Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

I’m sure you banged some questionable people yourself. We’re allowed to grow past that.

If marriage is the equivalent of selling yourself into slavery, women with self respect should reject the offer.

Consistently wrong since 2002

Come on, man.

Tick tock motherfuckers!

They are lying in pursuit of an agenda.

Motto for the House: Flip 5 and lose none.

Is it negotiation when the other party actually wants to shoot the hostage?

When do the post office & the dmv weigh in on the wuhan virus?

Come on, media. you have one job. start doing it.

An unpunished coup is a training exercise.

Second rate reporter says what?

Let’s finish the job.

How can republicans represent us when they don’t trust women?

My years-long effort to drive family and friends away has really paid off this year.

DeSantis transforming Florida into 1930s Germany with gators and theme parks.

“That’s what the insurrection act is for!”

The truth is, these are not very bright guys, and things got out of hand.

Dear media: perhaps we ought to let Donald Trump speak for himself!

Alternative history is always a weak argument. Always.

The republican speaker is a slippery little devil.

The real work of an opposition party is to oppose.

Nancy smash is sick of your bullshit.

People really shouldn’t expect the government to help after they watched the GOP drown it in a bathtub.

You are here: Home / Open Threads / Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays and Whatever Blows Your Trumpet!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays and Whatever Blows Your Trumpet!

by | 152 Comments

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This year, I am particularly grateful for this picture:

xmas

Had my morning bowl of cereal, working on a couple cups of coffee, going to play some video games and walk the dogs while in my bathrobe because no one is in town. Then, maybe some episodes of the Librarians, a nap, and then I’ll cook dinner.

Just as the Lord intended.

Reader Interactions

152Comments

  1. 1.

    henqiguai

    You’re weird. Probably why I like hanging out at this joint so damned much. Merry whatever-you-choose-to-celebrate, John Cole.

  7. 7.

    skerry

    Daughter #2’s flight is delayed – late arriving crew. ETA noonish. So I’m back in bed for a while.

  8. 8.

    geg6

    Merry Christmas to you and the whole Cole clan, including Shawn, Steve and the Piglets!

    Got Christmas Story on and getting ready to prep my dishes for the family feast later today. Hope all of BJ has a lovely day!

  9. 9.

    Botsplainer

    So what happened to the proceeds from all that amazing trove of gifted gold, frankincense and myrrh? That shit had value, and coming from the sorts of dudes who’d rate an audience with Herod, would have been worth enough to set up a young family for life…

  10. 10.

    Iowa Old Lady

    We’ve already opened presents. I have to say Christmas feels a little flat with no little kids around.

  11. 11.

    FlyingToaster

    @Botsplainer: Remember they had to go on the run pretty much immediately. Herod the Great sent out hit squads for boy babies born in Bethlehem, supposedly, so they took the loot and hied off to Alexandria for a couple of years before returning to Nazareth.

  13. 13.

    FlyingToaster

    WarriorGirl got up at 4 and was sent back to bed; she should awaken any second now (or at 9 Eastern when her parents have finished breakfast ;) ). Then feed and dress her and it’s off to the SIL and the 5 boys and the 3 cats and the dog and the mud.

    Aha, I just heard the bedroom door….

  14. 14.

    Botsplainer

    @FlyingToaster:

    Yah, but Alexandria was just another Greek-y province of the Empire, cost of living wouldn’t have been too much different, and unless Joe the Carpenter was talentless or lazy, he’d have made a living…

  16. 16.

    ThresherK

    Chilling on a warm Xmas day.

    I have joined Chowhound to fix a drop cookie dough texture (mentioned previously). Don’t know why I waited this long.

    And thanks to them gummint bureaucrats, I got to test drive a new car while the dealership was performing a (free) recall service on our 13 y.o., 240k Sentra. The new version seems plush, which is one of the best things about driving the wheels off a car.

    The best part of the experience was telling my wife (who rides shotgun) that the passenger side airbag sensor was not faulty for a dozen years.

  17. 17.

    Mustang Bobby

    Presents opened: from Mom and Dad “Star Trek: Ships of the Line,” drawings — paintings, actually — of all the ships in the fleet from NX-01 to the Delta Flyer. Very cool. Plus a Ships of the Line calendar to go with the five other calendars I got from friends at work covering classic cars and station wagons, plus one with scenes of Stratford, Ontario. The Star Trek one gets the place of honor: in the kitchen.

