Holiday Plans

[jone]

Well,

We're at that time of year again.  Looking back over the previous year, I realize I have much to be thankful for.

I would be curious to know what type of holiday plans members of the forum have.   Here in the US, Thursday is Thanksgiving.   And while I don't particularly celebrate the turkey and stuffing, I do cook for my family.   My kids have picked out a couple of holiday movies and I'll do a big breakfast that will tide over 'till afternoon.   Then my kids will head over to their mother's side of the family and have all of the fixins.   I will curl up on the couch and dream of sugar plums and beautiful FSU Kovas.

Christmas is another tale.  My kids and ex come over and we have a brunch in the morning.  Then I head up to my sister's family and have a celebration there.

New Years this year includes Ded Moroz.   I will be in Sochi for the turning of the year and we will celebrate the President's well wish to Russia followed by presents, celebration and a little skiing and sight seeing.   All told it looks like I'll be in Russia for one or two weeks.  Whoops!  Can't forget the Irony of Fate.   

Happy holidays to you all and let us know what your plans are.

[BC]

Don't get butterball here, and folks work tomorrow, so Saturday we'll be hosting 15-20, chowing down on a huge, dry aged, very, slowly smoked brisket and ribs with all kinds of fix'ns 'n goodies on the side.

xmas? dunno yet, maybe travel and see some snow, or quiet home event with fireplaces going.

[GQBlues]

First time trying to deep fry the bird this year. I heard a lot of buzz about cooking it this way, although last year's bird was slow-baked, a la Boehner and it really came out awesome!

Since this will be the first time deep frying it (no, I'm not having any either. Maybe just a taste) I am also roasting a nice chunk of dry aged rib roast - in case... 

This is wife's favorite time of the year, and she's been busy picking up things for dessert.

Of course, shortly thereafter, shop, shop and shop some more! Any of you wanna pick me up a nice present, look no further. I only want a DJI Maverick Pro for the 'xm' and I'll be happy as a clam.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

[DaveNY]

Our office shut down Tuesday and will reopen Monday. So I'm at home helping the wife clean because what else would we do this time of year? We're having guests over tomorrow for Thanksgiving dinner. The bird's massive, 25+ pounds. My wife's found a cooking method that should knock at least an hour off cooking time. Something about high heat to start.

My wife's been cleaning since Monday. Our bathroom on the main floor has been off limits since Tuesday so the kids have been using mine downstairs and the girls are saying I have to leave the seat down.

As for Christmas, too early. Maybe some Black Friday shopping online. Don't want to go near the stores but I'm sure I'll be dragged along when the wife goes shopping.

[LAman]

Well,

We're at that time of year again.  Looking back over the previous year, I realize I have much to be thankful for.

 

New Years this year includes Ded Moroz.   I will be in Sochi for the turning of the year and we will celebrate the President's well wish to Russia followed by presents, celebration and a little skiing and sight seeing.   All told it looks like I'll be in Russia for one or two weeks.  Whoops!  Can't forget the Irony of Fate.   

Happy holidays to you all and let us know what your plans are.

Hmm, again I will be in Russia for New Years. Last year was in SPb for celebrations. Most likely in Moscow for New Years, incredible celebrations, city is lit up.

Funny you should mention Sochi, I will take side trip, not sure which city yet.

[BillyB]

First time trying to deep fry the bird this year. I heard a lot of buzz about cooking it this way,

I'm trying it this year too. Curious to what people have raved about. Lowe's was selling a deep fryer and peanut oil. Frying in peanut oil makes food tastier.

[DaveNY]

I'm trying it this year too. Curious to what people have raved about. Lowe's was selling a deep fryer and peanut oil. Frying in peanut oil makes food tastier.

I've seen videos on Youtube of turkeys that have been deep fried. The big advantage is the turkey is cooked quicker at about 3-4 minutes per pound vs 20 minutes per pound for turkeys done in the oven. A 20 pound turkey could be ready in as little as 1 hour using the deep frying method. Of course if you scr*w up the  deep fryer could overflow cause a fire and burn down your house.

[ML]

We have a lot of property work to do over Ochka's fall break from University, so not having anyone here for Thanksgiving nor going to anyone else's.

