It's the last week for panic shopping in the MMP!

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
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Christmas is Sunday - are you ready? Got all your gifts bought? Got a menu planned and groceries standing by? Got places to go and things to do? Still running around like your hair is on fire?

I’m hosting a family brunch on Christmas Eve and the kids will get their gifts at that time. On Christmas day, we trek to Baltimore to my brother’s house for a mass gathering of my side of the family - assuming we stay healthy. I’m pretty sure I have all the groceries I need. The only remaining “gifts” will be a couple of crisp $50 for my grand-nephews that my niece will deposit in their college funds.

Ho Ho Ho.

Happy Moanday!

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First! It’s good to be juvenile!

Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up and caffeinatin’. YAWN ‘Tis 29 (BRRR!) Amurrkin out and clear with a predicted high of 56 and N.O.S. for the day. Tonight is men’s night over to the church house, thus steaks are marinatin’ and beer is chillin’. That takes care of today’s major need to feed. Outside of that sloth shall reign supreme. Have I mentioned lately how much I love bein’ a retired drain on society?

MOOOOOOM about as ready as we will be. Like you, a menu is planned and groceries are pretty much bought. We’ll do Christmas Eve service over to the church house and Christmas Day we will have a service of Christmas Lessons and Carols. Yours truly will be the Presider for that, since it will not involve Communion. We shall Christmas feast that afternoon around four(ish). We don’t do gifts for each other and the minimal gifts we do buy have been bought and distributed.

Now I need more caffeine and to feed rumbly tummy. Then, onward into the day! Rah.

Happy Moanday Y’all!

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We are also ready. Lately I have been making Chicken Parmesan (Veal for me) for Christmas dinner. It is just the four of us on Christmas day. This year the girls have asked for a brunch with Biscuits and gravy, eggs, bacon and hash brown casserole.

We usually give the girls cash, so no real shopping. I bought the wife a new Frye backpack style handbag. The girls have contracted a snow removal service for us as a gift this year.

It will be a pretty low key day.

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Oh, I forgot - I need to find something unwanted in the basement for the White Elephant exchange game. I’m sure there’s something interesting on a shelf down there… Actually, I need 2 somethings.

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Mornin’ all! No snow day today, so I’m off to the shop. Short week, as I’ll be heading to Maine Thursday-ish to visit the folks. I think I’m done with the x-mas shopping, except gotta order a bark-box for my sister’s doggo.

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Good morning.

Yeah, I suppose I’m ready for Grimace. I’m just not in the mood for it, this year. I don’t know why. I’m just not. I have ZERO Grimace Spirit.

The weather guessers are forecasting a damned-near blizzard for the end of this week, and into the weekend, with really cold temperatures. So, we’ll see what happens with that. My hubs is going to try to get home on Thursday, to hopefully beat the ‘storm’. We’ll see what happens with that, too. It’s always a crapshoot.

I decided that I’m going to do my grocery shopping today, to just get it out of the way a few days early. My usual day to get groceries is Thursday. So, with the holiday coming up, and the panic-buying that the probable upcoming snow will cause, I’m going today. I hope I’m the only one thinking that way, too. I’ll bet not, though. Ugh. I’m also hoping that we can find a few bags of sidewalk salt. My hubs wants me to grab him a bag, that he can keep in the semi. Whatever. I wish myself luck. The public has probably already descended upon the salt, and it’ll be hard to find. I’d bet money on it. Good grief.

I’m not cooking on Grimace. I just have enough yummy deli meats, and cheeses (The cheeses arrived on Tuesday), veggies, dip, crackers, bread, etc., to have an ample charcuterie (I’ll have you know that I spelled that right the first time! WOOT! It’s the little things that make me happy!) board. I’m easy like that. It’ll just be my daughter, my husband, and myself. Thankfully! We don’t have to go anywhere, or do a damned thing, other than relax the entire weekend! I’m very much looking forward to it!

I got all the treats/cookies/dip made, and delivered, to the friends that get a Grimace goody bag from me. So, all I need to make for here at home, is some Chex Mix, and another batch of peanut brittle. I think that’s it.

Oh, speaking of Chex Mix, my husband wondered if I could make a small batch of taco flavored Chex Mix, too. I’m assuming I can. Won’t know until I try. I’m going to melt the butter, and mix in some taco sauce, and taco seasonings. Then, mix it up with the Chex cereal, pretzels, Cheddar Goldfish crackers, Cheerios, Nacho Bugles, and nuts. I’m hoping that, if I stay on top of things, and stir it often, the sauce won’t burn. It’ll be an adventure.

