Something about Nothing, come join in........ Part 3

[Sharon G]

HEY, WHAT HAPPENED TO MY KITTY WITH THE GOGGLES? Guess I need to head on over to my user CP.

 

[Sharon G]

Hmmmm, she magically reappeared.

 

[AlexandNessa]

Hey guys, what are we yakking about?

We're supposed to get horrible weather here today, and poor Mike has to work. We have a 34 mile commute to work (one way), and we're not excused for Christmas, bad weather, nuclear fallout .... I am not worried about Mike so much as idiot truck drivers who think they can make it over the mountain in bad weather, jack knife, and then close the highway because there aren't any exits where they jack knife and they've managed to back up traffic for miles, and it's just really hard to get them help and un-jack knife them. Happens all the time. The weather has already started, and Mike works 3-11 tonight ... and FUG is his relief....

My family does this stupid gift exchange on Christmas (extended family, aunts, cousins, etc). Everyone buys a gift, gets a number and chooses in order. Anyone can take anyone else's gift. We've all done it, but here's the stupid part: you can't open the gift. You're taking someone else's unopened gift. We all open the gifts at the end. Last year I got stuck with a certificate that said "Congratulations. A donation has been made in your name to the Human Fund." Yes, funny, but I was a little annoyed that I had spent time and effort getting my gift and all I got was a Seinfeld reference, followed by some scratch-off lottery tickets that didn't win anything. My mom got a gift that she couldn't use but just about anyone else could. My brother got gift certificates to Dunkin Donuts, but he has no DD in the part of CA that he lives, but I go to Dunkin Donuts every night when I'm working midnights, etc. Stupid. I lobbied to have us open the gifts this year. My aunt and others vetoed that. So, I rethought my thoughtful present (which was a nice radio/clock/alarm/nature sounds/MP3 player). Instead, I designed a bag. On the front it says "I Mitt Romney '08." On the back it says "Merry Fricking Christmas, Butt Face." Then I put our family names with December 2007 on the bottom. I'll fill the bag with Christmas M&Ms and stupid lottery tickets.

I will instruct my mom and sister (who lobbied with me to open the presents this year) that they do NOT want my gift so it takes them out of the joke as they deserve. I have some ANGRY liberals in my family. I am not sure when becoming a liberal meant that you had to completely lose your sense of humor, but they have, and if I arrange correctly as I hope to do, one of said ANGRY liberals will get my thoughtfully inspired gift and get the hint that we should open the damn presents this year.

 

[AlexandNessa]

Ugggg. DISBOARDS were SLOOOOOOW. double post!

 

[marciemi]

Okay, I'm sitting by myself at work. Thought I'd have a couple hours free, but I actually had a ton of email to respond to when I got here so I guess I'm down to about a free hour (barring phone crises)! Everyone else is at the funeral (Boss's FIL).

Well - or so I thought. There are only 4 of us in the office, Boss, his partner, another agent/assistant, and me. I came in to cover phones while they were at the funeral at 11. About 11:30 partner calls and asks if he got any calls. I tell him no and ask him if they're done already. He asks "With what?" Told him I thought he was at the funeral and he had no idea it was today! Granted he was on the road all day yesterday visiting clients, but you'd think they might have let him know! Oops!

Okay, I'm going to try to go back and do some multiquoting - the DIS is going very S L O O W W L L Y Y for me too this morning for a change!

 

[RVGal]

My family does this stupid gift exchange on Christmas (extended family, aunts, cousins, etc). Everyone buys a gift, gets a number and chooses in order. Anyone can take anyone else's gift. We've all done it, but here's the stupid part: you can't open the gift. You're taking someone else's unopened gift. We all open the gifts at the end. Last year I got stuck with a certificate that said "Congratulations. A donation has been made in your name to the Human Fund." Yes, funny, but I was a little annoyed that I had spent time and effort getting my gift and all I got was a Seinfeld reference, followed by some scratch-off lottery tickets that didn't win anything. My mom got a gift that she couldn't use but just about anyone else could. My brother got gift certificates to Dunkin Donuts, but he has no DD in the part of CA that he lives, but I go to Dunkin Donuts every night when I'm working midnights, etc. Stupid. I lobbied to have us open the gifts this year. My aunt and others vetoed that. So, I rethought my thoughtful present (which was a nice radio/clock/alarm/nature sounds/MP3 player). Instead, I designed a bag. On the front it says "I Mitt Romney '08." On the back it says "Merry Fricking Christmas, Butt Face." Then I put our family names with December 2007 on the bottom. I'll fill the bag with Christmas M&Ms and stupid lottery tickets.

