Don't MAKE ME do the MMP for you....

Good job Scout, starting the MMP for the week. It shows initiative.

You know what I’ve been doing? Shovelling snow! Have we gotten more snow since the last time I shovelled? Heck no! I just re-shovelled the stuff we already had! I had to re-shovel the end of the driveway where the plow finally made it down our street and tossed up a two foot “speed bump” before we get to the street. There was also the other half of the driveway that needed to be cleared. Well, it didn’t need to be cleared since we only need to get one car in and out of the garage until the Little Woman has to go back to work (January 4th- so next week’s MMP is looking a little iffy too- just to warn you). With a little luck it would have all melted off before then, but we have people (well, Sibs actually) coming over for New Year’s and they need a place to park. So, looking at it that way, yeah, I had to shovel out that side of the driveway too. Of course now it’s going to get warm for the next week and everything will melt off and it’ll turn out I didn’t have to shovel, but I’ve done it since if I was counting on the natural melting process it wouldn’t have come through for me.

There was more, but the boys have been cooped up on the same continent for the past week and they have run out of “get along”. Actually they’ve been out of “get along” since twenty minutes after Soupo started his Holiday Vacation. But there was some sled riding earlier today and no one broke nuthin’, so it was a win for the day.

Rue did Soupo and Katcha get lots of new toys for you…err…them to play with?

Guess what ACBG and I are going to do New Year’s Eve? You’ll never guess. Not in a million years. Give up? Ok, I’ll tell. We’re going out with a bunch of friends to Hooters! Of all places! It was the lure of hot wings and cold beer that did it. I do like them Hooters hot wings. All those waitresses in their little outfits will be wasted on us but they don’t have to know that. Course I do get a kick outta bein’ called babe by the waitresses. What? Yes, I’ve been there before. It just wouldn’t have been what you woulda guessed now was it?

Anyways, I usually don’t go anywhere on NYE because of the combo amateur drunks on the road and the fact that I’m getting stuff ready for New Year’s dinner. Y’all know how I have to feed everybody collard greens and black eyed peas New Year’s Day so that they will have a prosperous and happy new year, right? Well, thing is, I have all day Friday off so I can do a lot of cookin’ type stuff during the day and then go out for a while NYE. We prolly won’t stay out til midnight cause I (we) want to be home at midnight so’s we can do the proper one on one celebratin’. :smiley: Personally, I’d like a New Year’s smooch in the hot tub while toasting the year in with some nicely chilled champaign of which I just so happen to have three nicely chilled bottles already. But, it’ll be fun to be out with some friends for a little while that night, so it’s all good.

BTW, New Year’s dinner will consist of fried chicken, black eyed peas, collard greens, potato salad, corn bread and peach cobbler. I’ve been doing that every year for, well, years now. There should be about twelve people here to eat. That’s a heap of chicken fryin’ but I can handle it. ACBG will have his first ever swampy New Year’s Day good luck dinner. He’s offered to help, the poor deluded critter. He has no idea how bossy I am with this. Hope he survives me preparing dinner. :eek:

-swampbear (I just know how it’s supposed to be and I expect full cooperation)

I’m picturing you and/or ACBG in overly tight orange shorts. I think it would make a brilliant and hilarious point.

I had my first day back at work today too. I did all my math stuff at work today – probably incorrectly, since there was nobody at work to check it for me. I didn’t see any movies, except for First Knight, which was on TV late at night last weekend. I had a mostly lovely Christmas Day. Except now that I spent four fun days with family and friends, it’s all lonely back here at home. sniff It’s still Christmas season, too, so nobody’s allowed to talk about Christmas bein’ “over,” mkay? Thanks.

Still plannin’ on New Year’s Eve stuff. We’ll see what happens.

Sorry. I was at work, and I don’t have internet access while I’m there. It’s mean.

I did check before I left, but there wasn’t an MMP yet.

I’m working tomorrow (my 2 year wedding anniversary) but only for six hours. We’re going to go to a cheap Indian buffet that we like, and then come home and drink the icewine my Dad got us for Christmas.

