What are you doing Xmas day? [Archive]

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matauri

12-15-2003, 01:48 AM

With Xmas day only around the corner, I thought it would be cool to hear what everyones plans are for the day & what you will be eating :-)

I will be spending most of the day at the beach and then going surfcatting in the early evening, then coming home & having xmas bbq (nite time) with family at my place. Then off down south for some more surfcatting on Boxing day for a couple of days :-)

For dinner we will prob have bbq, salad, fruit, seafood & trifles & icecream :-)

So what are you up to ? :-)

Cindy

minstrel

12-15-2003, 02:12 AM

So it's true? Aussies really do throw everything on the barbie? Including corn flakes and poached eggs? ;-)

carbonize

12-15-2003, 03:26 AM

I'll be doing a twelve hour shift, 0700 - 1900.

Narasinha

12-15-2003, 03:54 AM

I'll be doing a twelve hour shift, 0700 - 1900.

That's funny, I'll be doing the 19:00 - 07:00, on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

ldyguique

12-15-2003, 04:31 AM

I'll get the day off from work; however, I have to work the dayafter Xmas; so, this precludes me doing another trip down to North Carolina. as I did for Thanksgiving, and doing the "family" day. I live with an adult daughter and she and I will likely do the schleppin' around things that we normally do . . .be on the net, watch tv, read, nap, etc. We will probably cook a special meal, but nothing has been planned in particular yet.

I raised five kids who are located at substantial distances. Next year, I'm looking forward to Xmas with three of my daughters, my son-in-law, and the grandkids. as we'll all be in Anchorage, Alaska.

12-15-2003, 09:43 AM

since Starbucks is closed (the only day of the year) there is really nothing to do/nowhere else to go [South Florida] except to the movies where the same ten movies are playing in every theatre in the entire state.

all my relatives live in either new york or abroad and i was fortunate enough to spend a week with everyone near and dear to zana and me during Thanksgiving holiday where we all stayed at
The Breakers (http://www.thebreakers.com), which is a world famous hotel just about a half mile from where we live and it is probably more famous for being the world's most pretentious & extravagant place ever created-- so we spent a week w/ mom & dad & siblings etc...and then everyone flew back home and that was all quite enough family stuff for me for 2003...there is a reason why i chose to live at least 1000 miles from my parents. lol

so this christmas really is just another work day because well......my office is in my home and well....the only reason i leave my home is for zana and i to walk on the beach and watch the sunrise..etc.....i've become a real geek & don't even like christmas parties in florida because all of my "friends" (or former friends) are really a bunch of as$#&@*s as i use to be heavily involved in the music/entertainment industry down here and i can truly say that 99% of that entire industry is 100% moron. nuf said on that----florida is really just a state of collective pariahs anyway it shouldn't surprise me anymore that i dont' like most of the citizens here lol...i think that zana and i like to stay in and cook and watch dvd's and walk our dog shayna----these have sorta become our hobbies...i'm sure many of you can relate....... so that will probably be our christmas day too...just with lots of presents for each other as we have our cottge all decorated w/ lights & a fiber-optic christmas tree & such......

contrary to popular belief i also DO work aside from posting up nonsense on WPW all day lol.....and since now you know that christmas will be a work day this is what i will be looking at all day as there are hundreds of these satelite phographs now all over my officehttp://webpageturner.com/satelite_img_delray.jpg

of the three (rather large) web projects i'm currently contracted for....TheLoveSearchEngine.com™
(doorway page at http://webpageturner.com/love_search_engine )

is the most exiting i think because of all the technologies we're employing...
slated for release in the spring of 2004, TheLoveSearchEngine.com™ will be like a http://match.com meets http://peopledata.com where you will also have direct access to peoples' (and/or your match's/date's/newlove's) records, criminal records, bank/mortgage liens, marriage records, legal files, and even
THE SATELITE PHOTOGRAPH of someone's given address......so if someone is telling you that they live in a Taj Majal and you see that it's a houseing complex...well then your new onLine "match" is also a liar.......

the whole idea behind all this is to (i have built two other dating services before)
empower people with a little more "truth" weapons becasue the fact that people lie through their teeth all the time has been the chief complaint of online dating service users, i've found.....

but there are many many bugs in the system still....and well like the satelite photo above...well, the address on it.....828 N lake ave in delray beach florida........is actually about 1/2 block from were the blue pin-pointer is...............a result that could be disasterous even though it's so close to its intended target picture.....just imagine when the disgruntled lover shows up at the wrong house to break the wrong person's headlights in, when the cheating lover actually lives just right down the block??? lol......

so you see that we have A LOT work still to do....lol........