I will instruct my mom and sister (who lobbied with me to open the presents this year) that they do NOT want my gift so it takes them out of the joke as they deserve. I have some ANGRY liberals in my family. I am not sure when becoming a liberal meant that you had to completely lose your sense of humor, but they have, and if I arrange correctly as I hope to do, one of said ANGRY liberals will get my thoughtfully inspired gift and get the hint that we should open the damn presents this year.

Oh, to be a fly on the wall at Jodie's family Christmas exchange...

I have a friend who is an ANGRY liberal. I have my thoughts on liberalism and I have my thoughts on conservatism and most of my thoughts are actually spread between the two and very rarely go to the extreme on either side.

This one friend, she's not just an angry liberal, she's an activist. Wait, let me paint a better picture... she's a therapist, specializing in rape recovery... she's a board member on Take Back the Night and Men Against Violence... she's a lesbian... she's a vegan... and she and her life partner just had a baby. Got a mental image going now? We met when we worked at Domino's Pizza together in our late teens. She still had a sense of humor then. Actually, she still has a sense of humor unless anything you say sounds remotely political, or politically incorrect. I remember we were having dinner on the evening before Ronald Reagan's funeral. She was mad because all the television stations had nothing but coverage of the preparations for the funeral on. Ummm... like him or not, he was the PRESIDENT for 8 years. Big news, ya know? Would you say the same if it were Bill Clinton lying in state? Didn't think so. The mere mention of the word "republican" ticks her off. WTH?

 

[bubba's mom]

Have I posted this before? The Mom Phrase Symphony? Funny...

http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=1197846&dsid=97468161

I saw that awhile ago...it's very cute..... brave woman to come up with that!

off today working all day tomorrow
gonna get up to 6 inches of snow today and the noreaster on saturday into sunday

heading to the store soon for some supplies.

will havta bring in an iv of coffee tomorrow. i dont usually work in the morning
i work 12:30 -5
maybe the office will be closed or something??????
(please Lord, remember us )

maybe they'll cancel work (hey...we can hope for ya!) If you do venture out...please be careful!!!

THANK GOD for the State of Texas
they will be charging the mother and the boyfriend with Capital Murder in the death of Baby Grace.

Luck to LVPD that they find the 2 shooters who shot 7 high schoolers getting off a bus , all over a girl.

prayers for Okalhoma and other states that they get power heat and water soon.

I hadn't been keeping up on the baby Grace story....glad they are charging the parents...i've thought that all along

haven't heard about the LV shooting story.....

and I've been keeping Lori and her people in thots....hurry up power company

I got a recipe from a co-worker for Venetian Cookies. They are those Italian tri-color ones with the raspberry and apricot jam between the layers. I think that's what I will do doing the storm on Monday.

You do realize you have to run your samples by us for approval first..... (not the UPS guy like some of us....)

HEY, WHAT HAPPENED TO MY KITTY WITH THE GOGGLES? Guess I need to head on over to my user CP.

she looks fine to me

 

[bubba's mom]

Hey guys, what are we yakking about?

We're supposed to get horrible weather here today, and poor Mike has to work. We have a 34 mile commute to work (one way), and we're not excused for Christmas, bad weather, nuclear fallout .... I am not worried about Mike so much as idiot truck drivers who think they can make it over the mountain in bad weather, jack knife, and then close the highway because there aren't any exits where they jack knife and they've managed to back up traffic for miles, and it's just really hard to get them help and un-jack knife them. Happens all the time. The weather has already started, and Mike works 3-11 tonight ... and FUG is his relief....

