I'm alone for the holiday too, but I had an amazing last few days, with a visiting vegetarian, so now I'm in protein withdraw, but Fedex just delivered a big box full of meat from Omaha Steaks. Thanks Sis!
I'll be celebrating just fine on my own as I rebuild protein and amino acid levels back to normal. You're all invited over to join me. You're gonna need to like dogs, but if you don't we can cure that with a high dosage wine infusion in the front yard beforehand. You must be ---this--- tall to enter.
Merry Christmas, Palladian - I know it's tough, but hang in there.
As far as being Scrooge - dude, I am right there with you.
I always like watching Dickens' story, right up until ol' Ebenezer sees the light. Dang, dude, you had a good thing goin' on and now you had to go all liberal on us!
Dumbplumber and I are spending the holiday just the two of us. We didn't decorate a tree, because we don't feel like it and it is too much work. We don't put up lights. Who cares if the rest of the neighbors do? We didn't buy each other presents. We don't need anything. Did buy candy and gave some home made goodies to people.
Here is the deal. Get what YOU want out of the holiday and don't try to live up to someone else's expectations. Life is NOT a Hallmark card. Don't feel bad if you aren't living in one right now. It will get better.
I'm perfectly happy to stay home. Sip some scotch. Make good food and watch a movie or two with my husband.
Here is the deal. Get what YOU want out of the holiday and don't try to live up to someone else's expectations. Life is NOT a Hallmark card. Don't feel bad if you aren't living in one right now. It will get better.
Exactly right. And I say this as one who was once dead broke and living in an empty dive apartment.
Normally I'd not say anything about things personal, but it seems that on this thread it could be appropriate.
I want to tell everyone that Palladian virtually made my Christmas, which is normally a somewhat lonely affair as well left to memories.
Today a package arrived from Pennsylvania, an original painting by Palladian that he kindly agreed to produce for me. Perfect timing...and now I have to decide just where to hang "William II".
Did you catch the link on Insty to Jerry Bower at Forbes, What was Charles Dickens Really Doing When He Wrote 'A Christmas Carol'?
Now this is a thoughtful piece.
The conceit is Dickens created Scrooge to represent and discredit Malthusian ideas and the tell is the Ghost of Christmas Present who takes Scrooge to the market and goes over the wealth of produce, the colors, textures, names of fruits piled up in winter available even to poor.
Nice touches throughout, Bower notes the symbolism in the shop sign Scrooge and Marley, left to rust and his name obscured long after Marley died, so Scrooge is depicted as stuck in an age of austerity and oblivious to prosperity around him, ironically poorer than he would have been otherwise, Scrooge's mentor by example is thriving.
I came away from it thinking, goodness, that is astute. I wish I was that smart. I'm never that penetrating with literature. I'm just not. This Jerry Bower gets right into the salient details that strike him and bear on his conceit, matches them nicely with contemporary economic writing of Dickens' day, and pulls these elements out in splendid dissection and shows how Dickens provided characters to act out those economic ideas. You notice all that in Christmas Carol automatically, but explaining it is quite good.
My kids asked for sewing stuff or blankets and a new pillow. That's what they're getting. Funny thing is that in the past when we've had more money the presents were smaller. Nothing fills up the space under the tree like a comforter.
Grumpy bucket is still grumpy this year but he's actually helped with shopping and cooking, so, Forward!
My husband (the aforementioned grumpy bucket) got me a rock. At least, I think he did. I will post a picture when it's out of the box. :)
Family though... family is on the other side of the country where family usually is. My second oldest is having Christmas today with my folks, which makes me glad. It's funny that even all the family that lives in driving distance doesn't end up at Christmas together because they end up split between the inlaws.
Ah ha...that explains all the made in China crap that mostly everyone gets.
We haven't gone yet to my husband's family for our winter visit. Most likely won't get to go until after New Years.