  21. 21.

    elmo

    Starting Christmas late this morning. It’s 0930 on the east coast and I only just got the French press steeping. Didn’t sleep for some reason.

    Supposed to be a nice day, mid-50s and sunny, so I will feel especially guilty spending it in the basement watching Dr. Who, but that’s what I promised myself and my wife for the day. No chores!

  22. 22.

    Ferdzy

    Merry Christmas, everyone! Yesterday was long, but went well. I was expecting to roast a turkey today but another family member decided they wanted to do the honours and I’m fine with that. I’ll cook mine tomorrow. Today I am going to be very lazy… but I’m going to have to get dressed and go out and look for my window screen at some point. I *think* I’m a light sleeper, but I didn’t even hear it blow out.

  23. 23.

    NotMax

    and walk the dogs while in my bathrobe

    For anyone else, nothing of note, but based on past occurrences, cue the dire foreshadowing music. ;)

    For those so inclined, the classic Jack Benny TV episode in which Mel Blanc milks his part so thoroughly it’s all Benny can do not to completely break up.

  24. 24.

    WereBear

    @Iowa Old Lady: It is, however, a sleep late and relax kind of day which children cannot give :)

    If you wish for a small substitute, put up lights in the windows while having a kitten. I’ve done my 18th version of “It’s for looking, not touching!” since this morning. (We are very late in our decorating, but I believe we made the deadline.)

  27. 27.

    Bystander

    Must be the end of the world…there’s a fiery ball in the sky and it’s making us all feel warm….what will happen if it gets closer to us?

    Happy Holidays on the Eve of Apocalypse and Incineration.

  34. 34.

    henqiguai

    Crap. Jammed a finger. Did all the pulling and twisting I could. Still bent at the top joint, but seems to be only soft-tissue damage; yeah, stupid – jammed trying to crush down a box. So, does this broken pieces of chop stick held with bok choy velcro binder splint make me lot dumber than usual???

  35. 35.

    Felonius Monk

    Merry Christmas to All — whether you believe in Santa Jeebus or not.

    The cat gave me a warm present while I was still in bed this morning — nothing like a big pool of warm cat vomit to get one up and thumping in the morning.

    For your listening pleasure I offer this seasonal interlude. Enjoy. Be Merry.

  37. 37.

    Amir Khalid

    Well, I went and bought myself that copy of the Oxford University Press’ Take Off In Spanish self-instruction kit. It had been softly whispering my name every time I entered the bookstore. I see a bilingual dictionary, grammar textbooks, verb tables and various workbooks in my future. Cuando puedo comentar en español, tengo ganas de lucirse frente a ustedes.

  42. 42.

    scav

    Festive Variousness You Lot! We’ve managed at least a double dose of sudden ailments locally, so if there is any justice on the sphere (ha.), some of you should be unusually healthy. Beast is defrosted, so the second day of non-stop cooking is about to begin.

  44. 44.

    Amir Khalid

    @BGinCHI:
    Oui.

    @WereBear:
    Spanish and Portuguese speakers mostly understand each other, don’t they? Although I imagine the difference is rather greater than between Bahasa Malaysia and Bahasa Indonesia.

    I really like the OUP’s Take Off In… series. I’ve had pretty good results with German and French. It’s a solid basis for learning a language. It just needs to be supplemented with study of grammar and vocab.

  45. 45.

    WereBear

    Downloaded the Pandora app to my Mac Air for Beethoven. It really is handy for thumbs up or down on a particular channel.

    I know I’m a wimp — I’m afraid to thumbs down something I like, but isn’t right for a particular channel. I’m a wimp, aren’t I?

  46. 46.

    WereBear

    @Amir Khalid: Spanish and Portuguese speakers mostly understand each other, don’t they?

    Enough for emergencies. Not enough to blithely order in a restaurant, where my request for Chicken Under God both horrified, and made hilarious, our waiter.

  47. 47.

    Melissa

    Happy Christmas to all. It’s been sunny here so that we have had spots of melt showing dirt and grass. Last night we had a real Christmas snow. I promised Lucky, the dog, two serious walks as his gift.

  48. 48.