I’m very proud of Mr. Lissar. I crock-potted a ham last night, and asked him to shred and freeze it while I was at work. He did it perfectly! So tomorrow and the next day will be ham-bean-veggie minestrone and homemade bread, and after that bbq ham sammiches, and after that ham and scalloped potatoes! I’ll cook the beans overnight, and do the veggie prep this evening so I can toss them in tomorrow morning before work.

Perhaps I ought to eat dinner. Oops. It’s after eight.

Oh, Driving Husband bought Hero fpr Mr. Lissar, and we watched it last night and cried buckets. Good movie. I forsee a lot of movies in our future because we got a bunch of movie gift certificates as presents.

I drove four hundred million miles just to get back here and post. Things I saw-- an actual passenger train but no caboose, a teeny little submarine (orange and so cute) like they take down really deep but where were they going with it headed into Arizona?, a helicopter on the back of a big semi, not flying on it’s own, several very large boats, one and a half mobile homes, and so many people from Texas the last person out should remember to turn off the lights, one very very large man peein’ in the bushes next to a saguaro, but I don’t think it was santa because santa would have enough class not to pee where everybody could see his dingus and compare it unfavorably with the ginormous saguaro cactus right next to him, plus a Virgin Mary made out of seashells for sale in Gila Bend and many pairs of cloisonne flip-flop sandal earrings, also, a woman who drew her lips on in a manner completely unrelated to her actual lips, with bright purple eyeliner, and crooked to boot (she had hair precisely the color of congealed pepperoni pizza fat) and last but not least, something really big was on fire near Pilot’s Knob across from Felicity, which is the center of the world because it says so on the bronze plaque outside the pyramid they built there a few years ago.

For giftmas I got the best present in the whole world; a Peep maker! Sure, sure, gift cards and some other stuff, but now I can make my very own Peeps! Me! Peeps!

They sell Peeps makers? That even beats Ex’s quesadilla maker. Wow.

Look, I posted twice. Happy, scout? Most of us regulars have made the effort so far. :smiley:

I forgot to mention that right now we have some $.29 books at work. Unfortunately many of them are very very crappy. So you don’t all really need to hurry up and get to Toronto, although, y’know, there’d be the added benefit of seeing me, which yould make it all worthwhile, right?

The beans are cooking in the ham stock, and I’m making some failed-toffee-bread-pudding. The toffee is sort of fudgey and caramelized, and it has pecans in it. I thought it would be a nice addition to bread pudding. Besides, Quasi-Daughter, and Other Quasi-Daughter (who lives far away and will be visiting) will both be here on Wednesday. They both need to be fed every couple of hours. I’m just being prepared.

Mr. Lissar doesn’t eat bread pudding, although I have pointed out that it is the same thing as french toast, just baked. I don’t understand my husband (any of them) in spite of two whole years of marriage. Somehow I doubt my understanding will improve with time.

Mmmm, pecan toffee. :cool: What’s a Peeps maker?

Christmas was awesome, very traditional and happy and cheerful. Had our present opening in the morning at home, sitting around the tree with our stockings in our lap; ate breakfast (bacon and eggs and coffee); hung about relaxing for a bit before heading over to our aunt’s for a big late turkey lunch and movies with our cousins. Good times all around!

I made sausage, apple and cheddar bread pudding for Christmas Eve. I just had the last serving of it tonight for dinner. It was the YUM. Your husband’s missing out, is all I can say.

Ashes, when you were in Gila Bend, were you one of the friendly people or were you one of the grumps? I have a picture of myself by that sign, and it’s an exercise left to the reader which one I fall into. But given that trip signalled the end of my last relationship, I think it’s pretty obvious which category I was in that day. :frowning:

But that’s cool, because now I have a cool dude. Who just happens to be in freakin’ NEW MEXICO until January 2nd. Sheesh.

My Xmas Eve hell was posted in the Pit, precisely where it belonged. I’m boycotting the Ex’s family next year.
Christmas Day was quiet. LilMiss and I played cards, watched TV, ate quite a bit of candy courtesy of Santa. Santa went upscale this year, bringing Swiss chocolates along with the 3’ Pixie Stix. He also brought LilMiss a 98 color lipgloss set. I don’t look so good with sky blue lips. We did go over to my parents’ house for a non Xmas Christmas. Had delicious polish sausage, green bean casserole (of course!) and I brought some of the desserts I had made. Mom grabbed the rumballs and hid them, stating she was saving them for herself for later. I brought the Tiramisu Cheesecake kiped from the ex’s family festivities and it was fabulous. Even my dad, whose idea of a dandy dessert is Oreos and milk, liked it. We played cards, LilMiss won, and then home by 7pm so LilMiss could see The Sound of Music for the gadzillionth time.

