Small Talk: Chili's

[Glory]

Ha! I will wait until Monday to give you all the answer!

[frenchtoast]

I think Glory put up the lights to avoid her FIL. Because, while there are more frustrating things than putting up lights, it would be pretty hellish to do it with someone that annoys you and you have to stay patient. Mr. Toast gets all angry and yell-y putting up lights that I've stopped helping him. This year, I don't even want him to do it because it is just not worth it. So, guess I should go vote  :)

[Pixel]

I think Renee Z looks pretty still, she just doesn't look like herself.  I'll miss that little sourpuss!

 

I don't think we're putting up outside lights this year. The early polar blast kind of knocked the wind out of those sails and now we don't want to do anything outside the house even when it's a little warmer.

 

I also don't get the whole Free the Nipple thing. I understand that it's basically about equal rights, but I don't care a bit about going topless.

Edited November 23, 2014 by Pixel

[Too Late Kev]

I looked at the FtN link, but didn't click on the video. I think it might have been about breastfeeding moms not being arrested for indecent exposure rather than, "Hey, we women would just love to go topless," but I'm not sure. I'm all for people being able to feed their babies, of course, wherever and in whatever way they choose.

[Glory]

The answer is: I put up the lights by myself!

 

Guts is a grinch and hates Christmas and so I did it by myself since FIL was delayed due to icy rain. I'm glad I did, though, because it is now snowing and we might get 1-3 inches! Ugh!

[King of Birds]

I ... reject that "answer." I briefly contemplated that when I was thinking of the 4 options in the poll, but ... Adding jawas as a poll answer seemed more appropriate than "She did it herself."

 

Guts is a grinch and hates Christmas.  Well isn't that a tad harsh? Perhaps when it's not even Thanksgiving and closer to Christmas he'll be more in a Christmas-y mood.  Like me.  I finally just figured out what I'm doing for Thanksgiving.

[Glory]

No, he would be fine without ever receiving a Christmas gift or anything. He really just does not care for Christmas. I, on the other hand, find it to be most glorious time of the year! Ahh!! CHRISTMAS!

[Glory]

Haha! Dozer actually has a Christmas sweater but I'll need to pick one up for Lexi. 

 

I would like to get them these hats, but I am afraid my husband will leave me. 

 

[Pixel]

I looked at the FtN link, but didn't click on the video. I think it might have been about breastfeeding moms not being arrested for indecent exposure rather than, "Hey, we women would just love to go topless," but I'm not sure. I'm all for people being able to feed their babies, of course, wherever and in whatever way they choose.

As am I, but no, this is about being legally allowed to go topless because men can.

But...if something like this is what it takes to make it ok to breastfeed wherever you want, then more power to them.

Edited November 26, 2014 by Pixel

[Too Late Kev]

Thanks for clarifying, Pixel.

[King of Birds]

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! May the turkey not be dry and may the wine be plentiful and chilled just right.

[Too Late Kev]

Happy Turkey Day! :)

[MichelleAK]

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!  I'm going over to my sisters in a few hours, to celebrate with family.

 

Tomorrow, 10 cartons of See's candy are being delivered to my tiny home.  Should be interesting.  (They are for a fundraiser next weekend).  

 

I bought a new Christmas tree this year.  It's a 7-foot pencil tree that Sears had on sale.  Nice quality, and will fit even my small living room. It only has white lights on it, so I'm going to pick up a couple of strings of multi-colored LEDs to enhance it.  I won't be able to put it up until the candy is moved out, but I'll get all of my other decorating done this weekend.

[Glory]

Happy Thanksgiving! 

 

I spent 5 hours cooking yesterday so that today all I had to do was pop things in the oven and enjoy! I'm looking forward to lots of wine and lots of stuffing! Yes! 

[Pixel]

I'm not cooking today!  Yay!  I never do, we always go to my brother's house. This year the sweet potatoes are my job, and that's a crapshoot because I don't like them so I don't know how to do anything other than follow a recipe to the letter. Hope they turn out ok.

[Too Late Kev]

Last night I made desserts (multiple desserts because 2 of us have to eat gluten-free, and I want to get a selection like everyone else does) and then set up a casserole to be baked today. Then I had to decide whether to make my GF stuffing last night or today and I decided to do it today. I sort of wish I'd done it last night, because of course it took longer than I thought it would today, and I was so busy making it that I didn't pay enough attention to the fact that no one else had any sense of urgency about getting ready for the day...so we got to my SIL's house rather late. It turned out fine, but I'd prefer to stay up really late and then get up at the last minute with just time enough to light a fire under everyone, shower, and go.