    Frankensteinbeck

    @Montysan0:
    That is the greatest photo. What a wonderful man he is.

    @Botsplainer:

    Alexandria was just another Greek-y province of the Empire

    Dude, no way. Alexandria was a regional capitol of one of the Empire’s wealthiest territories. Original Flavor Julius and his buddy Marky Mark wanted Egypt for a reason. Egypt dripped wealth.

    What I’m sayin’ is, cost of living was huge. They were all ‘damn, we’re set for life!’ and then five years later were super happy their son could multiply loaves and fishes.

    EDIT – Wait, wait. WHICH Alexandria? I thought you meant the important one, but there’s like 30. Nobody ever accused Alex of being modest.

  50. 50.

    Ultraviolet Thunder

    Drove home last night in a very picturesque but treacherous snowstorm. It’s green, breezy and warmish this Christmas in Detroit(-ish).
    We debated taking Doglius the Maltese to visit family yesterday and Mrs. Thunder won the argument. He didn’t bite anyone, but upon entering my dad’s house full of people, deposited a gift on the floor that he must have been saving up all day. And my fastidious sister stepped in it in her slippers.
    Well, I guess it’s not a party until someone craps on the rug.

  52. 52.

    WereBear

    @Ultraviolet Thunder: The Maltese… they have special powers.

    I have worn out the kitties, even the nine month old, and while Mr WereBear sleeps late (we celebrate Christmas Eve more than anything) I have the house to myself by any reasonable definition.

    Which is a lovely gift, all by itself.

  57. 57.

    zippity

    Merry Christmas, all! I’m fighting the nasty respiratory bug that feels like it turned into bronchitis. Don’t want to give it to anyone else, so staying home with the pets and Netflix.

  59. 59.

    Jay C

    @Botsplainer:

    So what happened to the proceeds from all that amazing trove of gifted gold, frankincense and myrrh

    Probably the origin of the old saying: “Jesus Saves”??

  60. 60.

    Rosalita

    Still getting over last night’s food coma, what a fabulous dinner.

    Merry Christmas to you John and fellow Juicers and to all of those you love.

  61. 61.

    donnah

    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, John Cole! Thanks for keeping this place going and for doing so much to help others. We loyal Balloon Juicers salute you!

  63. 63.

    srv

    I will get fat, old, grow a beard and be War Against Christmas Santa. I’ll whisper into the kid’s ears: “Flip mommy off”

    Then I can sell calendars of my warriors’ protests to support the great war. Fuckhead will give me field commission.

  64. 64.

    J R in WV

    We had Pecan Pie ala JR for breakfast, and I was awakened by a neighbor calling to invite us over for dinner – sweet!

    My pecan pie uses maple syrup instead of Karo corn syrup, and I use 50/50 pecans and black walnuts. Dad liked pecan pie a lot, and used vanilla ice cream to cut the richness of the pie, which sounds strange, but works.

    Merry Holidaze, everybody!!

  66. 66.

    Ultraviolet Thunder

    @J R in WV:
    I’m not a big pecan pie fan but that sounds fantastic. I’m imagining single pecan/walnut/maple tarts. I’d save room for that.

  67. 67.

    Lavocat

    I’d say Merry Christmas but it’s neither merry nor Christmas when it’s 50 degrees outside, w/ full sun, & NO FUCKING SNOW ON THE GROUND!!!!! WTF, man!? I feel like I’m in South Beach or something. I’m a northerner. I like my Christmases subzero, covered in a thick blanket of snow, w/ a nice glass of bourbon & frostbite.

    Anyway, Happy Holidays, Cole. Thanks for a killer website.

  68. 68.

    Origuy

    I learned how to say Merry Christmas in Welsh: Nadolig Llawen. The double L in Welsh is pronounced by holding your mouth like you’re going to say L, but blowing air out of the sides of your tongue. The W is an OO sound.

  69. 69.

    James E Powell

    Merry Christmas to you, John Cole. If you don’t watch one or more of A Christmas Story, Christmas Vacation, or Elf, the baby Jesus will cry.

    Also too, I learned how to make champurrado and I’m recommending it to every living being.

  70. 70.

    Amir Khalid

    @WereBear:
    Oh, I see. But he does look so at ease. I wonder if Jebbush or Governor Harkonnen or whoever else runs for the Republican nom in 2016 could hope to look as comfortable in that picture. I just tried imagining Mitt … shudder.