My family does this stupid gift exchange on Christmas (extended family, aunts, cousins, etc). Everyone buys a gift, gets a number and chooses in order. Anyone can take anyone else's gift. We've all done it, but here's the stupid part: you can't open the gift. You're taking someone else's unopened gift. We all open the gifts at the end. Last year I got stuck with a certificate that said "Congratulations. A donation has been made in your name to the Human Fund." Yes, funny, but I was a little annoyed that I had spent time and effort getting my gift and all I got was a Seinfeld reference, followed by some scratch-off lottery tickets that didn't win anything. My mom got a gift that she couldn't use but just about anyone else could. My brother got gift certificates to Dunkin Donuts, but he has no DD in the part of CA that he lives, but I go to Dunkin Donuts every night when I'm working midnights, etc. Stupid. I lobbied to have us open the gifts this year. My aunt and others vetoed that. So, I rethought my thoughtful present (which was a nice radio/clock/alarm/nature sounds/MP3 player). Instead, I designed a bag. On the front it says "I Mitt Romney '08." On the back it says "Merry Fricking Christmas, Butt Face." Then I put our family names with December 2007 on the bottom. I'll fill the bag with Christmas M&Ms and stupid lottery tickets.

I will instruct my mom and sister (who lobbied with me to open the presents this year) that they do NOT want my gift so it takes them out of the joke as they deserve. I have some ANGRY liberals in my family. I am not sure when becoming a liberal meant that you had to completely lose your sense of humor, but they have, and if I arrange correctly as I hope to do, one of said ANGRY liberals will get my thoughtfully inspired gift and get the hint that we should open the damn presents this year.

Ah yes....she's back.... ....and we missed her!!

Please wish Mike well for us....and FUG....if he's the relief shift! That's how far my DH travels too...that's why I didn't mind him spending $400 on really good tires I hate those long dangerous commutes....and, like you said, I know how to drive in the mess...it's the OTHER people that freak me out

I think the bag of M&M's and lottery tickets are a great idea!!! I think they are losing the 'meaning' of the season...not giftgiving...but the love...(yeah, I can feel your love ) I think they are doing a chinese auction or something of the sorts.... and please tell me....how on Earth do you donate in someone's name when you don't even know WHOSE name you have/are donating in??? That one really baffles me!!!! So, I would stick with the cheapy gifts and maybe, just maybe, someone will get the hint and put a stop to all the madness....

Merry Frickin Christmas Bunghole!

 

[marciemi]

well....given you have Marcie's first AND last name.....

Yes, but don't forget that I'm one of the few chosen ones who know Mac's REAL name so she'd better be careful!

I "second" the nomination....

I'll be glad to when I get mine! Really, I'll stop by and explain, but I don't know if my person has gotten mine yet or not so not sure how much I could say!

Tracie....what are you getting there? Rain? We're getting sleet and rain .... not mixing...but seemingly going back and forth. One minute it's rain, the next sleet..... it just needs to RAIN and be done with that....

We're not getting anything here, nor are we supposed to I don't think. It was actually in the upper 20's this morning - felt warm outside walking! We're going to try to go skiing Saturday night with me, the kids and DS15's GF. (DH will be in St. Louis hopefully weatherwise!). We found a place about 90 minutes away that has a Saturday night special - ski from 4-9pm for $14. So if the weather holds (I'm not driving if it's bad - especially in the dark!), we'll go! Spent a long time last night adjusting skis, boots, binding, and figuring out which kid will use what! And I'm not even taking out snowboards yet. We're going the weekend after Christmas up into the UP of Michigan skiing and I guess I'll need to get those taken care of by then too! Joy!

Hey guys, what are we yakking about?

We're supposed to get horrible weather here today, and poor Mike has to work. We have a 34 mile commute to work (one way), and we're not excused for Christmas, bad weather, nuclear fallout .... I am not worried about Mike so much as idiot truck drivers who think they can make it over the mountain in bad weather, jack knife, and then close the highway because there aren't any exits where they jack knife and they've managed to back up traffic for miles, and it's just really hard to get them help and un-jack knife them. Happens all the time. The weather has already started, and Mike works 3-11 tonight ... and FUG is his relief....

