whos, the tall and the small, on Balloon Juice, the very best blog of them all.

    (no, I didn’t get that job at Hallmark I applied for. Why do you ask?)

  152. 152.

    MikeJ

    @Zzyzx: Looks like we should have a Seattle Balloon Juice CCD cleaning party. I have a dust spot in almost the same place as the biggest one in your pics.

    Shooting sunrises when you don’t have to get there until 7:30 beats the hell out of summertime 4:30 treks.

    Very nice pics!

  156. 156.

    Midnight Marauder

    If you’re not watching the all-day NBA Christmas Bonanza, you just missed on of the most amazing holiday commercials of all-time. It’s one of those Nike puppet commercials with LeBron and Kobe, as Santa Claus narrates an epic basketball game between himself, Kobe, and LBJ vs. his reindeer. It’s called “Dunkin’ On A Reindeer.”

    This will all make a lot more sense once you watch it. Just trust me on this one.

  158. 158.

    Ruckus

    Happy pagan holidays to all!
    The traditional Ruckus xmas dinner
    Seared veg with poached salmon, fresh fruit/melon for desert
    Whatever you eat, where ever you are, enjoy life and those around you.
    The best adage ever, Peace on Earth. May you see it in your lifetime.

  159. 159.

    Jenn

    Happy Christmas, everyone! (And Zzyzx, it sure is a beautiful day in the Pacific Northwest! I can’t even remember the last time we had blue skies and sun for Christmas.) The best of wishes for a day of laughter and friends, whether they be there in person, covered in fur (or feathers), or online. Electronic hugs whizzing thru the wires to all, particularly those who’re having a rocky day. This is such a great place, thanks to all who have brightened my day on so many occasions!

  164. 164.

    Mwangangi

    Merry 25th of December!

    I’d like to thank all the posters and commenters for all the entertainment and information you all have provided this year.
    you folks were the only entertainment I allowed myself during my semester long assault on human anatomy. I got my 4.0 and I don’t have to feel guilty reading this site for the next three weeks.

  165. 165.

    San

    DFH salad (arugula, roast beets, blue cheese, walnuts)

    Rosemary-garlic roast leg of lamb with lemons

    Mashed potatoes

    Green beans

    Mmmmmmmm.

  166. 166.

    licensed to kill time

    Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone at this exceptional place.

    Balloon Juice and our host John Cole, the front pagers DougJ and Tim F and Anne Laurie as well as all the witty/insightful/informed/profane/simpatico/tender/angry/sweet/curmudgeonly/did I mention funny as hell? commenters just give so much to me every single day.

    I just love this place, grumpy or happy, flaming or saccharine, naughty or nice. Thank you all and DOG BLESS US EVERY ONE!

  168. 168.

    Yutsano

    I did have a small sad. My sister-in-law’s 14 year old Siamese passed away. I didn’t find out until I got home from work and she told me. So we’re down to three furballs.

    Sitting home alone right now until the brothers get back from whatever it is they’re doing today (one’s working, the other ha to go indulge his other family) then off to the parents for enchiladas and presents. I’m getting new socks.

  169. 169.

    Shell

    A very Merry Christmas to all Balloon folk and their animals!

    (TCM is showing the Reginald Owen version of ‘A Christmas Carol’ and not the Alistair Sim’s one? Sacrilege!!)

  171. 171.

    Bostondreams

    Well, after tearing apart my wife’s aunt’s house, we found the keys our eighteen month old decided would be better placed behind the toilet, and are now heading to Disneyland for Christmas.
    Merry Christmas to my favorite bloggers and commenters!

  172. 172.

    ajr22

    This blog deserves some kind of award, maybe a lamp in the shape of a leg. I have become a regular reader this year, and I can’t say enough about the front pagers or the comment section. As teh Jew the family and I will be heading to the movies, and getting some chinese for dinner. Merry Christmas and happy new year to all, can’t wait for another year of BJ!!

  173. 173.

    mandarama

    I hope you’re all having a wonderful day! We have happy little boys playing Star Wars and Indiana Jones with their new goodies. And Honeybaked Ham. So life is good!