A very large tree blew down in our far yard last month which scared the sheeeeet out of us realizing what could happen because we had several similarly large trees near our house.

So a couple of weeks ago I offered the trees free to woodworkers as we hated to just have the beautiful oak trees burned for firewood.  So a guy who has a portable sawmill came with a couple of workers and took down 7 trees.  They then cut up the main trunks into 8 foot and longer segments and left the rest for us to cut up for firewood.  A big job to clean it all up, but we were relieved to have someone else take down the trees and take away the huge sections.  They had equipment to pull trees into safe sections of our yard.  Did a little damage to some remaining trees, but they will recover I think.

A long story to say that we will just have a 2 pound or so slice of turkey breast to cook, along with the standard trimmings.  Ochka saw some fresh cranberries so decided to make cranberry sauce herself rather than buy the standard can.  She also is going to make a pumpkin pie from scratch.

A local farm store is going to sell 18 inch chain saws on Friday for $99 which is about half price, so we plan to buy a couple if we get there in time.  We will also check out WalMart to see if they have a big sale on the 'faddish' air cookers.

Ochka still hasn't gotten her 10 year Green Card, so has decided against going to Ukraine for Christmas even as she missed going last summer.  The timeline for processing the 10 year Green Cards is 12 to 17.5 months.  She is at the 16 month point now.

[mhr7]

Spending my 9th consecutive Thanksgiving in the FSU today. I'll get together later in the evening with a few other ex-pats and some Russian friends to have a small celebration at a local bar. Happy Thanksgiving!!

[GQBlues]

For once in my life I’d love to experience the four seasons in full, most notably autumn and this...

I think we’re done as lower left coasters. California has gone full nutty and LA is getting insanely crowded. Incoming Newsome and the liberal numbnuts with their sanctuary aspirations with increasing poverty rate, my once utopia is getting thrashed.

A few places we’ve scoped so far are Savannah, GA; Lake Tahoe, NV; Salt Lake, UT; or somewhere Vermont or New Hampshire...

For now getting into the spirit is in order.

[ML]

For once in my life I’d love to experience the four seasons in full, most notably autumn and this...

I think we’re done as lower left coasters. California has gone full nutty and LA is getting insanely crowded. Incoming Newsome and the liberal numbnuts with their sanctuary aspirations with increasing poverty rate, my once utopia is getting thrashed.

A few places we’ve scoped so far are Savannah, GA; Lake Tahoe, NV; Salt Lake, UT; or somewhere Vermont or New Hampshire...

For now getting into the spirit is in order.

- - - - -

Good move I would say.  I also left LA area many years ago as didn't want to raise my children there, the smog was unhealthy and earthquakes scared the sheeeeet out of me.
The big drawback, of course, was that LA was as great place for a career.

You two will also face some big challenges in finding the right spot to continue both of your careers on upward path.  CPA openings are not that hard to find, but the right 'fit' personnel wise is not so easy to find.

There are usually 10-12 'studies' published each year highlighting the 'best' places to live in USA.

One area to look at is the eastern foothills of the Appalachians from Virginia down to Georgia.
In my research many years ago that area was found by experts to have the most nearly perfect weather in the USA.

As a result, I bought raw land there 30 or so years ago near Hendersonville, NC as a retirement place.  Subsequently got into a lot of hassle with boundary lines, survey problems, etc., so I got really soured and sold out.  But the lure is still there if spouse might find a teaching job in that area after finishing her PhD.

[DaveNY]

Dinner's over, guests have gone. Ate too much turkey, too much stuffing, too much pumpkin pie, even too much salad. Just got back from taking the dog for an extended walk in the bitter cold, 22F. Dog's crazy, she seems to enjoy the cold. Now she's under the blankets with one of our daughters.

Tomorrow an extended run and light breakfast to work off some of this over indulgence.

[krimster2]

thanks for the report
all is quiet here in the Gulf of Mexico!
at this very moment it is 61 degree F
kids are asleep
so ya know what that means!
HOT TUB!!!!

[BillyB]

For once in my life I’d love to experience the four seasons in full, most notably autumn and this...

My wife and I go to the Bavarian themed town of Leavenworth, WA at least once a year. Some of the photos I posted here is of us in Leavenworth.

