Overcast and grey, with clouds in the treetops in mid-Oregon.
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Danny said on December 25, 2012 at 5:02 pm
It is snowing big time here in the Tahoe area. A few days ago when we arrived, I helped the shuttle driver install snow chains. Glad I still remember how to do such things!
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Minnie said on December 25, 2012 at 5:24 pm
Chilly here in Virginia Beach. Cloudy with “bright intervals” most of the day. Moon is shining through a veil. Thunderstorms predicted for tomorrow.
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nancy said on December 25, 2012 at 5:32 pm
We were going to do a southern Ohio road trip starting tomorrow but alas: Blizzard expected. Guess I’ll be cleaning the basement instead.
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David in Chicago said on December 25, 2012 at 6:01 pm
We had enough snow here in Chicago that we could call it a White Christmas. I’m about to sit down with my supper and watch Bing and Rosemary and Danny and Vera create the quintessential White Christmas.
Happy holidays to all the Nalliscenti!
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Julie Robinson said on December 25, 2012 at 8:33 pm
No snow in the fort and the sun was shining for several hours. The same storm that cancelled Nancy’s trip will be wreaking havoc with the after-Christmas shoppers tomorrow.
Nalliscenti. I like it.
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MichaelG said on December 25, 2012 at 8:37 pm
It’s raining really hard now and snowing a lot in the Sierra.
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Deborah said on December 25, 2012 at 10:07 pm
Calm and peaceful in Northern New Mexico, about 20 degrees now but dry and no wind. Sitting around the fire in a holiday stupor, did nothing today but veg out. We talked about going to a movie but didn’t get beyond discussing it.
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basset said on December 25, 2012 at 10:18 pm
Mrs. B. family Christmas traditions: oyster stew for dinner on the eve, aebelskiver on Christmas morning, followed by hand-knitted stockings full of little stuff, then opening presents.
My family Christmas traditions: drink and pick fights. Saw the ham thrown one year.
New, combined tradition: everyone sleeps late while I get up and start cooking, both carnivore and veggie, at best nobody mentions any problems with the result and everyone goes to their room or to sleep on the couch while I wash and put away. Mixed success with all of the above this year… roast a little overdone, Yorkshire pudding didn’t quite rise, cut myself while taking out the recycling and have it all taped up, already soaked through a paper towel and a big bandaid but a gauze sponge has held so far.
Three more hours and it’ll be over, then I won’t have to start dreading the season again for, I don’t know, six or seven months anyway.
Cold and raining. Time to go unload the dishwasher.
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Scout said on December 26, 2012 at 1:28 am
Merry Christmas, all. Had a lovely 4 day holiday weekend. The highlight was delivering more than 40 gifts to a needy family with four children on Christmas Eve. My daughters, my parents, my partner and myself all contributed. It took 8 of us two trips from two cars to get it all in the tiny apartment. Those kids’ eyes were as big as saucers!
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MarkH said on December 26, 2012 at 2:53 am
Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas; we did here with most of the children and grandchildren in attendance. After above average temps and mostly rain the first two weeks of December here, the weather patterns finally shifted out of the northwest starting about the 15th. Now up to about 115% of normal snowfall in the mountains, two feet in the valley and temps back to normal: 0 or thereabouts at night and 20s during the day. A beautiful white Christmas here in Jackson Hole.
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Sherri said on December 26, 2012 at 3:03 am
We had a wonderful Christmas dinner with friends. Our now traditional meal is a seafood chowder, that originally was a halibut and sweet potato chowder but has evolved into a salmon, Dungeness crab, Italian sausage and sweet potato chowder that is really quite delicious. That, with a salad and homemade rolls, and we were all happy.
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Deborah said on December 26, 2012 at 6:03 am
We had roast duck for Christmas dinner, it was OK for a first time, but kinda dry and rubbery.
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David C. said on December 26, 2012 at 8:01 am
I’ve never had great results roasting duck either, Deborah. As fatty as it is, one would think it would be easy to keep it moist. But dry and rubbery is all I’ve ever managed too. I’d sure like to learn the trick. Maybe after I master duck, I’ll try my hand at roasting a goose.
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Dorothy said on December 26, 2012 at 8:33 am
We are sitting @ the airport and trying not to feel like schmucks since the snow is coming down hard. At least we do have a hotel reservation for tonight. The bride & groom got out of town @ 6 am!
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Dorothy said on December 26, 2012 at 8:33 am
Hotel in Columbus, I mean.
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alex said on December 26, 2012 at 8:58 am
We had a white Christmas. By some fluke of nature, my neighborhood got smacked with a pretty good snowfall last week and it’s still sticking. Otherwise there was nothing on the ground throughout most of this region.
It’s been quite festive here. I made Flemish beef, chicken with dijon and tarragon cream sauce and crepes filled with ground-up leftover ham and we spent the weekend doing handiwork on the house. Today taking the day off so’s I can continue with the home improvement efforts.
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brian stouder said on December 26, 2012 at 9:15 am
I’m back at work, but the young folks are still at gramma’s in Logansport…so the kitties and I are ready to face the winter storm on our own.
But the good news is – with Pam away, my car gets to be in the garage!
(and there’s a rumor here at work that we’re going to bag it after mid-day today, so there’s that, too)
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brian stouder said on December 26, 2012 at 9:19 am
(forgot to mention that I’m still studying our Proprietress’s photograph; I think there’s an American Christmas essay in the details of that portrait, but we digress)
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Scout said on December 26, 2012 at 9:37 am
Brian @ 27, I just looked at it again on my laptop (first time was on the phone) and chuckled at the “still life” display behind the bird. Wondered if the Apple box was for the Apple TV device – we got one of those and already rented a movie using the iTunes account. Very cool.
Since everyone else gave a weather report: Phoenix had an overcast, damp-ish Christmas Day with chilly temps in the low 60’s.