    Can I impose on you more experienced tech people a moment? I got a Kindle from my FIL–completely unexpected and cool gift!–and I signed up for the BJ subscription. But I can’t see comments on each post. Is that just how it goes? B/c as much as I love our host and believe he and I might have been separated at birth, I really need to see the commentariat. (Even after the last week of visiting seagulls.) Is that a possibility on Kindle, or do I just need to keep ruining my eyes on the iPhone?

    Merry Christmas or whatever other celebration you’re having! It’s time to get everyone together to watch A Christmas Story. “You used up all the tape–ON PURPOSE!”

  175. 175.

    San

    @Annie:

    Roast beets are amazing. Americans just don’t know what they are missing.
    There would be no borsch without them, and what kind of life it would be if there was no borsch in it?

    (Let’s see how many people can read this)

    С Рождеством и наступающим Новым годом!

  176. 176.

    Yutsano

    @San: Рождеством = Christmas, hopefully you’re wishing us a good one! Odd thing about me: I can’t speak Russian but can read Cyrillic. Don’t ask, I had some weird phases in high school.

  179. 179.

    Shell

    deserves some kind of award, maybe a lamp in the shape of a leg.

    That’s a ‘major award.’
    Been dipping into the ‘Christmas Story’ marathon all day. But try to avoid the scene when the Bumpus’ hounds demolish the turkey. Makes me weep.

    roast duckling with a cranberry/lemon glaze

    Hey, same here! With mashed potatoes and a side of braised escarole. A slightly bitter green goes up well with the richness of the duck. Walnut tassies and stollen for dessert.

  180. 180.

    Yutsano

    @Shell: Man. I should so make shortbread for tonight. It’s about the only thing I have all the ingredients for in the house. Plus it’s like four ingredients and EASY.

  182. 182.

    licensed to kill time

    @ajr22:

    This blog deserves some kind of award, maybe a lamp in the shape of a leg.

    That should be a lamp in the shape of a balloon, full of that funny gas that makes you laugh like a hyena and bump your nose on the floor until you pass out.

    AND A JESUS KEY!

    ETA: Why no, I have no personal experience with that funny gas, why do you ask?

  185. 185.

    Phyllis

    (TCM is showing the Reginald Owen version of ‘A Christmas Carol’ and not the Alistair Sim’s one? Sacrilege!!)

    @Shell: TCM is on notice this Christmas; no Alistair Sim version of Christmas Carol, and not one showing of The Bishop’s Wife. Place has gone to he** if you ask me.

    And she used up ‘all the glue‘ on purpose. We don’t even bother to watch it here at our house. I just act out all the parts.

  189. 189.

    Maude

    @The Moar You Know: I’m glad to see it end. So strange and awful

    arguing, You’ve got girl cat and the entire BJ gang. You aren’t alone. I wonder if this blog is becoming like a family. I’m used to the lexicon and how different commenters phrase things.
    Let’s have a decent 2010 and no more sad.

  190. 190.

    AngusTheGodOfMeat

    But try to avoid the scene when the Bumpus’ hounds demolish the turkey.

    What good is a holiday without bitter disappointment?

  191. 191.

    Libby

    Just dropping in before I leave for the family festivities to wish the entire Balloon Juice community a merry, merry day, however and whatever you celebrate. Don’t comment that much lately, but I treasure you all and am grateful you’re on the internets where I can always find you. You folks rock.

    xxL

  192. 192.

    Shell

    TCM is on notice this Christmas; no Alistair Sim version of Christmas Carol, and not one showing of The Bishop’s Wife.

    I’m with you. But one mitigating circumstance is a couple of showings of ‘Christmas in Connecticut.” I covet Barbara Stanwyck’s waist.

  193. 193.

    mandarama

    @Phyllis:

    And she used up ‘all the glue’ on purpose.

    Dang, I knew that! I’ve just been through about 400 rolls of tape in the last week and I guess it’s affected me. Oops. My apologies to the superlative Darren McGavin.

  196. 196.

    asiangrrlMN

    Before I read the eleven-billionty comments on this thread (new one, please, Cole? And, Tunchie?), ANNE LAURIE! I have an amazing version of O Holy Night for you as done by the Dublin Gospel Choir. A friend linked it for me. Give it a listen. Merry whatever to all.

