Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

I’d hate to be the candidate who lost to this guy.

When I decide to be condescending, you won’t have to dream up a fantasy about it.

Let me file that under fuck it.

People identifying as christian while ignoring christ and his teachings is a strange thing indeed.

One of our two political parties is a cult whose leader admires Vladimir Putin.

Their freedom requires your slavery.

75% of people clapping liked the show!

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

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

The republican speaker is a slippery little devil.

Republicans are radicals, not conservatives.

… riddled with inexplicable and elementary errors of law and fact

The media handbook says “controversial” is the most negative description that can be used for a Republican.

If you cannot answer whether trump lost the 2020 election, you are unfit for office.

Hell hath no fury like a farmer bankrupted.

Give the craziest people you know everything they want and hope they don’t ask for more? Great plan.

They traffic in fear. it is their only currency. if we are fearful, they are winning.

Sometimes the world just tells you your cat is here.

SCOTUS: It’s not “bribery” unless it comes from the Bribery region of France. Otherwise, it’s merely “sparkling malfeasance”.

Following reporting rules is only for the little people, apparently.

You passed on an opportunity to be offended? What are you even doing here?

Thanks to your bullshit, we are now under siege.

Hey Washington Post, “Democracy Dies in Darkness” was supposed to be a warning, not a mission statement.

We’ve had enough carrots to last a lifetime. break out the sticks.

You are here: Home / Open Threads / Almost Christmas Eve Open Thread

Almost Christmas Eve Open Thread

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I belong to an Art Deco group on FB and she posted a bunch of holiday cards, this is one of my favorites.

It is snowing like crazy here as we finish up Christmas Eve-Eve. Cookies are baking in my kitchen, everything that can be prepped for the Christmas Eve party has been done. The house is clean. The holiday dishware washed. I think I’m ready.

The menu is unusual this year – fajitas, rice with black beans and lime, chips and salsa and a ton of cookies. Simple, easy and manages everyone’s dietary issues easily.

What’s going on with you? Open thread.

Reader Interactions

85Comments

  1. 1.

    Yarrow

    I made cookies all day today. I’m really tired. Still have to make bread tomorrow and wrap presents. I also have to go to the grocery store. That should be fun on Christmas Eve.

  3. 3.

    Major Major Major Major

    I went and hung out with the in-laws in San Jose today. On the train there and back, I got 1,500 words written on my short story, so I’ve got basically one more scene to do, then a once-over for consistency, and I’ll have the first draft.

    I also just finished the Christmas special for my comic. It’s cute, I suppose. I like doing the holiday ones and I got to draw a very fun Krampus sweater.

    Now I’m eating ice cream and about to play some Witcher 3.

  4. 4.

    ? ?? Goku (aka The Hope of the Universe) ? ?

    “Season’s Greetings”

    Heretic! It’s “Merry Christmas”.

    Just got done shopping a few hours ago for my parents. Even with Kohl’s sales it was expensive for a couple of gifts. Will probably relax by finally finishing Voyage by Stephen Baxter. I only started two years ago!

  5. 5.

    Jager

    Made a kinda Italian pasta hot dish, with left-overs, lots of parm, fresh tomatoes, etc. A little wine for Mrs J, and listening to Celtic Woman Christmas music. I’m drinking scotch. Nice hot fire going in the wood burner. I got an early Christmas present. A Hyde Food auto interior detailing kit, going to do the leather in both cars tomorrow morning. After I blow the yard and clean the damned spa. It’s cold in up in the Canyon tonight. The dog is good too.

  6. 6.

    Uncle Ebeneezer

    Today was my birthday and we are visiting family in Denver. We went to see the Nutcracker downtown (which was great) and then I introduced my family to Korean BBQ. It was solid and everyone seemed to like it. Watched Elf for the first time ever and just went for a walk in the fresh snow. Very refreshing but I didn’t have enough layers and was actually pretty cold (which is extremely rare for me.)

  8. 8.

    ? ?? Goku (aka The Hope of the Universe) ? ?

    On a completely unrelated note, a programmer among our number should create a plug-in that changes the word “supporters” when it comes after “Trump”, or “Trump’s” to “slaves”. Because that’s what they basically are. And what’s worse is that they are both willingly so and unaware that they are.

  12. 12.

    SFBayAreaGal

    Almost finished making my home made lemon curd to give out to my family and friends for Christmas. They look forward to receiving it every year.

    It’s an easy recipie that you can make using the microwave.

  16. 16.

    Uncle Ebeneezer

    @Anne Laurie: You’re time traveling because it still IS my b-day!!

    Thanks. And thanks to you and all the front-pagers for always providing a great place to vent, cheer, mock and waste time in various ways.

  18. 18.

    Viva BrisVegas

    So hot! I’m trying to be stoically environmentally friendly and haven’t turned on the air conditioning yet, but I’m weakening.