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Daren (& zana too) ;-)
http://WebPageTurner.com

wenwilder

12-15-2003, 06:31 PM

Ahhhh the holidays. Of all the days of the year Halloween is my favorite. Unfortunately we're not talking ghosts and goblins here. :)

The Christmas requirements must be fullfilled, thus I'll be spending a dreaded day at my fathers house. Pretending that I enjoy the family rhetoric of: "Why don't you stop by more often? - "You really need to get out of the house more often." and of course, my favorite, "What kind of work do you do again?" And I will politely explain it for the millionth time to a family of computer illiterate neanderthals, that won't remember a word a said five second after I've spoken it.

I will, however, irritate them by using big words every chance I get. Words like 'keyboard', 'moniter', and 'internet' receive looks of huh? every time and gratefully bring a smile to my face. :)

With any luck only one sister will be there Christmas morning so it won't be a black tie affair but a pajama gathering. My older sister, unfortunately, believes in lace and frills and all that 'girlie' stuff that should be banned!

As for my brothers, I like most of them, when they aren't irritating me. They bother me to much and I have permission to lock them out of the house and ignore them. Dad said I could! (That was when I was 15 though. He also said I'm to old to do that and I should try to get a long with them now that we're all grown up. I asked him to define 'grown-up'?)

Dad will make us wait until AFTER breakfast to open presents. Breakfast of course will be sasauge, egg and cheese souffle' - if that's what you want to call it. Which is never ready before we open presents, thank goodness! (later we'll have the yearly discussion of why I never eat with the family - me + meat? ya, that'll happen! I wonder what part of vegetarian they don't understand?)

The good news though is I love my family dearly! And when the traditional snowball fight begins I make sure I hit each and everyone of them! (If there's no snow we use mud, we're a creative bunch! The added bonus is it really irritates my step-mom when we run through the house all muddy.) ;)

The holidays are a time for family, friends, and fun. Creating memories you can play "Remember when...." with time and time again. Hope everyone's holiday is as perfect as perfect can be!

The End :)

sonnie

12-15-2003, 08:26 PM

Well, now living here on the Oregon Coast, it just doesn’t seem the same as what I
remember as a traditional Christmas raising the kids back in Wyoming.

I remember it as yesterday. Getting up in the morning to three young children (none of
which I recognized until my second cup of coffee), jumping up and down on the bed.
Opening presents, busting up fights over the video game controllers, and truly enjoying the
morning.

Then after shoveling my way through the snow to the barbecue, finding it was out of
propane, kicking the pickup into 4-wheel drive and cussing my way down to fill the tank, I
was ready to get the day rolling. After cooking brunch steaks, making a toddy and
hopping into the pool, well onto it, since it was frozen, I would enjoy a short nap.
Awakening to find myself covered with a foot of snow, it was time to greet the relatives.
After the obligatory stumbled greetings to people I didn’t know, or had forgotten for one
reason or another, I was treated to hearing Uncle Somebody...who was deaf, play White
Christmas on my 1972 Gibson SG (never before touched by anyone but me) through a 300
watt amplifier. Then Uncle John or Tom or Joe (one of those) was ready to show his
scars from his last open-heart surgery. Aunt Dotty or Lotty or Molly (one of those) was
confused as to why I had changed my children’s names. After convincing her I was not my
Cousin David, we got on to dessert. Gosh I miss those days.

This year we will go to breakfast, courtesy of the local Casino. Probably run down to the
beach and watch the waves, come home, make a toddy, and watch “It’s a wonderful life”.