 

It was a lovely T-giving, though, and I think if I were going to have a gluten reaction I already would have, so...YAY! Another safe Thanksgiving.

[King of Birds]

What's better than one Thanksgiving dinner at a good restaurant with complimentary champagne?  That's right- doing it again with some friends who forgot to defrost their turkey til Wednesday, so it's just about ready for the oven tomorrow. I'm actually thankful I didn't over-indulge at the restaurant.

 

Now, ponder this- what the hell is Creed Bratton up to nowadays? While you think about it, head on over and vote on What Do You Do With The  Turkey Leftovers?

Edited November 30, 2014 by King of Birds

[King of Birds]

LOL- at least with all the votes tallied I can tell several people have been by Chili's.

 

Second Thanksgiving was even better than the first. I felt like I was shot up on tryptophan by dessert. Good times.

 

As the old old song goes: it didn't rain in California yesterday- it poured. Well, it rained a lot. Almost a whole inch, twss, and we're due for another full day of rain tomorrow. All the plants look ALIVE today. They forecast a whole week of rain and clouds. It's anarchy.

[Too Late Kev]

I picked Other but I'm not sure it showed what I actually wrote in other; I could barely read it as I typed it. If I have the carcass, I make turkey soup.

[King of Birds]

I have lived in my house for over 20 years. (My house, aka The Fortress of Solitude)  In today's US mail I got a letter for the woman who used to live here. HOW does this company still have her address, as here? She hasn't been here for over twenty years. About three years ago, some law firm sent me mail for this same woman- she was identified as a ... whatchamacallit in a will. I called that company and said "Nope, no idea where she is, and she ain't here." 

 

I'm perplexed now, how I'm still getting this stuff.

 

The "What do you do with turkey leftovers" poll has me bummed.  TooLateKev and someone else voted for "other" but I can't see the answer. Is the blame-finger pointed at MOI? First time I use this option and it's all messed up. Blergh.  (Can I blame the apes from 'planet of the apes' movies?)

 

There have been memoir/ books by Mindy Kaling, Tina Fey, and most recently, Amy Poehler.  Anyone read all three of them?

[Kalliste]

Lol KOB, I get annoyed when I get mail from the previous owners of my place and they only left 6 months ago, so I can imagine being perplexed after 20 years :P

[smrou]

There have been memoir/ books by Mindy Kaling, Tina Fey, and most recently, Amy Poehler.  Anyone read all three of them?

Not yet.  I've read the Mindy Kaling and Tina Fey ones.  Just got the Amy Poehler one from the library (I had to spend some time on a wait list to get it) so it's on my Kindle now but I haven't started it yet.

[King of Birds]

Possible poll? Are you nudging in on my territory there stewedsquash?
 

It is probably one of those companies that searches for hidden money for dead or misplaced people.

No, it was an actual firm. Some relative of hers died and they couldn't find her.  She must not have been big on Christmas cards, huh? Again... 20 years. I wonder now if this woman took the house money, ran, got off the grid and hunts squirrels in the Montana wild or something.

 

I suppose I could figure this out but- how do ebooks / kindle work at a library? I mean, you download, right? Does it disappear after a week? Does Mr Bookman come by and erase it from the Kindle if you don't "return" it?

[Glory]

I love Mindy Kaling's book. It's amazing. I have Bossy Pants by Tina Fey but haven't had time to read it yet. I have to read 5 more books (well, 4.5) before the 31st to make my Goodreads goal of 40 books this year so maybe I'll stick that in my purse. Should be an easy read. 

 

We've been in our house for a year and a half and we occasionally get mail from the previous owners. But I just walk it over to my neighbors house and they call the old owners. 

 

Besides Ikea, does anyone have any suggestions for inexpensive but somewhat solid furniture? Our front room (a Chicago term - formal living room) is empty. It has an arm chair a shelf and a cedar chest in it and I'd like to get some furniture for it. Maybe a couch and love seat set? But I don't have a ton of money to spend. Grrr.... 

[smrou]

My library does ebook loans the same way as stewedsquash's.  You borrow it, download it to the Kindle, and when the loan is up (either 14 or 21 days) it disappears from the Kindle.  Unless you turn off wifi, which I've done if I'm still reading a library book.  The time limit can be a problem not only because I'm a slow reader, but because the library network doesn't have very many "copies" of most ebooks, so I almost always have to put in a request and spend some time on the wait list before I get the book, and then what will happen is 3-4 books come available at the same time.  So I borrow them because I don't know when I'll next get the chance, but then I don't necessarily finish all of them before the loan period is up.  