And the food: We had Vegan “Beef” Wellington with Madeira Sauce, baked sweet potatoes, sauteed brussels sprouts, steamed broccoli, green salad, crusty bread and a nice bottle of Pinot Noir. Homemade apple and pumpkin pie for dessert. Today I fast.
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JWfromNJ said on December 26, 2012 at 9:53 am
@Basset – That sounds like a holiday when my sisters are combined with extended family. Each year since the gravy incident on Thanksgiving 1990 it’s been a tradition to reflect on the said gravy incident.
My mother had a houseful and at the time always made everything from scratch, so gravy had to be made with just pan drippings. She ended up with only about 1 1/2 cups of gravy. My father has actually mellowed now that he has Alzheimers, but at the time was very obsessive, and was very concerned about the turkey to gravy ratio.
The first few people to get the gravy boat were aware of this and took a paltry amount. But my sister Liz, like the honey badger, didn’t care. She spooned a generous amount on her turkey then ladled more onto her mashed potatoes. As she went for another spoonful my father bellowed, “‘Ya think you got enough gravy?”
I wanted to dive for the doorway but was trapped as Liz launched into a tirade about Dad being an a-hole, always being so critical, being the food police, blah, blah…
She stormed out yelling happy f’ing Thanksgiving. Thus concludes the tale of the Wallace Gravy Incident, but other holidays have seen similar scenes.
No snow in Florida obviously and Merry Christmas to the entire NN.Com crew.
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Julie Robinson said on December 26, 2012 at 10:02 am
The storm has finally begun, with a prediction of 5-7 inches, and I’m thankful that my Florida-based sister decided not to go out shopping today. She hasn’t driven in snow for 25 years. We have lots of food, new music to listen to, new jewelry to make, a new computer to set up for Mom, and a good internet connection. Perfect!
Dorothy, I’m really hoping your flight was able to take off. I can’t imagine how frustrating it would be to miss your son’s wedding just because of bad weather.
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basset said on December 26, 2012 at 10:06 am
Thanks, JW, I was afraid I sounded a little too needy up there. We use drippings and Bisto for roast beef gravy.
Meanwhile… toggling back and forth between snow and light rain here in middle Tennessee, took today off to hunt but there’s too much wind. Got a call for a voice gig though, in a few minutes I will go read out loud and eventually get paid for it… after that, look for some new glasses. Just gettin’ through the day.
It’s been clear and a bit chilly here–it’s 8 now but no wind. Christmas is very extended this year for my partner and me. My mom went to Yuma with friends, but drove down a day early on Saturday (she lives 2 1/2 hours away.) She, my partner and I saw A White Chirstmas at a local theater, then went out for Neoplolitan pizza. I dropped her off at the airport the next day, and finally went XC skiing for the first time this year.
We went to my MIL’s for Christmas Eve, just to be together; the big meal and presents will be on Saturday when the rest of the family could make it.
For the actual day, we slept in, had coffee and banana bread in bed while I read The Hobbit. We headed out to see the Hobbit movie. I made tournedos rossini for dinner and we fell asleep watching Fellowship of the Ring. We love having Christmas with just the two of us. And, apparently, Mr. Tolkien.
We’ll do my family on January 13th; it was the only weekend that worked for all of us.
I love hearing what all the Nallascenti were up to!
Well, I dreamed I saw Dick Army’s bodyguard,
Saying something about a coup.
There were woman crying and
monkeys flying
And they split a baby, too
There was a fanfare blowing
Out their ass
as they wrestled for the Gadsden flag.
watering the tree of liberty
with a slightly used douchebag.
watering the tree of liberty, with an almost new douchebag.
I was lying in my grandma’s basement
With Benghazi on TV.
I was hoping for Obama’s replacement
from the Mormon navy…
There was a band playing in my head
The same one every day.
You would think they’d learn to play more than one song
but you’d be pissing your time away
Think they’d learn to play more than one song
Pissing your time away.
Well, I dreamed I saw the female anchor
haloed
In the yellow haze of her hair,
They were experts saying Obama won
And Karl Rove pissed his chair
All in a dream, all in a dream
The freeloading had begun.
They were shooting Ronald Reagan’s
Silver hearse to the hot part of the sun.
Shooting Ronald Reagan’s silver hearse.
To the hot part.
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nancy said on December 26, 2012 at 10:42 am
I hesitate to follow another of Cooze’s magnificent lyrical flights of fancy, but to answer the question: The Apple box was Alan’s new laptop, gift of his wife. The open instruction book was for Kate’s Bluetooth speaker, so she can live entirely in a virtual reality afforded by her iPhone. The towels were for the household, and sorely needed. And the Diet Coke can was Max’s favorite plaything through his visit. He could be happy for long stretches walking around on his towel, eating and pecking at the can, occasionally flapping around for some head-sitting.
It was a good Christmas. Post coming later on the week’s reading material.
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brian stouder said on December 26, 2012 at 10:53 am
my questions are – at that moment – who had control of the remote?
And was its placement on the chopping block a poetic flourish? (I’m thinking it was a sly editorial comment. I was careful to ‘lose’ the remote a time or two, when the people who would immediately tune into “stoarge wars” [or whatever the hell] seemed to be looking for it)
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adrianne said on December 26, 2012 at 11:49 am
Merry, merry Christmas to the Nalligscenti! My mother-in-law had 23 for her Christmas feast – one turkey, a ham and a vegetarian lasagne for all varieties. Very mellow, very fun. Now we’re waiting for this Southern storm to come up and wallop us tonight. Brrr…
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nancy said on December 26, 2012 at 12:21 pm
Brian, that’s one of four remotes on the table, the lowest-ranking one, so no one gave a crap who had control. And that’s a clipboard, not a chopping block. Sorry to burst your bubble.
