# Family Get-Togethers - A Holiday-ish MMP **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** mmp\ **Created:** [December 3, 2007, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-get-togethers-a-holiday-ish-mmp/428643 "2007-12-03T10:41:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Taters](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/taters/32/2845_2.png) [@Taters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taters)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2007, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-get-togethers-a-holiday-ish-mmp/428643/261 "2007-12-07T21:50:01Z")
Errands have been run, b-day presents wrapped, ice cream cake decorated, and now I just have to do some cleaning up around the house. Hope you get to feeling better **Mama Tigs,** it sucks to feel crappy. Oh! A very belated grats to **White Bunny** on the job. I _told_ all of you I was really out of it yesterday. I’m feeling slightly less tired today, but I keep getting the shakes. It was\* real\* interesting trying to write “Happy Birthday Bryan” on my son’s cake. Well, I guess I better hop to it. Later all. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2007, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-get-togethers-a-holiday-ish-mmp/428643/262 "2007-12-07T22:04:27Z")
I am home. It was hard to GET home–the Bishop Ford expressway is closed (to some extent) due to a dumptruck and a viaduct that weren’t compatible sizes. Time for a nap. Am very tired–work was very nice, slow and nice. Except for we were due to shut down the department at 2pm and at 1:59 they sent us another pt… :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2007, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-get-togethers-a-holiday-ish-mmp/428643/263 "2007-12-07T23:02:31Z")
Spent four hours shopping. I am never going to Costco on a Friday again. I hope. Lord. The people there need driving lessons. Tired and achy now, but I have most of the stuff for the Christmas present baking and the post-baby cooking. Yay. Dinner will probably be leftover Chinese food. I’m all creaky and don’t want to stand up much. **Haze** , run. Very fast. ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2007, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-get-togethers-a-holiday-ish-mmp/428643/264 "2007-12-07T23:15:58Z")
I am groggy with watching too much House. I really should be grading papers … The thought of spending Christmas by myself is a depressing one. I’ve always been with family. Not sure what I’ll end up doing. I just don’t understand WHY he would invite me to come spend Christmas with his family. Yes, we are good friends, and it’s not weird to invite a friend over … but we have other things going on that make this all a lot more complicated. Ugh. I should do something about the bananas - they are very, very ripe. ---
**Author:** ![Taters](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/taters/32/2845_2.png) [@Taters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taters)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2007, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-get-togethers-a-holiday-ish-mmp/428643/265 "2007-12-07T23:43:20Z")
Smoosh up the bananas and make banana bread. That’s the only thing ripe bananas are good for. In order for me to eat a banana, it must still be slightly green. Not hard as wood, but the banana cannot have the slightest bit of brown on it. The perfect banana still has green right along the seams. Waiting for hubby to get home so we can give our son his b-day presents. Ooh! I think that’s him. Later days! ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2007, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-get-togethers-a-holiday-ish-mmp/428643/266 "2007-12-08T00:28:53Z")
::jumping on the bandwagon:: **Haze**! Don’t do it! You’ll regret every second! Maybe not right then, or even right after, but eventually, and for the rest of your life! lunch was a yummy eggroll and some wonton soup. Dinner? a few pieces of pepperoni mushed into a slice of whole grain bread. Envy me. ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2007, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-get-togethers-a-holiday-ish-mmp/428643/267 "2007-12-08T00:35:47Z")
Howdy y’all! A quick driveby. I’m still bein’ welcomed home. 😃 The _big_ welcome will commence shortly. Happy Birthday **Taterson**! ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/22080_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2007, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-get-togethers-a-holiday-ish-mmp/428643/268 "2007-12-08T01:18:34Z")
OK, I know you’re all dying to know… The cake is pretty good but 40 minutes is too long - if you decide to try it, 30-33 should be fine. I’m thinking it’s about time for a toasted almond - for medicinal purposes only, of course. To help me sleep… no, really… ---
**Author:** ![tarragon918](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d26b3c/32.png) [@tarragon918](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tarragon918)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2007, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-get-togethers-a-holiday-ish-mmp/428643/269 "2007-12-08T01:28:58Z")
Yum, I wish I was at **FCM** ’s house; I bet it smells yumerific. 🙂 Of course, I’d have to help her test out baked goods–just to be sure that they taste as yummy as they smell! So glad it’s -finally- Firday! It’s still bitterly (LOL well for me, 20s is the new bitterly) cold outside; I’ll probably spend the weekend indoors and will probably also be baking. Another thing you can do with ripe (or overripe) bananas, **Haze** , is to make banana nut muffins, which I’ll probably do in the morning, 'cause I have a couple of overripe bananas too. I’ve been trying to eat more fresh fruits and veggies because they’re good for you; it’s hard in the winter, though, because they’re so expensive. Right now, I’ve got bananas, apples, navel oranges and pears. And maybe some grapes. I eat it with plain yogurt or cottage cheese. Good snack foods that are good for you. And considering that holiday noshing season is here, I probably should be eating even more of those fruits and veggies! LOL Everyone enjoy your Firday evening and stay warm. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![gardentraveler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gardentraveler/32/3576_2.png) [@gardentraveler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gardentraveler)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2007, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-get-togethers-a-holiday-ish-mmp/428643/270 "2007-12-08T02:09:43Z")
