December Delights

[Wolf Larsen]

This is the mini-rave thread.

[Wolf Larsen]

So I've started putting up the Christmas lights. This house is very different than our old one and I'm sort of feeling my way along. One thing that is a pain is that there are no electric outlets in the front of the house. So I have to run cords out of the garage. But I have a bunch of new LED lights to put up and they should look pretty good.

[Senpai]

My grandmother fell yesterday and hurt her hip, but still insisted on having my brother and I over for dinner. So I surprised her with some flowers and some chocolate cake for dessert.

[teela brown]

Yesterday I sat down and created files for and sorted and organized all the retirement and financial paperwork which has been accumulating since we both retired last May. It was a considerable pile, and the work triggered a nightmare last night of being back at work overwhelmed by confusing paperwork (I was a legal secretary), but I got it all done. Now our home office is cleared away and looks 100% better.

But in the process of reviewing it all, I relived the last six months of confusing conversations with all kinds of government and financial people. Am I glad I only had to do that once. Whew.

[picunurse]

Tomorrow I'm getting my house cleaned, thoroughly. It's been a long time. I can't do it any more. It will cost a bit, but we're okay with that for now.

[Diamonds02]

One of my favorite authors was on one of my favorite podcasts. Robert Greene on Andrew Huberman. What a good way to start the week.

#48lawsofpower #artofseduction

[Detroit Hoser]

I'm listening to a playlist on Apple Music called "Cocktail Christmas" or something like that while I bake cookies. TIL that Jeff Goldblum has a jazz band called The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra where he plays piano. No one named Mildred Snitzer is in the orchestra. I love that man so much.

[JackieLikesVariety]

my landlords had a stacked washer/dryer installed in my apartment this morning and I can now do laundry without leaving the house or doing it in the sink.

I am just giddy about it.

[Senpai]

Who doesn't love Jeff Goldblum??

Jackie, YAY for washer/dryer!!!

[Wolf Larsen]

I love Jeff Goldblum. (And I'm still mad that Buckaroo Banzai never got the sequel.)

I earned good husband points today. Mrs. Larsen thought we had been porch pirated, we had the doorbell video of the guy leaving the package, but it wasn't there. I looked around and found it had blown under the boxwood hedge that smells like cat pee. (We're having big winds now.)

[What Exit?]

Originally Posted by JackieLikesVariety

my landlords had a stacked washer/dryer installed in my apartment this morning and I can now do laundry without leaving the house or doing it in the sink.

I am just giddy about it.

Washer/Dryer is a big improvement, I used to joke that half the reason to buy your first house was to stop having to go to the laundry.

It's great that more and more apartments have them these days.

[Dazzling White Diamonds]

Today was supposed to be partly sunny, and perhaps it will be later... but right now it is windy and cold and dreary. But I have been cheered up immensely thanks to Hoser's discovery - what a delight Jeff Goldblum is!

The sun is shining in my mind and heart, even if it is blah outside. Thank you, my friend.

[Detroit Hoser]

I'm here to serve you, my sister to the south.

[kayaker]

We took Kizzy to a dog friendly brewery that was having pictures with Santa with proceeds benefiting a shelter. I expected the Santa to just be one of his helpers, but the brewery actually had the real Santa! Kizzy loved Santa.

[Wolf Larsen]

It is a damp and gloomy day, so I lit the wood stove. And that work I put into cleaning the glass has paid off, we have a good view of the flames. And that end of the house is now warmer.

We also did the annual run down to the See's Candy store to get the Christmas chocolate fix. It's far enough we only go once a year. The store wasn't that crowded, so it didn't take all that long. In another week it is going to be jammed with lines out the door.

[JackieLikesVariety]

Originally Posted by kayaker

I expected the Santa to just be one of his helpers, but the brewery actually had the real Santa! Kizzy loved Santa.