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Prospero said on December 26, 2012 at 1:09 pm
I’m no fan of the milquetoast twit David Gregory, but conservative politicians that routinely vote against assault weapon and high capacity magazine bans at the behest of the NRA going after Gregory in this fashion:
And did Crapo blow up his own personal LDS godhead over his very own planet? I’m sure as hell he doesn’t believe he has given up the overbearing moral highground.
God bless us, everyone, even the non-believers. A few days ago when y’all discussed religious groups consigning everty other-believer to the flames of hell, I was thinking about one of my favorite things from parochial school in the Hills of Bloomfield, I was reminded of Pagan Babies, and how we got to name them. I lobbied a class and our nun for Lucifer (lat. Light Bearer), but I got nothing but a parents meeting with the principal and remonstrations.
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brian stouder said on December 26, 2012 at 1:41 pm
Well, all I’m sayin’ is that’s the nicest clipboard I’ve ever seen!
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brian stouder said on December 26, 2012 at 1:43 pm
(and indeed, I guess I’ve never seen a varnished chopping block, either)
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paddyo' said on December 26, 2012 at 2:26 pm
David in Chicago @ 13: Hope you enjoyed White Christmas, a longtime fave among my sibs and I. (“Mutual I’m shooah . . . “)But lo, what have T and Lo — Tom and Lorenzo — done with it? In case you or anyone else missed it (and if I missed it in previous comments, my apologies), Nancy’s favorite fashion snarkistas put up a fab-ulous deconstruction on Xmas Eve of the Bing-and-Dannie-and-Rosemary-and-Vera classic. Guaranteed to blow eggnog out your nostrils:
Prospero, yes conservatives are out in force on the Gregory/30 round magazine story, but your issue is really with the DC police. NBC called them for clearance to use it as a prop and they were told not to do it as posession of the magazine is illegal. NBC was warned but Gregory did it anyway:
brian stouder said on December 26, 2012 at 2:57 pm
Paddyo – that T & L White Christmas re-cap was very funny indeed!
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brian stouder said on December 26, 2012 at 3:05 pm
MarkH, I’m late to the party on this DC gun law/NBC thing, but it strikes me that the mistake NBC made was asking permission.
A news organization – even a “main stream media machine” (whatever the hell that is supposed to mean) has First Amendment protections, just as Mr PeeAir has Second Amendment protections.
If the DC police want to fine NBC, I’d say this will all go away; and if they want to make arrests, I say bring it!
The political funhouse-mirror that such a prosecution would provide might make for an interesting civics lesson for everyone
Quiet Christmas morning at the cabin here … then I left Himself at home with a lasagne and the basketball on Tivo while I went to my dearest friends for a very noisy, very chatty, very boozy Christmas with all our beloved kids running around and lots of chatter. We love it, he hates it – -the wonder of elder-dating, everyone gets what they want. This year a lot of discussion about how those darling little girls are now a gaggle of gorgeous teenagers — now a week off work, there will be a book proposal! Last year I painted the kitchen during our furlough, this year I’m determined to have something I can try to sell …
Oh, of course, Brian. If they didn’t want anything to get in the way of that stunt on MTP, then they were stupid to check with law enforcement officials. Your noted first amendment ‘protections’ notwithstanding, there are two problems with your post: a.-Gregory held the goddamn thing up for millions to see, while, b.-everyone knows he is in Washington DC, where it’s illegal to possess such a thing. By your words, Gregory could commit assault while on the air, and he has some sort of first amendment protection? I don’t have a dog in this DC Police/NBC fight, but they do have themselves in a conundrum.
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brian stouder said on December 26, 2012 at 4:17 pm
By your words, Gregory could commit assault while on the air, and he has some sort of first amendment protection?
If one equates possession with assault, why then – all of Mr LahPeeAir’s gun-owning NRA members are similarly guilty!
Or put another way, if Gregory actually committed assault while on the air, he would most certainly face criminal charges as well as a civil suit (no doubt), from whoever he assaulted.
But I think a journalist holding up a thing which is illegal, as part of her (or his) reportage, would almost surely be well within the protections of the First Amendment. For example, if a report is being prepared about prostitution, a reporter might well speak to a practitioner of that activity, in a place that might be deemed a public nuisance; and if that reporter was arrested for frequenting a public nusiance, and if I was on the jury, I’d have no problem at all acquitting that reporter – assuming that the reporter wasn’t engaged in sexual contact
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Prospero said on December 26, 2012 at 4:29 pm
Mark H.: I assume you are ignoring the ridiculous extent to which the GOP thinks it should make law for the District ( the white man’s burden) in the last five decades. Aside from anything else, people that are bought and paid for by the NRA and the Koch Bros. Kriminal Konspiracy have no business expressing outrage about David Gregory’s banana clip, when they vote consistently to keep these monstrosities legal. And the GOPer loonatic fringe House runs DC, Mark, so don’t underestimate the heavy thumb of Teabanger GOPers on the scales of justice in this case. If nothing else, Gregory can spend a night in jail (I’m living proof it won’t damage anybody permanently) and emerge with something approximating journalistic credibility and vestigial cojones. The putrid hypocrisy of the Congressional gun nut buzzards was my only point in the first place, and doubting their influnce on the MPD is ridiculous. The GOPers in Congress have the DC cops by the balls.
Y’all know how it’s a joy to give a well-chosen gift and be on hand for a delighted response? I spent yesterday with my brother Dave and his family in Savannah, the Boston of the South. His wife Susan nee Dress, who used to teach Espanol (aka Senorita Vestita), was a family friend before Dave married her,a pure joy to spend time with, and a great cook. So anyway, Nancy’s cohorts at Kickstarter (Wars of Men, and when do I see the movie?) convinced me to donate and subsequently I was talked into a donation for this:
I just got home a while ago, had to shovel the driveway before I could settle in for the night. The snow just started a few hours ago and all the roads are covered with snow. I drove 30 mph down I-75, one accident along the way, not a bad one. Luckily traffic is light today.