 

One thing I'm not sure about is whether, when the loan period ends but I have wifi turned off so the book stays on my Kindle, the library still considers the book to be available for the next patron.  This is something that literally just occurred to me, that I'm maybe being greedy and inconsiderate by keeping books for longer than is allowed.  I may test that out (with one that doesn't have a wait list so I'll actually be able to see it come available).

Edited December 4, 2014 by smrou

[King of Birds]

Popped in my head just now - what happened to possibilities? Did she get snowed in with the storm around Thanksgiving?

 

December 5th. Still nary a present that I've purchased ... for others. (I'm not counting the various charities that I've donated to in the last two months, which is important.)  I did buy up a few things for the ole King -O- Birds on this past maniacal internet Monday. I decided to purchase this one item I had on my amazon wishlist, that the rest of the family ignored.  Ya know, I thought "okay I'll buy it for myself" and clicked, etc. Today I got an email that read:

 

I'm getting in touch regarding your *** order, for the *** DVD. Today, I discovered that a package containing the DVD along with the order number above has been sent to somebody else.

LOL. Good old quality control from Amazon.

[possibilities]

I'm lurking. We did get a disruptive storm the day before Thanksgiving, but I only was mildly inconvenienced by it. The real problem is that I was severely grouchy for about 10 days and every time I tried to respond to the conversation I found myself veering off into an off-topic screed about what was happening in my personal life. It just didn't seem like civilized behavior, so I decided to keep mum until it passed.

 

It's mostly passed. I'm still a little irritated, but it's not taking over my entire mind. I can sort of think about other things now, but I still have very little to actually say on most topics. I think the drama wiped out a portion of my mind. It's just tumbleweeds. I don't actually mind the inner silence, but it makes me a boring conversation.

 

I have such a low tolerance for personal drama, and when it happens, I get really, really burned out and it takes me a long time to get over it and recharge my energy and forgive whoever brought it into my life. So I'm also trying to exert minimally while my batteries recharge, and concentrate as much as I can on forgiving someone, who is a basically a great person who had a massive over the top meltdown and lobbed it my way and I only partially was able to avoid getting psucked down into her quicksand.

 

I used to be the go-to person for people who were falling apart and needed to be put back together. But I just don't have it in me anymore.

 

Thanks for asking. Though after that overshare, you probably wish you hadn't.

[Glory]

If you want to talk it out over here, possibilities, you have to know that we won't mind! We will listen and then distract you with thoughts of jet packs and French Bulldogs in sweaters. It's what we do. 

[King of Birds]

"Distract you with thoughts of jetpacks"?!? Distract?  Wrong wording, Glory.  Although I must admit that when it was raining recently I had the thought "Well, if I had a jetpack, I couldn't use it today."  I guess there will be need for cars in the future. Or at least, covered land-speeders.

Jeez, Tatooine has TWO suns and Luke's running around without a hat on a topless land-speeder? Melanoma-Jedi.

 

I'm at a loss as to what today's poll should be. I'll come back and edit if I get inspired.

 

-----

ETA: I went out shopping today. Decided to buy stuff for some business associates, figured out a list in the car, and then what to get and bought a bunch. And then got some presents for family. So basically, I knocked 50+ people off the list today. Beat that!

 

And, here's the weekly poll! The demand is amazingly weak, the buzz is nil, the reason to keep doing this dwindles weekly as fewer and fewer people participate in discussion!  But here ya go: What's The Best Type of Christmas Gift?

Edited December 7, 2014 by King of Birds

[possibilities]

Thanks for the support. I don't really want to talk about it, but I love having a posse I can call on if I need the pitchforks and the torches! And it's good to know there are ears to listen if I do decide I want to vent. Right now, I mostly just want to let the dust settle.

 

RE gifts, I hate the pressure! It's always awesome to know what someone wants and be able to do it for them, but coming up with it on schedule has always bee hard for me. I'm impressed with King of Birds' "50 in one day" buying prowess! Did you get them all tickets to the same concert? Tell us your secret!

 

Food of the month sounds fun.

 

.

[Glory]

So, ever since I got my Driver's License my dad has given me money and asked me to shop for my mom (he works A LOT) and he'll mostly tell me what to get and then let me fill in the gaps. So my sister and I did that yesterday. And wrapped everything. I have to say, the mall was not as bad as I thought it would be. I truly wonder if less people are shopping or if we are just still early enough in the season that it's not a big deal. 

 

I'm deciding on one more gift for Guts. I blew through our self-imposed limit but it's something I think he'd like. And I have one last thing to order from Amazon for a girlfriend that lives out of state. I'm done beyond that. 

