I just can’t be arsed to put up a Christmas tree this year. But I deployed this small nod to the season, and that will do nicely.
Only $4.99 at Publix!
Bill doesn’t care about the holidays, and for various unrelated reasons, it’ll be just us and maybe four guests, and even they are iffy. That’s okay.
Had to run an errand today in Ocala, so I drove through some lovely country where the horsey set lives. It was a beautiful day, partly cloudy and coolish (by our standards).
The horses are nicer than the people up there, judging from all the Trump signs. I was tempted to yell “Fuck all y’all!!!” out the window, but it seemed an empty gesture.
One of y’all told me about a restaurant to try up there — Cafe Havana. I stopped by for lunch. Best Cuban food north of Tampa! Got my first proper cafe con leche in ages! Thanks for the tip.
The local public radio had a piece about the drone hysteria, which I heard in the car before I hit a playlist in self defense. The reporters treated it like a serious issue. Of course, the orange fart cloud amplified it in a news conference. I think it’s possible this country will actually die of stupidity.
Meanwhile, there’s holiday cheer to seek. Friends and family to see, cookies to bake, bad movies to watch, etc. Not even the current shitstorm can completely dampen it, at least for me. I won’t permit it.
Happy holidays, damn it!
trollhattan
Runner Girl returns to California today after a long six months away, and she’ll by gawd demand a tree and everything. Which is fine, even if a tree now fetches a hundred bucks.
Meanwhile, this took exactly as long as I expected.
MagdaInBlack
Aw, I have a couple little ones exactly like that one, Betty. They are my Christmas grove
(and I think i entered my email wrong. I’m in moderation)
eclare
I got an email that my pet calendar has shipped. Yay!
raven
@eclare: me too
Miss Bianca
I remain perpetually bemused/depressed by how many of my fellow Horsey People are Trumpists.
WaterGirl
My little metal tree looks a lot like yours, only mine is gold, with gold glitter.
comrade scotts agenda of rage
Keep Saturn in Saturnalia!
Exterior lights have been up since the weekend after the Festival of Starches. Inside’s taking longer.
Still need to get up our small (2′) tall aluminum tree that my wife’s had since she was maybe 6. Probably the easiest thing to put up and the last thing we’re doing.
Betty Cracker
@Miss Bianca: Horse country here really is beautiful. There are rolling green hills and canopies of live oaks arching over the roads — not at all what most people expect in Florida. And the horsies! I blew a kiss at one particular beauty at a crossroad and told her she’s an angel!
karen marie
I haven’t done a tree in over a decade. A couple years ago I bought a wreath hanger but every year since I’ve said “fuck it” and not even gotten a wreath. This year will be the same. I do miss having a live pine tree in my house but, unfortunately, when I got rid of all the decorations, I got rid of the tree stand too.
zhena gogolia
Someone sent us a little evergreen-and-red-berries “centerpiece,” although it’s kind of in a cardboard box and I’m not sure what to do with it. But it will have to do. We’re having 2-3 friends over for dinner on Christmas Day. I played piano in the church concert yesterday. Just one song, but I am wiped out.
The day after the election, I yelled, “FUCK TRUMP” out the window at a house with its dumb white columns festooned with the emperor’s name. It didn’t help much.
Miss Bianca
@Betty Cracker: I would love to see it! And the horses! The Trump signs, not so much…
karen gail
Anyway, noticed that Softbank is investing $100 billion; so guess that means that they will NOT be subject to any regulations or conditions. Isn’t that what Trump promised? invest enough and regulations will not hamper your company?
There are also supposed to be 100,000 US jobs involved but wasn’t there a big number of jobs promised from a different investment?
zhena gogolia
All the contributions, all the pomp and circumstance of his goddamned inauguration, none of that will change him from a disgusting little man with a shriveled soul whom everyone hates, including those who pretend to love him. So there’s that.