    Cooking a turkey for Christmas Eve dinner, since some of us will be elsewhere tomorrow. I think I could have saved electricity by leaving the turkey out in the sun.

    Happy Holidays to all.

  21. 21.

    Jackie

    Looking forward to watching 6 yr old and 4 yr old grandaughters discovering Santa presents. My older grandsons – 6 and 9 yr olds will be here for an entire month starting Jan 8th! ????

  24. 24.

    Ruckus

    That doesn’t sound like it meets any of my dietary issues. It does sound wonderful though. When can I come by and pick up that ton of cookies?

  27. 27.

    LaNonna

    Picked up the free range turkey from the farmer last night (turkey not a usual kind of poultry here), it’s 6.30 a.m. and time to bake a bourbon maple pecan pie, make the turkey broth, and whatever other prep, including setting the table and making sure there are enough wineglasses, tomorrow 8 friends arrive for my Thanksgiving as Christmas lunch. Wearing a pedometer, should be a 20,000 step day. Happy Holidays!

  29. 29.

    SiubhanDuinne

    I belong to an Art Deco group on FB and she posted a bunch of holiday cards, this is one of my favorites.

    I follow that same FB site and pretty much went all kinds of nuts when I saw this card. Love it!

  31. 31.

    NotMax

    @LaNonna

    True story.

    Young woman (in her 20s) I knew decided to surprise us all by cooking a turkey. She was completely unaware that there were extraneous parts in plastic bags stored in the cavity and it didn’t occur to her to check before sliding it into the oven.

    Let’s just say the meat had a unique taste.

  33. 33.

    Anne Laurie

    @Viva BrisVegas:

    So hot! I’m trying to be stoically environmentally friendly and haven’t turned on the air conditioning yet, but I’m weakening.

    Thank you for that timely reminder.

    If it helps, we had to scrape a quarter-inch of ice off the car windows when the Spousal Unit decided it would be nice to go out for dinner. As soon as he saw the car, his plans shifted from “the Irish pub in the next town” to “the Italian place just down the block”. (It was delicious, so… )

  34. 34.

    Ruckus

    Just finished watching my favorite xmas movie.
    Bad Santa.
    It’s so many kinds of wrong, that it’s great.

  35. 35.

    SFBayAreaGal

    @TaMara (HFG): Hi Tamara here it is

    3 eggs

    1 cup white sugar

    1/2 cup unsalted butter softened at room temperature

    1 cup fresh lemon juice (Instead of buying lemons and juicing them, I bought 100% natural lemon juice. It saved me a lot of time. Hopefully your local grocery carries it.)

    3 lemons, zested (I don’t add this because I like my curd smooth)

    In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer, about 2 min.

    Slowly add the eggs and beat for 1 min.

    Mix in the lemon juice and lemon zest (if you want to use lemon zest). Mix for about a minute. The mixture will look curdled, but it will smooth out as it cooks.

    Cook in the microwave for one minute intervals, stirring after each minute until the mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a metal spoon. Cook time is about 5-7 minutes depending on power of microwave.

    Remove from the microwave, and pour into a container.

    Chill the curd in the refrigerator. The curd will thicken further as it cools.

    Covered tightly, it will keep in the refrigerator for a week and in the freezer for 2 months.

    If you like your lemon curd tart, this is for you.

  37. 37.

    Raoul

    @Amir Khalid: I’ve never made lemon curd, but it is amazing on a waffle with some fresh blueberries.

    A friend in OKC posted that she was making a batch a couple nights ago and (huh?) forgot to put in the eggs and made lemon caramel. She’s still not quite sure what she’ll do with it, but it sounds to me like it would be good on ice cream (maybe a quick few seconds in the micro to get the caramel soft before drizzling?)

    And on that note, the GF brownies are cooled and boxed and I can go to bed!

    It’s past midnite CST, so Happy Christmas, to those who celebrate!

  48. 48.

    efgoldman

    A very different holiday for us.It means nothing to me spiritually. It’s just another day off. Mrs efg, however, a recovering catholic, takes it very seriously. She’ll be singing two services tomorrow (today, xmas eve).
    She comes from a big family; the holiday always meant everybody – all the siblings, all the cousins – gathered at her parents’ house.
    Her dad and his siblings and their spouses are long dead. Of her four siblings, two are dead, two moved to Western PA to get as far as they could away from mom.
    It’s just us. Daughter, SIL and beloved granddaughter (all are beloved, but….) are with SIL’s family in NC this year, here next. There is no budget or vacation time to come here, too. We were going to take mrs efg’s 87 year old mom our to brunch, but she’s not physically up to it.
    I’m not feeling particularly sorry for myself (well, maybe a little) it’s just after 40+ years of big deal holidays with mrs efg, it’s very weird.

  52. 52.