 

The class I'm teaching ends on Saturday! Yay. And I have 12 days off work starting on Christmas Eve! I LOVE THE HOLIDAYS! 

[EllieH]

I'm down to my sister and my grandfather to buy things for, and I make bake cookies or something for the folks at my office.

 

 

I truly wonder if less people are shopping or if we are just still early enough in the season that it's not a big deal.

 

Or they could be like me, put in a big amazon order for most of the gifts and call it a day!

[possibilities]

I did hear something on the news, about how the stores were not as crowded as usual, and more people were shopping on line.

[sacrebleu]

 My family is huge so we pick names (and everyone buys for our parents, our nieces/nephews and one sibling/sibling-in-law)

I usually get my parents a gift card for one of their favorite restaurants. I started a tradition with my oldest niece of 'pre-Christmas' presents.. which were usually cute holiday outfits. And I give them early, because what's the point of a holiday themed onsie you don't get until Christmas. 

 

As an aunt, I think its my responsibility to purchase the adorable but impractical stuff that parents wouldn't buy. So I did most of my shopping last month. Of course, its tougher as they get older, less cute, and more 'oh my God is THAT what kids are wearing!?' 

[King of Birds]

I think its my responsibility to purchase the adorable but impractical stuff that parents wouldn't buy. 

Yep, that's how approach the kind of stuff I got my nephew/ nieces over the years.

 

Oh, and spill KOB,  what did you decide in your car to get for 50 plus people?

 

I was headed to See's Candy to get 'the goods' to continue my mother, father and sister's addictions to chocolate. And the light-bulb went off "hey! why not get a bulk amount and give out LOADS of the good stuff to the various cohorts who I work with?" So it makes life easier. Yes, the wallet is *much* lighter but I haven't given out gifts to the various clients/ work associates in about 4 years, so ... it happens.

 

I know I've been quiet about Hateball here, but in our group discussion everybody is probably all "Damn, will he ever shut up about it?" But to let you know, we're starting the playoffs this weekend. The Mug O"Gloriousness will be bequeathed upon new victors just before New Years. I made the playoffs, so all is well.

 

-------

 

ETA:  I lied about the See's Candy.  I got 50 of these to give out to clients and work cohorts.

Edited December 11, 2014 by King of Birds

[King of Birds]

Hey! I was so busy yesterday that I forgot to put up my weekly poll!  So here ya go! As written previously....

 

The demand is amazingly weak, the buzz is nil, the reason to keep doing this dwindles weekly as fewer and fewer people participate in discussion!

 

What Is Your Favorite Christmas Song?  I enabled this poll so you may vote twice, if you're torn between the choices.

 

edit: Damn, I forgot to include a Jawa -themed answer to vote upon. There goes that recurring motif!

Edited December 15, 2014 by King of Birds

[MichelleAK]

I picked two songs, as I couldn't decide on one.  I actually could have gone with three, and added "The Christmas Song," but kept with my first two choices, "Christmas Time is Here," and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."  Although, I do prefer Dianne Reeves' version of CTIH, as it is more melancholy, and I don't love the sound of children singing.  

 

I'm still trying to figure out Christmas presents; I've got four more people to buy for, and I'm about ready to go "practical," and buy everyone fleece items from Lands End.  I did get a few more bought yesterday and today, but I'm going to be going down to the wire, and will have to find everything locally from here on, unless something pops up online by tomorrow.

[Glory]

I have my cookie day planned for this upcoming Sunday. I'm making Italian cookies - Turdilli & something kind of like Cucidati but not quite. I'm also going to make Chocolate Chip Crunchies (my favorite!) and maybe some snickerdoodles? Peanut butter cookies? I'll be taking suggestions, please! 

 

I now have to find a gift for Guts's boss, but I think I know what we're going to get him so I can run out and pick that up this week. 

[Glory]

SS, I made those a couple of years ago but they're not really my favorite. My friend's mother makes them every year though, so we usually end up with some. 

[smrou]

We call those Mexican Wedding Cakes in my family, stewedsquash, and they are absolutely a Christmas tradition for us.  Mexican Wedding Cakes, Spritz, and Gingersnaps.  Those are our must-have Christmas cookies.  My grandmother also usually makes lace cookies, which are amazing.  I find them a pain in the ass to make, though, so I don't know how she has the patience for them. 

[possibilities]

We don't do Christmas (Jews), but when I was a little kid, like maybe 4 or 5 years old, I used to get lace cookies from a bakery my mother frequented. I remember it was this huge big deal that she would go there once in a while and let me pick out one cookie myself. I remember very clearly that the black and white cookies were horribly disappointing and I never wanted one again after the first time I tried one. But the lace cookies were so amazing to me, I was in awe of them, like they were sacred or something. So after my first lace cookie, I always asked for those.