Suzanne
I have a set of midcentury modern reflector bulbs that were my grandparents’…. so I bought a little tinsel tree for them a couple of years ago. I LOVE IT!!!
eclare
@WaterGirl:
William has learned how to open cabinets, specifically the one where I keep kitty treats. I walked into the kitchen this morning and the doors were wide open. So I need to do more kitty-proofing.
Phylllis
The ride on 301S from A1A to Palmetto used to be my favorite road trip coming home from college back in the early 80’s, particularly through Zephyrhills. It was almost a non-stop ride from Starke to Palmetto. Then one trip in the early 90’s, it was all stoplights and development. Hurt my feelings. But Ocala remains a pretty place.
If I want to see the Florida I remember, I have a Victor Nunez film festival. A particular favorite is Ulee’s Gold. Peter Fonda was built for that role.
Steven Holmes
The whole drone/ufo thing reminds me of a bit in Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy where the people on a planet never looked up, but when they finally did they were surprised there was stuff up there and became the conquerers of the galaxy. (This is how I remember it, its been 40 years)
Anywho, now there are all these idiots here finally looking up, who are surprised that there is stuff up there, and want something done about it.
Kay
I realized today I never have to do another FAFSA application. Ever :)
Elizabelle
That’s a lovely little tree. Enjoy.
@zhena gogolia: Duby is my spirit animal. Love seeing his little face, all copacetic.
Doc Sardonic
@karen gail: Yeah the Foxconn scam during his first term. Trump and Terry Gou the Foxconn CEO, found a rube in Scott Walker and soaked the State of Wisconsin good.
narya
Getting ready to go to my mom’s house; brother and SIL are going to be out of town visiting their new grandchild, and we didn’t want to have mom go through her first holiday season w/o dad by herself. I don’t really do anything; I cannot be bothered. Downstairs Neighbor likes to go all out, though, so we have some wine in front of her fireplace and I admire all of her effort (truly). I didn’t sleep much/well last night, so I’m slow today, plus I had a long meeting with an upcoming client–a place I used to work (NOT the last place) very much needs someone who knows all of the ins and outs of various things. They’ve been going through a whole bunch of crap that I won’t detail here, and it’s gonna be rough for awhile.
Gvg
Baud
@Kay:
Congrats.
KrackenJack
I have my Festivus Pole up again. It’s actually an IKEA lamp draped with LED Xmas lights. It could use a little tinsel…
Steven Holmes
We use to drive through Ocala horse country on our way to visit my wife’s parents in Ft Myers, a very pretty drive.
eemom
I love those little metal trees. They make lovely accessory decorations even if you do have a big ass real one.
frosty
Glad you liked Cafe Havana – that was me! We have friends in Ocala and while we were there a few years ago I took Ms F’s bike to the shop in the same center and wandered over to the Cafe while I waited. Such.Great.Food!
Plus, I’m really happy to have my opinion seconded by someone who knows good Cuban food.
zhena gogolia
@Elizabelle: Thank you! He is a sweetie.
frosty
@Kay: Congratulations! I hope to join you in the non-FAFSA world someday.
JaySinWA
My wife was playing some hysterical drone reporting on her laptop this morning. I asked her who the hell was pedaling that claptrap, thinking she had wandered into a crank site. Turned out to be ABC news including words from some congress critter who I don’t think was the earlier congress clown. Someone “serious”. We’re getting to 1947-1950’s levels of UFO sightings.
ABC is covering itself with glory (along with politicians) after their $15+1 million Trump nuisance case rollover, but apparently the drone craze is breaking out all over the press.
Kayla Rudbek
@comrade scotts agenda of rage: my tree is up although not too many ornaments on it yet, wreath is up on the front door but no lights on the bushes yet.
ron
404 media has a good piece on the drone hysteria the other day – https://www.404media.co/wtf-is-going-on-with-the-new-jersey-mystery-drones-maybe-mass-panic-over-nothing/
delphinium
@MagdaInBlack: @WaterGirl: I have one that is very similar too, except it is glittery silver with multiple tiny red, green, and gold round ornaments. Was left in the garage by the previous home owners and was a much better discovery than the multiple hidden liquor bottles I found.