I bought the nephew (11 yrs old) a Nerf assault rifle Nerf Rapid Strike CS-18 and an ammo pack of 75 more Nerf bullet thingies. Can't wait to give it to him. He is gonna love it!!
I would have loved one of those when I was his age. I might even get a couple for my husband and I to play with. Maybe a Nerf crossbow. Gotcha!!!! And in case anyone wonders...I did ask the parents. They said great...go for it.
Merry Christmas to all! (And here's hoping for a better New Year for you, Palladian. Good to see you around. Now if we could only manage to get coketown and his wit to stop by and ChipS to come by more often..)
Thanks for the kind words, Aridog, and for all your compassion and humanity over these last few months.
Same to you bagoh20 & Trooper.
And thanks also to the rest of you for putting up with me here.
There's, of course, a central justification for this holiday that's often forgotten, and it is through the Grace of that distant event that all of my friends have come to me, and through that Birth that I have found sustenance and hope as I wander through my own dark wilderness.
Palladian - Travel over the holidays is such an spendy over-rated hassle. Crowds, morons, creeps - and that's just on the way to the station or airport. I hope you can visit your mom during a calmer point during the year.
29 comments:
I'm alone for the holiday too, but I had an amazing last few days, with a visiting vegetarian, so now I'm in protein withdraw, but Fedex just delivered a big box full of meat from Omaha Steaks. Thanks Sis!
I'll be celebrating just fine on my own as I rebuild protein and amino acid levels back to normal. You're all invited over to join me. You're gonna need to like dogs, but if you don't we can cure that with a high dosage wine infusion in the front yard beforehand. You must be ---this--- tall to enter.
And Palladian, I got your nog right here.
Merry Christmas, Palladian - I know it's tough, but hang in there.
As far as being Scrooge - dude, I am right there with you.
I always like watching Dickens' story, right up until ol' Ebenezer sees the light. Dang, dude, you had a good thing goin' on and now you had to go all liberal on us!
It' sunny mid 70s here. Just perfect for a sleigh ride. On the other hand, visibility is excellent, for an airborne reindeer piloted aircraft.
If you're wondering why isn't Santa a black dude?
The reindeer and sleigh might be a tip off to the guy's home turf, and there ain't much use for melanin there.
"Bah, humbug!"
Dumbplumber and I are spending the holiday just the two of us. We didn't decorate a tree, because we don't feel like it and it is too much work. We don't put up lights. Who cares if the rest of the neighbors do? We didn't buy each other presents. We don't need anything. Did buy candy and gave some home made goodies to people.
Here is the deal. Get what YOU want out of the holiday and don't try to live up to someone else's expectations. Life is NOT a Hallmark card. Don't feel bad if you aren't living in one right now. It will get better.
I'm perfectly happy to stay home. Sip some scotch. Make good food and watch a movie or two with my husband.
Thanks for the advice & encouragement. I'm most upset that I couldn't afford to visit my mother this year. Otherwise, I don't care about the holiday.
Here is the deal. Get what YOU want out of the holiday and don't try to live up to someone else's expectations. Life is NOT a Hallmark card. Don't feel bad if you aren't living in one right now. It will get better.
Exactly right. And I say this as one who was once dead broke and living in an empty dive apartment.
Santa, of course, is Oriental.
He's our little ornamental Oriental.
The only thing wretched is boxed egg nog.
You can make it at home provided you have fresh top quality eggs.
Normally I'd not say anything about things personal, but it seems that on this thread it could be appropriate.
I want to tell everyone that Palladian virtually made my Christmas, which is normally a somewhat lonely affair as well left to memories.
Today a package arrived from Pennsylvania, an original painting by Palladian that he kindly agreed to produce for me. Perfect timing...and now I have to decide just where to hang "William II".
Thank you so very much Evan.
now you had to go all liberal on us!
Did you catch the link on Insty to Jerry Bower at Forbes, What was Charles Dickens Really Doing When He Wrote 'A Christmas Carol'?