Christmas eve at a friend’s sister’s house. A big Mexican family with many nieces and nephews, and their little ones. Pinto beans, tamales and prime rib.
Cooz, you’re really on a roll. Kudos.
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David in Chicago said on December 26, 2012 at 8:05 pm
Paddyo’, thanks for sharing that T&L deconstruction of White Christmas – what a hoot!
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MarkH said on December 26, 2012 at 8:10 pm
Prospero, it’s all a matter of consistency within the legalities, if you will, and certainly not about me moralizing. You correctly point out that the right-wingers have made a lot of hay about the magazine being flashed by Mr. Gregory. My only point was righties found out AFTER the DC police had an issue with it as being illegal, and it is a conundrum for both NBC and the cops. You laid it all at the feet of conservatives. In any case it was a calculated stunt by Gregory and it may backfire. I don’t particularly care one way or the other on this as it’s classic Gregory, he made his point, and as LAMary says, he’s pretty much of a jerk anyway. UPDATE: one report out late today (from TMZ, of all people; how would they know?) has it that the cops said the magazine’s use was OK as long as it was empty.
Of course he would face charges, Brian. By intoning the 1st amendment in the magazine issue, you left room for Gregory have freedom-of-speech cover if he were to commit another type of crime while on-air. And, Brian, you’re really stretching it in your second sentence re: the NRA. You can’t associate assault from possession because the vast majority of NRA members live outside DC, or other areas where possession of the magazine is illegal. Assault is, of course, illegal everywhere, last I checked.
And for the record, I do own a number of firearms, mostly .22s, and am an NRA member. Only, not as proud a member as I was on December 13, and even less so after December 21. I’m probably fairly typical of a statement made by a local writer friend who described long-time, or native Wyoming residents thusly: you haven’t fired any of your weapons in 10 years, yet you still need more. Guns are part of the culture in the west, but it’s not a gun culture per se, certainly not of the type Bob Costas referred to a few weeks ago. The vast majority of the population here treat their weapons with a healthy respect and indeed an underlying fear of the consequences. Most weapons are for hunting or plinking, but there are a fair number for self protection. And they are kept secure. Even here in Teton County, a blue oasis, if you will, in a sea of Wyoming red. Most voters are registered republicans, but Obama carried this county in ’08 and ’12. This is because most of the large number of lefties here don’t care about a political affiliation, so aren’t democratic party members. But they also wouldn’t mind a bit having the label ‘gun-totin’ liberals’.
Wayne LaPierre’s problem is he didn’t get the message that the Mayans were talking about the NRA and he is regrettaby taking a classic lobbyist’s position: never give an inch on your cause. My guess is he will really be screaming when the president takes executive action on ammo and high-capacity magazines here very shortly.
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Connie said on December 26, 2012 at 8:54 pm
We took off on our errands in time to beat the snow – we thought – and really got caught up in it. Now it’s been coming down for several hours. My husband calls walking the little dog in this kind of snow “dog snow plowing.”
Brian, I drove the Trader Joe’s scooter and hit the apple display which turned out to be on wheels and ready to roll. Whoops.
brian stouder said on December 26, 2012 at 9:49 pm
Connie – I think it’s marvelous that you got out, even despite the snow!
And indeed, I’m sure I’d have felt self-conscious (at first) if it were me, but people getting around on those things is not an unusual sight.
My fine young son and I made a few Christmas Eve stops while in Logansport, including at their big new Walmart; and that place was as busy as any store I’ve ever been in, and now that I think back on it, we saw at least a dozen different ladies and gentlemen in scooters, including younger folks and one attractive woman who was rather under-dressed for the weather, I thought….but we digress.
And indeed, as Siskel and Ebert taught us, you cannot have an automobile chase without a fruit-cart getting scattered all over hell! So, I say – well done!
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Deborah said on December 26, 2012 at 11:54 pm
We went to the Santa Fe WalMart today. I can’t believe I actually did that on the day after Christmas. I never go to Walmart and to pick this day to go was bad judgement on my part. Talk about depressing. Come to think about it I don’t want to think about it anymore. So I’m signing off. Goodnight all.
beb said on December 25, 2012 at 12:03 pm
Well, we got some snow, so it’s a mostly white Christmas.
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Deborah said on December 25, 2012 at 12:21 pm
New snow in Santa Fe too.
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MichaelG said on December 25, 2012 at 12:42 pm
Big storms with plenty of wind and rain here in Sacramento the last few days. Lots of snow in the high country.
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coozledad said on December 25, 2012 at 12:46 pm
Pretty bird eat now.
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Hattie said on December 25, 2012 at 1:04 pm
No snow here!
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basset said on December 25, 2012 at 2:17 pm
Chilly, gray, and about to rain in Nashville… more rain tomorrow, more wind, maybe a little snow Wed. evening.
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James said on December 25, 2012 at 3:04 pm
Heavy fog, so a “White Christmas” here in Atlanta but not like the ones I used to know.
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Sherri said on December 25, 2012 at 3:53 pm
Cold, dark, and rainy here: a typical Seattle area Christmas!
Here’s a picture and an explanation of just how dark it’s been here this December, which may help explain any gloominess on my part here: http://www.komonews.com/weather/blogs/scott/Seattles-December-proves-sometimes-its-dark-after-the-dawn-too-184331751.html
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Rana said on December 25, 2012 at 4:07 pm
Overcast and grey, with clouds in the treetops in mid-Oregon.
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Danny said on December 25, 2012 at 5:02 pm
It is snowing big time here in the Tahoe area. A few days ago when we arrived, I helped the shuttle driver install snow chains. Glad I still remember how to do such things!