Baud
“The drones are trans people.” /Right Wing Media
Betty Cracker
@Phylllis: Starke to Palmetto — I know every inch of that route! I need to watch Ulee’s Gold again; I thought it captured old-timey cracker stoicism well.
@frosty: Thought that was you! Sincere thanks for the rec. Told the mister I was gonna drag him there for lunch soon. He’s picky as hell, but I know he’ll like it.
John S.
Good thing cooler heads are prevailing.
So much for that.
Kayla Rudbek
@JaySinWA: now I’m wondering if some of these idiots are going to show up at Gravelly Point (parkland by National Airport in the DC area, when the wind is in the correct direction you can practically see the epaulets on the pilots’ shoulders as the planes land or take off). In good weather the ice cream trucks hang out there to serve all the plane-watchers, and the Mount Vernon trail goes through the park so there’s even a bike rental station there.
Kathleen
Love the tree, Betty.
Baud
@John S.:
That actually makes some sense, given 9/11. I’m a little surprised NYC doesn’t have any way to monitor drones.
JaySinWA
Softbank promised $50 billion before in 2016. According to CNN they delivered more investment money than promised.
Unlike the FoxConn con.
@Doc Sardonic: mentioned.
prostratedragon
@karen gail:
Happened to see this just now:
Not to say that your suspicion of gra/ift is offbase.
Miki
@Betty Cracker: Oh my ….
You might like this poem.
Raven
We’re having our annual sister-sister drama between my wife her sib. The heartburn is the same and I’m determined to stay out of it and get in the car when I’m told.
SpaceUnit
I finally got some outdoor lights up this weekend. Usually I get them up a good deal earlier but I just haven’t been feeling the Christmas spirit this year. Tonight I’ll do the tree.
And I too got notice that my calendar shipped today. I ordered it week ago, back on the 9th. That’s, ahem, not very quick. Apparently Cafe Press isn’t feeling the spirit either.
Miki
My grandparents went to a ceramic tree when it became too hard for them to decorate. At a much younger age, but for the same reason, I got my own ceramic tree. I love it.
prostratedragon
@eclare: You need a Voice of Egypt alarm on those doors:
Open are the douuble doors of the horizon! Unlocked are its bolts. // ZacharyJames
It would have a counter that added phrases on repeated triggering.
karen marie
@JaySinWA: A bunch of that money went to WeWork where it instantly disappeared.
delphinium
@JaySinWA: @ron:
This is the only hysteria worth listening to.
Another Scott
@comrade scotts agenda of rage:
Stollen!!
Best wishes,
Scott.
Nukular Biskits
Tree up the day after Thanksgiving despite me telling Ms. Biskits that it was against federal law to put up Christmas decorations before 01DEC. She didn’t believe me.
Lights outside, including a nativity scene, an LED kwimmatwee, a couple of Mickeys, some reindeer, etc.
Ms. Biskits LOVES her some holiday decorating.
Betty Cracker
@Miki: Whoa. Thank you! ❤️
@Raven: You are a wise man. I knew that. But this confirms it.
Gretchen
Reports of multiple pilots having green lasers shone at them from Staten Island while approaching Newark airport. My daughter and her family are coming for a 5 day visit from there next week. Hope they catch the idiots before then.
John S.
@Baud:
Sure. But it’s a little weak that Schumer is jumping on the drone hysteria bandwagon now.
A Ghost to Most
Christians have sucked all the fun out of the holidays.
/Airing of Grievances
Baud
@John S.:
When opportunity strikes….
Republicans used 9/11 to funnel a bunch of “homeland security” money that no terrorist would dream of targeting.
Another Scott
@Baud: +1
Schumer knows how this stuff works.
Best wishes,
Scott.
Lyrebird
@comrade scotts agenda of rage: Rock on!
Was that your kitty on a signpost in the calendar preview?
Spanky
@Another Scott:
I hope that was intentional.