I need more coffee, then, I need to get my day started. I’ve got vacuuming to do, the bathroom needs cleaned, rugs to throw into the washer, a metric ton of laundry to fold/distribute/put away, and dishes to put away. Along with heading out to get the groceries, in awhile. Oh, and the stove needs a good scrubbing, too. I already need a nap. Maybe another cup of coffee will fix that little issue. Or not. :grin:

Have a great day, everyone.

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Afterwards, mumpers! What a difference today…it’s 13c/55f and very windy. Weather app says "The weather is sort of like the band Oasis. It thinks it’s better than the Beatles but it’s fucking not. "

I am almost ready for hexmas, got a couple of boozy gifts to buy at the supermarket and the others are on the way via courier or mail so they will either arrive in time or not. Everything that’s arrived is wrapped and ready, I need to get some cash to top up what I bought for 'im indoors and that’s all.

Grocery shopping would normally be done tomorrow evening but I have finished work for the year and he finishes tomorrow so we plan to do it during Wednesday which then means I can have a restorative drink in the pub that night!

We are home alone this year, we considered going away but hadn’t booked anything because of Ophelia, so now it will be us, Shadow, Whisper and probably Kevin. Day drinking and xmas horror films will play a large part in the festivities.

Today I have accomplished little…fed the mogs, cleaned litter trays, drank lots of tea and booked myself onto a gym class later this afternoon. That means it’s now time for lunch and slothage!

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Hey there gang… Long time no see.

I ordered my Hanukkah candles last week (I’m not Jewish but have personal reasons for keeping the Feast of Dedication) and they came the very next day… Yay! And I should have all the stuff to make latkes. So one night this week will be latkes and welsh rarebit (enough carbs for ya) But not tonight. Tonight is Micky Ds. Lol.

Happy Moanday! Much love to all!

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Morning all. Once again, I praise the gods that we stopped exchanging gifts about 20 years ago. No stress or strain every year as the hoards of frantic shoppers descend on the stores. No agonizing over what to get, or the charade of acting surprised when you get exactly what you asked for. So, relatively stress-free Christmas week.

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Morning, everyone. It’s a very very cold one today; only about 9°F!

Went to see some Christmas lights last night. It was okay. Was very bitter cold. We did get some hot apple cider, so that helped with the cold a little bit (and my taste buds :wink:).

Second to last day of classes until break for 2 weeks. It’s a special pajama day, so that makes it a little better.

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Got a fire going in the basement and the second load is in the washer. Tobias snoozed a little but now he’s playing in the playhouse. All in all, a quiet morning so far.

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Morning all. All of my Christmas Shopping these days are gift cards, and they have all arrived, so only need to remember to take them with me. Don’t have to worry about groceries, heading off to Brother’s place on Firday and won’t be back until next Thorsday so outside of springing for a couple of eat out nights, food should be someone else’s problem.

32F heading for 47 and clear today, but there is a big dropoff in temperature after raining on Thorsday night, so driving Firday may be interesting…we’ll see,

Godbod, special pajamas? In school? I iz confused. Either way, enjoy the break.

Welcome back, janis; enjoy the latkes.

Boofae, enjoy the Xmas horror movies…I think… :dizzy_face: :dizzy_face: :dizzy_face:

ace, that’s a lot more cleaning than I do; but such is life. I think you are wise to do the shopping today before the snow and holiday. Monday is my ‘pick up the short-term stuff’ day anyway, just have to do it for 4 days this week,

You cannot mention it too often, as one retired drain on society to another…

FCM, sounds like a plan, hope it actually works out that way.

OK, do the morning internettin’ and make ready for the day. All y’all have a good week now.

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What?? Y’all haven’t seen a pajama day at school?? Y’all were missing out, that shit is bliss. Some people even bring blankets (my mom never lets me do that :slightly_frowning_face:).

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All my shopping is done. Gifts have been wrapped and sent. Though you wouldn’t know it from my shamefully Grinch-like reaction to the floral arrangement, I love buying gifts for others. My now-ex’s family did Christmas lists, which was fine, but I really like surprising people. I keep my ears open during the year, so, for instance, I took note when my DIL said she wants to start making dog biscuits and got her a dog biscuit iron (like a waffle iron but with bone shapes).

Mailing the packages is not so much fun, especially now that I don’t drive. However, now that I’ve learned how to pre-pay postage, at least I don’t have to stand in line now.