My family does this stupid gift exchange on Christmas (extended family, aunts, cousins, etc). Everyone buys a gift, gets a number and chooses in order. Anyone can take anyone else's gift. We've all done it, but here's the stupid part: you can't open the gift. You're taking someone else's unopened gift. We all open the gifts at the end. Last year I got stuck with a certificate that said "Congratulations. A donation has been made in your name to the Human Fund." Yes, funny, but I was a little annoyed that I had spent time and effort getting my gift and all I got was a Seinfeld reference, followed by some scratch-off lottery tickets that didn't win anything. My mom got a gift that she couldn't use but just about anyone else could. My brother got gift certificates to Dunkin Donuts, but he has no DD in the part of CA that he lives, but I go to Dunkin Donuts every night when I'm working midnights, etc. Stupid. I lobbied to have us open the gifts this year. My aunt and others vetoed that. So, I rethought my thoughtful present (which was a nice radio/clock/alarm/nature sounds/MP3 player). Instead, I designed a bag. On the front it says "I Mitt Romney '08." On the back it says "Merry Fricking Christmas, Butt Face." Then I put our family names with December 2007 on the bottom. I'll fill the bag with Christmas M&Ms and stupid lottery tickets.

Does your husband work with truckers or just have to avoid them? My DH works for a trucking company (Manager type) and when we were in Detroit he was responsible for all the truckers reporting in there. You can imagine how much fun each storm was - not just in driving to/from work (he also had about a 35 mile commute then), but also in dealing with still trying to get products/trucks where they needed to be AND dealing with all the accidents and fun stuff like that. Now he's in more of a specified role, so he has a few to deal with (more logistics, less people), but doesn't have the 100's of truckers all with crises as soon as the snow falls!

Yeah, and the DIS is loading so slowly for me that I'm actually doing work between loads!

 

[bubba's mom]

I have a friend who is an ANGRY liberal. I have my thoughts on liberalism and I have my thoughts on conservatism and most of my thoughts are actually spread between the two and very rarely go to the extreme on either side.

This one friend, she's not just an angry liberal, she's an activist. Wait, let me paint a better picture... she's a therapist, specializing in rape recovery... she's a board member on Take Back the Night and Men Against Violence... she's a lesbian... she's a vegan... and she and her life partner just had a baby. Got a mental image going now? We met when we worked at Domino's Pizza together in our late teens. She still had a sense of humor then. Actually, she still has a sense of humor unless anything you say sounds remotely political, or politically incorrect. I remember we were having dinner on the evening before Ronald Reagan's funeral. She was mad because all the television stations had nothing but coverage of the preparations for the funeral on. Ummm... like him or not, he was the PRESIDENT for 8 years. Big news, ya know? Would you say the same if it were Bill Clinton lying in state? Didn't think so. The mere mention of the word "republican" ticks her off. WTH?

I say dump her....get a new friend!


Seriously tho....that is one topic i refuse to discuss with clients at work....some of them get really upset about politics and won't let anyone voice an opinion...so, my rule is: no discussing politics.... ...makes everyone happy

 

[marciemi]

Oops - forgot to respond to the second part of Jodie's quote! I agree with yours. It seems kind of pointless to do it that way - like you'd have to get a really generic gift so anyone could use it rather than something someone would really enjoy. Why not draw names and buy for one person - same cost/result but people might actually get something for them!

I like your idea, although in my family it would have to say Hillary Clinton instead! But we might find ourselved thrown out of the house as a result!

(Clarifying "my family" to mean my parents and siblings. DH and I are about as apolitical as you can be)!

 

[ky07]

Hey guys, what are we yakking about?

We're supposed to get horrible weather here today, and poor Mike has to work. We have a 34 mile commute to work (one way), and we're not excused for Christmas, bad weather, nuclear fallout .... I am not worried about Mike so much as idiot truck drivers who think they can make it over the mountain in bad weather, jack knife, and then close the highway because there aren't any exits where they jack knife and they've managed to back up traffic for miles, and it's just really hard to get them help and un-jack knife them. Happens all the time. The weather has already started, and Mike works 3-11 tonight ... and FUG is his relief....

My family does this stupid gift exchange on Christmas (extended family, aunts, cousins, etc). Everyone buys a gift, gets a number and chooses in order. Anyone can take anyone else's gift. We've all done it, but here's the stupid part: you can't open the gift. You're taking someone else's unopened gift. We all open the gifts at the end. Last year I got stuck with a certificate that said "Congratulations. A donation has been made in your name to the Human Fund." Yes, funny, but I was a little annoyed that I had spent time and effort getting my gift and all I got was a Seinfeld reference, followed by some scratch-off lottery tickets that didn't win anything. My mom got a gift that she couldn't use but just about anyone else could. My brother got gift certificates to Dunkin Donuts, but he has no DD in the part of CA that he lives, but I go to Dunkin Donuts every night when I'm working midnights, etc. Stupid. I lobbied to have us open the gifts this year. My aunt and others vetoed that. So, I rethought my thoughtful present (which was a nice radio/clock/alarm/nature sounds/MP3 player). Instead, I designed a bag. On the front it says "I Mitt Romney '08." On the back it says "Merry Fricking Christmas, Butt Face." Then I put our family names with December 2007 on the bottom. I'll fill the bag with Christmas M&Ms and stupid lottery tickets.