 

I never encountered them anywhere else after we stopped going to that bakery when I was small, and part of me wondered if I made them up or was remembering them wrong. So a few years ago I finally got the idea to do a search for "lace cookies" and that's when I found out they do actually exist. The recipe really does make them seem like a hassle to make, though, and I can't tell from looking at it why they'd be worth it. So I decided not to try to find or make any, and to just keep my childhood memories, which the cookies probably wouldn't measure up to if I had them now.

[King of Birds]

Wine, nutmeg, cinnamon and OJ? In a cookie?  That's crazy talk Glory.

 

Kenny Rogers/Wynonna Ryder song

Ha! What a combo  (of course I imagine you meant a different Wynonna, the country singer gal)

 

ETA: OH MAN.  A grave terrible error has been made.  I made a Christmas song list, and excluded "Christmas/ Baby Please Come Home." I am shocked and appalled at myself for this. How dare I?  I throw a mea culpa to Darlene Love, wherever she may be.  I've edited the poll list and took out some and re-edited, if you wish to revisit the poll.   Here's the link again:

 

What's Your Favorite Christmas Song?

Edited December 15, 2014 by King of Birds

[Glory]

I usually leave out the nutmeg.

 

And I voted again. Baby Please Come Home is the best "sing-along-in-the-car" Christmas song! EVER!

[sacrebleu]

I'm partial to the James Taylor version of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" but "Baby, Please Come Home" is great. 

 

I don't usually travel for Christmas- but this year I am, any advice or cautionary tales about holiday travel? (I'm flying on Christmas Eve)

[smrou]

I'm partial to the James Taylor version of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"

Ditto!

 

I travel most years for Christmas (to Minnesota) but can't say I have any particular advice.  It's always gone smoothly for me. 

[King of Birds]

In case you're not checking the Letterman thread...  Darlene Love compilation of singing "Christmas, Baby Please Come Home." 

 

In honor of that tradition, Love has said she will retire the song from television after Letterman retires. In the Oscar-winning documentary 20 Feet from Stardom, Love credits Letterman and this holiday tradition for helping to restart her singing career. She told Billboard:

   

This would be my 28th year in a row. They never told me not to, but it was an unspoken thing. They couldn't ask me not to sing 'Christmas (Baby)' on another show, but after 10 years, then 15 years, of doing this one song on this one show, I felt I had an obligation to be true to them.

 

[Too Late Kev]

Sorry for all the silence. Kid's birthday done. Time to think about Christmas. I would have voted, "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" except there wasn't an "Other." That's okay. Once I was reminded of that wonderful song Darlene Love sings, I voted for that. :)

 

Was it Glory who asked about inexpensive furniture? Whoever it was, was in Chicago, I think. Anyway, many people don't know that Craigslist has a free section. Here it is for Chicago: http://chicago.craigslist.org/search/zip Here's something on it at the moment: a very nice dining table, for no money whatsoever. (Note that the 2nd link might not exist when you click on it; once something's gone, people often delete the entry.) I tend to look at the free stuff in my area whenever I think of it. We've gotten some great items (and given away some) on free Craigslist.

 

If you want to look in your own area, go to the area's Craigslist (google the nearest bigger town, or even your little town if you're in one, and it will probably give you multiples w/in your state to choose from). then click on "free" under the "for sale" category. You can get tables, chairs, sewing machines, washer/dryers, firewood, just about anything you might want (and many you wouldn't, so don't go for those). I've never had a problem with anyone odd/sketchy, but of course, use your best judgement, and if anything doesn't seem right, walk away.

 

Another place I've gotten many wonderful things is the "give and take" area of our dump. That's only open in the warmer months, though, and some towns don't have that. But if I added up the value of things I got there, free, it would be a lot.

 

And finally, just like when you're looking for a job, let people know you're looking for furniture. Someone may have stuff sitting in their basement, attic, or garage that they no longer need but haven't found a person to pass it on to.

[possibilities]

I've given and received some great stuff through Frecycle, also: www.freecycle.org .

[Too Late Kev]

Yeah, my husband's done some stuff on freecycle, too. I don't like that as much because I think you have to sign up for it, and it comes through email -- either constantly all day, or in a digest from the day, in which case it's probably already gone. But I haven't really given it that much of a chance, probably.

[Kalliste]

Where Baby It's Cold Outside is concerned, I quite like this version with Lady Gaga and Joseph Gordon-Levitt