[Detroit Hoser]

I recorded myself playing the drums and uploaded the videos to Youtube for my former mentor to critique. But then I was dumb and posted the videos to Facebook, too, even though I rarely look in on FB antics anymore. But I'm feeling pretty good about the progress I've made in seventeen months -- and if I can pick up a brand new instrument and have a blast, anyone can. And should! If you're thinking about learning something new, just do it. Have fun. In fact, have a blast.

[C2H5OH]

Originally Posted by Detroit Hoser

In fact, have a blast.

That sounds like a good idea. Where can I sign up for a class on explosive demolition?

[Dragonlady]

Originally Posted by C2H5OH

That sounds like a good idea. Where can I sign up for a class on explosive demolition?

Call Tripler??

[Diamonds02]

I’ll probably be able to squeeze in a Chicago trip the upcoming week. Meet up with my fuck buddy. We’re going to explore some holiday theme pop-up places going on downtown. One of them is an ice rink and another is a bar selling nothing but Christmas-themed drinks. We’ll probably get in a poker game or two. Even head up to Door County, WI for a day. I’ve only been there during the summer. But they got some cool winter stuff going on this month.

[Detroit Hoser]

Let's see, anything with Bailey's or Rumchata is a Christmas drink, I'd say. Beyond that, my imagination takes a dump.

[Diamonds02]

Yeah, probably stuff with bailey’s and Rumchata. And, I’m guessing a lot of shit with peppermint leaves added? Green or red dye added? lol

[What Exit?]

Originally Posted by Detroit Hoser

Let's see, anything with Bailey's or Rumchata is a Christmas drink, I'd say. Beyond that, my imagination takes a dump.

Did someone say Bailey's?

[Senpai]

My family does Kahlua and Cream for the holiday season! At least that's the drink I think of. But we're also very, very Italian.

They also do Mai Tais for that Christmas in the tropics vibe.

[What Exit?]

I just bought a bottle of Bailey's and I'm having a generous amount in my with a few oatmeal cookies.

[JackieLikesVariety]

festive!

I just got some too-strong coffee at a local place and I brought it home to dilute it.

thinking about getting whipped cream for what's left, frankly.

[Wolf Larsen]

So Tuong Ot Chili-Garlic sauce has been in short supply at all the local supermarkets. And we ran out a while ago. But today I went to the good Asian market to get stuff for Christmas and they had it! Like lots of it. And their Sriracha too.

Life is good

[Wolf Larsen]

So Ed is one of my pickleball buddies. And today was his 88th birthday. And someone brought cupcakes. Ed's a friendly guy who is having memory problems. So you have to tell him what the score is each time he serves. But he has fun and I make it a point to play a game when him whenever we run into each other. When setting up the foursome, we let people know this will be a little bit de-tuned, Ed doesn't move that good any more. So it isn't a full power game.

But hanging out with your friends, eating a cupcake and playing pickleball isn't a bad way to spend your 88th birthday when you come right down to it. I hope Ed can keep doing this for a bunch more years.

[Senpai]

Cheers to Ed!

[FairyChatMom]

Ho Ho Ho!!

I don't post here very often, but I do have a look periodically - kinda like a nosy neighbor who doesn't come to the block party but still wants to know what's going on. Or the nice neighbor who doesn't want to just show up and whine - yeah, that's more like it!

Anyway, consider this a smooch under the virtual mistletoe with happy wishes for the holiday and on into 2024. Maybe I'll be less scarce. Maybe not. Guess we'll have to wait and see.

[JackieLikesVariety]

nice to "see" you FCM!

Blessed Solstice to everyone!! a friend emailed me a poem about it that I thought was beautiful:


Blessing for the Longest Night

All throughout these months as shadows have lengthened,
this blessing has been
gathering itself,
making ready,
preparing for
this night.

It has practiced
walking in the dark,
traveling with
its eyes closed,
feeling its way
by memory
by touch
by the pull of the moon
even as it wanes.

So believe me
when I tell you
this blessing will
reach you
even if you
have not light enough
to read it;
it will find you
even though you cannot
see it coming.