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Minnie said on December 25, 2012 at 5:24 pm
Chilly here in Virginia Beach. Cloudy with “bright intervals” most of the day. Moon is shining through a veil. Thunderstorms predicted for tomorrow.
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nancy said on December 25, 2012 at 5:32 pm
We were going to do a southern Ohio road trip starting tomorrow but alas: Blizzard expected. Guess I’ll be cleaning the basement instead.
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David in Chicago said on December 25, 2012 at 6:01 pm
We had enough snow here in Chicago that we could call it a White Christmas. I’m about to sit down with my supper and watch Bing and Rosemary and Danny and Vera create the quintessential White Christmas.
Happy holidays to all the Nalliscenti!
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Julie Robinson said on December 25, 2012 at 8:33 pm
No snow in the fort and the sun was shining for several hours. The same storm that cancelled Nancy’s trip will be wreaking havoc with the after-Christmas shoppers tomorrow.
Nalliscenti. I like it.
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MichaelG said on December 25, 2012 at 8:37 pm
It’s raining really hard now and snowing a lot in the Sierra.
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Deborah said on December 25, 2012 at 10:07 pm
Calm and peaceful in Northern New Mexico, about 20 degrees now but dry and no wind. Sitting around the fire in a holiday stupor, did nothing today but veg out. We talked about going to a movie but didn’t get beyond discussing it.
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basset said on December 25, 2012 at 10:18 pm
Mrs. B. family Christmas traditions: oyster stew for dinner on the eve, aebelskiver on Christmas morning, followed by hand-knitted stockings full of little stuff, then opening presents.
My family Christmas traditions: drink and pick fights. Saw the ham thrown one year.
New, combined tradition: everyone sleeps late while I get up and start cooking, both carnivore and veggie, at best nobody mentions any problems with the result and everyone goes to their room or to sleep on the couch while I wash and put away. Mixed success with all of the above this year… roast a little overdone, Yorkshire pudding didn’t quite rise, cut myself while taking out the recycling and have it all taped up, already soaked through a paper towel and a big bandaid but a gauze sponge has held so far.
Three more hours and it’ll be over, then I won’t have to start dreading the season again for, I don’t know, six or seven months anyway.
Cold and raining. Time to go unload the dishwasher.
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Scout said on December 26, 2012 at 1:28 am
Merry Christmas, all. Had a lovely 4 day holiday weekend. The highlight was delivering more than 40 gifts to a needy family with four children on Christmas Eve. My daughters, my parents, my partner and myself all contributed. It took 8 of us two trips from two cars to get it all in the tiny apartment. Those kids’ eyes were as big as saucers!
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MarkH said on December 26, 2012 at 2:53 am
Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas; we did here with most of the children and grandchildren in attendance. After above average temps and mostly rain the first two weeks of December here, the weather patterns finally shifted out of the northwest starting about the 15th. Now up to about 115% of normal snowfall in the mountains, two feet in the valley and temps back to normal: 0 or thereabouts at night and 20s during the day. A beautiful white Christmas here in Jackson Hole.
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Sherri said on December 26, 2012 at 3:03 am
We had a wonderful Christmas dinner with friends. Our now traditional meal is a seafood chowder, that originally was a halibut and sweet potato chowder but has evolved into a salmon, Dungeness crab, Italian sausage and sweet potato chowder that is really quite delicious. That, with a salad and homemade rolls, and we were all happy.
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Deborah said on December 26, 2012 at 6:03 am
We had roast duck for Christmas dinner, it was OK for a first time, but kinda dry and rubbery.
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David C. said on December 26, 2012 at 8:01 am
I’ve never had great results roasting duck either, Deborah. As fatty as it is, one would think it would be easy to keep it moist. But dry and rubbery is all I’ve ever managed too. I’d sure like to learn the trick. Maybe after I master duck, I’ll try my hand at roasting a goose.
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Dorothy said on December 26, 2012 at 8:33 am
We are sitting @ the airport and trying not to feel like schmucks since the snow is coming down hard. At least we do have a hotel reservation for tonight. The bride & groom got out of town @ 6 am!
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Dorothy said on December 26, 2012 at 8:33 am
Hotel in Columbus, I mean.
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alex said on December 26, 2012 at 8:58 am
We had a white Christmas. By some fluke of nature, my neighborhood got smacked with a pretty good snowfall last week and it’s still sticking. Otherwise there was nothing on the ground throughout most of this region.
It’s been quite festive here. I made Flemish beef, chicken with dijon and tarragon cream sauce and crepes filled with ground-up leftover ham and we spent the weekend doing handiwork on the house. Today taking the day off so’s I can continue with the home improvement efforts.
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brian stouder said on December 26, 2012 at 9:15 am
I’m back at work, but the young folks are still at gramma’s in Logansport…so the kitties and I are ready to face the winter storm on our own.
But the good news is – with Pam away, my car gets to be in the garage!
(and there’s a rumor here at work that we’re going to bag it after mid-day today, so there’s that, too)
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brian stouder said on December 26, 2012 at 9:19 am
(forgot to mention that I’m still studying our Proprietress’s photograph; I think there’s an American Christmas essay in the details of that portrait, but we digress)
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Scout said on December 26, 2012 at 9:37 am
Brian @ 27, I just looked at it again on my laptop (first time was on the phone) and chuckled at the “still life” display behind the bird. Wondered if the Apple box was for the Apple TV device – we got one of those and already rented a movie using the iTunes account. Very cool.
Since everyone else gave a weather report: Phoenix had an overcast, damp-ish Christmas Day with chilly temps in the low 60’s.
And the food: We had Vegan “Beef” Wellington with Madeira Sauce, baked sweet potatoes, sauteed brussels sprouts, steamed broccoli, green salad, crusty bread and a nice bottle of Pinot Noir. Homemade apple and pumpkin pie for dessert. Today I fast.
