Don’t be a stranger, BusDude! I miss your shining face hereabouts!
SmartyPants, the sangria and pho were from the same place, actually. I know it’s not very authentic, but it was a surprisingly tasty combo nonetheless. 
Besides, any excuse to drink sangria is a good one in my books.
I am now eagerly anticipating photos of VundieSanta. Hee hee.
Mumsy Dearest arrived all in one piece last night, albeit a little later than planned. We’re now in full pre-holiday lie-around-the-house mode… I plan on doing a whole lot of nothing up to the 25th, at which point I’ll sprint into Christmas Dinner Mode and cook all day. The Boy’s parents will be joining us, so I want it to be properly impressive.
With three dogs weighing a combined total of over 300 pounds . . . let’s just say we tend to go through 50-lb bags of Large-Breed Dog Food rather quickly. We usually have about a dozen lying around the house. Thurber the mastiff and Bree the rottweiler are both firmly convinced that they are lapdogs, though. Rocket the ten-year-old Doberman has just about accepted that he is no longer a puppy, though he still dashes about like mad. Funny thing is, when Thurber and Rocky are both outside, Thurber’s legs are so much longer than Rocky’s that the li’l pup can just galumph along and still quite easily keep up with Pocket frantically sprinting away.
That’s what I miss by being blocked at work - I had no clue the board was down
Beebs - I haven’t seen hide nor hair of Eddie, but when I pass him along, I promise a separately gifty for you (a doll from SF? I haven’t been to SF in over 10 years)
We get to wear jeans to work tomorrow. w00t.
Pfft, I’ve been wearing jeans to work since last Thursday. No way in HELL am I going try and walk on heels with this snowy mess.
It appears to be melting off a little, however, we’re supposed to get more tonight into tomorrow, although it shouldn’t be as severe as this last weekend or days past. They’re also talking about snow into Christmas Day morning. I dunno, we’ll see.
I can’t wait to see VundieSanta.
MBG, we miss you dude! I’ve been leaving pies in your favorite stalking bush.
Beebs, glad to see you popped in.
Well, I should get back to the project at hand. My eyes were going cross-eyed from staring at a data tables and queries, so I snuck a quick break in.
It wasn’t me; I wasn’t there! I have receipts and everything.
Whaaaaa? We can do that here?
BusDude, they’re a nice bunch of folks here. ::glances at Smartie:: Might want to watch your back(side), though.
So we made to the island safely. It wasn’t snowing so the drive to Campbell River took not much longer than in normal conditions. It was wonderful checking out everyone’s Christmas lights.
The boat ride was not as bad as I was fearing. It got a bit hairy (for me) through Hole in the Wall, where we had about 5 minutes of rough ride with our butts lifting off the seat and slamming back down again. Awfully thankful I have no slipped disc problem.
Was met at the dock by Shadow and Lucky, the resident oggies. The girls are a golden retriever-lab mix. They both ran straight to me; Lucky buried her head between my legs and Shadow attached her muzzle to my left hand, nudging for a scritch.
(Whoops. Battery near dead. Must change venues to be nearer a plug in. More in a bit!)
OMG, it’s been a day… So, the boards crashed and I was going REALLY stir crazy so I decided that I’d go to the store somehow. I figured, hey take the bus 'cuz that’s what it’s for, right? Yeah, except for the part where they’ve cancelled the route that goes by my street. Thanks a pantsload there, TriMet! All undaunted I decided to just hoof it–there’s a Slaveway about 1.5 miles away and a Plaid Pantry halfway there so I figured I had a pretty good chance to get SOMEWHERE. The main drag near where I live is plowed and packed down with about a lane and a half open so I started trudging along, sticking out my thumb and lucky me I caught a ride up to the store with a nice older gent in a 4X4 who dropped me right at the front door. What a sweetie! So I got a gallon milk and some whipping cream (that’s what I use for my coffee) and a small bag of dog food for the enthusiasts, packed it into two shopping bags distributed evenly for weight and started back. Well, as luck would have it when I’m schlepping two bags of groceries ain’t nobody gonna stop to give me a ride so I hoofed it all the way back, stopping at Plaid anyway for something to drink because that’s some hard work walking in this shit–I got way overheated, that menopause hot flash thingy sucks sometimes.
