We are NOT testing this!
So the Christmas party. The venue was on the 31st floor of a building in Bellevue. There was a nice cheese board set out, with cow cheese (I think it was cheddar, and another that was cubes of sharp white cheese with bits in it – tasted kind of Swiss-ish), sheep cheese (brie), goat cheese (hard, white, black rind), currants, and nuts. I stuck to the cheeses. Once everyone was seated, they brought out a starter: plates that each had one soft crouton, one small slice of beef that had been shown fire, a bit of cucumber, and a small bit of leaves that may have been wasabi leaves. Next came the appetisers. I chose the pork belly. This was three squares of meat and two small stuffed pasta things in a broth. For the main item, I chose the filet mignon, which was a six-ounce cut. There were grilles vegetables, puréed potatoes, and the crab mac’n’cheese. I ate the veg (particularly the asparagus), but I did have one bite each of the latter two. I chose the panna cotta for dessert, which I brought home for The Missus. Oh, and I had two negronis.
As expected: Small food, big price. But I wasn’t paying for it, and it was delicious. It filled me up, so all I had for dinner was two Laughing Cow cheese wedges and one Babybel (and two glasses of wine).
While we were eating, the restaurant and outside staff were decorating to host the Seahawks later.
Started Typing: 9:32 AM ET
Clicked Reply: 11:06 AM ET
Jethro Tull says happy solstice!
It’s a cold (35°F and not getting any warmer) and very windy day, which means my gas furnace will struggle to keep the house warm. But I have an oil heater and snuggly socks/fleeces, and the sun is out (which helps as it streams through various windows).
My friend’s birthday party last night was great! I knew that at least a few mutual friends would be there, but most of the local jazz community showed up (the birthday girl is a fellow singer) and I got to see a bunch of people I hadn’t talked to in a while. Usually at parties I finish making the rounds and head home after an hour or so, but I wound up staying for 2.5 entirely painless hours. And I’m extra glad that I sprang for a bottle of champagne: turns out it was my friend’s 70th birthday! I knew she was at least in her late 60s, but I hadn’t realized/she didn’t advertise that this year was a milestone. I’d just seen her a week ago, when I drove us into DC to hear some jazz: the party was discussed, but I wasn’t about to ask how old she was turning. Heh. I only found out last night when I saw some birthday cards on her sideboard.
Today’s plans are minimal: sometime after lunch I’ll wrap my BFFs’ Christmas gifts so I can clear off the kitchen table, and then I’ll (finally) start building a new Lego set. 
I won’t undecorate until Thursday, but I figure I’ll start with the set that has the most pieces and by the time I finish it the planned display area – where my holiday crystals are now – should be cleared off. Worst case, I’ll just keep the assembled set on the kitchen table for a day or so.
Speaking of holiday crystals, the Swarovski advent calendar (album) continues to delight! There are 25 doors, so I still have four more mornings of discovering tiny sparkly things. 
No, but HA!! 
I’ve never designed something myself, but you’ve inspired me to someday look for a bunch of clear bricks – whenever I finally go to the local resale shop – and see if I could make a to-scale champagne glass!
Did anyone else mentally add “shake your booty” after reading this?
Yep, another continuing resolution. We’ll get to spin the wheel again in March. *sigh*
At least it was nice of President Biden to give fed employees the 24th off. Tuesday was already going to be a quiet work day for me; now I know it will be even more so.
Those sound good! 
Freudian slip…? 
!
What does this mean? And how does it being ‘lifted’ make it more valuable and more capable?
Dough for Raspberry Molasses Crinkles is in the fridge chilling 
It means it’s stolen, duh!
(Jut kidding. I see Bob_Blaylock is replying, so I just made a joke. 
)
It’s a modification that raises the height of the suspension system, increasing ground clearance. Together with larger tires, it increases the ability of the vehicle to climb over tough obstacles, and also increases the fording depth.
You’ve probably, at times, noticed extreme, absurd versions of this, particularly large pickup trucks. Most of those are just stupid, demonstrating that the owner of the vehicle is trying to compensate for some personal deficiency.
Earlier versions of “monster trucks” were an extreme form of this.
More practical applications are generally more subtle, less showy, and actually do add to the functionality of the vehicle so modified.
In this case, it was subtle enough that we didn’t know. @Seanette and I both found ourselves wondering if this vehicle was taller than its predecessor, and someone on a Cherokee forum, on seeing a picture of it, asked if it was lifted. With some guidance from those on that forum, I was able, ultimately, to determine that yes, it is.
Humorous typo… 
That’s what I get for not proofing.
FCD and SIL drove allthe way to Rockville for nothing, then found a van in Waldorf. They drive me crazy…
Kids have been fed. So there’s that.
Thanks Bob B for the explanation.
Thanks flyboy for the laugh.
Thumbprint cookie dough is in the fridge chilling.
So we started at 0105, the Ground got heaved by 0430, and the first Air got there at 0645. So of course TPTB were getting thier panties in a wad that we were all standing around waiting for work. I stayed for the second sort, then came home and started laundry.
Did Daughter and SIL adopts an Addams or 3?
Happy Yule!