  71. 71.

    SWMBO

    @Amir Khalid: Mitt would have real jewels in his tiara.

    Happy Holidays to all.

    I am having a horrible premonition of Cole having some accident requiring paramedics on Christmas day. For their sake, I hope he’s wearing pajamas.

    Peace.

  73. 73.

    shelley

    So John, did you watch ‘the Interview’ last night? Opinions? What did you get your critters for Yuletide?
    **************

    After almost four straight days of steel-gray days of rain, ‘what is that mysterious orb in the sky?’ SUN!
    *************

    After kind of a rough Christmas Eve, got into my fleecy robe, got into bed with a left-over split of champagne and searched for a Yule Log channel. Found one that had a marmalade cat wandering in and out in front of the fireplace. Sometimes rather agitated. Think someone on the set had a laser pointer to keep him interested.
    Merry Christmas, BJer’s

  74. 74.

    JMG

    Wonderful but overserved Christmas Eve. Just had brunch of bacon and eggs. Merry Christmas to all here. John has created a community for which he can be very proud.

  76. 76.

    samiam

    More deep thoughts with Cole the one man reactionary mob.

    In keeping with the spirit of this post. This morning I got up and took a piss. Later on I took a dump. It was a good dump. Had some coffee with homemade baileys. At some point I believe I scratched my balls. I had cereal. Now I am on the internet.

  77. 77.

    Pogonip

    @NotMax: “Man In Bathrobe Slips On Ice, Breaks Everything: Dog’s Tail Also Sprained In Incident. ‘I just don’t understand it,’ said baffled EMT responder Steve King. ‘How does a man slip on ice when it’s 51 degrees? But there it was, big patch of ice right there on the sidewalk. Like it was waiting for him. And then the dogs got all tangled up in the bathrobe…’l

    Merry Christmas!

  78. 78.

    The Thin Black Duke

    Merry Happy Everything to all you guys. Thanks for making this wretched hive of scum and villainy a great place to visit.

  80. 80.

    WereBear

    @Origuy: I will use that knowledge, thank you.

    I don’t know how or when, but my whole life has been about the ability to suddenly utilize tiny bits of fascinating knowledge :)

  86. 86.

    Drunken hausfrau

    Happy Chirstmas, you magnificent curmudgeon! And to all BJers, a happy new year, too! I have been mostly lurking here for over ten years… Thank you for being my best morning read!

    Dh +2 (eggnog, it’s Christmas!)

  88. 88.

    Pogonip

    @zippity: God bless you! The main reason we never go to midnight Mass is it always full of coughing, sneezing flu victims, who of course would never go to any OTHER Mass of the year like that. I differ vigorously with Sister Mary Martha on that. She says if you can’t stand being with your fellow Christians at a time like that, how do you expect to tolerate heaven? Sister is usually rigorously logical; somehow she overlooked that in heaven there is no flu!

    Or bronchitis either. Get well soon!

  92. 92.

    phoebes-in-santa fe

    @Pogonip: I sure hope Cole, the dogs, and the bathrobe survived the morning walk. Let’s see some pictures of Steve and the dogs, please.

  93. 93.

    Mnemosyne (iPad Mini)

    Merry Christmas to all who celebrate it, and Happy Paid Day Off to those who don’t. We have been eating lightly and exercising in preparation for today’s dinner for a few weeks now — we’ve been invited down to my aunt and uncle’s, and my uncle is an amazing cook. I’m not sure exactly what we’ll be having, except that it will be Italian and delicious.

  96. 96.

    Another Holocene Human

    @Mustang Bobby: I’m disgruntled with Star Trek starships. Some of the best designs only appeared in one or a few episodes. And the supposedly primitive ship from Enterprise had no business looking better than 1701D.

  98. 98.

    Another Holocene Human

    @J R in WV: It’s not pecan pie without Karo syrup. From the heart of the Midwest, I stab at thee.

    Besides, everyone knows that Indian pudding is made with maple syrup and corn mash, upon which the English innovated by tossing in raisins–well, I think it was the English, New England does have very thick-skinned muscadine grapes but I don’t think you’d want to make raisins out of them.

  99. 99.