I haven’t thought about what I’ll eat on Christmas Day. Maybe sketti? I have frozen sauce I made awhile back. I have a hard time thinking past Wednesday (eye surgery).

Godbod, I envy you the pajama day! MetalMouse, many schools have a special day on which students can wear jammies to school. It’s fun and funny. At my school, we teachers didn’t participate, but I know they did at the elementaries.

Pearl! Happy latkes!

Stay warm and safe travels, everyone!

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Everyone is getting socks. I got a bulk order of random fun-themed socks and everyone is getting a pile of those. I’m breaking the annual “trade $50 amazon gift cards around the room” ritual.

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My daughter and granddaughter both had Jammie days at school, but they didn’t do stuff like that in the olden days. In fact, when I started high school, girls were not allowed to wear pants and no one could wear jeans. So waiting at the bus stop on a winter morning with maybe tights against the wind… Good times. Yeah.

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Happy Moonday!

It was 31 feels like 23 at the park this morning.
Not many were there, but unfortunately, you know who was.
So, the drama will continue.
I didn’t want to go. I overslept and woke up with a sore throat and a headache.
However, my son wanted to go. He knows if we don’t take Cerby to the park in the morning, there will be hell to pay later.
It’s good for him, he’s a much better dog when he goes.
My son still wants us to find a home for him, but he says no way will we give him back to either of my nieces. Cerby is like a different dog. He’s getting there, but we have a long way to go.

He went after Humpy this morning.
The dogs always get wound up when we leave. Cerby and Echo were playing, and when Humpy tried to join in, Cerby went after her.
I think it upset her mom, but since all he did was warn her off and didn’t really attack her, I don’t care.

My Christmas stuff is done. I have one more gift for my son coming from da jungle, and that is it.
He said the other day that he wanted some funnel cake. I bought him a funnel cake mix set for Christmas. Then I realized he needs a sifter for the powdered sugar.
I don’t like funnel cake so it is all up to him to figure it out.

We’re not going to the arm pit for Christmas. Niece2 has covid and even though it should be all clear by then, we’re not risking it.

I should be up doing stuff.
I have a mess of thing to do even though most of it is phone calls.
I have to cancel my PT because it is scheduled for 5 minutes after Ripple’s vet appointment. I think Ripple’s wound is more important than my PT. I have a dr appt next Moonday that I want to reschedule. I have to call about a test my dr scheduled. There is an issue with insurance that needs to be cleared up. I’m sure it’s just miscommunication.
My ex-neighbor is going to the vet with me, that way my son can stay home with Echo and Cerby. I think I could take Ripple by myself, it’s just not easy walking a dog and using a cane at the same time.
I have to clean out the truck a bit, I don’t want to neighbor to have to sit in dog hair and park dirt, and have to maneuver around chuckits, icescrapers, and wiper fluid.
There is so much shit in my truck now.

Then there is cleaning.
The roofer is going to have to go through the middle bedroom/overflow pantry/storage room to get to the door to the attic. My son cleaned it up pretty well, but there is a little more to do.

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I may steal this idea for next year!

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I’m definitely not ready for Christmas, but I should be by around Christmas Eve. I’ve done the menu and grocery shopping and my mom and I made cookies all afternoon yesterday. Tree is up, but not all the decorations. I have shopped for all of the gifts (though would like to get an extra for mom), but haven’t looked at them yet, let alone wrapped them.

All in all, I’m doing better than I was this year. The anniversary of my dad’s passing is quickly approaching. Also, the anniveresary of mom’s diagnosis with incurable cancer is the day after (I was standing in my step mom’s kitchen writing dad’s obituary at the time). It will be bittersweet, but we plan to celebrate fiercely. At the time my sister and I thought we would lose both parents within 12 months, so we’re absolutely going to give thanks for her continued presence on this earth even if my sister isn’t able to physically be here.

Which reminds me: today is oncology day - the day when we visit the doc before mom’s next chemo cycle to confirm whether her next cycle will happen or not. Fingers and toes are crossed as well as every hair on my head. She’s been more energetic lately, which is wonderful, but I’ve come to avoid trusting good things. However, the universe let me keep my mom for a year longer than I was expecting to, so maybe a Christmas miracle isn’t out of the question entirely. The human body is indeed a weird, wild and wonderful thing sometimes.

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Comes back in to dole out the squishyhugs to those what needs 'em. @nelliebly @Sahirrnee @overlyverbose , I’m lookin at you!