Christmas Plans?

[BtmBearDad]

This week (and probably the next two or three) is deathly quiet at the office - more social chit-chat, running out for last minute pressies, etc. than work to do/being done. Lots of talk about plans for Christmas - dinners, travel, cooking and all that. I've seen a few posts on here about taking time off, traveling home for a break - so it got me thinking about my own plans. To be honest, I'm not feeling very Christmassy at all this year. The fact that it has been positively Spring-like here in NYC hasn't helped. This year I've decided rather than bow to family pressure (and maternal guilt) to just opt out of the Christmas day part of things. One of my aunties is this year's hostess, and her place is a bit out from the city -- and she has the most annoying pair of yappy little dogs. Also, she's not the best cook so there's that too. I'll do my normal Christmas Eve dinner at my mother's, then take her to Midnight Mass - I'll just bring all the gifts with me on Christmas Eve and leave them. I'm thinking already how nice it will be not to be up and rushing hither and yon Christmas Day. Already have plans to meet a friend for a boozy brunch - may get a special Christmas pressie off him ;-) If I do, maybe a nice Chinese after but if not, on my own works too.

I'll be meeting the normal "Friday Night Crowd" that evening for gifts and a few swift ones. I have a big Stephen's Day party on Saturday I'm looking forward to as a lot of us don't get to see each other as regularly as we used to, so Stephen's Day is a nice chance to catch up. Sunday will find me standing as godfather at a christening and as this is the first born and a son in an Irish family (with a number flying over for the event) it is sure to be a bit of a session. I'll have plenty going on from Thursday through Monday, so I'm not worried about isolating myself and getting bluesy, and I honestly do feel relieved not to have to go through the family Christmas with aunties and uncles and cousins, and in-laws, and all the rest.

 

How about the rest of you gents? How will you be hohoho'ing it up?

 

 

Cheers,

BBD

[craigville beach]

very quiet for me also. no cooking for crowds. getting Chinese takeout and maybe go see a movie. My friends have labeled the Jewish Christmas. This is NOT being disrespectful of my Jewish friends.

[Rudynate]

In my younger years, I pretty much ignored Christmas. Christmas day I usually slept late, splurged on a great breakfast at luxury hotel and went to a movie.

[BtmBearDad]

My friends have labeled the Jewish Christmas. This is NOT being disrespectful of my Jewish friends.

 

Ha! That's what we've always called it and how I've heard my Jewish friends refer to it too -- movies + Chinese food on the 25th = Jewish Christmas. Enjoy your day, Craigville!

[+ Truereview]

My pets are in the "country club" - boarding place - so I'm in Miami this and next week. As we speak, it is cloudy and 79 degrees. I've had a constant flow of drinks in my hand - thanks to the very attentive pool boys at the hotel. Ive fooled myself into thinking I was going to read Don Quijote in Spanish, but I've really been ogling anything on two legs and posting here non-stop. Due to sprinkles, I've had to go inside a couple of times to commiserate with the super hot bartender. Woe is me.

 

Over the next 2 weeks I plan to be obnoxiously self indulgent. I will fly out on xmas eve to do my annual kitchen soup duty on the 25th, check on the pets, call mom, go shopping on the 26th with friends and donate the proceeds. After that, fly back to Miami and go into pure, unadulterated debauchery.

[BtmBearDad]

...it is cloudy and 79 degrees. I've had a constant flow of drinks in my hand - thanks to the very attentive pool boys at the hotel...I've really been ogling anything on two legs and posting here non-stop. Due to sprinkles, I've had to go inside a couple of times to commiserate with the super hot bartender. Woe is me.

 

I think you've discovered the right way to celebrate Christmas, Truereview! I'm green with envy - both of your constant flow of drinks and what you get to view. Don't bother with Don Quixote - I had to read and translate it from Old Castillian - while not as bad as the same with El Cid, not something I remember fondly from undergrad days. I'd much rather spend the time with/ogling the pool boys, the super hot bartender, and any other two-legged offering that crosses my line of vision I do have some very pleasant memories of Miami and her men.

 

Over the next 2 weeks I plan to be obnoxiously self indulgent.