Steve LaBonne
I don’t usually get this personal in comments, but my wife lost her 44 year old son in September, after a horrifying 2 1/2 year ordeal of being in and out of the hospital following an initially successful repair of a massive aortic dissection, which seemed like a miracle at the time. So we’re having a very quiet and un-decorated holiday season because she’s very understandably not up for more. We will sing as members of our church choir at the Christmas Eve service followed by going to a small family gathering, and then probably do “Jewish Christmas” (Chinese food and a movie, probably takeout and streaming at home) on Christmas day, after brief visits to bring her grandkids their presents. Joy is in somewhat short supply.
Lyrebird
@Betty Cracker: @frosty:
Have either of you ever been to Rincon Cubano in Sarasota, and if so, was it any good? Got any must-try recommendations in that region?
FWIW we love Latin Grill on John Moore in Brandon
comrade scotts agenda of rage
@Lyrebird:
Yes. Long gone Jude from back in Central Misery.
Baud
Looks like Merchan didn’t bend a knee
Lyrebird
@Steve LaBonne:
Wow, that is a terrible loss.
May you both (ETA: continue to) be surrounded by true friends who get you and who tend to guess well about what you need.
eclare
@Steve LaBonne:
I am so sorry for your family’s loss. Holidays are hard.
Nukular Biskits
@Steve LaBonne:
Condolences and peace to all.
Steve LaBonne
Thanks for the kind comments.
Miki
@Steve LaBonne: Oh. {{{{{Steve’s Wife & Steve & All who love all of you}}}}
Baud
@Steve LaBonne:
My condolences to you and your wife.
Lyrebird
@comrade scotts agenda of rage: Thanks! All the photos are adorbs of course, but wow, that one!
mrmoshpotato
@zhena gogolia:
It also won’t change him from being a miserable, orange shitstain who been sucking Kremlin ass since at least 1987.
Chief Oshkosh
@Baud:Confirmed Drones members include:
Samuel Galahad “Sam” Bagshott
Charles Edward “Biffy” Biffen
Montague “Monty” Bodkin
Godfrey “Biscuit” Brent, Lord Biskerton
“Tubby”, Lord Bridgnorth
Frederick “Freddie” Bullivant
Hugo Carmody
Freddie Chalk-Marshall
G. D’Arcy “Stilton” Cheesewright
Nelson Cork
Dudley Finch
Ronald Overbury “Ronnie” Fish
George “Boko” Fittleworth
Cyril “Barmy” Fotheringay-Phipps
Hildebrand “Tuppy” Glossop
Richard “Bingo” Little
Algernon “Algy” Martyn
Archibald “Archie” Mulliner
Horace Pendlebury-Davenport
Judson Phipps
Tipton Plimsoll
Claude Cattermole “Catsmeat” Potter-Pirbright
Alexander “Oofy” Prosser
Rupert “Psmith” Smith[17]
William “Bill” Belfry, 9th Earl of Rowcester
Adolphus “Stiffy” Stiffham[18]
Reginald “Reggie” Tennyson
Frederick “Freddie” Threepwood
Reginald “Pongo” Twistleton
Hugo Walderwick[19]
Frederick “Freddie” Widgeon
Percy Wimbolt
Harold “Ginger” Winship
Bertram “Bertie” Wooster
Algernon “Algy” Wymondham-Wymondham
prostratedragon
@Baud: Sometimes one’s hopes are fulfilled.
frosty
@Lyrebird: I haven’t been to Rincon Cubana. Not to Sarasota much, either. I’ll have to look for it next time we get down that way.
thruppence
In (I think) the last Walt Kelly Pogo strip, when Kelly knew he was not going to be around any longer, Pogo says “Don’t take life so serious. It ain’t nohow permanent”. We gotta fight our fights, but take care for yourselves and those you love. It ain’t nohow permanent.