  197. 197.

    asdf

    Rarely post here but read you ladies and gentlemens’ stuff all the time.
    It’s a quiet Christmas here by the Rio Grande. I’m making Green Chile Stew
    Thanks for the good times. I’ve enjoyed reading you.
    Best Wishes for the New Year to you all.

  199. 199.

    satby

    Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo a usted ya su familia

    圣诞快乐，新年快乐，以你和你的家人

    メリークリスマス、あなたとあなたの家族にハッピーニューイヤー

    Καλά Χριστούγεννα και Ευτυχισμένο το Νέο Έτος για εσάς και την οικογένειά σας

    (I used to host exchange students)

  202. 202.

    Ruemara

    Happy Chrishanaramakwanzsticivus to All! May you wall have good holidays. Special good vibes to Chat Noir & Yutsanto. I’m kicking back for breakfast in my new bathrobe which is nice and warm, having already blown half my other gift of jewelry making supplies. The mate is enjoying the new giant DK book on Battle: A Visual Journey Through 5000 Years and the Doctor Who E-Space Trilogy collection. In protest against gritty, rapscallion, SHIRTLESS? Holmes, I will be immersed in Jeremy Brett’s Sherlock Holmes collection.

    The menu:
    Garlic roasted Pork Loin
    Roasted Sweet Potato Mash with Homemade Butter
    Wild Green Salad
    Fresh Cranberry-Blackberry-Orange Dressing
    Cheesecake
    and a selection of chocolates from these guys, the Candy House. Most Awesome Unknown Chocolatiers, EVAH!

    May we all have better a 2010 than 2009 and in fact, I’m fairly sure we will.

  206. 206.

    Mike in NC

    May we all have better a 2010 than 2009 and in fact, I’m fairly sure we will.

    Amen to that! How could it possibly be worse (don’t answer!)? A Merry Christmas, Krazee Kwanza, & Happy New Year to all. Heading back to bed after a delightful dinner of Tussin DM, Advil, Mucinex and Sudafed…

  207. 207.

    JK

    What does everyone think of Bob Dylan’s Christmas album? As a lifelong Dylan fan, I think it sucks.

  210. 210.

    asdf

    “What does everyone think of Bob Dylan’s Christmas album?”

    Would pay money for it? No. Do I care that it sucks? No.
    Bob wrote more good songs than anyone I can think of off hand.

    So…. he’s wrong sometimes? Who isn’t? He still wrote (insert your fave Dylan song here).

    I don’t care if he made this record so he could get some money together to pay off the Mafia and his Brazilian transgendered blackmailer. It wouldn’t change things for me.

    Bobby rocks harder than Pete Townsend courting Jimmy Dean singing “Big John” in his underwear.

    There is a reason I don’t post here often.

  211. 211.

    asiangrrlMN

    Wow. Got through the whole damn thread, and really, what can I say that hasn’t been already said? I, too, found BJ this year, and it’s the best damn blog on the ‘nets, in my not-so-humble opinion.

    Thanks to all who have posted pics of food pr0n and of various cute animals. Thanks to all who participate in the craziness that often (always) occurs on the late-night threads. Thanks to all my fake spouses out there (and still waiting for Tunchie’s response).

    Mostly, thank the blog overlord, Tunch, er, Cole and all the other front pagers for making this the awesome place it is.

    May I need to use my rusty pitchfork less in 2010. Peace.

    P.S. Welcome to all the lurkers who de-lurked for the day. Hope to see you comment more often.

  212. 212.

    asiangrrlMN

    @JK: It’s my favorite Christmas carol, so I’ve been posting various versions over the last few days. I love all the different things that can be done with the song. A friend even gave me a punk version (I have them all on my blog). It’s good to ‘see’ you, and I really hope your 2010 is better than your 2009.

    @Mwangangi: Hm. I may have to check out clips from YouTube. Do they do O Holy Night?

    @gbear: Yeah. More snow, though. That makes me happy. Of course, I don’t have to drive anywhere today.

  213. 213.