Ate big, , talked lots, watched football and was with 30+ family and friends at my mom's house. Right now my wife, MIL and sister went out to start Black Friday shopping early.

[SteveInBoston]

I missed out on Turkey.  Wifey to be and I are travelling in Bratislava and Vienna.  Spent turkey day shopping at an outlet mall SW of Vienna for Black Friday sales.  She wanted a coat and a pair of warm shoes.  Ended up getting her a wallet and hat, and getting me sweaters, socks, jeans and a puffy vest - she said my current clothes are dedushka style and I needed the new digs.

[GQBlues]

Outlet in Vienna?!?

Weekends almost over and finished with the outdoor decor and lighting today. Tomorrow we tackle indoors and the tree. Gotta have that. Mulled wine and eggnog...

This whole Black Friday has really gone insane. It’s almost like the ‘Purge’. Folks seem ready to kill or die for a deal. Literally.

http://blackfridaydeathcount.com/

Grandma being the first casualty. 

[DaveNY]

Managed to escape going shopping on Friday but the wife insisted the entire family go today. Only spent about 4 hours shopping. Our girls are 9 and their shopping gene seems to have kicked in because they're looking at all the clothes and seeing what combinations are colors coordinate and work best with their school backpack and a hundred other combinations.

My wife insisted I needed some socks and shirts just about the only things I can buy in stores like Macy's and Nordstrom almost everything else has to be ordered from stores catering to the extra tall.

[GQBlues]

White House Christmas Tree Delivery Tradition (including security):  $1,000,000.00 (taxpayers money)

FLOTUS Christmas-themed Decoration Celebration Tradition: $2,500,000.00 (taxpayers money)

Cost of ANY Christmas under Trump's Administration: PRICELESS, baby!

#4MoreYears!

[Maxx2]

First time trying to deep fry the bird this year. I heard a lot of buzz about cooking it this way, although last year's bird was slow-baked, a la Boehner and it really came out awesome!


Happy Thanksgiving to all!

It'll be Christmas turkey for me. I think the bird on the grocery store freezer is a turkey judging on its size.

[GQBlues]

...I think we’re done as lower left coasters. California has gone full nutty and LA is getting insanely crowded. Incoming Newsome and the liberal numbnuts with their sanctuary aspirations with increasing poverty rate, my once utopia is getting thrashed.

A few places we’ve scoped so far are Savannah, GA; Lake Tahoe, NV; Salt Lake, UT; or somewhere Vermont or New Hampshire...

For now getting into the spirit is in order.

To follow up on this, a new report is published regarding migration from California to all points out to the rest of the 49. The places I cited above is actually in the top-10 destination on this report. Wifey just added Denver, Colorado and/or Georgetown.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/article/where-people-are-moving-to-from-california/ss-BBQuXhG?ocid=1PRCDEFE#image=40

I no longer want to afford California...folks can pay for whatever the cost will be living there soon...

[GQBlues]

So the snowflakes PC squad at the View with nothing else to do discussed the decision of ‘banning’ this classic song.

[SteveInBoston]

Why do you watch the View?

[GQBlues]

Why do you watch the View?

 

Overheard the gals at work by the coffee machine yesterday.

[DaveNY]

So the snowflakes PC squad at the View with nothing else to do discussed the decision of ‘banning’ this classic song.

If radio stations are going to ban 'Baby it's cold outside' does that mean radio stations should also ban all the rap and hip hop music that mention b*tches, hoes and refer to rape and worse? Or about killing cops? That would put some artists out of business.

[GQBlues]

If radio stations are going to ban 'Baby it's cold outside' does that mean radio stations should also ban all the rap and hip hop music that mention b*tches, hoes and refer to rape and worse? Or about killing cops? That would put some artists out of business.

I doubt it as we're at a period in our society where inviting and hosting a terrorist organization like Black Lives Matter into the White House is openly acceptable.

The funny thing is, if the metoo movement is against 'Baby it's cold outside', have they even stopped and listened to the song 'Blurred Lines' ?

~ An aside: It's amazing how young Ricardo (Fantasy Island) Montalban was on that video. Almost didn't recognize him.