Got home, made some quesadillas ‘cuz I was famished by then, and just as I was finishing up Himself comes in and tells me the DMZ (the 10’ x 10’ iron and canvas gazebo over the back deck) has just collapsed. Dammit–we knew it was a crapshoot with all this snow but were hoping it could hold out. It’s pretty thoroughly collapsed, too, can’t tell yet whether or not the frame is salvageable. So I geared up again, got out the ladder and implements of destruction and went to it. Took me a couple hours but I managed to clear about 95% of the ice and snow off the top, scooping it out like it was in a bigass bowl. I also cleared most of the roofline next to it so there’s less likelihood of more breaking loose and filling the thing up again. The downed snow is piled up all around the edge of the deck, packed about thigh high. That’s gonna suck to shovel, but Himself is off tomorrow so that’s gonna be his responsibility. I think it might be possible to brace the centerpiece up with 2x2 so we can at least keep the snow and rain off the deck until we can figure out how to effect a more permanent repair.
All I have to say is that my shoulders, back and arms are just screaming and my hands are trembly from overuse. I don’t think I’ll be participating in any typing heavy flamewars this evening. In fact, I think I’ll be getting a very comprehensive back rub or I’ll know the reason why!
I must confess to a slight amount of pissiness with Himself, because he spends more time out there than anyone else (that’s where he smokes) and he really should have taken the initiative to get the snow off before it became an issue. Oh well, water under the bridge or something…
True dat, Tyger, it’s just that I always discover the indiscretion WITH MY STOCKING FEET. shudder I really hate that… :eek:
ETA: Jicky, we do a lot worse than that in here sometimes–didn’t you notice the hot tub? And don’t even get anybody started on room 304, just sayin’…
Sounds like you need a hot oil massage, Smarty. :: suggestive smile ::
Christmas Eve, yikes. I still have tons of shopping to do, plus a bunch of work to get done before the holidays. So much for a day off. :smack:
A kewl moment. I had to wear a pillow to get the belt buckled.
SantaBob before hair, and after.
Story tomorrow…
Ooh, are you volunteering? Because that would be AWESOME!! 
Okay, who’s bringing the mop to wipe up the drool puddles this is gonna cause? :dubious:
First, thanks to all for the congratulations. Much appreciated. Now if I can just teach my boss that writing documents will always take longer than he thinks, and that it is never a good idea to promise them to a client before talking to the people who have to write them …
I foresee interesting times ahead.
Ironfoundersson, have you and your folks ever thought of rigging a harness to that small pony of yours and renting him out for hauling? Maybe a kind of snow scoop?
Bobbio, you make a wonderful Santa. I bet the kids have fun!
I give good massages. I’ve been told so by two chiropractors and at least one massage therapist. And once, in my giddy just after high school days, a first year cadet at the Air Force Academy offered to let me live in his closet at school just so I could rub his back. Ah, youth.
My only point of sadness now is that not only did I get few replies to the last thread I started, I barely got any look-ins. You’d think that people here would want to drool over the ultimate rubber band gun. sniffle
Grrr. I just got a text from a rapidly devaluating friend I haven’t seen in over a year. I called her yesterday and we made tentative plans (I thought) to hang out tomorrow afternoon since both of my sisters will be Oot and Aboot until about 6. Then I get a text from her a few minutes ago saying that she and her mom will be going to Old Salem and then having dinner. “See you at the Lovefeast at 6:30?”
- I haven’t seen her in over a year.
- I’d like to actually meet her mom.
- I would like to go to Old Salem as well. (Hell I lived there during the summer of '97. I know more places around there than she does, probably.)
- I will have been on the road for four hours betwixt Pirateville and W-S.
If I weren’t so determined to get to the Lovefeast this year, I’d just say hell with it. I think this will be the last year I try to make plans to meet up with her around Christmas, though. It’s not the time to be the same selfish bint you are the rest of the year.
So I guess I’ll be hanging around here until two or so and then heading out. Straight into the setting sun. :mad:
thinkhappythoughtsthinkhappythoughts
Oh well, I’ll be in mountains at the end of the week and that is very happy-making. Which reminds me, I’d better make some more phone calls to get some directions.
One more day till a day off. No snow, but we’re getting rain on Christmas Day. Thrak ran out. 5 minutes later he was back in.
: waves at MBG :
Morgyn, that gun rocks. WANT
I’ll be in my bunk.
Captain, I’d never own a pet i couldn’t take out in hand to hand combat.
gotta watch those kitty claws
Why is a dog running on a beach reminiscent of Christmas?
because of sandy claws
Girls, girls! The guys are bad enough without some girl-on-girl action! At least if you’re going to do that, take it to Room 304 where it belongs!