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JWfromNJ said on December 26, 2012 at 9:53 am
@Basset – That sounds like a holiday when my sisters are combined with extended family. Each year since the gravy incident on Thanksgiving 1990 it’s been a tradition to reflect on the said gravy incident.
My mother had a houseful and at the time always made everything from scratch, so gravy had to be made with just pan drippings. She ended up with only about 1 1/2 cups of gravy. My father has actually mellowed now that he has Alzheimers, but at the time was very obsessive, and was very concerned about the turkey to gravy ratio.
The first few people to get the gravy boat were aware of this and took a paltry amount. But my sister Liz, like the honey badger, didn’t care. She spooned a generous amount on her turkey then ladled more onto her mashed potatoes. As she went for another spoonful my father bellowed, “‘Ya think you got enough gravy?”
I wanted to dive for the doorway but was trapped as Liz launched into a tirade about Dad being an a-hole, always being so critical, being the food police, blah, blah…
She stormed out yelling happy f’ing Thanksgiving. Thus concludes the tale of the Wallace Gravy Incident, but other holidays have seen similar scenes.
No snow in Florida obviously and Merry Christmas to the entire NN.Com crew.
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Julie Robinson said on December 26, 2012 at 10:02 am
The storm has finally begun, with a prediction of 5-7 inches, and I’m thankful that my Florida-based sister decided not to go out shopping today. She hasn’t driven in snow for 25 years. We have lots of food, new music to listen to, new jewelry to make, a new computer to set up for Mom, and a good internet connection. Perfect!
Dorothy, I’m really hoping your flight was able to take off. I can’t imagine how frustrating it would be to miss your son’s wedding just because of bad weather.
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basset said on December 26, 2012 at 10:06 am
Thanks, JW, I was afraid I sounded a little too needy up there. We use drippings and Bisto for roast beef gravy.
Meanwhile… toggling back and forth between snow and light rain here in middle Tennessee, took today off to hunt but there’s too much wind. Got a call for a voice gig though, in a few minutes I will go read out loud and eventually get paid for it… after that, look for some new glasses. Just gettin’ through the day.
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del said on December 26, 2012 at 10:16 am
The Wallace Gravy Incident makes my day.
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Judybusy said on December 26, 2012 at 10:19 am
It’s been clear and a bit chilly here–it’s 8 now but no wind. Christmas is very extended this year for my partner and me. My mom went to Yuma with friends, but drove down a day early on Saturday (she lives 2 1/2 hours away.) She, my partner and I saw A White Chirstmas at a local theater, then went out for Neoplolitan pizza. I dropped her off at the airport the next day, and finally went XC skiing for the first time this year.
We went to my MIL’s for Christmas Eve, just to be together; the big meal and presents will be on Saturday when the rest of the family could make it.
For the actual day, we slept in, had coffee and banana bread in bed while I read The Hobbit. We headed out to see the Hobbit movie. I made tournedos rossini for dinner and we fell asleep watching Fellowship of the Ring. We love having Christmas with just the two of us. And, apparently, Mr. Tolkien.
We’ll do my family on January 13th; it was the only weekend that worked for all of us.
I love hearing what all the Nallascenti were up to!
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coozledad said on December 26, 2012 at 10:37 am
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/freedomworks-tea-party-group-nearly-falls-apart-in-fight-between-old-and-new-guard/2012/12/25/dd095b68-4545-11e2-8061-253bccfc7532_print.html
Well, I dreamed I saw Dick Army’s bodyguard,
Saying something about a coup.
There were woman crying and
monkeys flying
And they split a baby, too
There was a fanfare blowing
Out their ass
as they wrestled for the Gadsden flag.
watering the tree of liberty
with a slightly used douchebag.
watering the tree of liberty, with an almost new douchebag.
I was lying in my grandma’s basement
With Benghazi on TV.
I was hoping for Obama’s replacement
from the Mormon navy…
There was a band playing in my head
The same one every day.
You would think they’d learn to play more than one song
but you’d be pissing your time away
Think they’d learn to play more than one song
Pissing your time away.
Well, I dreamed I saw the female anchor
haloed
In the yellow haze of her hair,
They were experts saying Obama won
And Karl Rove pissed his chair
All in a dream, all in a dream
The freeloading had begun.
They were shooting Ronald Reagan’s
Silver hearse to the hot part of the sun.
Shooting Ronald Reagan’s silver hearse.
To the hot part.
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nancy said on December 26, 2012 at 10:42 am
I hesitate to follow another of Cooze’s magnificent lyrical flights of fancy, but to answer the question: The Apple box was Alan’s new laptop, gift of his wife. The open instruction book was for Kate’s Bluetooth speaker, so she can live entirely in a virtual reality afforded by her iPhone. The towels were for the household, and sorely needed. And the Diet Coke can was Max’s favorite plaything through his visit. He could be happy for long stretches walking around on his towel, eating and pecking at the can, occasionally flapping around for some head-sitting.
It was a good Christmas. Post coming later on the week’s reading material.
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brian stouder said on December 26, 2012 at 10:53 am
my questions are – at that moment – who had control of the remote?
And was its placement on the chopping block a poetic flourish? (I’m thinking it was a sly editorial comment. I was careful to ‘lose’ the remote a time or two, when the people who would immediately tune into “stoarge wars” [or whatever the hell] seemed to be looking for it)
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adrianne said on December 26, 2012 at 11:49 am
Merry, merry Christmas to the Nalligscenti! My mother-in-law had 23 for her Christmas feast – one turkey, a ham and a vegetarian lasagne for all varieties. Very mellow, very fun. Now we’re waiting for this Southern storm to come up and wallop us tonight. Brrr…
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nancy said on December 26, 2012 at 12:21 pm
Brian, that’s one of four remotes on the table, the lowest-ranking one, so no one gave a crap who had control. And that’s a clipboard, not a chopping block. Sorry to burst your bubble.