Preach it, sister!
Was it a body lift or axles? Just being nosy. While you were looking around, did you notice if the oil pan and transmission were covered? If they aren’t, spend the money to have them armored. You don’t want to drop the oil pan on a rock and end up with a puncture while out 4-wheeling.
No we did not do this, but knew someone else who did and who also didn’t notice the oil trail until his engine over-heated while he was out in the middle of nowhere.
A dull day around here. Tomorrow we go to a play, then out to dinner with the niece and her husband. Christmas Eve is firmed up at my daughter’s place, with my other kids in attendance with their offspring. Nothing fancy. I’m bringing Asian dumplings from a local purveyor. Nothing happening on Xmas day.
Nothing to speak of, really, and I didn’t begrudge her the anger and the betrayal she felt. But it was over for several years and she just never saw it. Anyway, she is nothing if not a world-class martyr.
Off to Long Night. (That’s usually Friday, but the schedule got massively shifted around this week, and that’s BEFORE all the call-out shenanigans.)
SIL drove home with his new minivan. I drove the grandspawn home in my back-to-me car. I don’t know how how he drives, but I keep the display on gas mileage. Mine is generally in the 30-32MPG range. When I got it today, it read just over 22MPG. Maybe it’s because there are more lights along his commute, or maybe he’s a jackrabbit starter, speed along then slam on the brakes kinda driver. Whatevs - I’ve got my car back.
And I’ve got a loaf of rapid buttermilk bread in the bread maker. Plus I’ll be cooking up my last ring of fresh Polish sausage tonight since I’ll be getting more on Wednesday. So I see bread and sausage for supper.
For now, tho, I think I need some serious chillage in the quiet.
We had a very light overnight dusting of snow. With a bit of snow showers and flurries this morning during the shopping trip.
Ribbon was still but 2 get 3 free at Micheals. Holiday items were quite hollowed out at the various stores.
I’m hoping to get some wrap bins during the next shopping trip. They weren’t on sale as yet. they will work well to store the faux florals for the lobby.
The cats and I are in chill mode for the moment.
Glad to read that Attila is grooming, that is a very good sign.
Well, the buttermilk bread didn’t rise nearly as much as it should have - I suspect my bread flour may have been a tad old. It tasted OK, but it was pretty dense. The sausage was good, tho, and the Cactus Blossom from Texas Roadhouse was reheated in the air fryer, and it was meh. But we’re both fed and set to chill.
I even emptied the dishwasher of the load I ran this afternoon - usually it sits overnight, so go me!!
I just woke up a little grouchy from a nap and this made me laugh. Thanks
There are people upstairs again. At least, I THINK they’re people. It sounds like a dinosaur corps de ballet performing Swan Lake while dribbling bowling balls. (Next on Jurassic’s Got Talent!)
I talked with the Loos-iana sister today. She wants me to move down there. It’s so sweet of everyone to ask me, but all it does is make me waver. I’m Fickle Me Elmo.
OMG, it’s not dinosaurs. It’s kids. This is what I don’t understand. This is supposedly some type of traveling or temp corporation. Why are these people dragging their kids around with them?
I completely forgot to get a Christmas gift for a friend I haven’t seen in 7 years. Then yesterday a florist delivered a beautiful bouquet from her. Dang. I had to find a gift, and fast, and it couldn’t be flowers or scream “I forgot! Generic last-minute gift!” I ordered a cookbook for grammas and grandkids. Hoping that works for her.
Update: I heard people going down the stairs and ran to the window to see what human dinos look like. No dinos, just a young couple with a toddler. It’s blissfully quiet right now. I should soak it in, but I have to mail the very last gift I had misdirected to my own address.
{{{{VanGo}}}
I misread this as “That’s what I get for not poofing.” I thought dang, FCM must be hep to the new slang young whippersnappers use these days. Between my reading errors and your speediness, we could have entirely different conversations than what we intend!
I LOVE thumbprint cookies, especially with raspberry jam! My sister-in-law used to make them, but her recipe got burned up in the fire, and she says no other recipe will do. I tried making them one year, but they weren’t as good as hers. I bet yours are divine!
OH, my gosh, I’d LOVE to see those! You’re just the Lego Genius to pull it off, too.
flyboy, your Christmas party reminds me of the time my now-ex was giving a workshop at a writers colony back in the Nouveau Cuisine era. Dinner was beautifully plated but sparse: three small shrimp on a tiny bed of arugula, that sort of thing. An oil company owned the place, and the CEO swung in for dinner. “What the hell is this? This wouldn’t feed a parakeet. You go back in that kitchen and tell the chef if he wants to keep his job, he’ll grill me a nice 12 oz. porterhouse.”
I wanted to stick around and see if the Texan would order us steaks, too, but my husband insisted we leave before the chef and the Texan got in a shootout.
Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera! 
And so it continues!
Howdy Y’all! I baked cookies and OYKW hoovered cookies. 
That’s OK cause that’s why I made ‘em. Nappage and day drinkin’ were also accomplished. Kolledge tackle ball has been how I expected so far. Majik intartoobz pizza and sallit got et. ‘Tis cold out so glad to be inside and warm.