Open thread.
Possible topics include the weather, health care, the blogger wars, Santa wishes, what to do with over-excited children on a rainy day, and whatever else you bring to the table.
I have a sense that Cassie may be flooding the place with enthusiasm and good tidings before the reindeer hit the roof. Not to mention photos from ornament night.
Entries (RSS)
Great Topic! We are about to head out, but of course now we are in the middle of last minute miscommunications and Mr. Gnome is getting all
I look forward to checking in on everybody tonight. I heard on the weather channel that Santa has already been spotted over Siberia.
Merry Christmas Bumz.
Busted
Excitement is part of Christmas. So glad to see it in Cassie and looking forward to her news. And the ornament pictures.
Weather is a sore subject here. If we get ice, that is bad news. But I was thinking that I do not remember every having a Christmas Eve that was so bad we couldn’t make it across town.
Gnome, I don’t feel sorry that you are having to wear your Boston-weather coat tonight. At least your temps are higher than ours.
@ sharonlee:
I was thinking that about Gnome’s nice New England coat for her *cold* weather! I know it’s cold for there, but it’s warmer than here too.
hiya Busted! give the kittehs some xmas skritchies for me.
@ Bustednuckles:
Have a wonderful Holiday, Busted!
For the kiddies, and some animal lover adults too!
I love the Christmas tree photo at the top.
But this one in warmer climes is pretty too!
Well, it has happened.
Ice is accumulating so my family will celebrate Christmas Eve on Saturday night.
That leaves me more time to procrastinate on my preparations for morning. I hope the snow will cover the ice so people can make it here in the morning. Although I guess I could postpone Christmas morning to Sunday.
@ Pellora:
That’s the one Lea’s children liked.
I sent it to my then boss, noting that I had found a new screen cleaner.
@ sharonlee:
who can help me that likes treats
I love it! I wish I knew how to make it my screen saver! I guess I’ll have to do the homework or find a nice friendly
Please
with a cherry on top!
@ sharonlee:
I’m sorry to hear that your weather turned icy. I don’t much like snow on top of ice, it gives less cautious drivers a false sense of security since they don’t *see* or *feel* the ice. Only a good 4 inches of snow on top would really help. Then you have other problems with snow.
If you do Christmas Eve Saturday night, and Christmas Day on Sunday morning, that means You get TWO Christmases! That’s not all bad
According to the weather maps both you and NAFG are getting the storm now.
Pellora, try saving the file to your hard drive and then point the screen saver to that file. It works for pictures so should for this file, too.
I really like this that I found at NPR A Sharable Sense Of The Sacred
@ sharonlee:
I don’t know what to save over. Right clicking doesn’t provide any kind of a file or save as option.
Love The Google!
Need to end this to see if I can download the screen saver from here.
It works, but only on one of my monitors, at least in the preview. Sure is cute!
Brother just left after delivering Christmas gifties for the madkiddies-two legos for the big kid, and a stomp rocket for the little guy. Since it’s soaking out, he’s shooting the rocket into the kitchen and yelling “fire in the hole” while laughing like a maniac. It is a childless uncle’s job to buy gifts that mom thinks might be a bit dicey
The rockets are quite light and have a big foam tip, so no damage to walls or other living creatures. The cat is not convinced of this and is hiding under the Christmas tree just to be safe 
Following up my NPR story with this. Don’t get whiplash
Hmmm.
I have 2 15 gallon (indestructible rubber) tubs. During the winter, one is for water which I fill twice / day, and the other is to give them their treats. The water one sits on a tire (slows down the freezing) by the fence. The other I keep out in the middle of their paddock so they don’t bump into the fence as they jockey for position. When the water one is empty, they often knock it partly off the tire. Which is where it was when I went out to feed and water them. So with the bucket of treats in my hand, I’m looking for the feeding tub. And looking. And looking. And looking (as they mill about me impatiently).
I finally found it. Inside the empty water tub. Just like they were stacked in the store, except tipped over.
Maybe Gary Larson was onto something.
No garage madmom?
@ Texas Betsy:
No, and if there were it would be full to the rafters with madhubby’s junk collection.
@ gordon:
Bwahahaha!! The cows are messing with your mind, man!
back to family. my surprise may wait until tomorrow. or maybe tonight.
@ CTuttle:
*sigh* This didn’t embed properly…
@ gordon:
I thought of this one when you mentioned The Far Side
In case you want to know why I don’t date the guys I know from school ….. this is from my facebook:
Rogelio became a fan of Having a big dick. ·
Cassie –Like becoming a fan would even help….
4 minutes ago ·
Rogelio– You never know
2 minutes ago
@ freckles cassie:
Gnephew #1 who is texteen’s age has a similarly stupid fan post centering around male anatomy. Males are notoriously slow to mature.
Ok back to present opening. Kids just did their stockings
If Star Wars had Facebook.
OK, of to family din @ bro’s (sil does the fancy on xmas eve).
@ gordon:
That is too funny! We just watched The Empire Strikes Back and getting ready for the marathon of A Christmas Story to begin at 7.
Chinese xmas is over. It was great fun. Family fights broke out over the Snuggie!
we’ll be heading back to gnomeville shortly.
I just heard the cutest story ever about Cassie and the 10-yr-old sister. Even I am getting the Christmas spirit, and that’s saying something!
Did the Dallas young couple come, Gnome? Did the kids enjoy the stocking presents? Have they convinced you to burn a duck or six tomorrow?
I don’t believe I have ever been snowed in when I really wanted to go somewhere. I use snow as an excuse to work from home. But I must admit it is frustrating to be snowed in on a night I am usually celebrating somewhere else. It’s a huge twist from my family’s “normal.”
Every once in a while I hear another blast of sleet. It is supposed to turn to snow sometime. I am irritated with one of the weather forecasts. They are posting 13 inches of snow, but the the broadcaster says, but I don’t believe we will get that much. Why don’t they just post a real number instead of a giant scare?
I like the Cassie Santa picture.
And, Gordon, no one ever said cows were dumb or didn’t enjoy fun and games.
Sharonlee, I’m glad you have electricity and access to the beach house.
We’re home for the moment. Then up to birthday at the parents. I’ll post pictures later.
@ Texas Betsy:
No the young couple didn’t come.
No Burnt Duck.
The kids and grown ups had a great time at Gnome Ranch. It was freezing when I walked to the car – that north wind was tearing across the hill. The windchill had to have been in the 20’s.
Texas Betsy wrote:
Do tell…!
All right people! It is now officially eight P.M. Beach House Time. This means that any Bumz (or offspring, houseguests or friends of Bumz) under the age of 12 should be In. The. Bed. Under the covers, dreaming sweet dreams without care. Because Santa is already in the Sandwich Islands, according to http://www.noradsanta.org and if you’re not asleep then there will be no presents for you! Off, now, quick like bunnies!!
CT, I’ll divulge when I am given permission. (And after said 10-yr-old goes to sleep.)
No! I will!
madmommy wrote:
Why the f*ck would he be here already…? The Sun’s still out…! They need to seriously work on their GPS or improve their knowledge of the time zones… We’re in the last one…!
@ CTuttle:
Go check the site, he’s in South America and will be hitting the Eastern Seaboard in an hour or so. Yeah, you’re one of the last stops. It’s the price you pay for living in Paradise, my friend!
The madkiddies are asleep-time to play Santa!!
Santa Claus is upstairs.