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Prospero said on December 26, 2012 at 1:09 pm
I’m no fan of the milquetoast twit David Gregory, but conservative politicians that routinely vote against assault weapon and high capacity magazine bans at the behest of the NRA going after Gregory in this fashion:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/26/david-gregory-police-investigation_n_2364637.html?ncid=webmail2
reach some sort of pinnacle of hypocrisy.
The numbers from Harper’s Index say more GOPers believe in demonic possession than believe in climate change:
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2012/12/22/more-republicans-believe-in-demonic-possession-than-climate-change/
And did Crapo blow up his own personal LDS godhead over his very own planet? I’m sure as hell he doesn’t believe he has given up the overbearing moral highground.
God bless us, everyone, even the non-believers. A few days ago when y’all discussed religious groups consigning everty other-believer to the flames of hell, I was thinking about one of my favorite things from parochial school in the Hills of Bloomfield, I was reminded of Pagan Babies, and how we got to name them. I lobbied a class and our nun for Lucifer (lat. Light Bearer), but I got nothing but a parents meeting with the principal and remonstrations.
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brian stouder said on December 26, 2012 at 1:41 pm
Well, all I’m sayin’ is that’s the nicest clipboard I’ve ever seen!
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brian stouder said on December 26, 2012 at 1:43 pm
(and indeed, I guess I’ve never seen a varnished chopping block, either)
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paddyo' said on December 26, 2012 at 2:26 pm
David in Chicago @ 13: Hope you enjoyed White Christmas, a longtime fave among my sibs and I. (“Mutual I’m shooah . . . “)But lo, what have T and Lo — Tom and Lorenzo — done with it? In case you or anyone else missed it (and if I missed it in previous comments, my apologies), Nancy’s favorite fashion snarkistas put up a fab-ulous deconstruction on Xmas Eve of the Bing-and-Dannie-and-Rosemary-and-Vera classic. Guaranteed to blow eggnog out your nostrils:
http://www.tomandlorenzo.com/2012/12/t-los-white-christmas.html
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MarkH said on December 26, 2012 at 2:47 pm
Prospero, yes conservatives are out in force on the Gregory/30 round magazine story, but your issue is really with the DC police. NBC called them for clearance to use it as a prop and they were told not to do it as posession of the magazine is illegal. NBC was warned but Gregory did it anyway:
http://www.politico.com/story/2012/12/cops-nbc-told-dont-use-gun-clip-85497.html
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brian stouder said on December 26, 2012 at 2:57 pm
Paddyo – that T & L White Christmas re-cap was very funny indeed!
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brian stouder said on December 26, 2012 at 3:05 pm
MarkH, I’m late to the party on this DC gun law/NBC thing, but it strikes me that the mistake NBC made was asking permission.
A news organization – even a “main stream media machine” (whatever the hell that is supposed to mean) has First Amendment protections, just as Mr PeeAir has Second Amendment protections.
If the DC police want to fine NBC, I’d say this will all go away; and if they want to make arrests, I say bring it!
The political funhouse-mirror that such a prosecution would provide might make for an interesting civics lesson for everyone
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Charlotte said on December 26, 2012 at 3:12 pm
Quiet Christmas morning at the cabin here … then I left Himself at home with a lasagne and the basketball on Tivo while I went to my dearest friends for a very noisy, very chatty, very boozy Christmas with all our beloved kids running around and lots of chatter. We love it, he hates it – -the wonder of elder-dating, everyone gets what they want. This year a lot of discussion about how those darling little girls are now a gaggle of gorgeous teenagers — now a week off work, there will be a book proposal! Last year I painted the kitchen during our furlough, this year I’m determined to have something I can try to sell …
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Jeff (the mild-mannered one) said on December 26, 2012 at 3:14 pm
Interesting idea: http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2012/12/gun-control-0
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MarkH said on December 26, 2012 at 3:29 pm
Oh, of course, Brian. If they didn’t want anything to get in the way of that stunt on MTP, then they were stupid to check with law enforcement officials. Your noted first amendment ‘protections’ notwithstanding, there are two problems with your post: a.-Gregory held the goddamn thing up for millions to see, while, b.-everyone knows he is in Washington DC, where it’s illegal to possess such a thing. By your words, Gregory could commit assault while on the air, and he has some sort of first amendment protection? I don’t have a dog in this DC Police/NBC fight, but they do have themselves in a conundrum.
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brian stouder said on December 26, 2012 at 4:17 pm
By your words, Gregory could commit assault while on the air, and he has some sort of first amendment protection?
If one equates possession with assault, why then – all of Mr LahPeeAir’s gun-owning NRA members are similarly guilty!
Or put another way, if Gregory actually committed assault while on the air, he would most certainly face criminal charges as well as a civil suit (no doubt), from whoever he assaulted.
But I think a journalist holding up a thing which is illegal, as part of her (or his) reportage, would almost surely be well within the protections of the First Amendment. For example, if a report is being prepared about prostitution, a reporter might well speak to a practitioner of that activity, in a place that might be deemed a public nuisance; and if that reporter was arrested for frequenting a public nusiance, and if I was on the jury, I’d have no problem at all acquitting that reporter – assuming that the reporter wasn’t engaged in sexual contact
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Prospero said on December 26, 2012 at 4:29 pm
Mark H.: I assume you are ignoring the ridiculous extent to which the GOP thinks it should make law for the District ( the white man’s burden) in the last five decades. Aside from anything else, people that are bought and paid for by the NRA and the Koch Bros. Kriminal Konspiracy have no business expressing outrage about David Gregory’s banana clip, when they vote consistently to keep these monstrosities legal. And the GOPer loonatic fringe House runs DC, Mark, so don’t underestimate the heavy thumb of Teabanger GOPers on the scales of justice in this case. If nothing else, Gregory can spend a night in jail (I’m living proof it won’t damage anybody permanently) and emerge with something approximating journalistic credibility and vestigial cojones. The putrid hypocrisy of the Congressional gun nut buzzards was my only point in the first place, and doubting their influnce on the MPD is ridiculous. The GOPers in Congress have the DC cops by the balls.