    Comrade Kevin

    Nollaig Shona daoibh go léir agus Athbhliain faoi shéan is faoi mhaise daoibh, agus go mba seacht fearr sinn go léir ag an am seo ar an bhliain seo chugainn!

    Merry Christmas to you all and a happy and prosperous New Year to you all and may we all be seven times better off at this time next year!

  215. 215.

    mandarama

    @arguingwithsignposts:

    –I signed up for the BJ subscription.–
    now that should be a tag

    Heh. If we had that as a T-shirt, can you imagine the looks we’d get?

    Still figuring out this Kindle thing. I suspect that in fact I cannot get all you commenters’ brilliance on the subscription, which means I’ll have to blind myself reading them on a tiny screen instead. Of course, some folks’ posts lately would blind me on a 27-inch iMac.

    What did y’all get for presents? Aside from the Kindle, my fave gift was a stuffed Perry the Platypus from my brother. I also got the Plouffe book about the campaign; that should be interesting.

  216. 216.

    KDP

    Shadow and I wish you all a wonderful day! Shadow

    Again, thank you all for providing a voice for rational thought. Hoping that 2010 is healthy and prosperous for all of you and your nearest and dearest.

    Today: Herb crusted pork loin with potatoes, stewed apples, and pumpkin pie.

  217. 217.

    gbear

    @asiangrrlMN:

    Hmmm, still raining here. It’s been rain rather than snow almost all day in my neighborhood. The plows have been by and everything is shovelled out, but it really is a good afternoon to stay put. What a gloomy day.

    I hope you had a good one.

  218. 218.

    DaveInOz

    A very Merry Christmas and a happy and a prosperous New Year to all in the BJ community – from a warm, sunny and, yes, beautiful Melbourne, Australia.

  223. 223.

    Yutsano

    @Comrade Kevin: Awww man where were you last night? My boss is half Irish and I was saying I didn’t know Merry Christmas in Gaelic. Come home from doing my brother a favor and TAH-DAH!

  224. 224.

    tamiedjr

    Anyone hear the Pink Floyd Christmas album? It’s called Deck the Wall. ar ar

    Merry December 25th to all!

  227. 227.

    Chuck Butcher

    SIA and Demowoman,
    Thanks, my heart is touched. For Christmas I’d like to point out that only family and friends fight like we do around here. Yes, I’m pretty sure all of use have that crazy relative like makepee and BOB.

    Christmas got a little less grim when wife opened package from me with silver charm braclet of baby charms. You don’t replace a child with his baby, but it does help fill the hole a bit. That was it for the packages thing, I get to have Ribeye & crablegs w/cheeze cake for dessert as my present.

    I wish you all the happiest of holidays, in particular our front pagers.

  228. 228.

    gsp

    Merry Christmas John and all readers. And sorry to John for saying you were being a bitch the other day when talking about the health care bill. let the emotions get the better of me. I need to acquire John’s “nirvanic” state.

  229. 229.

    martha

    Thanks to everyone for their good (and bad, depending on the moment) humor. Merry Christmas or whatever you celebrate!

    Today’s menu (now eaten…and it was good!):

    Pepper-crusted beef tenderloin with parsley-caper-cornichon salsa (this stuff is utterly addictive)
    Scalloped potatoes
    Buttered peas
    Cloverleaf rolls
    McDowell Syrah
    and my husband’s grandma’s “refrigerator” cookies for dessert, because they’re one of the few things my father-in-law remembers. Alzheimers is not a nice disease, so we go back to the basics sometimes, and these cookies were/are a fundamental link throughout his life. Everyone at the table (except me) started telling grandma stories…Kind of neat. And they’re good too…

  230. 230.

    Chat Noir

    @Brachiator:

    For moviegoers, I recommend Up in the Air.

    Yup, just got back from seeing it. George Clooney is excellent as always. I think he is aging fabulously, like Meryl Streep. No cosmetic anything. They are two of my favorite actors, although I don’t have a desire to see Meryl in It’s Complicated.

  231. 231.

    asdf

    I’m making Green Chile Stew

    May we have recipe, please.
    ———–

    Really? I read this blog for a lot of reasons but mainly because there are some good cooks who contribute. Thank you for asking.