    Mike E

    @Amir Khalid: Let’s go to the videotape… don’t know if the foul warrants a red card, or just a yellow. She’ll be sitting out the next match for sure.

  100. 100.

    Mike in NC

    Merry Xmas. The sun finally came out after about four days of Biblical rains, so we’ll walk the neighborhood after finishing our extra spicy Bloody Marys.

  101. 101.

    WereBear

    @Another Holocene Human: It’s not pecan pie without Karo syrup. From the heart of the Midwest, I stab at thee.

    This line made me inhale a dark chocolate sea salt caramel. Well played, sir or madam!

    In recent research, I discovered that “cobblers” were invented by early English colonists longing for Christmas boiled pudding, and unable to recreate it with rugged frontier supplies and equipment.

    I’m grateful.

  102. 102.

    Another Holocene Human

    Well, I wish I were in a celebratory mood. Instead I’m all over the place because of my aunt’s boyfriend’s daughter, who is fortunately leaving today. She is a very angry person and the hostility rolling off her when we first met made me feel unsafe. It was masked under some sort of fakey extroversion which is what freaked me out because straight up anger and yelling bother me but don’t terrify me. She avoided me yesterday and spend much of the time hitting on my younger cousin who can take care of himself, but was forced by her dad to come to dinner and made angry comments about him which, well, nobody could really argue with because her dad is a parasitic manchild. (My aunt likes fixer-uppers.) Still was freaking about sleeping in the same house with this young woman.

    Oh, and she is also a “proud Arizona Republican” who was drunkenly whining about losing the 2012 election and the fight against Obamacare. At one time she says she hates old people, fuck them. For some reason I tried to break it down that she didn’t actually owe a tax penalty so she was stressing about nothing. Yeah, that went over well. It’s amazing how political orientations follow psychological inclinations. Being GOP is a safe way to express her hostility against her parents. Even better that her dad says “Obamacare saved my life.” She’s very angry at him, at least that part is totally understandable.

  103. 103.

    Another Holocene Human

    @WereBear: :)))

    If you inhaled it, wash it down, dear heart! Rum+mixer would be an appropriate choice today for washing it down….

  104. 104.

    PsiFighter37

    Anyone here know the secret to getting a cake to rise properly? I never bake cakes, and I made the flattest fucking 2-layer sponge cake. I think it’s because a) I didn’t pour the batter right after it was done into the cake pan and bake it (my fault – I didn’t preheat the oven), and b) we folded it way too many times (my wife went a bit nuts and kept folding until I reminded her we didn’t need to do it too much).

    It’s pretty frustrating, but I never cook cakes so I probably should have read more ahead of time. Also, I’m going to stick with my dessert expertise next time (pies or cookies) if it’s so damn hard.

  109. 109.

    Suzanne

    @PsiFighter37: Use an America’s Test Kitchen recipe next time. They always come out perfect for me.

    It has been a great Christmas so far. I just ate me some delicious quiche and am feeling pleasantly tipsy after a giant mimosa. Spawns love their presents. Leaving tomorrow to spend a week with the in-laws. Mr. Suzanne looks rakish in his new coat.

    Merry Christmas to some of my favorite virtual people! If you don’t celebrate, I hope that you enjoy a season of peace, renewal, and joy.

  111. 111.

    PsiFighter37

    @Suzanne: This is EXACTLY the recipe I was using (from the New Best Recipe cookbook). Total fail, for some reason.

    @WereBear: Had baking powder in it.

    @Botsplainer: Used 5 eggs (beat 3 egg whites into a foam, remaining yolks + 2 remaining eggs for the thicker part of the better) and whole milk.

    @Les Nessman: It’s +1 now, but only because I just ate lunch

  112. 112.

    scav

    Flattest christmas ever here, at least I got permission to turn on the tree lights. Anybody want the rest of my chocolate yogurt for lunch? I’m huddling next to the licit lights, reading a translation of Job. Anything to avoid the Xmas soaps.

  113. 113.

    Lavocat

    A favorite family line: “Mind if I drive you out to the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead?”

    Say “SQUIRREL!!!” everybody.

  114. 114.

    PsiFighter37

    @Suzanne: Ugh, got moderated for some reason, but yes – was using the one from New Best Recipe (which is published by America’s Test Kitchen)…not sure what happened aside from what I already highlighted.