Thanks All and Merry Christmas

matauri

12-15-2003, 11:48 PM

Wen !! Are you leading my parallel life ! LOL

Your interactions with your family echo what mine are too ! Cept we use water cannons instead of snow balls! :-)

Sonnie you brought back visions of my childhood then! Many a time I can remeber my mother asking if dad had gas for the bbq...only to go and find it empty & dad kicking the bbq as if it was its fault! Men ! :-)

For the workers on Xmas Day.... we have that kind of staggered Xmas day, we have people coming & going all day because of work committments. Thats why I am stuck having it at my house this year, because everyone lives about 250km's apart from each other, and I am in the middle! (makes mental : should think about moving b4 next year!) ;-)

Cindy

sonnie

12-16-2003, 02:12 AM

Matauri

I guess things are the same worldwide. We experience the same, expect the same, and Love the same.

Sounds like your Dad was a real trouper.

Happy Holidays from Sonnie.

ofoglada

12-16-2003, 02:39 AM

I'll be advoiding the inlaws ;). Spending time with the wife and 3 year old. Probibly visiting with my parents a bit. They are the sain ones out of the set LOL. Other than that Christmas is pretty routine

carbonize

12-16-2003, 04:45 AM

Christmas is just another day when all is said and done. I'm not a christian, December 25th is actually the day of a sun god. The following is from http://www.toolong.com/christmas.htm

The Encyclopaedia Britannica reports that "The traditional customs connected with Christmas have developed from several sources as a result of the coincidence of the celebration of the birth of Christ with the pagan agricultural and solar observations at midwinter. In the Roman world the Saturnalia (December 17) was a time of merrymaking and exchange of gifts. December 25 was also regarded as the birth date of the Iranian mystery god Mithra, the Sun of Righteousness."

Colliers Encyclopedia agrees. Quote: "After the triumph of Constantine, the church at Rome assigned December 25 as the date for the celebration of the feast, possibly about A.D. 320 or 353. By the end of the fourth century the whole Christian world was celebrating Christmas on that day, with the exception of the Eastern churches, where it was celebrated on January 6. The choice of December 25 was probably influenced by the fact that on this day the Romans celebrated the Mithraic feast of the Sun-god (natalis solis invicti), and that the Saturnalia also came at this time."

Both encyclopedias plainly reveal that the source of the celebration of December 25 is the birthday of Mithra, the pagan sun god.

Narasinha

12-16-2003, 10:58 AM

I always celebrate Yule with my pagan friends. That way we get to open presents a few days early! For my daughters though, I always visit them with Christmas presents.

Christmas, Hannukah, Yule, Kwanzaa, Saturnalia... I guess it doesn't matter what you call it, or what day it is. For me it's a time to gather with friends and family to celebrate the fact that we have each other.

paulhiles

12-16-2003, 11:36 AM

Christmas, Hannukah, Yule, Kwanzaa, Saturnalia... I guess it doesn't matter what you call it, or what day it is. For me it's a time to gather with friends and family to celebrate the fact that we have each other.
Here, here Narasinha, I second that!! It's the time of year when it makes you take stock of just how lucky you are... and sharing that time with friends and family is just the best!
I'm off up to Thame near Oxford to spend Christmas with my sister and her boyfriend, and my Mum and step-dad... (normally I spend it with my Mum and extended family in the North East) so it will be a nice change of venue this year!

And New Year promises to be fun too.. I'm off to a friend's house.. and they're having a 70's fancy dress theme! He's said I can just wear anything from the back of my wardrobe.. how cruel is that!? LOL!

Paul

minstrel

12-16-2003, 11:56 AM

New Year promises to be fun too.. I'm off to a friend's house.. and they're having a 70's fancy dress theme! He's said I can just wear anything from the back of my wardrobe.. how cruel is that!?
I can't even do that any more... in the early 90s, my kids started raiding the back of my closet for Halloween costumes and there's nothing left now...
;-)

matauri

12-16-2003, 12:43 PM

He's said I can just wear anything from the back of my wardrobe.. how cruel is that!? LOL!