Y’all know how it’s a joy to give a well-chosen gift and be on hand for a delighted response? I spent yesterday with my brother Dave and his family in Savannah, the Boston of the South. His wife Susan nee Dress, who used to teach Espanol (aka Senorita Vestita), was a family friend before Dave married her,a pure joy to spend time with, and a great cook. So anyway, Nancy’s cohorts at Kickstarter (Wars of Men, and when do I see the movie?) convinced me to donate and subsequently I was talked into a donation for this:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2098161829/comida-latina-an-illustrated-cookbook
An astounding work of art, all hand-made, and a glorious gift to a Sis-in Law that collects cookbooks. One of my favorite gifts I’ve ever given.
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Prospero said on December 26, 2012 at 4:31 pm
Mark H. @48: God you folks get pretzelized when you to try to legalize and moralize.
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LAMary said on December 26, 2012 at 4:31 pm
I think David Gregory is kind of a jerk anyway. Just sayin.
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ROGirl said on December 26, 2012 at 4:34 pm
I just got home a while ago, had to shovel the driveway before I could settle in for the night. The snow just started a few hours ago and all the roads are covered with snow. I drove 30 mph down I-75, one accident along the way, not a bad one. Luckily traffic is light today.
Christmas eve at a friend’s sister’s house. A big Mexican family with many nieces and nephews, and their little ones. Pinto beans, tamales and prime rib.
Cooz, you’re really on a roll. Kudos.
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David in Chicago said on December 26, 2012 at 8:05 pm
Paddyo’, thanks for sharing that T&L deconstruction of White Christmas – what a hoot!
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MarkH said on December 26, 2012 at 8:10 pm
Prospero, it’s all a matter of consistency within the legalities, if you will, and certainly not about me moralizing. You correctly point out that the right-wingers have made a lot of hay about the magazine being flashed by Mr. Gregory. My only point was righties found out AFTER the DC police had an issue with it as being illegal, and it is a conundrum for both NBC and the cops. You laid it all at the feet of conservatives. In any case it was a calculated stunt by Gregory and it may backfire. I don’t particularly care one way or the other on this as it’s classic Gregory, he made his point, and as LAMary says, he’s pretty much of a jerk anyway. UPDATE: one report out late today (from TMZ, of all people; how would they know?) has it that the cops said the magazine’s use was OK as long as it was empty.
Of course he would face charges, Brian. By intoning the 1st amendment in the magazine issue, you left room for Gregory have freedom-of-speech cover if he were to commit another type of crime while on-air. And, Brian, you’re really stretching it in your second sentence re: the NRA. You can’t associate assault from possession because the vast majority of NRA members live outside DC, or other areas where possession of the magazine is illegal. Assault is, of course, illegal everywhere, last I checked.
And for the record, I do own a number of firearms, mostly .22s, and am an NRA member. Only, not as proud a member as I was on December 13, and even less so after December 21. I’m probably fairly typical of a statement made by a local writer friend who described long-time, or native Wyoming residents thusly: you haven’t fired any of your weapons in 10 years, yet you still need more. Guns are part of the culture in the west, but it’s not a gun culture per se, certainly not of the type Bob Costas referred to a few weeks ago. The vast majority of the population here treat their weapons with a healthy respect and indeed an underlying fear of the consequences. Most weapons are for hunting or plinking, but there are a fair number for self protection. And they are kept secure. Even here in Teton County, a blue oasis, if you will, in a sea of Wyoming red. Most voters are registered republicans, but Obama carried this county in ’08 and ’12. This is because most of the large number of lefties here don’t care about a political affiliation, so aren’t democratic party members. But they also wouldn’t mind a bit having the label ‘gun-totin’ liberals’.
Wayne LaPierre’s problem is he didn’t get the message that the Mayans were talking about the NRA and he is regrettaby taking a classic lobbyist’s position: never give an inch on your cause. My guess is he will really be screaming when the president takes executive action on ammo and high-capacity magazines here very shortly.
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Connie said on December 26, 2012 at 8:54 pm
We took off on our errands in time to beat the snow – we thought – and really got caught up in it. Now it’s been coming down for several hours. My husband calls walking the little dog in this kind of snow “dog snow plowing.”
Brian, I drove the Trader Joe’s scooter and hit the apple display which turned out to be on wheels and ready to roll. Whoops.
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Connie said on December 26, 2012 at 8:57 pm
I just discovered that my husband took my picture in the Trader Joe’s scooter. Love the bumper sticker. http://aroundcommerce.blogspot.com/2012/12/charles-shaw-for-president.html .
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brian stouder said on December 26, 2012 at 9:49 pm
Connie – I think it’s marvelous that you got out, even despite the snow!
And indeed, I’m sure I’d have felt self-conscious (at first) if it were me, but people getting around on those things is not an unusual sight.
My fine young son and I made a few Christmas Eve stops while in Logansport, including at their big new Walmart; and that place was as busy as any store I’ve ever been in, and now that I think back on it, we saw at least a dozen different ladies and gentlemen in scooters, including younger folks and one attractive woman who was rather under-dressed for the weather, I thought….but we digress.
And indeed, as Siskel and Ebert taught us, you cannot have an automobile chase without a fruit-cart getting scattered all over hell! So, I say – well done!
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Deborah said on December 26, 2012 at 11:54 pm
We went to the Santa Fe WalMart today. I can’t believe I actually did that on the day after Christmas. I never go to Walmart and to pick this day to go was bad judgement on my part. Talk about depressing. Come to think about it I don’t want to think about it anymore. So I’m signing off. Goodnight all.
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