Chief Oshkosh
@Steve LaBonne: I so sorry for your family’s loss, Steve.
danielx
@Betty Cracker:
Drunken aunties cookie baking?
danielx
@Steve LaBonne:
Truly sorry.
wenchacha
Once both our kids migrated to the West Coast, Christmas and all the trimmings seemed pointless. Then I lost both my folks at the holidays, and then Covid. So we’ve kinda nodded at the holiday, but haven’t really been feeling it
Now, on Saturday, our son and our DIL will bring the BOY! We’ll have a 4 year old, with all the wide-eyed wonder he can muster. We even got a tree. We are preparing the house, and pretty excited!
I feel very lucky, at a time when things don’t feel so festive.
frosty
@Steve LaBonne: I’m sorry for the loss. It’s worse coming during the season where everyone is trying to be joyful.
Denali5
@Steve LaBonne:
So sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing. So many of us have sorrows which make holidays hard.
Steve LaBonne
Thanks for the additional kind comments. It’s difficult to see a beloved person go through this, but of course not nearly as difficult as it is for her.
WaterGirl
My little metal tree looks a lot like yours, only mine is gold, with gold glitter.
@eclare: I highly recommend the happy little kitty collars I use to keep Henry out of my cabinets.
WaterGirl
@Steve LaBonne: Devastating. So very sorry. 💕
WaterGirl
@Baud: Thanks for sharing that news. Good to see that.
MazeDancer
Excellent tree! The lights make me want to wish upon them like stars.
Betty Cracker
@Steve LaBonne: That’s the worst. So sorry.
Betty Cracker
@danielx: Friday. Will probably live blog it. Maybe. We’ll see.
Last year I made a teen participant in Drunken Aunties Cookie Night cringe so hard she might be permanently clenched by mistaking a gingerbread cookie decorated as Frida Kahlo for a Paddington Bear. In my defense, she had neglected to add the uni-brow. This year, I’ll keep my speculations to myself.
It was all so much easier when they were toddlers.
MobiusKlein
Why do the drones get more coverage than the fucking school shootings?
Steve LaBonne
@MobiusKlein: The same reason why Trump is the President-elect: too many moron-Americans.
Steve LaBonne
Thanks, WaterGirl and Betty Cracker.
Miss Bianca
@Miki: that’s awesome!
Miki
@Betty Cracker: You’re so very welcome.
currants
Yah..I’m with you BettyC. I got some decorations from the attic before Thanksgiving and promptly tore some rotator cuff bits, then went to see grandchildren’s concerts for 11 days and came back with a whopping cold, and finally acknowledged that Christmas decor, including tree, is just not happening this year. I have amaryllis bulbs started and that will be very much good enough.
currants
@Betty Cracker:
This makes me happy!
Old School
@Steve LaBonne: My condolences. I hope you find some peace during the holiday season.
BeautifulPlumage
Late to the thread but I love the little tree. I also did minimal decor (some for branches tied with ribbon). I also ordered a couple of gifts for myself: a 2025 BJ calendar and a 2025 bird calendar by Albatrossity.
Looking forward to solstice this week and our daylight returning.
Subsole
@trollhattan:
I swear, those dipshit, dumbfuck cornball-ass voters better be scarfing two dollar eggs by the fucking carton come Jan 31st.
I’d hate to think they fucked us all and didn’t get what they wanted. I mean, I would plumb lose respect for my fellow citizens if that ended up being the case.
Subsole
Do remember, folks, that this country once convinced itself we were being invaded by fucking Mars because of a radio program.
This is nothing new.
Kayla Rudbek
@Steve LaBonne: so sorry for your loss.
Betty Cracker
@Lyrebird: Late response, and I don’t hang out in Sarasota much, so it may not be helpful. I am unfamiliar with the restaurant you mentioned, but I think there’s still a Columbia outpost at St. Armand’s Circle, and you can’t go wrong there for Cuban food. There’s also a wonderful seafood restaurant on Longboat Key called the Lazy Lobster.
Miss Bianca
@Steve LaBonne: I am so sorry to hear your news. My condolences.