I would be wondering more ... "how true is that?" ;-)

Fess up, have you got a wardrobe with polyesters in it? Are those pants just a little flarey at the bottom? Or maybe those lapels are just a little wide ;-)

Joys of being a female....the mini just refuses to go out of fashion :-)

Back on topic..... ;-)

I think we have decided to have a street party this year for New Years Eve. (I live in a cul-de-sac...a dead end street) The cops have warned they will be out in force doubling the infringment for drunk drivers, etc. So think a lot of people know that taxis will be too heavily booked, so why not party at home ... or in your street. IMO, a party is a party, no matter where it is ;-)

Cindy

Steven Glover

12-16-2003, 01:23 PM

rocky1

12-16-2003, 08:43 PM

carju1

12-17-2003, 02:22 PM

Christmas Eve I will be the last one to bed. Christmas morning I will be the first one up. I will then wait about two hours for my kids to get up. I don 't get it. When I had to wake my parents up two or three times because I was so excited about opening presents I couldnt wait for them to get up. Now I am so excited about my kids opening presents I can't wait for them to get up. My kids will sleep till 11:00AM if you let them. :)
I'm more like your kids Steven and thankfully so is my daughter.

Well do the x-mas dec's on the 24th and then about 2am finish layingthe prenents under the tree and hanging the filled stockings in the kids rooms. From about 8 onwards my wife will be making 'get sounds' which I can usually ignore until 10ish. Then we'll have to get our daughter up (9 yr old) and our son 18 who are both late sleepers. As we live a long way from parents it will just be the 4 of us.

After opening presents we'll loll around play with the toys make phone calls etc. Then we're off to the local hotel for a umpteen course meal at 4pm. My wife cooks nearly every other day in the yaer so we always try to eat out on x-mas day.

Julian

matauri

12-17-2003, 05:14 PM

My wife cooks nearly every other day in the yaer so we always try to eat out on x-mas day.

Marry me Julian! ;-)

Mums get so neglected at Xmas. They do most if not all the xmas preparations & shopping, spend most of xmas day running around after people, then have to clean up the after xmas. Xmas is pretty exhausting for mums! I think that was a loverly thought Julian :-)

Cindy

minstrel

12-17-2003, 07:34 PM

Mums get so neglected at Xmas. They do most if not all the xmas preparations & shopping, spend most of xmas day running around after people, then have to clean up the after xmas. Xmas is pretty exhausting for mums!
When I was about 9 or so, my father insisted that my mom was going to have a restful Christmas and made reservations for Christmas dinner at a local restaurant. My mom fussed beforehand about it being a waste of money, said about pretty much everything she ate that she could have made it better (which was true), and afterwards said, "well, we're never going to do THAT again!". It turns out she liked spending the day cooking and looking after the rest of us.

But I must admit, I've never met another woman who felt that way (*sigh*)...

...or for that matter a teenager...

Steven Glover

12-17-2003, 09:31 PM

That sounds just like my grandmother :)

LauraB

12-18-2003, 12:44 PM

Well, two of my three children will be home, and a new grandson for his first Christmas. Plus my hubby and my best friend and her son, who have shared Christmas with us for the last 20 years. Damn, how did we get soooooooo old?

We will eat (don't all holidays require continual and excessive eating?) our traditional standing rib roast with all of the trimmings. Don't know how this became a tradition! She is Native American and I come from mostly Norwegian stock. Guess neither of us was willing to make lutefisk a tradition!

Then my BF and I will leave the mess for others to clean-up and drive 380 miles so we can spend Friday cooking (and yes, that means another day of excessive eating!) for a memorial dinner for our sister-friend who passed last Dec. 26.

Here is hoping that you all have a wonderful day!

LauraB

12-18-2003, 12:59 PM

minstrel says:
It turns out she liked spending the day cooking and looking after the rest of us.

But I must admit, I've never met another woman who felt that way (*sigh*)...

Excuse me! That's the best part of any gathering! The cooking, the fussing, the making sure that everybody has their favorite food (good news for them - most of the stuff they like for the snack stuff theal that gets eaten before the meal, I would rather starve than eat... oysters, mushrooms, olives and so on).

There are some of us women out there! And I suspect a few men too, that while we may not cook everyday anymore - really love the fuss of a holiday meal!

wenwilder

12-19-2003, 07:56 PM

minstrel

12-19-2003, 11:36 PM

I love the fuss of holiday meals too, unfortunately my aunt doesn't seem to like to 'fuss' at me to get out of the kitchen while she's trying to prepare the meal.
Wen... you have to try to think more like a man, or a teenager. Next time you're in her kitchen, get in her way, drop the turkey on the floor, spill beet juice on her counters, drop a wine glass or a sugar bowl, and step on the cat while you try to carry the mashed potatoes to the table...