I will instruct my mom and sister (who lobbied with me to open the presents this year) that they do NOT want my gift so it takes them out of the joke as they deserve. I have some ANGRY liberals in my family. I am not sure when becoming a liberal meant that you had to completely lose your sense of humor, but they have, and if I arrange correctly as I hope to do, one of said ANGRY liberals will get my thoughtfully inspired gift and get the hint that we should open the damn presents this year.

sounds like my family cause they write down everyones name on piece of paper put it in the hat and you draw out a name for like you, wife ,son 1,and son 2 and thats how many you have to buy and I always try to get everyone we get something really nice and I usually get calone or some cheap after shave and I say it everytime if you think I stink at least get me something that smells good not like a old dirty sock

 

[Sharon G]

My family does a stupid gift exchange thing too. It's a yankee swap. Everybody buys a gift that is $10 or less, can be a gag gift or real. We all pick a number. #1 opens his/her gift. #2 opens his/her gift. #2 can swap with #1 if he wants. #'s 3 and on can swap with any of the above and on and on till the last person. Than the 1st person can swap with anyone. In my family the youngest are teens, and they actually get into this. So, I guess its a nice way to spend time with the teens who usually ignore us old folks at family gatherings!

 

[AlexandNessa]

Oh gosh, it's totally a sheet of ice, and Mike just started making his way to work.

Marcie, Mike doesn't work with truckers; just has to avoid them in the snow. They are horrible around here because there is this mountain they have to cross which is deceivingly steeper than it appears. So, they always manage to close the highway when they jack knife. They put in a self icing system on that stretch of the highway, and although it's helped there is always at least one trucker who is more ambitious than need be.

Tricia, my brother is one of those angry liberals. Over Thanksgiving he hung up on me because he couldn't take a little ribbing. Picture my brother, raised Catholic by conservative parents. Quits his job as a financial analyst for an investment banking firm in the city to go backpacking through Asia for 9 weeks (much of it by himself). Comes home only to decide he hates the east coast (he graduated from Boston College). Flies out to CA without a job, finds one, and lives in San Francisco. Marries a girl who is liberal and is best friends with her very flamboyantly gay brother (who I too adore .. but everything revolves around his politics). I think my brother and SIL are voting solely based upon how a candidate feels about gay marriage. Anyway, several years ago, I listened to an angry diatribe from my brother about "why would people want to have kids? It's selfish. You can adopt a child who already exists and is in need. There are plenty in Africa, Asia, South America. I just think it's ridiculous that people would want their own kids just for the sake of vanity." Fast forward to my brother and SIL announcing that they are going to start trying to have kids themselves..... He hung up on me when I said that was good, I was glad he'd changed his mind, and I would be happy to pay for its college education if the child attended a Catholic school.

I'm not even Catholic anymore. He just doesn't get me. Hey, I couldn't stand Bill Clinton and Hillary's voice is like nails on a chalkboard to me. But, I don't HATE them. I don't HATE people who like them. I don't get angry over it, and I can understand their point of view. But, just mention the letter "W" to half my family and you can expect an angry remark or the silent treatment. I don't understand that. They preach diversity, but only if you agree with them.

Anyway, I undeservedly received a gift from an ELF today!

I had read some rumblings about an ornament exchange, but didn't think much of it as we would be away for the most part and didn't think I'd have time to participate within the deadlines. So, thank you! I totally did not deserve that, but I'll play by the rules and post when everyone else does. My ELF knows me well...

Marcie, have fun at work!

Barb, I have been meaning to ask you ... how long do we have to wait till we find out which friend died in the tornado on DH? That was a great episode! In the beginning it said "One will lose a husband; all of them will lose a friend." Pretty sure the "husband" is Victor. Who is the friend? Carlos?