You will know
the moment of its
arriving
by your release
of the breath
you have held
so long;
a loosening
of the clenching
in your hands,
of the clutch
around your heart;
a thinning
of the darkness
that had drawn itself
around you.

This blessing
does not mean
to take the night away
but it knows
its hidden roads,
knows the resting spots
along the path,
knows what it means
to travel
in the company
of a friend.

So when
this blessing comes,
take its hand.
Get up.
Set out on the road
you cannot see.

This is the night
when you can trust
that any direction
you go,
you will be walking
toward the dawn.

—Jan Richardson
from The Cure for Sorrow: A Book of Blessings for Times of Grief

[Sputnik]

I guess I sort of dodged a bullet. My MD had referred me to a Neurologist for some problems I was having walking. We suspected it might be Myasthenia Gravis. An autoimmune disease with no cure. 20 blood tests were done and the results were unremarkable, but the symptoms still pointed there. The 21st was for a very rare antibody that would be definitive. I live in San Diego county, CA. The test was done by a lab in Virginia as no one nearby did it. It took 3 weeks to run and came back negative. Bullet dodged. Now they want a MRI of my brain. LOL, like I have one. The search for the cause goes on.

[JackieLikesVariety]

geez, Dude, glad you dodged a bullet and hope you continue to.

hoping for them to find a cause and having it be something both mild and fixable!


ETA: I forgot to post my mini-rave: amazon gave me another month of free amazon prime which was a surprise since I'd had 2 free months in a row not too long ago.

holiday weekend, a got a MC cherry pie, and prime video again! I don't remember what I was watching last time but I'm sure there will be something.



oh, and I know Wolf posted it's hard to find a good Italian restaurant that's affordable which is true BUT I was at one yesterday in the little town of Goldendale, Washington of all places. it was EXCELLENT and the whole town much more charming than I was expecting.

[C2H5OH]

We've got a really great family-owned Italian place in my town that's reasonably priced. I just looked up their prices and compared to the nearest Olive Garden, which I've only been to once, and that's also the last time I'll bother. The local one is about 25% cheaper, and the food is about 1000% better. Plus, I don't have to drive half an hour or so to get there.

[blondbear]

Originally Posted by JackieLikesVariety

oh, and I know Wolf posted it's hard to find a good Italian restaurant that's affordable which is true BUT I was at one yesterday in the little town of Goldendale, Washington of all places. it was EXCELLENT and the whole town much more charming than I was expecting.

If you ever get back there, the Presby Mansion Museum in Goldendale is quite excellent. I found a 1958 vintage postcard in the gift shop sent to the folks at home from La Jolla, which happens to be my hometown.

[JackieLikesVariety]

good to know, blondebear, I will keep that in mind. I have to go back, I haven't been to the observatory yet.

[Wolf Larsen]

Originally Posted by JackieLikesVariety

oh, and I know Wolf posted it's hard to find a good Italian restaurant that's affordable which is true BUT I was at one yesterday in the little town of Goldendale, Washington of all places. it was EXCELLENT and the whole town much more charming than I was expecting.

Glad you found this, a good Italian restaurant is a treasure.


I am now a convert to the love of the premade fireplace log. Last night, Wolfette and WolfSonInLaw came over for early Christmas and it seemed like a fire would be cheery. So I put one in the wood stove. It lit with one match and provided a nice fire for about 3 hours. I'd bought a box of them at Walmart, but this was the first one I'd used. I'm going to put a box in the prepper supplies since it's an easy way to get heat if the power is out.

[mjmlabs]

Got a check for about $60 in the mail today. Evidently I was swindled a decade or so ago, along with a bunch of other Americans, and the CFPB took the swindlers to court; thank you CFPB.

In all candor, I'm happier about the accountability than the sixty bucks, but I'll take both, sure.

[Wolf Larsen]

The NORAD Santa Tracker is up and running! And the air wing in Newfoundland will escort Santa in North American airspace with some F-18s.