**Haze** , I’m probably the first to think this, but…Christmas with Olive would be a better idea. I’ve spent Christmas alone - only once, I think - but it’s definitely survivable. If none of your other friends are in town or you don’t get other invitations, maybe you could have a Christmas Dopefest. I’m guessing you’re not the only Doper who’ll be alone in Chicago for Christmas. I’ve definitely had lots of non-family Christmases: with some other grad students, at a professor’s house, with various friends (several with Far-Away Best Friend and her family, but I’m pretty sure those actually count as a family Christmases at this point). Happy Birthday, **TatersSon**!!! I need to make cookies for a party on Sunday. I’ll be making [these](http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Apricot-Coconut-Squares/Detail.aspx). Some of the reviews say they’re too sweet, so I’m going to reduce the sugar in the filling. I figure I’ll make a batch early in the day tomorrow so that I can make another one if they don’t turn out OK. I should also make banana bread, since I have overripe bananas as well (it’s an epidemic!). Maybe I’ll make that first. Hope the tired and achy goes away soon, **LiLi**. Rehearsals sound interesting, **rosie**. I’d stay away from the family meetings, too, **Shadow** … How’d things go today, **Pie**? Work was stressful today - fires breaking out all over the place (well, not literally, cuz if they had, I’da called **Bobbio** ). Most of them were out by the end of the day, though. Hugs to all… GT ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/22080_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2007, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-get-togethers-a-holiday-ish-mmp/428643/271 "2007-12-08T02:19:25Z")
OK, minirant, not worthy of a whole pit thread. I decided to start looking at mother-of-the-bride dresses. Those who have met me know I’m not exactly a petite, delicate little whisp of a woman. So I’m looking on some plus-size sites. I’ve seen several dresses that I think are very nice… except… Except there’s no way on God’s green earth that the models wearing the clothes are plus size! I know they want to show their clothes off and make them look good, but I can’t imagine how the outfits worn by these stick girls will translate to me. They don’t have to show a woman in the largest size, but for crying out loud, at least give me something to go on. And while I’m at it - \*\*\*12 is not plus size!!! \* \*\* Dammit!!! Neither is 14. 16 is on the edge. Bastards! Anyway, I suppose I could order one or 2 and eat the return cost (shipping and handling?? what a racket!) I hate dresses. That’s all. I’m going to bed now. Stoopit dresses. ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2007, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-get-togethers-a-holiday-ish-mmp/428643/272 "2007-12-08T02:29:46Z")
**FCM** - Is there a Catherine’s near you? They have some lovely things that could suit the occasion ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2007, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-get-togethers-a-holiday-ish-mmp/428643/273 "2007-12-08T03:05:01Z")
Y’all have inspired me. I made chocolate chip cookies tonight. (After two trips to the store–I though I wrote all of the ingredients I didn’t have–no I didn’t.) Next week I’m going to make another batch of [Booze Balls](http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/30/Bourbon_Balls8395.shtml) for my family’s Christmas presents. Sunday and Monday I deliver cookies to in-town friends and All Will Be Good. It feels like Saturday today. That keeps throwing me off. ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2007, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-get-togethers-a-holiday-ish-mmp/428643/274 "2007-12-08T03:08:46Z")
Schwettey Balls? ---
**Author:** ![ems](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@ems](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ems)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2007, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-get-togethers-a-holiday-ish-mmp/428643/275 "2007-12-08T03:10:01Z")
☹ Back from Denver - just Going to head home eat pizza and sleep. We all got our asses chewed big time this week so feeling kinda blue ☹ ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2007, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-get-togethers-a-holiday-ish-mmp/428643/276 "2007-12-08T03:29:09Z")
[He’s at it again](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=9250754&postcount=51) ---
**Author:** ![gardentraveler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gardentraveler/32/3576_2.png) [@gardentraveler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gardentraveler)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2007, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-get-togethers-a-holiday-ish-mmp/428643/277 "2007-12-08T03:38:03Z")
**LOUNE!** You get over here, young man! What did we tell you about picking on **rosie**? Hmmmm, I made rum balls last year. Maybe I’ll try bourbon ones this year. GT ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2007, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-get-togethers-a-holiday-ish-mmp/428643/278 "2007-12-08T03:38:55Z")
Ooh, those Booze Balls look interesting. Maybe I’ll make some for our Christmas party next weekend. ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2007, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-get-togethers-a-holiday-ish-mmp/428643/279 "2007-12-08T04:36:56Z")
I’m home and tired. I just got rain, but Johnson County(southeast of me) got freezing rain. It was a mess. Work went OK, I didn’t start hurting and seizing up till I got home and sat down. 🙂 {{{ **ems** }}}} Run Haze, run away! Stay home and rent a [movie](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0227173/) instead. **FCM** , I wasn’t executed in your dream, was I? ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2007, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-get-togethers-a-holiday-ish-mmp/428643/280 "2007-12-08T04:44:49Z")
[QUOTE=gardentraveler] **LOUNE!** You get over here, young man! What did we tell you about picking on **rosie**? Hmmmm, I made rum balls last year. Maybe I’ll try bourbon ones this year. GT [/QUOTE] …Um…that I should pick on rosie **often**? _scampers back off into the sunset_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-get-togethers-a-holiday-ish-mmp/428643.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-get-togethers-a-holiday-ish-mmp/428643.md?page=15)