It's pretty much a guarantee that next time she'll say, "Wen, dear... you look a little peaked... why don't you go set on the counch and rest while the rest of us get things ready out here?"

I mean, men and teens have been doing that since... oh, I don't know... the Garden of Eden?

Of course, you do understand that this conversation never happened...

LauraB

12-22-2003, 11:41 AM

Isn't it part of the holiday tradition to get your hand smacked at least once and told to get out of the kitchen at least 3 times? If it's not I think it should be! ;)

Oh Wen, the ugly truth is we women get to a certain age where we are no longer shooed out of the kitchen! Myself, I run the kitchen and my girls know that once they step in they are stuck. So, they have learned what my hubby refers to as Norwegian deafness. I prefer to call it selective hearing.

The oldest one had to call a dozen times while cooking Thanksgiving dinner for help. (6 that is SIX times while making the gravy!) Now had she stayed in the kitchen while at home she would have known how to make gravy!

You either like the heat of the kitchen or you don't! I am a control freak - I admit it. And I exercise that control in the kitchen! Luckily I am also a good cook, so am forgiven by one and all.

wenwilder

12-22-2003, 04:30 PM

I tend to be a very good cook - unfortunately my family doesn't believe that Thanksgiving should be meat free! Instead of allowing me to show off my culinary talents I'm always invited over to THEIR houses for the holiday's.

The sad truth is, I never spent time in the kitchen unless it was to do the dishes as quickly as possible after school so I could get on with MY plans! :)

Cooking is not for the lighthearted, but then neither is tormenting the cook! ;)

rocky1

12-22-2003, 04:42 PM

I love the fuss of holiday meals too, unfortuantely my aunt doesn't seem to like to 'fuss' at me to get out of the kitchen while she's trying to prepare the meal.

Isn't it part of the holiday tradition to get your hand smacked at least once and told to get out of the kitchen at least 3 times? If it's not I think it should be! ;)

You might try showing her your Gender Genie scores, and then try standing in the way! Speaking from a man's perspective, that'll get you smacked or shooed one, at least until carving "The Bird" time, upon which you could simply plead, "Conscientious Objection on the Grounds of Culinary Beliefs."

mikmik

12-24-2003, 12:38 AM

Wen the wanting to get smacked one! also wrote:
I tend to be a very good cook - unfortunately my family doesn't believe that Thanksgiving should be meat free! Instead of allowing me to show off my culinary talents I'm always invited over to THEIR houses for the holiday's.

One word: Breaded, chicken boullion flavored jello from a turkey shaped mould. Plenty of pre dinner schnapps, spritzers, double rum 'n ' eggnogs.....
Voila!

wenwilder

12-24-2003, 07:05 AM

One word: Breaded, chicken boullion flavored jello from a turkey shaped mould. Plenty of pre dinner schnapps, spritzers, double rum 'n ' eggnogs.....
Voila!

Mik you have out done yourself! lol

Chicken boullion flavored jello? Just the thought of that makes me glad I don't eat jello! lol

A good, vegetarian, holiday dinner is:

Sweet potato's with a nice pecan glaze. The traditional green bean casserole. Mashed potato's with a covering of broccoli, califlower, carrots, and mushrooms, smotherd with a dark mushroom gravy. Stuffing with cashews (or tofu depending on your preference) and sweet corn, on or off the cob, boiled in salted butter water. And that's not mentioning deserts, salads, etc. ;)

If you decide to get real creative you can always have Mock Turkey! :)

Mock Turkey
8 C brown rice, cooked
1/2 C oil 3 C onions, chopped fine
6 C pecans, ground
1T + 1t garlic salt
4 skewers, 1/4 inch
1T +1 t McKay's Chicken-Style seasoning
Grind brown rice through the food chopper.
Saute onions; add to cooked ground rice.
Mix nuts and seasonings into rice mixture.
Cover entire baked dressing with rice mixture,
Form in shape of a turkey.
Save enough mixture for two "legs" ("drumsticks").
Attach drumsticks to turkey with skewer sticks.
Basting
1 egg, beaten
2 T whole milk OR Ener-G egg replacer.**
Mix together.
Brush over entire form.
Bake at 350 F for 30-45 minutes or until well done. Should be golden brown.
** Buy at a health food store. Follow directions on package.

