Making Christmas cake, a bit later than I should do to get it nice 'n boozy, but making up for that by checking the brandy’s working ok.
It seems fine- but you can’t be too careful, it might be dodgy further down the bottle. 
This cake’s for Christmas #3 anyway- #1 at parents, #2 (Boxing day) at my Aunt’s, then #3 at my house, when we’re both back. Then off to the bro’s for New Year. My, it’s such a social whirl!
Time to get my butt in gear and finish my daughter’s gift. So don’t look for me till tomorrow!
MWAH!
Awww, ya got lipstick on my cheek FCM!
Okay, I may be in trouble. I just told some neighbor kids if they weren’t quiet I’d make them into tamales. I don’t have masa! Oh sure, I could cook ‘em up and all, but then they’d just be layin’ around.
This is when a crawl space becomes handy, isn’t it? Darned southwest with no basements.
Happy birthday, catdude!
So, the young lady taking pre-Calc but testing at a 7th grade level is very confused as to why I insist that she learn the difference between prime numbers and composite numbers, how to factor, what factoring has to do with exponents, and why she has to do every single problem on the page without the benefit of a calculator (with the exception of finding roots of a 4th power or higher, because that’s just mean). By the way, did I mention that I’m an English/Art/middle school Science teacher, and haven’t actually done any academic math in 20 years? Mmmm. Yeah, I’m actually having to relearn how math works because when I do it, my brain hides it in a little black box somewhere near my medulla oblongata, and doesn’t let it out until it’s found an answer.
Dad’s come down with some crud that started in his head. I think it’s because he’s been running the heat at 80 degrees plus, and it’s hideously dry in the entire house. I know my sinuses are like the Sahara. Unfortunately, what this means, is that when he tries to clear his nose, he makes a series of noises that . . . I . . . it just . . . see, I’m 40 years old, and I’ve never actually had to stop eating and leave a room because I was so grossed out by something. That’s how bad it was. And now I’ve promised to make dinner, and all I want to do is hide in my room, out of earshot.
Mom’s working long, long hours, as usual. I haven’t bugged her about Christmas, because “stress”. Except, she stopped by my room last night, on her way to bed and asked nicely if I wouldn’t do the Christmas shopping online today and just have it all shipped here. Sure. So she leaves me the credit card. And I go to Amazon. And the only way to get delivery before Christmas is to basically open Skype and show Amazon that I am physically removing my liver and placing it on the keyboard as payment for rushed delivery.
I didn’t even buy the desktop trebuchet I wanted so much. Yet, my restraint is never noticed by those close to me (perhaps because the trebuchet’s operational range outreaches them).
Busy busy busy…Leaving ermmmm…later this a.m. Will probably be in only sporadically until after the new year.
Happy slightly belated birthday, CatDude!
I think I’m packed. I have a few things to do in the morning, but…I’m close.
Will check in from airportland via the phone tomorrow.
Hugs all.
GT
phouka, your post made me damn near spit out my Coke. Why on earth is someone taking pre-calc when they test at a 7th grade level?! For that matter, why the hell is someone placed at a 7th grade level when they don’t know the difference between prime numbers and composite numbers?! I can’t remember when I learned that, but I distinctly remember doing it fourth grade. (Remember the number trees? "Find ALL the factors of [such-and-such]. Good. Now find all the PRIME factors of [such-and-such]. Yeah. Fourth grade. On the blackboard, no less.)
Anyway, it seems as if everyone has been doing well in my absence. A belated happy birthday to CatDude. I hope you enjoyed the cake and the stripper.
Hopefully I’ll be able to post a bit more before school starts in January. I’ll once again be taking only two classes, another math and Spanish class, but with my workload I’m about maxed out. I’m really REALLY hoping to get some financial aid next year. Paying this out of pocket sucks major [expletive deleted]. My wife is also going to school, taking a class at a time. It may be slow, but the alternative is to do nothing. Not much of an alternative. My GPA sucks because of me being stupid a decade ago and racking up a bunch of Fs. If any of you ever invent a time machine, go back and bitchslap some sense into my 19yo self.
My guess is that she’s managed to pass previous math classes by the skin of her teeth - probably flunking tests, but pulling off a D (which she currently has) by doing all her homework. In CA, a D counts as passing and will get you into the next year’s class, even if you’ve never demonstrated comprehension, let alone mastery of a topic. A lot of kids will take classes they know they’ll never master so they get the credits towards college - even with a crappy GPA.
The good thing is, because it’s Federally funded and based on NCLB (which, normally, I loathe), I’m mandated to start her where her norm-referenced test score says she is. Part of me wants to make her practice her multiplication tables over and over, because she clearly doesn’t have those memorized, and I’m sorry, but you’re just not going to get division, factoring, fractions, or anything beyond that if you don’t have it memorized.