 

Sounds like the perfect Christmas and New Year's! Enjoy, Truereview!

[bigvalboy]

My pets are in the "country club" - boarding place - so I'm in Miami this and next week. As we speak, it is cloudy and 79 degrees. I've had a constant flow of drinks in my hand - thanks to the very attentive pool boys at the hotel. Ive fooled myself into thinking I was going to read Don Quijote in Spanish, but I've really been ogling anything on two legs and posting here non-stop. Due to sprinkles, I've had to go inside a couple of times to commiserate with the super hot bartender. Woe is me.

 

Over the next 2 weeks I plan to be obnoxiously self indulgent. I will fly out on xmas eve to do my annual kitchen soup duty on the 25th, check on the pets, call mom, go shopping on the 26th with friends and donate the proceeds. After that, fly back to Miami and go into pure, unadulterated debauchery.

 

 

Sounds perfectly wonderful...and the next time you travel, if you need someone to carry your bags, don't hesitate to call. As I've said before, I'm old, but I still make a mean margarita.

[BtmBearDad]

This is quite apropos given some posts above, but I just received this text from a mate I thought was heading home tonight to the UK (turns out it is tomorrow night he flies) -- "Say you have no plans tonight - lets go out and get ratarsed!"

He went on to say he wanted to ogle some flesh for the "wank bank" whilst he's home - lol I did say under no circumstances would I agree to a trip to The Townhouse - but I'd be game for anything else on offer. We're meeting in 30 at a local bar that should be heaving with Wall St/Frat Boy types and then we'll see. Anyone out tonight in NYC seeing a pair of 40-somethings - one bear, one lean muscular-jock type - knocking them back, you'll know who it is! lol

 

 

HoHoHo!

BBD

[+ friendofsheila]

In my younger years, I pretty much ignored Christmas. Christmas day I usually slept late, splurged on a great breakfast at luxury hotel and went to a movie.

 

This sounds fun.

 

Best my budget can do for me this year is a movie, which will be "The Star Wars."

[Epigonos]

I think I've mentioned on another thread that on Christmas Eve I give a large party for a group of friends and neighbors who have no place else to go. I serve tons of food centered around Beef Stroganoff. I provide a large selection of beers and wine and many of my guests also bring wine. As the evening progresses the party becomes especially happy. Christmas morning I get up early and clean up the mess.

My sister and brother-in-law live quite near and they have a wonderful Christmas Day Luncheon for the family and a few friends. My brother-in-law can't boil water but my sister is a fabulous cook. Her dinning room table will damn near collapse under the weight of all the food she sets out. We inherited from our mother a terror of not having enough food prepared to feed our guests thus we end up cooking enough for an army. In the end it works out nicely because all the guests go home doggy bags.

A couple of days after Christmas I will start taking down my decorations which will take a full week. In early January I have a get together set up with a guy I'm looking forward to meeting for the first time. Then on January 13th a friend and I fly to Ft Lauderdale to take a ten day Caribbean Cruise.

You know guys I am 75, retired and life is really tough -- I'm sure you all feel terribly sorry for me.

[Zman]

No plans beside seeing Star Wars. But not going to work has me like http://www.ourgtn.org/public/style_emoticons/default/cancan.gif.

[OneFinger]

This will be a traveling holiday for me. Leaving San Diego the afternoon of the 23rd and heading to my Utah home. I'll spend Christmas with my niece and her 2 boys (ages 5 and 11) in my Utah home. Planning to do some cleanup / maintenance at the house.

 

Flying to my Portland condo on the 30th. Spending the new year with friends there. Then flying back to my apt in San Diego on the 2nd. Gotta to be back in time for my weekly gay bowling league on Sunday.

 

Very anxious for a well-needed break from the pressure of my construction project in San Diego. I sometimes wonder if I'll actually survive this project and reach retire age or if it will be the death of me. The jury is still out on that question.

[+ Charlie]

I stopped paying attention to Christmas once I discovered that Santa Claus was a myth.

[+ Robster]

Santa Claus is a myth??

 

Wayne and I will be doing what we did last year: Christmas in Vegas, and New Year's in Palm Springs. We leave for Vegas tomorrow. Can't wait!