  115. 115.

    Fred

    It’s cold as a well digger’s ass here in the far north. But the sun has been bright all day and the swans walking on the frozen lake were beautiful. The ground is covered with a light dust of snow. Seemed like the whole town was out for a walk.

    MERRY CHRISTMAS to all you Balloon Juicers. I hope you all got what you asked Santa for, even if it was naughty.

  117. 117.

    Yatsuno

    Made brekkies for the fam that’s here. Was so good might just nosh on it all day. Present opening to happen after dinner, which is good because two of my gifts haven’t arrived yet.

  118. 118.

    ruemara

    I went out and calorie splurged on 2 pancakes at the local Black Bear. Left a good near 50% tip for the server since it is Christmas and redid the mile or so walk back home. Debating seeing a movie, but I think I may prefer continuing the sorting of my house, get a resume or two out and prep my Christmas dinner. Miss the cats, but hopefully, I may get some pictures soon.

  123. 123.

    dmsilev

    @PsiFighter37: Three things to keep in mind:

    Egg whites don’t fluff up unless you treat them right. Most importantly, no water in the bowl or on the beater, and no traces of yolk in the whites. It could be that you didn’t have sufficiently fluffy whites to begin with.
    Once the whites are beaten, they’re fragile. There’s a lot of air in those whites and it will deflate after a whille or if abused. So, when folding, do it for the shortest time possible. One thing which helps is to start by putting in a couple of spoonfuls of the whites into the batter and fold it until blended. This loosens up the batter and makes it easier to fold in the bulk of the whites without extensive mixing.
    Then, once blended, pour into the pan and bake right away. If you forgot to preheat the oven, do that before you start the folding process (preferably before you start beating the whites).

  125. 125.

    CaseyL

    Happy Kwaanzamasnukkah to all from me and the kitties!

    Having a lovely day with no plans at all. Wait, that’s not quite true: I plan to do laundry today. Busy, busy.

  128. 128.

    Tommy

    This was a pretty good Christmas. We did something for the first time in eight years, since my brother got married. My family is really my parents, brother, and I also consider his wife and wonderful daughter family of course.

    We spend all of Christmas Eve together and do the “gift” thing. Today at Sarah’s house (my brother’s wife). She has a huge family. “Birthers.” People that think Obama is a Muslim. I am the ONLY liberal in the room.

    I feel I was invited into their household so I bite my tongue a ton. They don’t. I joked as the ACA was rolling out last year, during Thanksgiving like three people were going off on me before I could get my coat off. I wasn’t even five feet in the front door.

    Look I don’t mind debate or I wouldn’t come to a place like this. But it is a freaking holiday and at times I just want to “chill” and not have to debate.

    Mom and me this year decided we’d just say we didn’t feel well and were not coming over. I suggested we just say, we don’t want to come over, but she said that would be rude.

    Mom and dad just got home and are kicking it in their PJs. I am not far behind.

  130. 130.

    Villago Delenda Est

    @PsiFighter37:

    Anyone here know the secret to getting a cake to rise properly?

    The Internet is for p0rn.

    That should get a rise out of your cake.

  132. 132.

    mai naem mobile

    Merry Fucking Christmas to all! Its 50something in Phoenix and fucking cold. I feel like I’m an old fart but my hands are sooo cold when i walk out and i have no idea where my gloves are because who the hell wears gloves in Phoenix for warmth.

  133. 133.

    Tommy

    Here is a happy story/conversation that happened yesterday in the kitchen. My mother was raised as a Catholic. I was raised Methodist like my father. Mom changed to his faith (I think almost forced).

    My niece Katie is 6. Has started to ask about religion. Not sure they have ever gone to church. My brother is … well not religious. Sarah (also raised Catholic), my brother’s wife is not sure what to do. Sarah’s parents says Katie should be raised Catholic and that she has not been baptized is a problem.

    Sarah asked my mother what she’d do since she had been through this before.

    Mom who is a “rock star” said “why don’t you ask Katie what she wants to do and support it?”

    I was sitting in the next room as this overheard this conversation unfold and I did a little “golf clap.”

  134. 134.

    rikyrah

    Back from the Brunch, and Peanut cleaned up…

    She got her pet finally. She’s been asking for one for well over a year. It’s a beautiful gray cat that she named Love.

