Christmas Plans?

[+ Lance_Navarro]

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.

 

We went to Vietnam in Oct of last year, loved it, though preferred north Vietnam over South. Also went to Cambodia, which was amazing.

[+ WilliamM]

We went to Vietnam in Oct of last year, loved it, though preferred north Vietnam over South. Also went to Cambodia, which was amazing

 

Thanks. I have always had mixed feeling about returning to Vietnam. Instead I have gone to Australia three times & New Zealand and Japan, once each.

 

I was lucky in that I was dischaged from the Army 24 hours after flying from Saigon to Oakland in June 1969.

Despite thinking about Vietnam every day since then, I want to go to places I have never been before. So far, so good. Cambodia though is a different story. I may have already been to Cambodia and did not know it.

[BtmBearDad]

I'm sorry I never made it to Vietnam or Cambodia in any of my sojourns to Asia -- friends who have rave about both. Something for the bucket list I guess.

 

Well gents, I am done and dusted with work now until 2016! Hit the market on the way home - crappy, rainy day here and I am in the need of comfort food, so will be making a chicken pot pie thingy later. Right now, at the table with a whiskey, some Christmas tunes playing, wrapping pressies, and checking things out on here and elsewhere online. Just sent my mate from last night a pic of me with the whiskey cheering him for a safe journey and all that, he replied "I hate you"

 

Now if only I had a yulelog here -- and I don't mean for my fireplace lol What can I say, whiskey makes me frisky!

[+ Truereview]

I'm sorry I never made it to Vietnam or Cambodia in any of my sojourns to Asia -- friends who have rave about both. Something for the bucket list I guess.

 

Well gents, I am done and dusted with work now until 2016! Hit the market on the way home - crappy, rainy day here and I am in the need of comfort food, so will be making a chicken pot pie thingy later. Right now, at the table with a whiskey, some Christmas tunes playing, wrapping pressies, and checking things out on here and elsewhere online. Just sent my mate from last night a pic of me with the whiskey cheering him for a safe journey and all that, he replied "I hate you"

 

Now if only I had a yulelog here -- and I don't mean for my fireplace lol What can I say, whiskey makes me frisky!

What's keeping you from just visiting yulelog.com & ordering delivery? F&ck, get 2 or 3 logs. Salud!

[BtmBearDad]

What's keeping you from just visiting yulelog.com & ordering delivery? F&ck, get 2 or 3 logs. Salud!

 

Ha! Trust me, Truereview, I seriously contemplated ordering in from rentyulelog.com, but I have soooo much to do tonight and tomorrow. As naughty as I'd like to be, I best be good tonight

 

How goes it in Miami? Yulelog shopping yourself?

 

 

HoHoHo,

BBD

[+ Truereview]

Ha! Trust me, Truereview, I seriously contemplated ordering in from rentyulelog.com, but I have soooo much to do tonight and tomorrow. As naughty as I'd like to be, I best be good tonight

 

How goes it in Miami? Yulelog shopping yourself?

 

 

HoHoHo,

BBD

Yes, I had a massive log keep me warm all night Best thing...i found it in the lobby bar for free. You know, I just love these full service hotels! Also, who knew Miami made such everlasting and thick logs? Today, I've been napping all day and just stepped out for brunch. Have a Cuban feast to prep for later today in Miami proper...not the SoBe alternate reality Thinking of you, your whiskey and pressies! Warm tropical hugs, - TR

[BtmBearDad]

Yes, I had a massive log keep me warm all night Best thing...i found it in the lobby bar for free. You know, I just love these full service hotels! Also, who knew Miami made such everlasting and thick logs? Today, I've been napping all day and just stepped out for brunch. Have a Cuban feast to prep for later today in Miami proper...not the SoBe alternate reality Thinking of you, your whiskey and pressies! Warm tropical hugs, - TR

 

Good man, TR! If you're going to be wickedly indulgent, best to do it in a full service and/or all-inclusive 5-star hotel I always say!

 

Who knew? Oh mate - my memories of Miami abound with everlasting and thick yulelogs...and plantains...and sugarcanes...

 

Now by "Cuban Feast" do you mean an actual meal or....as one is in Miami, it isn't out of the realm, is it?

 

I'll be thinking of you and your Cuban feast -- even if it is a meal, I'll be hoping (imagining) for the other for you!

 

Whiskey laden snogs,

BBD

[bigvalboy]

Well I went out tonight, back to the scene of the crime at the BW. Met a doctor no less, who lives in Miami F-L-A. Did the usual name dropping, and label naming, but in the end, as he drove away in the Mulsanne, he inspired me to make more of Christmas than I had planned...So I'm making plans for the next couple of days...life is short, no?

[AdamSmith]

 

"Hahahahahaha...a spoonful? "

[+ Truereview]

I'm feeling like I got trampled by a horde of such spirits last night.....OY....Someone got a recipe for an exorcism? Please.

[BtmBearDad]

I'm feeling like I got trampled by a horde of such spirits last night...

 

When you get trampled, the only cure is to get back up in the saddle! Order a Bloody Mary, stat!

 

Cheers,

BBD

[mike carey]

My Christmas plans are simple. I had a mixed dozen bottles of bubbly delivered this week. I plan to take one or two of those bottles to my neighbour's house for Christmas lunch (a spread of cold meats and salads as befits a summer's day). After that our time honoured pattern of sporting events will play out and I will watch them on television or at the venue. Six sublime weeks of 'if it's summer, then the cricket will be on the ABC [radio]'.