We celebrated Christmas with my family yesterday. It went very well. Had the usual turkey (deep fried), stuffing, again the proverbial green bean casserole, taters, &c. My nephew requested a banana cream pie, which turned out very well, if I may say so myself. The super soft butter cookies went like lightening too. The fudges (chocolate and maple/walnut) were decimated in no time. My nephew’s fiancee got stuck with me for presents this year (again) and I received a lovely pair of gloves and the newest Korn CD. Mom and Dad bought us all crosscut shredders.

The moment of the night occurred when my mom opened up her present from dad. He had her name for presents. The last time he actually went out and bought her something it was a set of Vision Cookware in 1980- I was with him. She HAD wanted new pearl earrings, but got pots. This time LilMiss and I went with for credibility and support, but he picked everything out. He bought her a lovely burgandy track suit and two shirts to wear underneath. It was perfect. He sat there, grinning like a schoolboy who just received his first gold star. She asked who picked it out. LilMiss said “Grandpa did!” “Really? Are you fibbing?” “Nope, he did it all by himself!” Gawd, I hope he is here next year to grin like a schoolboy.

He started chemo last week, after having been told the cancer is too far gone for any hope. Almost a year of trying to capture last moments with him. Now he has a fighting chance of pulling through. And he is a fighter.

And now I’m all verklempt. ANYWAYS, while all you cubemonkeys were working away today, I was relaxing. And I’ll be kicking back tomorrow also. I do believe I may have to clean house tomorrow though. My dustbunnies have been procreating like, well, bunnies. On Viagra. I don’t go back to the rat race until Wednesday. And Thursday. Then no work on Friday. Alas, no NYE plans. Probably watch Regis with LilMiss, toasting the New Year with a glass of Sprite.

Well scout, I’d have to say yes and no. I was quite the grumpy girl on the way into the restroom, knocking old ladies to the ground, grinding orphans under my heels, blind kittens flying every which way, the usual. On the way back to my car I would have been in a much better mood, especially when you consider I’d just bought three rolls of pink grapefruit flavored mentos (on the display rack across from the novelty license plate holders “Stop! Women and Child Abuse.” Huh?).

I didn’t even know they made pink grapefruit flavored mentos! I checked the label and noticed that everything was written in french as well as english and that’s when it struck me. Those shifty, sneaky, pink grapefruit flavored mentos hoarding Canadians were implementing phase three of their plan for world domination. Phase one is lulling us into a false sense of security with their wacky pronunciation of a-boot for about. Phase two involves moose, hats with ear flaps, and a use for maple syrup I blush to think of, which did not go as planned and consequently we will never call sofas ‘chesterfields’.

Phase three isn’t going as planned either because I’m here to spread the word about pink grapefruit flavored mentos, they give you super powers like the ability to run around really fast and spout utter nonsense right before you crash and have to take a nap because of all the sugar you’ve consumed. Sugar in the form of candy, which santa put in your stocking, and as we all know, santa is just a re-arranging of the letters in satan!

You know, I really wish these keys would stop wiggling about so… Maybe the bear in tight orange shorts will make them behave. Right after he explains to the only nice, non-pink grapefruit flavored mentos hoarding Canadian, Lissla Lisslar, that Peeps makers are indeed real and my mommy bought me one. Neener neener.

Kythereia Peeps are what the gods wished they’d thought of when they came up with ambrosia. They are spongey little marshmallow animals, usually baby chicks, that are dipped in god-fearing, american-flag-waving chemical dye-tasting sugar. That I like to toast in a toaster oven if I don’t laugh like a loon after putting them in the microwave and watch them get all puffy and angry looking.

What a nice soft bear you are. I think I will rest here a while. Why do you smell like hot chicken wings, Mr. Bear?

Ashes [sup]2[/sup], Mr. Bear will be all gentle and cuddly as long as you do not touch his beer, cookies or hot wings. Just sayin’ is all.