    She also got to see Annie for the third time since it came out….I enjoyed it too.

  136. 136.

    Tenar Darell

    Merry all the holidays! At IMAX 3D pre-show for The Hobbit (I’m such a completist) with my “just in case” coffee. Pizza, salad and cabernet awaits at home for dinner.

    They’re running public service ads for healthcare and the “It’s on us” bystander intervention campaigns. Makes me wish, as usual, they did two start times like in France. One for ads and one for the movie. It also improves the ads, I think, since you can avoid them.

  137. 137.

    parsimon

    @Tommy: Your stories are much appreciated: I have become almost entirely anti-Christmas at this point, because of the sort of thing you describe. I wind up begging off (oh, not feeling well, I think I’m coming down with something; or, Oh, horribly, I have to work! Isn’t it terrible.)

    Even aside from the religiosity of the Christmas season, or its forced consumerism, is the obligatory family gathering.

    That said, while I’m not getting together with my extended family, I have had, on the phone, some bridge-building conversations with them. That’s something.

  139. 139.

    Botsplainer

    It wouldn’t be Christmas without a juvenile freakout from my 24 year old. Seems she was holding out info on us about the dog she brought with her – she has giardia. She’s been playing with ours, drinking from his bowl and shitting all over the garage (neither oldest daughter nor her fiancé has been dealing with her much). Wife and I walked the dogs and noticed projectile diarrhea. We came home and cleaned the shit from the garage, since those two were off at his dad’s house and hadn’t bothered. When they came back, fiancé was a quaveringass of stammer about “that shouldn’t have happened” about the projectile hose. She claims that the vet told her it would be “fine” so long as our dog didn’t nose after her shit.

    Then, no family drama can’t be made worse by youngest daughter, because her visiting cat has been puking today.

    Good family times.

  141. 141.

    Corner Stone

    @Botsplainer:

    It wouldn’t be Christmas without a juvenile freakout from my 24 year old. Seems she was holding out info on us about the dog she brought with her – she has giardia.

    This is the same daughter who informed us all that as a teenager they just never did the passive aggressive bullshit when asked to help out around the house?

  142. 142.

    Botsplainer

    @Corner Stone:

    That would be the one. That’s why I use her to translate teen – she still reverts fr time to time.

    I’m going to start swilling rum. If my dog starts shitting water or my 25th anniversary extravaganza gets blown because either of us get it or my wife winds up coming down with it about the time she gets to Myanmar in 9 days, I may as well be hung over.

  143. 143.

    NotMax

    @Tenar Darell

    Been so long since set foot in a movie theater (last century!) that am only vaguely aware that they run ads now. Kind of surprised that FOX doesn’t slap together “news”reels for the multiplexes.

  145. 145.

    rikyrah

    @Tommy:

    I’m with others..I do enjoy your family stories.

    I’m a Baptist and Peanut’s mother was raised Baptist, but she was baptized Catholic (like her father’s side). She goes to Catholic school now, and it’s interesting watching her be a Catholic, learning all the traditions.

  146. 146.

    Villago Delenda Est

    @Tenar Darell:

    It also improves the ads, I think, since you can avoid them.

    Which of course misses the entire selling point of the cinema operator: we’ll have this captive audience that will be forced to watch your message and can’t use the remote control to change the channel.

  148. 148.

    Pogonip

    @Baud: My parents were married in 1948, and when people complimented them on how long they were married, they always said cheerfully that they never could afford a divorce.

    Actually, their secret was bickering. They loved it and bickered until my mom became too senile to hold up her end. My son being autistic put a cramp in their bickering style because he took it seriously but we finally got it across to him that it was all in fun. So I guess people wishing to stay married should forget all that 70’s-type stuff about respecting boundaries and start bickering!

  150. 150.

    SRW1

    @Pogonip:

    I aways say that sharing a hobby is not to be scoffed at. Though I tried that bickering strategy with my ex and, sadly enough, it didn’t work.

  152. 152.

    Heliopause

    Whilst channel surfing today I caught about 30 seconds of Nancy Grace. Please, dear Lord, take this individual into thy bosom. I will go to church or synagogue or whatever fucking religious building you decree every week for the rest of my life if you just do this.

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