[BtmBearDad]

getting Chinese takeout

 

Why is Chinese food so popular, especially at holidays?

 

Came across this today for all those having Chinese on Christmas...

 

http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2014/12/why-american-jews-eat-chinese-food-on-christmas/384011/

[jawjateck]

Why is Chinese food so popular, especially at holidays? Mystery to me.

 

My local Chinese restaurant is a fave of mine. They will be open tomorrow and will do good biz too. One of the few places available on Christmas day.

[+ WilliamM]

Quote from the article:

 

" Ask a food purist about American Chinese food and you’ll get a pu-pu platter of hostile rhetoric about its inauthenticity. Driving the point home, earlier this week, CBS reported on two Americans who opened a restaurant in Shanghai that features American-style Chinese dishes like orange chicken, pork egg rolls...."

 

I am not a food purist, but I hate American style Chinese food. In most American large cities, hotel restaurants are open on Christmas. In this one situation, perhaps I am very lucky that I am not Jewish. I would be spending every Christmas alone and not at a Chinese restaurant.

[AdamSmith]

Quote from the article:

 

" Ask a food purist about American Chinese food and you’ll get a pu-pu platter of hostile rhetoric about its inauthenticity. Driving the point home, earlier this week, CBS reported on two Americans who opened a restaurant in Shanghai that features American-style Chinese dishes like orange chicken, pork egg rolls...."

 

I am not a food purist, but I hate American style Chinese food. In most American large cities, hotel restaurants are open on Christmas. In this one situation, perhaps I am very lucky that I am not Jewish. I would be spending every Christmas alone and not at a Chinese restaurant.

A friend whose family is Cantonese would take me into NYC Chinatown restaurants, order for us off the Chinese character menus printed on big strips of paper hanging on the walls, and we would get dishes utterly different from the Americanized stuff. She says they are quite authentic. Alas she and I never found anything like as authentic in Boston's Chinatown.

[geminibear]

Visiting my family's ranch.

 

Yesterday we went Xmas shopping at the the local farm and ranch supply store.

 

Items purchased: 100lbs dog food, horse blanket, livestock feed ordered for delivery, livestock vaccines, thermal underwear, wrangler jeans, sweatshirts, coats, 2 cases of motor oil, head lamp, studded snow tires(for me thanks mom & dad) fencing pliers, bailing wire, various toy trucks tractors for my nephews, a cowgirl doll for a little cousin, ammunition, targets, leather holster, wood pellets for stove, trail mix, granola bars, bottled water and Jordan almonds.

 

Beat that Barneys or Nordstrom.

 

Merry Christmas.

[bigvalboy]

I loves me a man wrapped in Wranglers... Let those Madison Ave boys have their sissy Armani's.

[jawjateck]

Quote from the article:

 

" Ask a food purist about American Chinese food and you’ll get a pu-pu platter of hostile rhetoric about its inauthenticity. Driving the point home, earlier this week, CBS reported on two Americans who opened a restaurant in Shanghai that features American-style Chinese dishes like orange chicken, pork egg rolls...."

 

I am not a food purist, but I hate American style Chinese food. In most American large cities, hotel restaurants are open on Christmas. In this one situation, perhaps I am very lucky that I am not Jewish. I would be spending every Christmas alone and not at a Chinese restaurant.

 

My favorite Chinese food in Jawja is found in Chamblee-Chinatown (northeast of downtown Atlanta). Really really good. Love their new year's celebrations too. I'm just not up there often enough to take advantage of it. This same area has the best Vietnamese, Thai, Mexican, Cuban, French, Ethiopian, etc foods, authentic without the ridiculous price premiums of Atlanta proper.

[geminibear]

I loves me a man wrapped in Wranglers... Let those Madison Ave boys have their sissy Armani's.

My wranglers are more the "husky" type. Sorry

[trav05]

William, I am the other way around. I grew up on American style Chinese food. I live in Bangkok half the year and now don't care about real Asian foods. My BF is Vietnamese and loves Chinese food. He eats away and I have some rice .

[BtmBearDad]

I just have to say it - it is ridiculously warm in NYC for Christmas Eve. Its 70F outside! I'm sitting here, enjoying a cocktail in my living room and pretty much every window in the place is open. Can't even think about using the fireplace - what's the point? Well, at least all the pressies are wrapped and bagged ready to be transported to the mater's in a bit. In fact, I think I have time for one more tumbler of Christmas Cheer, so to speak, before I head out!

 

Gents, wishing you all a very merry - however you spend it and with whomever you spend it!

 

HoHoHo!

BBD

[BtmBearDad]

Happy HoHoHo to one and all!

 

BBD

[seaboy4hire]

I'm on my way downtown to grab coffee from one of the hotels. Everything is closed. I wish I was working one of my day jobs so that that it'd feel kind of like a normal day. But unfortunately one is closed today and the other my Mgr is working. I have my availability set on RM so hopefully I'll have something to do to occupy my time on the blah day.

 

Hugs,

Greg

[tyro]

I'm on my way downtown to grab coffee from one of the hotels. Everything is closed. I wish I was working one of my day jobs so that that it'd feel kind of like a normal day. But unfortunately one is closed today and the other my Mgr is working. I have my availability set on RM so hopefully I'll have something to do to occupy my time on the blah day.

 

Hugs,

Greg

I'd almost rather be at work too.

T