December Chit Chat & Check-in Thread

[Huronna]

So sorry you are feeling icky Grassy, too much work, you need a break, it will come soon.



I don't know where the day went today, got my pedicure, told her she didn't need to put anything fancy on my big toe and with the cold, not even I will see it LOL, Then did a little grocery shopping, two loads of wash and went to the gym for about 30 minutes. Now I'm definitely ready for a shower

[Grassy]

I am off tomorrow too as Sid has an MRI in Rochester. I will go with him as long as the tummy trouble is gone.
Yes, all this work is finite. I think every retail worker is feeling like I am right now. And we have no snow and rain in the forecast with record-breaking temperatures for Christmas Eve and Christmas. Booo. LBVS (Laughing but very serious.)
I can't believe how cold it is in Florida!
Oooooooo Thailand is on my bucket list! I am so excited for your family Flagryl!

Tell me all about y'all's Christmas plans! What's everyone doing? The store is closed on Christmas, so my present to my mama and brother is to make liver and onions for them. They love it. I will bring a salad. Sid will bring his oyster stuffing and we will make a dinner out of it. My mama did not want a present because she is downsizing, so I told her this is a gift she can put right in her tummy. Nobody else is coming for Christmas.

[Huronna]

Quiet Christmas as usual, we are going to dinner at out friends, their two young adults are home from school, it's always great to see them as they are really the greatest kids
For New Year's we are expecting the couple from Atlanta that we have celebrated the last 4 New Years with. Their hours still is not repaired from the tornado, and then while they are here our niece from the other side of Fl and her Boy friend will also come for a couple of days.

[Flagryl]

Growing up we always had oyster stew for Christmas Eve, such a tradition going downtown to the fish market for the fresh, flown in oysters. All that company doesn't sound quiet Huronna. Will be quiet here. I am making fresh linguine alfredo with scallops, bought heavy cream! Christmas Day will be lamb tenderloins and potato dumplings. I think some good wine will make it to the table.

Liver and onions is a real specialty and takes some expert cooking, your mama and brother will be happy Grassy.

I'm getting a pedi tomorrow, sparkly red polish to match my red satin pj's!!

[Huronna]

That's what I got sparkling red, but no one is going to see it, not even me as I'm covered with socks and slippers, no sandals in this weather.
We're going to a friends for Christmas Dinner, I'm always very nervous when we go to someone's house for dinner. I'm such a picky eater and there are so many things I don't like that ever turn my stomach when I think of them.
Reminds me of the first time I met Joe's parents, it was the first New Years. We all had dinner at his sisters, and they always have a traditional dinner. Fresh Ham (pork) sauerkraut and mashed potatoes. I thought I was going to die. But there was apple sauce, so I took some of that and the wee tiniest piece of port and cut it into slivers. Buried it in the apple sauces and then took the tiniest bites. Joe's father was sitting across from me and noticed and said, Hey Heidi, come with me and we'll get you a bologna sandwich, I loved him dearly after that, a man after my heart (And stomach)
Needless to say this year will be New years day dinner at my house and it will be either chicken or pasta LOL

[Grassy]

Joe's father sounds like good peeps. I love bologna too.
Weird thing about sauerkraut. I will eat it cold all day long and rinse it in cold water, but I totally can't stand it warm. I love it cold on Reuben sandwiches. There is not much I won't eat, but I am really picky about how it is fixed and who fixes it.
Flagryl, I am not a fan of liver and onions, but I learned how to fix it because everyone around me seems to love it. It's comfort food for them.
Says the girl with tummy trouble ha ha ha. I do not feel feverish, no pain, I am in a great mood. Just trouble.
I did not go with Sid today. I expect him back any minute from Rochester.