I don't know about anyone else, but I've never truly had the courage to try Mock Turkey! lol

minstrel

12-24-2003, 10:22 AM

We're gonna need the recipes for mock cranberry sauce, mock gravy, and mock wine to go with that, Wen...

That reminds me of that old TV show... Mock and Mindy... the debut of Robin Williams on the little screen... ;o)

mikmik

12-24-2003, 01:10 PM

wen wrote
Stuffing with cashews (or tofu depending on your preference)...

That's a tough one! LOL (almonds, please?)

Minstrel wrote
That reminds me of that old TV show... Mock and Mindy... the debut of Robin Williams on the little screen... ;o)

Mock and WENdy? nanoo nanoo

ronniethedodger

12-24-2003, 05:19 PM

That reminds me of that old TV show... Mock and Mindy... the debut of Robin Williams on the little screen... ;o)

Boy I am going to show my age on this one...his debut was on Happy Days actually. The series was spun-off of that one appearance.

In comparison though, it took Laverne & Shirley about 3 appearances I think to spin off of Happy Days. =)

wenwilder

12-24-2003, 05:33 PM

Didn't everyone get their start on Happy Days or Mayberry? (Does this make me old? No, it just means I don't sleep a lot!) ;)

We're gonna need the recipes for mock cranberry sauce, mock gravy, and mock wine to go with that, Wen...

Careful what you ask for Minstrel ;)

Mock Turkey Gravy

1/4 cup butter or vegan margerine
1 cup garbanzo flour
1 tsp basil
1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp black pepper
3 cups water
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tsp lemon juice
2-3 Tsp nutritional yeast

Combine first 5 ingredients, stirring constantly over medium-high
flame until lightly toasted. When toasted, gradually add all the
water, stirring constantly to prevent lumping (a wire wisk is
ideal). When blended, add last 3 ingredients and mix well. Makes
about 1 quart.

MOCK CRANBERRY SAUCE

1 box strawberry Jell-O
1/2-cup red-hots, if desired
1 cup boiling water
1 cup apple sauce

Dissolve Jell-O and red-hots in boiling water. Add apple sauce. Stir occasionally during setting time.

Serve as a congealed salad.

Mock wine = grape juice ;)

Ask and ye shall receive :)

minstrel

12-24-2003, 05:41 PM

OK... I admit it... I am speechless... and dumbfounded... and amazed...

...and the winner (clearly) is... WENWILDER!!

:o)

ldyguique

12-24-2003, 05:57 PM

And, I think I've figured out "why" Wne's family prefers to eat at non-wen homes. :)

wenwilder

12-24-2003, 06:13 PM

And, I think I've figured out "why" Wne's family prefers to eat at non-wen homes. :)

I am a very good cook, as long as you don't expect meat! lol If you want meat at my house you ask my oldest son to cook. He makes a great pizza!

The holidays are great though when you're a vegetarian - fruity food fights in the kitchen are easy to clean up, don't hurt as much as hot food, and if you aim right you can eat the while you fight. ;)

ronniethedodger

12-24-2003, 06:27 PM

And, I think I've figured out "why" Wne's family prefers to eat at non-wen homes. :)

...lest us also not forget that it is when Wen woks, is when Wen's guests walks. But when Wen's wines bring no whines. ;0)

Brittany

12-24-2003, 07:16 PM

One interesting thing is that my family always celebrates a bit earlier than everyone else. My mother's side of the family already had their Christmas dinner last weekend, and we've exchanged and opened gifts. My immediate family (mom, dad, sis) open our gifts on Christmas Eve. Then, on Christmas Day, we usually celebrate with my father's side of the family, where there's always a big potluck. The potluck is held at a different house each year, and whoever is kind enough to volunteer to be the host(ess) doesn't have to do any cooking. Of course, nobody else appreciates my vegetarian dishes -- btw, thanks for those recipes, Wynn! ;)

Anyway, after that's done tomorrow, I've made plans to go spend some time with a few friends of mine who don't have anywhere to go on Christmas Day. And after that, I'll probably get some much-needed rest...