    Mnemosyne

    @Major Major Major Major:

    I checked Tee Fury (purveyors of my “Mele Kalikimaka” ugly sweater featuring Stitch), but while they have a bunch of different Krampus shirts, they don’t seem to make an ugly sweater version.

    I still want the Batman “Jingle Bells” one.

  53. 53.

    Mnemosyne

    @efgoldman:

    We went out to Thanksgiving dinner alone this year for pretty much the only time in my whole life. It was a little weird, though the food helped make up for it a bit. You may just have to go with your people’s Christmas Day this year: Chinese food and a movie.

  54. 54.

    efgoldman

    You may just have to go with your people’s Christmas Day this year: Chinese food and a movie.

    Alas, not unless I want mrs efg to beat me to a bloody pulp. Definitely not on the dialysis diet.
    I’m still mostly housebound after my fall misadventures.

  55. 55.

    joel hanes

    What’s going on with you?

    Wrapped out. That’s a good feeling. I did a peremptory job with bows, and chose paper no one else will choose, so not the loveliest packages I’ve ever wrapped — but it’s enough.
    I’ve a couple more to wrap after I fly to the Midwest — TSA prevents me from taking a trunk full of wrapped packages, as I once did.
    The star is hung over the mantle candles, it’s cold outside.

    And a Right Merrie Christmas to all of you who read or comment or post here

    I heard the bells on Christmas Day
    Their old familiar carols play
    And wild and sweet, the words repeat:
    “Peace On Earth! Goodwill To Men!”

  58. 58.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @SFBayAreaGal:

    It’s simply called Art Deco, but there are several FB sites with similar names. Look for an avatar of a b/w photo of a flapper wearing a big hat.

    I have a recollection that it may be an invitation-based community. If so, FB message me (Judith Mann Costello) and I’ll invite you.

  61. 61.

    fuckwit

    Today it is still Christmas Adam.

    Christmas Adam comes before Christmas Eve, and is totally unsatisfying.

    (seen on the reddits somewhere…)

  62. 62.

    Mnemosyne

    @efgoldman:

    You can watch movies from the comfort of your own home now, you know. And I’m sure Mrs. EF could come up with something reasonably Asian if she looks online for dialysis recipes.

  63. 63.

    Mnemosyne

    @?BillinGlendaleCA:

    It was a bizarre day when I was standing on Oceanview and realized that, if it’s clear enough, you actually can see the ocean from there even though it’s a good 30 miles away. It’s what realtors like to call a “pocket view” between the mountains.

  66. 66.

    Corner Stone

    Assholes not withstanding. I plan to be in SEA and VAN this next week. Fortunately I will have my son accompanying me so I will have a vanguard. We plan to sneak into Canadia for a couple days.

  69. 69.

    Mnemosyne

    @?BillinGlendaleCA:

    It has to be a really, really clear day — the ongoing fires probably ruined it, plus the general wintertime light. But there are a few days in the spring and summer where the air is extra clear and I was like, “Holy shit, that actually is the ocean!”

    @Major Major Major Major:

    If you’re not reading Emo Kylo Ren on Twitter, you should be. Make sure you read the right one — KyloR3n. Whoever’s writing it is hilarious.

  72. 72.

    frosty

    Heading out on the 25th to elder spawn’s abode for Xmas on the 26th since he’s working the holiday. Found out yesterday that younger spawn and I bought him the same thing so we had an emergency shopping run. Sorta successful if he likes a Yeti cup in seafoam green.

  73. 73.

    Steeplejack

    Just discovered that my tablet has the currency symbol for woolongs. Yee-haw. The current bounty is ₩1,800,000.

  80. 80.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    @Mnemosyne: It’s a bit about the clarity of the air, but in the fall and winter, the sun is at an angle that makes it more difficult to see downtown and the ocean from there. For example, if I’m trying to shoot downtown from the San Gabriels I have to shoot in the morning because I need the sun behind me also in the winter the sun is to the south so the buildings will be in shadow. It’s the opposite from Griffith Park as far as time of day.

  83. 83.

    Jeff

    I made the Christmas lasagna today. Just out of the oven. Will chill it then reheat tomorrow. Cuts much better given the overnight rest.

  84. 84.

    Uncle Ebeneezer

    @Steeplejack: Ok explain to me the appeal of Cowboy Bebop. I’ve heard from some podcasters that it is absolutely one of the best Anime series out there, but looking at the description/trailer, my (who enjoys anime) is very skeptical. So what is it that makes CB so well regarded among anime fans?

  85. 85.

    ColoradoGuy

    Walked our Christmas Dog (1/2 Border Terrier, 1/2 Poodle) last night at 3AM. Minus 7F outside with 2″ of fresh powder snow. Brrrr. Even the doggie got so cold I had to carry her back to the house. The sun’s out now, the usual brilliant Colorado blue sky, and still an inch or so of snow everywhere. Looks pretty and very much Christmas Eve around here. High today is around 32F or so, which feels OK in the sun.

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