[deezaster]

Very quick pop in,
I woke up today with a sore scratchy throat and am hoping it’s just because I didn’t get to bed until after 5am because I’m trying desperately to finish my stationery sets, by Sunday morning, I got a very late order for them I should have said No given I had so many other things happening. I need to bake today and tomorrow for our Christmas Eve Dinner Party at 1 of my team mates houses, so I’m doing Pretzel Caramel Cookie Bites and Peppermint Balls for that,
Then I will go to my Sons house on the 25th for the morning, I need to make fudge and caramel pretzel cookies to take with me for him.
Then I will head home unwrap gifts with Gary and then we will put together our Christmas dinner and dessert, I bowl Boxing Day Eve, then I can finally relax for a day or two, then back at it for New Years Eve, and then life will return to normal.
I wish everyone a wonderful and memorable Christmas, and New Year. I look forward to seeing your wonderful creations in 2024 and being a part of this wonderful group with you all.
❄️🎄☃️❤️🥰Xoxoxo

[Huronna]

We have definitely missed you

[Grassy]

Hi Dee! Yay, it's so good to see you!

I am home sick from work. The doctor put me off work until Tuesday. Tummy bug. I can't believe I am legit sick at Christmas. After all the years of dodging Covid and I am hit with a tummy bug. She said I will be OK by Christmas, but she wanted me off work these couple of days so I can rest and because I deal with the public and she didn't want me getting worse or others getting cooties from me. But I thought that was what masks are for? I asked her, and she said this is so virulent, a mask may not be enough. Something like a bad flu or something. I am so glad I am mild. Plus with handling money and touching and all, this stuff spreads like wildfire in the retail world. I am so glad she put me off work so I don't contaminate my 89-year old mama. I will be fine by Christmas. I am 90% better now. I miss work, so that's a good sign.

The doctor called soon after Sid's MRI in Rochester. We already knew he has a slow-growing non-aggressive form of prostate cancer. Most men die WITH this form than FROM it. That has been established. However on this new MRI, a new spot has emerged. In 15% of men, it is a baddie - aggressive and requiring treatment beyond waiting and seeing. We are going to do more testing and then discuss next steps if any. If 15% are bad, that means that 85% are not aggressive, so we are hoping to be in that group. Like the cool group at lunch. We hope to be in the cool group.

And gosh darn it, I am going to still have a great Holiday! Sid will be making the liver and onions now so as not to risk any contamination. I will not be doing any food prep. That is a disaster for me, but what can I do? I have ordered a charcuterie board as my contribution. Our local grocery store will do it. I will be fine, but there is no such thing as too careful when it comes to food prep. Besides, I think cooking makes Sid feel more alive and more a part of our family.

[Huronna]

I haven't said anything about this before because it's just been so upsetting. but....

Cruising and traveling is not as easy as it sounds. something always turns up at the last minute.
We are scheduled to go on a cruise starting in Brazil in Jan. ABout 2 weeks ago Brazil decided that anyone entering Brazil after Jan 10 has to have a visa and you have to get it though their web site. The site opened up Dec 10th and I did our applications on the 12th. I got an email that mine was accepted and under review, but have heard nothing else since. Though I sent the exact same information for Joe, they wanted me wo resubmit one of the items. Done, so passes 8 days and we thing all is well, but here comes another e-mail requesting me to upload something again.
I belong to a couple of Regent Facebook groups and that is the topic of conversation on all of them as everyone is getting hassled and no one had gotten the visa yet. The cruise company has sent us all e-mails saying they are really sorry for the confusion, but there is nothing that can do because it's the Brazilian country. Well they better do something because if not there are going to be a lot of cancellations because of this and a lot of $$ is going to have to be repaid by the cruise companies.
Everyday I hesitantly open my e-mail, nothing today and no one announcing on the sites that they have received anything. I guess nothing will occur until Tuesday.
So life goes on....
I got another e-mail from Regent today saying that they and Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), are working with the Brazilian Government to find a solution as soon as possible..
I did get a confirmation a little while ago from the Brazil visa that they have all Joe's documents so both of the are "Your visa application is currently being reviewed by Brazil Immigration and is in process."......so now what? we still don't have an actual visa

[Grassy]

Oh wow, Huronna. I don't even know what to say. That is such a pain for you and everyone! I can see why you are terribly upset. I hope they get it figured out soon. You are right - a ton of money is riding on this.