    Here is the problem you’ll have. I’ve lived outside New Mexico and frozen green chile is almost impossible to get there. Never tried canned green chile but it is available most places. Like most vegetables, though, frozen is better than canned.

    Browned 1.5 lbs. rump roast I cut off a big one and kept frozen until needed. Cubed it in smallish pieces. Tiny bit of salt in the browning. Add 1 tbs. or more Mexican oregano (regular oregano works just fine), a tiny amount dried crushed red pepper, black pepper, the tiniest bit of cumin (I mean TINY) and a little more salt. Remove.

    Cut up 3, yes 3, onions. Sautee till almost clear. Add 3 or 4 minced garlic cloves. Cook 1 minute more.

    Add the meat back into the pot. Put in a coffee cup full of water, the frozen green chile (13 oz. Bueno Chopped Green Chile) and 1 beef bullion cube for salt.

    Dice 2 medium Russet potatoes. Add them.

    Mix it all well. Stir occaisionally. Let it cook for a long time, go low and slow.

    It’s a really nice dish and a crowd pleaser.

    Best Wishes to you all this Christmas Day,

    asdf

  232. 232.

    Mike E

    Honey-brined chicken just came out of the oven. Mashed potato(e)s and salad. Pilsner Urquel and Guiness widget cans.
    A cool Yule to yous!

  233. 233.

    Tattoosydney

    Christmas is almost over on this side of the world. I hope yours was as good as mine. Best wishes to everyone!

    TS + lost count two days ago

  235. 235.

    Yutsano

    @Tattoosydney: When your liver forgives you let us know. Look at it this way: if you were home it would have been over hours ago!

    Saw some pics of the new Boeing Dreamliner and all I can say is some airline better get one of those on a run to Sydney cause it’s GAWJUSS!!

  236. 236.

    Keith G

    @asdf:Thanks. I too live in Tx and have some pull with folks who grow their own chiles, some of which they freeze, some they can in jars (yummy).

    Have you tried this with fresh?

  237. 237.

    demimondian

    After much futzing around, we moved the mead must and the cyser must into the laundry room last night. Man, they’ve taken off amazingly since then. (Well, as amazingly as mead or cyser ever do…let’s just say that the limited growth media for the yeast show up remarkably.)

    Cyser…

  238. 238.

    asdf

    Keith G

    Have you tried this with fresh?
    ———-

    Strange as this may sound, no. I’ve been successful with the frozen stuff so I just use that.

    It’s on the stove now and smells so good I can’t stand it.

    Happy Christmas (or whatever!) to you and yours.

    asdf

  239. 239.

    bob h

    The bitter, childish kvetching and gracelessness of the Republicans in defeat on HCR sure goes with the spirit of the holidays, doesn’t it. The Republicans- no class at any time.

  240. 240.

    Something Fabulous

    Happy Holidays of whatever kind to you all, from another who found this amazing blog this year. I am about to go to an italian potluck, re-gifting and sing-along, but wanted to take a moment especially to say hang in to those who have mentioned having a hard day today (and Gex, how’ve you been doing?). This year has sucked somewhat fearsomely for me as well, and you all have most definitely helped me slog through it, so many many thanks for that. I too envision a Much Better 2010 for us all!

    Best wishes, from another member of the chinese-and-movie tribe.

  241. 241.

    Mark

    Why isn’t Law & Order on today? Without my favorite show, I end up torturing myself by reading David Brooks:

    http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/25/opinion/25brooks.html

    He suggests that one of the best magazine pieces about the medical system was this nuttery from September:

    http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200909/health-care

    My girlfriend apologized for convincing me to buy that issue of the Atlantic in the train station. I read through it again and tried to remember what bothered me so much about it. And then on the last page, I remembered:

    “If we abolished Medicaid, we could spend the same money to make a roughly $3,000 HSA contribution and a $2,000 catastrophic-premium payment for 60 million Americans every year. That’s a $12,000 annual HSA plus catastrophic coverage for a low-income family of four. Do we really believe most of them wouldn’t be better off?”