 

Rob

[+ WilliamM]

I had plans to spent Christmas in Massachusetts, which I had to cancel. But I now have some interesting new choices here in Philadelphia, particular spending Christmas Eve with a jounalist and his family. He has covered the war in Ukraine from the beginning until a few days ago, living mostly in eastern Ukraine, but lately in Kiev.

 

He says that Kiev will become a significant touist destination once the war is over.

 

I have to comments on the few mentions of Chinese food. Why is Chinese food so popular, especially at holidays? Mystery to me.

[OneFinger]

...I have to comments on the few mentions of Chinese food. Why is Chinese food so popular, especially at holidays? Mystery to me.

 

In most places I've lived, the only restaurants open on Christmas are Chinese. I assume that is because a lot of Chinese aren't Christian or don't celebrate Christmas.

 

I was listening to Bill Handel on KFI radio AM 640 this morning. He is Jewish and doesn't celebrate Christmas. He also mentioned that the only place to eat out on Christmas is the Chinese restaurants.

[bigvalboy]

I'm hitting the reset button on Christmas Eve, then reflect for a couple of days, while I clean and organize, then reboot just before New Years Day. With any luck, when I power myself back up, everything will start working again, and indeed it will be a New Year.

[+ WmClarke]

A couple of days after Christmas I will start taking down my decorations which will take a full week. In early January I have a get together set up with a guy I'm looking forward to meeting for the first time. Then on January 13th a friend and I fly to Ft Lauderdale to take a ten day Caribbean Cruise.

You know guys I am 75, retired and life is really tough -- I'm sure you all feel terribly sorry for me.

:( Hugs. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

 

 

[AdamSmith]

I'm hitting the reset button on Christmas Eve, then reflect for a couple of days, while I clean and organize, then reboot just before New Years Day. With any luck, when I power myself back up, everything will start working again, and indeed it will be a New Year.

[jimboivyo]

Maui from xmas day to new years

[BtmBearDad]

I'm envious of all you gents spending Christmas and New Year's away -- I'm thinking I shall have to bear this in mind for next year!

 

Had a most adventurous evening last night with my mate -- some flirty chat with some ostensibly straight Wall St rugby boys to start. Chanced our arm at a couple other bars down here and let me tell you, the eye candy was out, drinking, and chatty. Eventually made our way to the gay bars and I actually got chatted up by a good looking gent! Merry Christmas to me! Though, as my mate pointed out, as we were in suits, that may have had something to do with the fellows coming over for a chat and hoping for a drink lol Somewhere along the line, my mate thought it would be a good idea to do shots. It rarely is. Ever. See the pic below. But, it did loosen his tongue a bit as he pointed out a fellow that he said advertises on RM that he recognized (I did as well, but kept that to myself). I pressed on how he knew, and got some answer with a smile and a wink. Interesting. Lots of laughs, lot of drink, and plenty of eye candy for his "wank bank". He just called me - poor lad is feeling rather delicate today and cursed me from a height for not being in the same boat. Ah well. With age and girth come some benefits I suppose!

 

 

[+ WilliamM]

In most places I've lived, the only restaurants open on Christmas are Chinese. I assume that is because a lot of Chinese aren't Christian or don't celebrate Christmas.

 

That makes a lot of sense. I fear I was hurt by living in SE Asia for a year & also visiting Hong Kong. I know this is going to sound crazy, but I just cannot eat the American version of Chinese food now.

[bigvalboy]

 

 

 

"Hahahahahaha...a spoonful? "

[+ WilliamM]

I have spent Christmases in S. Vietnam (not my choice), Germany and Australia. Also Florida (my parents' choice) and Malibu, CA. Surprising Vietnam was the best because I had my first long conversation on Christmas Eve with another Army guy who is still one of my two or three best friends.

 

The Vietnam experience was in 1968, getting close to 50 years ago.

[+ Lance_Navarro]

My partner and I will be hosting our Christmas pajama party on Christmas day, cooking a roast with all the sides and deserts, then on Saturday we are heading to South Tahoe to enjoy the snow, and maybe some sledding. Gonna be low stress and delightful!