Up, caffeinated, off to irk.
Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up and caffienatin’. YAWN 'Tis a chilly 39 Amurrkin out with a predicted high of 63. This is normal weather for this time of year round these parts.
Last night was fun! Good food, good adult beverages (I do make a mahbelous martini if’n I do say so myself), great conversation and the annual viewin’ of A Tuna Christmas. Some of you know all about that. The rest of you may google it cause I’m too lazy to provide a link. Suffice it to say, it’s worth watchin’. Hilarious! 
Today’s deheathenization involves a service called “Advent Lessons and Carols.” Again google is your friend. I get to do one of the readin’s, the one where the angel visits Joseph in a dream. I like this service so yay I get to do a readin’.
Now I must find more caffiene and must decide on some sustenance for slightly rumbly tummy. Much foodstuffs were consumed last night so not too hongry. Then, I must purtify for deheathenization and wake up ol’ sleepyhaid who I do believe had a bit too much of the adult beverages last night and may not want to arise. We shall see.
Have a safe trip gt!
Happy Sunday Y’all!
Too late. 
Happy belated birthday, CatDude!
I had a very grumpy day yesterday, involving Christmas tree lights, a dead truck battery, and a sore back.
But as Scarlett said (paraphrased) - today is another day!
Up and caffeinating. I’m gonna go to the grocery store tomorrow, so I’m going to go watch the Texans game at the bar with friends.
Happy Sunday, everyone!
I was laying in bed this morning, feeling this great pressure on my chest. Was I having a heart attack? Then the pressure licked me across my nose, and I realized I felt fur.
Boxers are heavy. Stoooooopid dawg.
Last night was very confusing. **FCD **was watching the Dallas-Tampa Bay game on TV, and the various talking heads kept referring to it as a special edition of Thursday Night Football. Yesterday was Saturday, right? Was it special because it caused a burp in the space-time continuum? Even on the TV listings it said Thursday Night Football, but when I looked on line, it was, in fact, a live game. Trés confusing…
Then we wound up staying up till midnight. Scruffy, naturally, started barking at 2:20 and again at 5:20, when I got my sweetie another round of pain meds. At least she wasn’t climbing on me in bed - that’s Taz’s job. I drifted in and out till 9 when I finally gave up and got up. I got the fire restarted, since it’s about 34° out there. The critters have been tended to and the cat box is clean, but the kitchen is a mess. I should probably do something about that, ya think?
Last night I did get the seams on daughter’s sweater all stitched up. Today I’ll finish the trim around the neckline and the front, then I’ll wash it and, if necessary, block it. I don’t have a box, so I’m not sure how I’ll wrap it. I’ve also got to wrap a selection of wines I got for my mom - most from local wineries. It’s kinda tough to disguise a wine bottle. The guy at the liquor store packed them in a regular wine bottle box, which leaves 6 open spaces. I suppose I could try to fill those spaces with something. Must think…
woke with a headache. And I think I’m getting worse, not better. blurf.
Grey, cold, uck outside, and I’ll be venturing forth in an hour or so to pick up pizza. The things I do to avoid cooking…
I can’t get motivated. I have 3 sticks of butter softened and ready to go into oatmeal cookies (a double batch) and I just can’t make myself mix 'em up. But I *lurve *oatmeal cookies… whine whine whine
It’s so difficult being me.
Sorry, I haven’t read. Just wanted to pop in and let Rebo And lieu know I waved as I flew into IAH and will save again as I fly out in a few minutes.
Happy Chanukah, Merry Christmas, all the best during Kwanzaa, and good wishes for the New Year. Should be able to stop in at some point, but don’t know when.
Hugs all!
GT
Have a safe and fun trip, gt! Bring us presents!!!
I’m standing outside facing Intercontinental and waving with great enthusiasm.
I was off much of last week and this upcoming too so yea for holidays. Took my visiting parents to Round Top and Royers Cafe, that made famous by CBSSunday Morning’s Bill Geist when he interviewed Bud about his Pie For Life program. Awesome fud in a way cool town. I bought a Royers hat which makes even my head feel full.
Hope everyone’s ailing relatives are okay and happy holidays to all.
Some kind of crud has got me. Ignore any strange posts 'cause I’m taking Dayquil. It makes my head loopy and tummy sick. Blurfff…
Happy brffday catduuuuuudde!
A[sup]2[/sup] just how would we distinguish strange posts from your normal posts? 
I deheathenated, **N.O.L.**ed, nappy pooed and a little bit ago shampooed the livin’ room rug and the dinin’ room carpet. Hopefully they’ll be dry shortly so’s I can vacuum ‘em. I hate shampooin’ rugs and carpets. ICK!