    Ah, the magic of the HSA. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to blow up a single-payer system that works in every country that has tried it in favor of some crazy Republican idea that has never actually worked in practice? And this was from a guy who called himself a Democrat.

    It just goes to show you how far out there the August nutbagging was that this was counted as rational discussion.

  243. 243.

    martha

    @jeffreyw: Well, I can’t tell you what to do with anchos and colorados off the top of my head, but when you get some pasillas and guajillos, check back in…I’ve got a mean and really easy pozole recipe that is incredible!

  244. 244.

    LittleBit

    We were masochists last night and went to Midnight Mass in a howling blizzard. The windshield wipers stopped working halfway there. If we weren’t cantoring, we never would have gone, but we were not alone. There were about 100 people there!

    Coming home was terrible, though. The wipers still didn’t work and one crazy motherfucker on the road got stuck, and the other drivers just stopped IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD when there were two other lanes open. We had to pull a Chinese Fire Drill in 12 inches of snow so I could drive and the boys could push us around the idiots.

    Victory!

    I wasn’t looking forward to walking the rest of the way home in a dress and heels.

  245. 245.

    Tattoosydney

    @Yutsano:

    Urgh. Had a six wine degustation tonight, after Veuve this morning, after a seven wine degustation last night. Add in some entirely legal in Amsterdam substances, and I feel the need for a soothing cup of tea.

    How has your Christmas been?

  246. 246.

    JenJen

    Merry Christmas, Balloon-Juice family. Hope your holidays have been gemütlich so far!

    Christmas Dinner is chicken cacciatore, a French pinot noir, and “Inglorious Basterds” DVD. Maybe I should find a more festive film?

  247. 247.

    Yutsano

    @Tattoosydney: Right now I’m sitting at home alone waiting for my brother to get back from lunch. Then I go to dinner at the parents, which is good, except for my douchebag older brother, which is not so much. He’s really the only one of my brothers I don’t get along with (which is good since I live with the other two!) so I have to put up with him at least through dinner then I can make a respectable exit. I’m gonna try to con my mother into making walnut shortbread with me, should be entertaining.

  248. 248.

    asdf

    “I’ve got a mean and really easy pozole recipe that is incredible!”

    martha, please do post this. I can make it but it’s not anything to write home about. Would love a good recipe!

  250. 250.

    Yutsano

    @jeffreyw: Here’s a thought: drop the chiles into a blender along with a few cumin seeds and some garlic powder. Blend until finely ground and voila! Best chili powder you’ll ever have! Plus you can customize it to heat level (anchos are dried poblanos so they’re usually pretty mild) so it’s very flexible. You can also experiment with adding other dried chiles to get a taste that’s all you!

  251. 251.

    Tattoosydney

    @Yutsano:

    Ah, a family Christmas. I miss that so much right now. The tension, the fights.

    Time for me to go to bed and maybe sleep til a reasonable hour. All my best.

    M

  252. 252.

    Keith G

    @jeffreyw: Heat them just a bit to release the oils them (even lightly steam if you wish) put them in a processer with a bunch of stuff not limited to garlic, serranos, onion, tomatoes, eeov, lime juice, cilantro and maybe a few tmatillos. Blend, but stop before it’ a fine, unified mix.

    From here use it as you wish.

    I would rub it on a pork shoulder roast (even marinade the roast in a large ziplock). I then would use a banana leaf from outside my door, prep it and rap the roast. Slow cook for at least 8 hrs.

    But thats just me.

  253. 253.

    Yutsano

    @Tattoosydney: Your sarcasm shall have no effect on me sirrah. It’ll be okay, I’ve lived with his douchebaggery all my life. Sleep well and we’ll catch you in the waking hours.