I have had another very, very dull and boring day. Wound a few skeins of yarn Just Because. Got a bunch more knit on the stuff for Papa Tigs (the scarf only has about 6" to go, then it’s on to the hat, which I’m sure I can get done tomorrow while he’s at work), as well as several more inches on the hat for SIL. I’ll finish the scarf tonight after Papa Tigs goes to sleep. Heck, last night I was sitting in the bed right next to him snoring working on it, and he remained firmly clueless.
I was afraid that Papa Tigs would have the Commute from Hell today, with pre-Christmas traffic, but apparently everybody left already; he got home, including a stop at the Amish market for dairy products, in near record time. I’m just grateful his commute doesn’t go anywhere near River Road; you may have seen on the news about the excitement of the massive water main break with swift water rescues via boat and helicopter of people trapped in the floods in their cars. It was really weird seeing them doing the chopper rescues right off a city street!
Back to knitting. I may not quite make the Christmas deadline on this hat, but I’m going to get a lot closer than I feared last week!
Ha! Finished my Christmas shopping! Nothing like waiting until the last minute!
Smartie, that well and truly sucks; both tthe hike from the grocery store and the collapse and clean-up of the DMZ. That is a very poorly constructed sentence, but I’m not changing it.
Bobbio, you like you’d be a very nice Santa. Can I sit in your lap and tell you what I want for Christmas?
I’m the only one in my office tomorrow. This will suck as I am well and truly swamped. What is up with all these people and their freakin’ data calls? Don’t they realize these are the holidays?! Sheesh! Leave me the hell alone so I can get caught up, fer crissakes!
It’s definitely cold out there tonight. They say we’re supposed to get more snow. I’m ready for this shit to melt off.
I’d better put my groceries away now. I just remembered, I have a couple of refrigerated items. Lickily, I’ve only been home about 15 minutes.
I’d just have to say “Bad dog!” and he’d cower. If that didn’t work, even a twenty-pound terrier could take me apart.
Aww, BBBBobbio, you make a great Santy! It’s hard to believe that it’s nearly Christmas Eve. You know, I haven’t seen our local volunteer FD come thru with the hook and ladder yet. Strange, and they haven’t put any lights on the firehouse this year either.
Ooh yeah, Haze giving SmartyPants a massage? Yeah, that’s sure to have a following.
And before I forget it … (again!):
HAPPY HANNUKAH!!!
Yay!
I know! I couldn’t believe it got so few views and responses. I mean, seriously, what Doper could resist something that beautiful?
Great Og and FSM, I am so sick of making chesecakes. And this will certainly be the most expensive cheesecake I have ever made.
10 bricks of cream cheese
3 cups of sugar
10 eggs.
4 cups of graham crackers
3/4 cups of butter
1 cup of flour (I added too much actually, but the liquor will soak it up)
3 cups of sour cream
3 tbsp of vanilla extract
Split the batter into 3
Added 1/2 cup each of Grand Marnier, Kahlua and Bailey’s Irish Cream to each portion.
They’re baking now. I still have to make a raspberry cheesecake tomorrow, for those that don’t want a triple-layer monstrosity that’s all boozed up. I’ll add the dollops of whipped cream around the edge and place alternating Bailey’s and Kahlua-filled chocolates on top of each the day I bring it over to be consumed.
I’m kinda upset because I only had 2 9" springform pans. The rest were larger, so since that would be stupidly uneven I just decided to use one 9", one 10" and one 11" and make it all tiered. It’ll look like a damn wedding cake, but it’ll taste like sex. I don’t even want to think about the number of calories involved in this thing. I gained 10 pounds just making it.
The kitchen is a mess, and so am I. I think I’ve spent about $60 or more on these cheesecakes. (I’m not counting the whole bottles of liquor because the remainder will be enjoyed forthwith and independent of baked goods.) I haven’t even made dinner yet.
SantaBob - You look a proper St. Nick. How’s your Ho Ho Ho?
Criminy - Crap. Did I summon you? Terribly sorry. But I guess I should be thankful I didn’t invoke C’thulu’s name.
CRAP!
BusDude - It’s okay. I’ve gone through my phases too. We’ll keep your seat warm. The one right in front of the dip.
sigh Back to the kitchen to check on the cakes.