Shibb is fantasizing about ACBG and me in overly tight orange shorts. :dubious: There’s gotta be enough in that for some therapist to be able to retire comfortably in the Bahamas.

Peeps are Santa Satan’s snot. That’s all I’m sayin’ about em.
-swampbear (although exploding peeps in the microwave is hours of wholesome entertainment)

I’m awake. People get up at this hours? Why? No one should get out of bed until nine!

Can you tell I usually work from 4 to 11?

I think I missed a fashion memo. Those big furry hats with earflaps seem to be fashionable this winter. I guess it goes with the stupid mukluk trend. Are they in style anywhere but Toronto?

It’s going to be warm today- almost above freezing.

Peeps are kind of gross. Check your Shoppers Drug Mart’s Easter candy section, when it gets closer to Easter.Big puffy bright yellow marshmallows. I think grapefruit mentos are better.

It’s definitely not fashionable here. Temps in the 70s and climbing up near 80 by Sunday. Woot!

Ex has a quesadilla-maker? I have three of them. But I usually just call them “frying pans”.

I missed you guys! Hopefully now that the month of December is almost over, I will have time for the really important stuff, the dope, the MMP, each and everyone of you posters.

Catch me up- what is new ?

Shibb if you are going to go around offering to be a sugar daddy, I think I need one, too.

Wheee - today marks week one of my three weeks in this sling.

We did have a great holiday though. Santa was far too kind. Although he didn’t bring me the second floor I requested so we would have someplace to store all the toys.

I have spent all week in those flannel pants spoke of earlier. We call them pajamas around here. I’m partial to them right now as I can’t button jeans with only one hand.

Parallax is the best husband a girl could ask for. He’s been doing all the cooking and cleaning and kid duties. He’s been my chauffer and my bringer of pain pills and ice packs. He also showers with me and helps me get all squeaky clean. I think his motives on the shower thing aren’t completely altruistic though.

Oh and I cannot mention enough how proud we are of the munchkin girl. She is potty trained! One out of diapers! Happy dance of joyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!

Our new years will be spent having dinner in with the kidlets and doing inventory. Anyone want to come help me count sticker packs?

I’m having difficulty with the grapefruit mentos. Isn’t that a mean thing to do to candy?

How does a peep maker work? You melt marshmallows into a mold?

I did get the Lord of the Rings Part III DVD for Christmas, and we watched it last night. As is true for all the LotR extended versions, it was excellent, far superior to the theater version. I’m going to have a fine time watching the extras, too.

The unexpected day off yesterday helped a lot, and I’m in a much better mood, thank you very much.

Note to self: you’re going to need a lot more money.

Get cracking, Shibb! These spa treatments don’t pay for themselves.

Grapefruit Mentos are an intriguing thought. I don’t think I’ve ever had Mentos, despite those crazy commercials. I’d definitely try them once, anyway. What I did try for the first time on Christmas was Toffifay. Hazelnuts covered in stuff. They were pretty good.

Halloo! I’m here in cubeville, too. There’s almost no one around, and I don’t have very much to do, so it’s hard to get motivated to do even the minimum. Mostly I’ve been playing Bejeweled 2 (best score so far: 1,110,400) and lurking on the boards. I had sort of planned to pop in here and say “Hi” yesterday, but ended up typing a long e-mail to the only other person I know IRL who’s into anime as much as I, so I didn’t get here.

I didn’t know they had Peeps makers. That’s soo cool! [whine] I want a Peeps maker, tooo!!![/whine]

Ooh, here’s something I can do anytime I want and you can’t: visit the factory! :stuck_out_tongue: That’s right - it’s right in Bethlehem, not 20 minutes away from where I live.

Oh, and Shibb, I think the word(s) you were looking for were “A Kept Woman”. Those are the type of women who have Sugar Daddies. And, hey, if you’re auditioning for floozies, here’s my resume. I can be very accomodating, if you know what I mean. ::wink, wink::

Personally, I think grapefruit Mentos sound intriguing (although I’m not that fond of Mentos), but citrus triggers migraines for me, so I don’t dare try them. Maybe I can find a roll and make my sister eat them. (I’m not being mean; she isn’t intolerant of citrus.)