Penny, what those people did to Baby Grace (Reilly?) was terrible. They'll rot in hell, for sure!

 

[Sharon G]

sounds like my family cause they write down everyones name on piece of paper put it in the hat and you draw out a name for like you, wife ,son 1,and son 2 and thats how many you have to buy and I always try to get everyone we get something really nice and I usually get calone or some cheap after shave and [I say it everytime if you think I stink at least get me something that smells good not like a old dirty sock:lmao:

 

[tlinus]

sounds like my family cause they write down everyones name on piece of paper put it in the hat and you draw out a name for like you, wife ,son 1,and son 2 and thats how many you have to buy and I always try to get everyone we get something really nice and I usually get calone or some cheap after shave and I say it everytime if you think I stink at least get me something that smells good not like a old dirty sock

LMAO!!!!!!!!

 

[AlexandNessa]

sounds like my family cause they write down everyones name on piece of paper put it in the hat and you draw out a name for like you, wife ,son 1,and son 2 and thats how many you have to buy and I always try to get everyone we get something really nice and I usually get calone or some cheap after shave and I say it everytime if you think I stink at least get me something that smells good not like a old dirty sock

Would you prefer a donation made in your name to the Human Fund instead?


Agree with you: cheap cologne is, well, dirty-sock smelling cheap!

 

[marciemi]

Um, I'm bored. Bored, bored, bored, bored, bored! Yes, I'm still the only one here and now I spent the last half hour looking at skiing websites, reading the community board and being bored (not board!).

I guess we have the only family that just kind of buys whatever they want for whoever they want? Now that one of my brothers has kids, it's fun to shop fo rlittle ones so we always send them a bunch. But my other brother gets a token gift or two, same with my dad. My mom is easy to buy for since she's a big collector so she always gets lots.

Jodie - I understand your political stuff with your family. It's actually kind of funny that one brother (primarily his wife) is a big Democrat - to the point that wife worked with Clinton for awhile and they idolize everything you're talking about - gay marriage, etc. My parents are very very Republican and Catholic to the point of the "they'll all rot in hell" type. Both are very political and concerned about all "issues". Then you have us who really don't care and vote based on what we think on each thing and sometimes we don't know anything about it. Once when Brother and Wife were over they asked us who/what we were voting for for something. DH said (somewhat jokingly) - "We don't know yet, we have to wait for Marcie's mom to tell us how to vote!" SIL almost had a heart attack that 1. We wouldn't know who/what we were voting for yet and 2. We might take advice from Mom & Dad!

Since we're in politics, I'll extend it to religion. This brother is the same one who (being Catholic) spent 9 years dating a Jewish girl. Both sets of parents (as you can imagine) were extremely unhappy. They were determined it would last. One of the first signs it might not was during a conversation about children. GF said something along the lines of "If we have children, of course they'll go to a Jewish school. Brother looked at her and asked, totally seriously "But won't they feel out of place?" She asked why and he replied "You know, being the only Catholic kids there?!" Don't think they were together too much longer after that!

 

[Sharon G]

We are having our annual Holiday Work Party tonight.
There will be around 20 of us. It's usually a good time getting to know spouses, partners etc. Open bar!

Penny - one of the menu items is:
Roasted Monkfish with a lobster cream sauce. Can't say that I've actually eaten monkfish before. I'll be thinking of you.

I hope the snow holds off until after the party, but it's looking pretty gray and nasty right now at 2:00.

 

[AlexandNessa]

Marcie, I hear that. My brother married a Jewish girl (who has never attended a Jewish function in her life), and he was completely offended that I said I would pay for a Catholic school. I don't even think SIL was Bat Mitzvah'd. But that offended him.

I wish I could find the test I took so you could vote on the issues. There were 10 issues, and each candidate had a quote on the issue, but the quotes were blind so you didn't know which candidate said it. I threw in all the candidates, not just the Republican ones. It's pretty much a toss up for me between Romney and Thompson. I actually agreed with Tom Tancredo the most, but he doesn't stand a chance. Of all the Democratic candidates, I agreed with Hillary more than Obama or Edwards. Didn't agree with Biden on anything. My brother would never dream of doing anything like that. He would, but he'd remove all the Republicans first ... because we're all evil and selfish and greedy and imperialistic.