Now this is a thoughtful piece.
The conceit is Dickens created Scrooge to represent and discredit Malthusian ideas and the tell is the Ghost of Christmas Present who takes Scrooge to the market and goes over the wealth of produce, the colors, textures, names of fruits piled up in winter available even to poor.
Nice touches throughout, Bower notes the symbolism in the shop sign Scrooge and Marley, left to rust and his name obscured long after Marley died, so Scrooge is depicted as stuck in an age of austerity and oblivious to prosperity around him, ironically poorer than he would have been otherwise, Scrooge's mentor by example is thriving.
I came away from it thinking, goodness, that is astute. I wish I was that smart. I'm never that penetrating with literature. I'm just not. This Jerry Bower gets right into the salient details that strike him and bear on his conceit, matches them nicely with contemporary economic writing of Dickens' day, and pulls these elements out in splendid dissection and shows how Dickens provided characters to act out those economic ideas. You notice all that in Christmas Carol automatically, but explaining it is quite good.
My kids asked for sewing stuff or blankets and a new pillow. That's what they're getting. Funny thing is that in the past when we've had more money the presents were smaller. Nothing fills up the space under the tree like a comforter.
Grumpy bucket is still grumpy this year but he's actually helped with shopping and cooking, so, Forward!
My husband (the aforementioned grumpy bucket) got me a rock. At least, I think he did. I will post a picture when it's out of the box. :)
Family though... family is on the other side of the country where family usually is. My second oldest is having Christmas today with my folks, which makes me glad. It's funny that even all the family that lives in driving distance doesn't end up at Christmas together because they end up split between the inlaws.
Way to go, Dude.
Santa, of course, is Oriental
Ah ha...that explains all the made in China crap that mostly everyone gets.
We haven't gone yet to my husband's family for our winter visit. Most likely won't get to go until after New Years.
I bought the nephew (11 yrs old) a Nerf assault rifle Nerf Rapid Strike CS-18 and an ammo pack of 75 more Nerf bullet thingies. Can't wait to give it to him. He is gonna love it!!
I would have loved one of those when I was his age. I might even get a couple for my husband and I to play with. Maybe a Nerf crossbow. Gotcha!!!! And in case anyone wonders...I did ask the parents. They said great...go for it.
Merry Christmas to all!
(And here's hoping for a better New Year for you, Palladian. Good to see you around. Now if we could only manage to get coketown and his wit to stop by and ChipS to come by more often..)
Dude!
I thought you would be glad to don your gay apparel and go out in search of a Christmas goose!
Let's hope 2014 will be better year for all of us.
Merry Christmas Buddy.
It's my party and I'll cry if I want to
cry if I want to
cry if I want to
Let's hope 2014 will be better year for all of us.
Merry Christmas Buddy.
Amen, brother.
Thanks for the kind words, Aridog, and for all your compassion and humanity over these last few months.
Same to you bagoh20 & Trooper.
And thanks also to the rest of you for putting up with me here.
There's, of course, a central justification for this holiday that's often forgotten, and it is through the Grace of that distant event that all of my friends have come to me, and through that Birth that I have found sustenance and hope as I wander through my own dark wilderness.
God bless you and keep you all.
The Rock.
Omaha steaks... yum!
Palladian - Travel over the holidays is such an spendy over-rated hassle. Crowds, morons, creeps - and that's just on the way to the station or airport.
I hope you can visit your mom during a calmer point during the year.
Merry Christmas, Palladian!
I make and sell fake spills like this one, a favorite one to leave in your neighbor's driveway.
Crowds, morons, creeps - and that's just on the way to the station or airport.
Are you kidding? That's me at home on Christmas.
"I make and sell fake spills"
I could work for you in product design. Spilling stuff is kind of my special talent.
I make and sell fake spills
By remarkable coincidence, I make and sell fake clean-ups.
Don't feel like the lone ranger, Pall. Sorry you're blue.
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