  254. 254.

    martha

    @asdf: But of course! This was one of those “You Asked for It” recipes in the letters section from Gourmet eons ago. It was provided by someone who lived in Merida Mexico…

    Pozole (Pork and Hominy Stew)
    Serves 6

    2 dried pasilla chiles
    2 dried guajillo chiles
    2 cups water
    2 t. dried oregano (preferably Mexican) crumbled
    1/4 t. cumin seeds
    1/4 t. black pepper
    1 large garlic clove, crushed
    1 medium tomato, coarsely chopped
    1/2 white onion, coarsely chopped (3/4 cup)
    2 lb boneless pork shoulder, trimmed of excess fat and cut into 1 inch cubes
    3 (15 oz) cans white hominy, rinsed and drained

    Accompaniments: radishes, white onions, fresh cilantro, iceberg lettuce, and seeded fresh chiles, all chopped, plus lime wedges and warm corn or flour tortillas or tortilla chips

    1. Stem and seed chiles, then simmer in water in a small saucepan until softened, about 15 minutes. Transfer chiles with water to a blender. Add remaining ingredients except pork and hominy and blend until smooth (use caution!).

    2. Bring chile puree and pork to a boil in a 4-qt. heavy pot. Simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, 1 hour. Add hominy and simmer, covered, until pork is tender, about 30 minutes more. Skim fat from sauce, then season with salt to taste.

    Serve with accompaniments and tortillas/chips. Enjoy!

  255. 255.

    asdf

    Thank you martha!

    I see I have been way off on my possole.
    It’s such a good dish too. OK, will try yours. Bet it’s gooood!

    Merry Happy and thank you!

  258. 258.

    burnspbesq

    @DaveInOz:

    Is there a Boxing Day Test this year, or does that only happen when the Ashes are in Oz? That’s on my list of sporting events I’d like to go to.

  261. 261.

    PurpleGirl

    Happy Happy Day to everyone.

    That lady who was throwing out her Christmas tree is one weird non-thinking person. I’m still putting ornaments on my tree and trying to keep it from tipping over, but hey, I still have 11 days (Epiphany) to get it right, or as the Rector of St. Thomas Church said this morning even to February 2 which is Candlemas Day.

  264. 264.

    RedKitten

    Merry Christmas to all of you smart, funny, caring, weird people. SamKitten and I wish you the happiest of holidays and a prosperous and positive 2010!

  266. 266.

    MysticalChick

    Spent last night and today eating and visiting various relatives. Received the game “Crazy Cat Lady” from both my side AND one from husband’s side. They knoweth me too well, it seems!

    I hope you all had a wonderful day doing whatever it is that brings you joy!

    (A note to my angels: please make 2010 much better for the Universe. It was pretty sucky no matter where you were or who you are. Also too.)

  267. 267.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @RedKitten: Sam is every bit as adorable in his Santa hat as I knew he’d be! Indeed, the best Christmas gift EVAH. It’s a joy to watch his progress. Thank you for sharing so many great photos of him

    BTW, he seems (in “Perturbed”) to have that whole fist-scrubbing-weepy-eyes thing down. I see that gesture and I just want to kiss him and make it all better.

  268. 268.

    Elie

    Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays and New Year to all of this wonderful community.

    I wish you all the best and look forward to many intriguing and sometimes emotional but informative communications this year…

    You are my buds!

  270. 270.

    RedKitten

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    Sam is every bit as adorable in his Santa hat as I knew he’d be! Indeed, the best Christmas gift EVAH. It’s a joy to watch his progress. Thank you for sharing so many great photos of him
    BTW, he seems (in “Perturbed”) to have that whole fist-scrubbing-weepy-eyes thing down. I see that gesture and I just want to kiss him and make it all better.

    Yeah, he’s pretty pitiful when he’s upset. Last night, he was all frigged up, ’cause he hardly napped at all yesterday, and we were over at my MIL’s, so he was out of his element AND his routine. The “sad lip” made many appearances. Today was much better — he napped well, and at supper tonight, had his very first taste of solids, which he took to like a fuzzy little duck to water.

  271. 271.

    Ruckus

    I was thinking that you had xmas early this year. Now I know that I was right, seeing Sam’s picture, The Best Christmas Present Ever.
    Getting to the end of xmas here on the west coast, stuffed people all happy. Hope everyone else had a good day as well.

  272. 272.

    moe99

    Let me join late to the chorus of well wishers on this blog. You guys keep me going on the bad days. Let the snark continue unabated!!

    On to the next holiday: Happy New Year! May we shake the dust of the first decade from our sandals and leave it behind without a backward glance.

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