Posted on 12/06/2008 8:48:32 PM PST by WFTR
A few months ago, we decided to try to run a monthly thread, but as you can see, we haven't had much luck. Life has been busy for me and I know for at least one other host. We've had the misfortune of seeing the least qualified candidate ever nominated by either party elected to our nation's highest office, and that event has certainly hurt the morale of many of us. By this time next year, Pelosi, Reid, and SOBama may have shut down Free Republic by application of the so-called "fairness doctrine." They're doing their best to make Orwell's predictions come true. However, we still have our freedom and a real American as president for another six weeks, so we can be thankful for this time. None of us wanted to see the singles' thread eliminated completely, and I'd like to kick off a Christmas and holiday thread.
I would call the thread just a holiday thread because I want to be inclusive of Thanksgiving, Christmas and the New Year. On the other hand, "Holiday Thread" sounds too much like something created by the idiots who want to expunge Christmas from our society in the name of diversity. I'm starting this thread, and I'm determined to put Christmas in the title. The "holiday" part is to keep us from feeling that we've jumped on the Christmas bandwagon too soon and in hopes of hearing about your Thanksgiving celebration and New Year's plans. (If snugs was planning something even better for Christmas, I apologize. We'll let her start a second thread for Christmas alone.)
With these thoughts in mind, please tell us about the fall you've had, the Thanksgiving you've celebrated, and your plans, memories, and thoughts about Christmas. As always, pictures of decorations, pets, your families, and yourselves are welcomed and desired.
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
I probably should have talked to the others before starting this thread. As I said in the introduction, maybe snugs was building something very special. If so, we'll still let her start that one when she's ready and let that one be the official Christmas thread. However, I was afraid that procrastinating would allow things to drive the thread from my mind again and that nothing would happen.
Maybe I should have started this thread on a Friday night or at least earlier on a Saturday, but maybe this time will work as well. As we said in September, we'd like this to be a running thread through the week and weekends. As we approach the holiday season, we'd like folks to post what's on their mind whenever they think of something. Let's all try to check the thread occasionally and respond as we have time. I don't know how often we'll ping. I'm thinking of pinging once a week, but I'm open to suggestions.
The bonus questions are simple this time. What has happened during the fall that's been special for you? How was your Thanksgiving? What are you planning to do for Christmas? Have you begun decorating? When are you ready to start hearing Christmas music? We'll do more bonus questions as the season goes along.
Bill
You found this one quickly. I didn't even have time to ping. LOL
Christmas?
I’m still working on the Turkey from Thanksgiving!
Here's my sweet Katrina, photographed through the aquarium with a polarizing filter to reduce reflections.
Here's a church that's on River Road along the eastern bank of the mighty Mississippi River.
This peacock lives at a plantation home north of Baton Rouge.
Here's a ruby-crowned kinglet at a local park.
I'll do more later, but these should start us off.
LOL Me too, but I refuse to leave Christmas out of the name. Do you have plenty of dressing and gravy for that turkey?
Paula Deen was on Larry King last night, and said she was making a soup out of the turkey carcass from Thanksgiving. How long is that bird edible? I know - if it’s been ‘burped’ in Tupperware, it should be good for a year, right? LOL! I was honestly asked that question several years ago!
There is at least 1 or 2 dinners worth of gravy and stuffing left, after that its turkey sandwiches.
A lot has been going on with me. My 13 years of doing Eldercare came to an end when Mother passed away. Now I am repairing her house so it can be sold and I plan on relocating to Indiana. (or another State that allows concealed carry)
Well...this has been an “unusual year” for me. some disappointments and such...but not ALL of it. OF course the election was about as “bad as it could get” in the way it turned out.
In September the other technician at the shop I work for FINALLY got the boot, after hacking into the computer TWICE and causing a LOT of lost money and such...and THEN...he once again managed to steal over $2300 from the shop account, by writing a “check” which he stole from the shop. For over 3 weeks...I received NO pay and was NOT being treated too well by the owner. It seemed that they wanted to “run me off”. But FINALLY all got resolved in that regard. And I am now working all 5 days a week EVERY week and saving a LOT more money that ever.
For nearly a year now—I have spoke about my hairstylist friend Laurie, who has treated me with more kindness and compassion and understanding than nearly ANY woman ever has. Well...I can NO LONGER call Laurie a friend anymore.
I now consider her my “big sister”...as she has gone WAY beyond a normal friendship. Laurie is now at the place with me that she can tell if I am “upset” about something WITHOUT me saying ANYTHING to her..and she will then get me to “talk to her about it” even IF I do not really want to...she KEEPS AT ME till I “open up” to her, so I do NOT just “hold on” on things without talking them over with someone who cares about me.
As the election neared-—it caused some SERIOUS strain on my “friendship” with my boss Patty—and we finally had to just “not talk ANY politics”—by MY decision. Still she ALWAYS had on CNN or MSNBC on tv ALL day and when I was there—I had to hear that crap .
As for Laurie..for SO long I sought to “know where she stood” on things. However—about 2 years ago she told me she did NOT discuss religion or politics with her customers. Of course—we were NOT that close then...and since then we discussed religion a LOT and some political things but NEVER the election. SO..I resigned myself to the fact she was an O supporter...and that I would just have to “get over it”. I figured she would not “rub it in” as my boss’s daughter did .
BUT about a WEEK before the election—my mom and me saw Laurie, mom got her to color her hair and I had a style.(My mom and Laurie have become friends too, since the summer..and Laurie LOVES to talk to my mom.)JUST before we left—mom handed Laurie a “Christian voter guide” and she did NOT react harshly to it and thanked mom. Later that evening... I got an e-mail from Laurie, and it was NOT pro Obama in the LEAST...so I FINALLY knew she was “on our side”..and that comforted me a LOT!! Since then...me and Laurie have had several political discussions and we agree almost TOTALLY on the issues and can talk very openly about those things now. Both of us have discussed that we are VERY fearful for the future of this nation now.
So.. no matter what else happens..this Christmas is going to be different than any in recent memory, with my “ big sister” there to comfort and support me, unlike I have had in the past. Her wonderful friendship is probably the BEST gift I have received in a VERY long time.
Nowhere Man reporting for duty.
I’m sorry to hear that you’ve lost your mother. May she rest in peace. Parts of Indiana are very nice, and I hope you’ll like living there. I’d suggest to you that Louisiana has concealed carry as well, but Indiana’s fewer hurricanes would undoubtedly be an advantage.
I’m glad to hear that your friendship with Laurie has continued to be positive. I’m particularly glad to hear that she’s not one of the idiots who voted for the empty suit and his brainless running mate.
As always, it’s great to see you. I tend to agree that we may be entering a time when we must rely on good friends more than ever. I’m more and more unhappy with my employer even though I’m paid very well. I’m stuck as a second-class citizen in this company. I’m paid extremely well, but I’d be willing to take some cut in pay to be in a company where I’m treated more equitably. My biggest fear in making any kind of move is that I work with so many good people and would not have them available.
If you’re wearing a suit jacket, I can tell that you are carrying your Glock.
Here's the front of Houmas House plantation.
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