Sending good vibes your way.

[Huronna]

What a way to spend Christmas Eve. First one toilet got blocked and the. It came up on the shower floor, then the second one went out also. Of course we called he plumber who has just arrived. And is taking care of it.
The. My iPad froze and I couldn’t even shut it down. Finally googled on my pc on what to do. That worked and it’s working now also.

Sure glad we weren’t having company and are going to friends tomorrow for dinner.
Think I need A strong drink today

[Grassy]

Oh no! That is awful on Christmas Eve!

What do you drink when you need a strong drink? Clearly wine will not do.

I am feeling back to normal. Just tired. Sid is napping. I have been keeping him up at night. Now we can just get back to normal.

I have a funny Dove story to tell. Sid was working on my Christmas skirt, and Dove likes to lay on the fabric. Sid needed to move Dove because he needed to sew the skirt. Dove refused to move. Sid doesn't like moving her. Dove considers Sid's work bench her domain. He picked her up to move her and she laid back her ears and bit him. Not hard. Just a warning nip. But she saw a piece of flannel with cats on it on the other side of the table and claimed that so Sid could have the skirt. The cat knows her fabrics.

[Huronna]

Coconut Rum and diet coke, glad we didn't have any place to go today, I would have been terrible company, but tomorrow is a different story.
Love your Dive and Sid stories

[Grassy]

I hope things go better tomorrow. I hope a little bit of run helped out.

The Nailtiques work great! My nails are finally long again! I did my nails black and gold with glitter topcoat to match my skirt. I am so happy I can go to my mama's! No issues for 48 hours so I am golden!

We gave Dove Cat her big present today - a portable "catio" which is a tunnel with two ends so it is a carrier/catio that can be used indoors or outdoors. She is having fun running through the tunnel and peeking out of the ends. The ends can be sealed with mesh compartments so she can play outside as if she is in a playpen without being bothered by other critters. We'd be with her of course watching her. And we gave her some Temptations cat treats and some little toys. And tonight in her stocking she is getting a brush and some DentaStix and some toy mice.

[Huronna]

Lucky Dove

[Grassy]

She is such a good baby!

[panthera66]

Merry Christmas everyone. and wishing everyone a Happy New Year.

Christmas day has been great so far, busy but great, now relaxing for a little while before having an early night to wind down.
Off to me daughters for boxing day tomorrow and then shopping on wednesday with a panto and meal out on saturday afternoon.
Take care all stay safe and warm..

[Grassy]

Merry Christmas!

What is a Panto?

[Huronna]

Google is my friend...panto?
What is traditional British panto?
Pantomimes take place around the Christmas period and are nearly always based on well known children's stories such as Peter Pan, Aladdin, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty etc. Pantomimes are performed not only in the best theatres in the land but also in village halls throughout Britain.

[Flagryl]

Well, you had plumbing problems and we woke up Christmas morning and condensation on the skylight was leaking on 5 skylights! Not bad, just drops but still. Tomorrow. Santa brought wine and chocolate and Cds. I baked oatmeal blueberry scones to share with our neighbors, yummy. Lot of Christmas cookies so the treadmill is getting a workout.

I have a bottle of Crown Royal in the cupboard for special times, my Dad's favorite...used to buy it for him. I haven't had any for several years. When I'm stressed and feeling skinny at the same time, hardly ever, I like to make a Bourbon Milk Punch. Simple syrup, milk and half and half, splash of vanilla and bourbon. Dad always took his "neat" but I liked it "on the rocks"! We always had a glass Christmas Eve. Skipped it this year and had a glass on Pinot Noir wine.

[Huronna]

you poor sky lights, I guess you have to call them back since they should be doing that, right?
Oh the trials we have with water.
We are on out way out the door to celebrate with friends.

[Grassy]

Thanks for the Panto information! Ha ha, I thought it was pantry leftovers! Shows you what I think about!

[Grassy]

Oh no Flagryl! I am sorry about your skylights!

[Huronna]

Sorry really occupied with company, been ages since we had seen them