[Zeener Diode]

I spent most of last week at the coast. A last-minute invite to a four-day stay at a house in Long Beach, WA. Not much activity but ambience was great! I scoured the peninsula and found one seafood retailer with bulk oysters, bought two dozen and brought back to cook on the gas grill. Even found fresh mangoes for salsa! I'm glad to say all 24 oysters popped, not a dud in the bunch!

[Detroit Hoser]

Originally Posted by Sputnik

I guess I sort of dodged a bullet. My MD had referred me to a Neurologist for some problems I was having walking. We suspected it might be Myasthenia Gravis. An autoimmune disease with no cure. 20 blood tests were done and the results were unremarkable, but the symptoms still pointed there. The 21st was for a very rare antibody that would be definitive. I live in San Diego county, CA. The test was done by a lab in Virginia as no one nearby did it. It took 3 weeks to run and came back negative. Bullet dodged. Now they want a MRI of my brain. LOL, like I have one. The search for the cause goes on.

I hope they find the cause of your neuroweirdness and it's something benign and tolerable. If you were a woman this would all be chalked up to menopause, even if none of the symptoms have anything to do with menopause.

[blondbear]

Originally Posted by Zeener Diode

...a four-day stay at a house in Long Beach, WA. Not much activity but ambience was great!

Ah, Long Beach, home of Marsh's Free Museum! More kitsch on the walls than you can shake a stick at! When I'm passing through I always stop in to pay my respects to Jake The Alligator Man.

[JackieLikesVariety]

Originally Posted by Detroit Hoser

If you were a woman this would all be chalked up to menopause, even if none of the symptoms have anything to do with menopause.

true

[JackieLikesVariety]

Originally Posted by Zeener Diode

I spent most of last week at the coast. A last-minute invite to a four-day stay at a house in Long Beach, WA.

[C2H5OH]

Originally Posted by Wolf Larsen

The NORAD Santa Tracker is up and running! And the air wing in Newfoundland will escort Santa in North American airspace with some F-18s.

Taking one of those 20mm cannons to a reindeer or 12 would make for some nice burgers. If a bit of Santa gets in there, too, oh well.

[Zeener Diode]

Originally Posted by blondbear

Ah, Long Beach, home of Marsh's Free Museum! More kitsch on the walls than you can shake a stick at! When I'm passing through I always stop in to pay my respects to Jake The Alligator Man.

Sadly we didn't make it to Marsh's. We went to Patty's Fish Tacos, formerly a frozen custard stand, but they were closed. Had they been open, I'm certain I could've persuaded the group to check out the museum.

So many eateries listed as open on Google were actually closed. Surprisingly, the Loose Caboose was still running. That, Chico's Pizza and Chen's are what I remember from my childhood.

[Wolf Larsen]

So most premixed cocktails are really bad. Like really really bad. But I got served an ad for a Manhattan premixed cocktail made with Bulleit rye whiskey. And I tracked down some reviews that said it was quite good. Mrs. Larsen is a Manhattan fan, so I got a bottle and put it in her Christmas stocking. Tonight she opened it and poured a rocks glass of it. She pronounced it excellent. So I guess I know what to get her for various occasions.

[JackieLikesVariety]

I got my first pair of wireless* headphones and so far they work perfectly with my MP3 player and my chromebook. I have yet to use them with my laptop but now have high expectations.

despite being a cheap pair they sound good and were super easy to pair.






*next up: indoor plumbing

[Zeener Diode]

Originally Posted by JackieLikesVariety

*next up: indoor plumbing

I gotta tell ya, it's not as cracked up as it sounds. Sure, you don't have to run outside on a cold, wet morning and sit on a cold, wet seat, but having to constantly clean the damn room every month? Gimme a bucket and window any day of the week.

[C2H5OH]

Two words...

"Fire Hose"

OK, four more words...

"Fire Company On Call"

Ok, a few more words...

"A janitorial company to clean it all up."

That's eight words. We're only going up by a factor of two, each time. We should get to the end in a factor of about two weeks... Or maybe two months. Not yet determined...