Today’s newsletter released in the morning to subscribers as usual, but it was missing three things which I would like to rectify here: 1.) The appropriate day-of-the-week header — obviously it’s Friday; I keep forgetting to change these before I send, I hope it doesn’t much affect your enjoyment. 2.) I also meant to release it to non-paying subscribers, so here’s the un-paywalled issue page for them — enjoy! 3.) I didn’t mention the impending holiday, so Io Saturnalia! to all who celebrate, and thanks for making the thing worth doing.
Knowing the day of the week is one of those optional things when you're retired. You could tell me today is Thursday and I'd be wondering, "Did I put out the garbage? Hell, is the can even full?"
My usual Yule message is a pic my daughter sent from Yokohama in '11: a light up seated Buddha, leaning over his glowing begging bowl like a cell phone, with Santa Hat and tinsel:
"May your holiday season be filled with light and live."
Here's my fav drink - 1.25 cups boiling water, a dollop of hot butter rum mix and 3/8 cup egg nog. Warm the egg nog up a bit in the microwave or a saucepan. Mix the boiling water and the dollop of hot butter rum mix well - be careful of boil over. Then add the warmed up egg nog and mix lightly. Then pour into a thermos type cup with two or three shots of your favorite 80 proof mixture. I prefer my own corn likker cuz it's light, slightly sweet and just disappears into the drink without affecting the taste.
Use a rum with a heavy molasses flavor if you like.
I have good will towards those who wish me no ill will - there are those who wish me and mine ill will. Forgive me if I choose to return fire. I am not a christian and turning the other cheek is an iffy proposition for those who don't want to be slaughtered by, um, christians.
I live in South Jersey, so this may be a factor here -- but not once in three weeks of any sort of shopping have I heard a single clerk say "happy/merry whatever" to me upon our sale's conclusion. Not once.
I figure it's a combination of overwork/underpay/shitty labor conditions and the fact that fucking Christbots still come unglued when anyone says "Happy holidays" to them. So now maybe just saying nothing is easier/better/less stress? *
So... you know what this means, right...?
We've WON THE WAR ON XMAS!!!!
Hail Guinea Pig Satan!
* Also, and not for nothing, making any clerk say anything as a condition of employment is bullshit, so I'm not saying they should have to say anything.
A fine Solstice season celebration to you however you wish to celebrate . May the sun return to our lives. The only predictable thing. So let us celebrate the end of the darkness and hope that one day it shall be banished in our real lives. Unfortunately, my hope in the young, and my increasing age means that I may not see what I wish for a final product.
Now to make cardamom cookies for fika tomorrow. My sweet wife had me multiple shopping missions in the past week, gathering ingredients. I was excited to see cardamom on the list again and she knew that I knew where there were a few little Indian grocery stores to find the fresh stuff. The last suggestion yelled in my direction was "Should I buy some fresh masa?". Yes, blue corn. So that was my last mission, five pounds of warm freshly ground masa. So many varieties of tamales tomorrow. Such is the variety of life if you see it.
I truly appreciate your writing. It is why I pay for things at this little dive bar.
Another COVID Christmas. Three new hours of insurrection video. Hearing Feliz Navidad in my head 24 hours a day. I don't care. Nothing can detract from the happiness I feel upon learning that Wirecutter selected one of my purchases as an "Our Pick" best. What could be more American than the pride and joy engendered by having one's buying decisions validated by elite experts? (Especially now that their union has reached a contract with the NY Times and it only took 2 years!) A mere "Happy Holidays" or "Merry Christmas" seems inadequate to the occasion but I'll say it anyway.
Aw, thanks, Maestro!
Good holiday back at you. No lumps of coal I hope.
Knowing the day of the week is one of those optional things when you're retired. You could tell me today is Thursday and I'd be wondering, "Did I put out the garbage? Hell, is the can even full?"
Uhhh: I forgot to put ye old trash out...
and I mean old.
Hey, Roy! Happy Holidays to you and yours, plus everyone reading this.
My usual Yule message is a pic my daughter sent from Yokohama in '11: a light up seated Buddha, leaning over his glowing begging bowl like a cell phone, with Santa Hat and tinsel:
"May your holiday season be filled with light and live."
Rest ye all merry.
We love you man, and copy editing errors won’t hurt anybody. Happy happy.
Being pagan I celebrate the solstice and make war on xmas - so here's to another year in the long battle!
I'll celebrate anything if it involves good will, and (I hope) alcohol.
Here's my fav drink - 1.25 cups boiling water, a dollop of hot butter rum mix and 3/8 cup egg nog. Warm the egg nog up a bit in the microwave or a saucepan. Mix the boiling water and the dollop of hot butter rum mix well - be careful of boil over. Then add the warmed up egg nog and mix lightly. Then pour into a thermos type cup with two or three shots of your favorite 80 proof mixture. I prefer my own corn likker cuz it's light, slightly sweet and just disappears into the drink without affecting the taste.
Use a rum with a heavy molasses flavor if you like.
Then enjoy - and Happy Solstice to all!
I have good will towards those who wish me no ill will - there are those who wish me and mine ill will. Forgive me if I choose to return fire. I am not a christian and turning the other cheek is an iffy proposition for those who don't want to be slaughtered by, um, christians.
https://churchandstate.org.uk/2016/06/christian-atrocities-three-centuries-of-pagan-persecution/
Christians... I mean, you know, fuck those guys.
My joint pagan-heathen household celebrates Yule and commercializes Christmas. Make Xmas Xxy again!
Peaceful winter, enjoy your bonfire, say hi to the Oak King for me. Happy everything everyone celebrates. We're big on no-explanation parties.
"Make Xmas Xxy again" is just genius
Thank you, Roy, and may your holiday be merry and bright!
I wish you all a Happy Holiday season, Joyous Kwanzaa, etc.
HAPPY FESTIVUS FOR THE REST OF US!
🎉I’ll be ready for the airing of grievances after I finish this martini!🍸
Have a Holly Jolly Christmas, Roy. Happy Holidaze and Bonne Année, or as the Czechs say it, Veselý Silvesr (Happy Sylvester)!
Who the hell is Sylvester?!?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gD6cPE2BHic
This queen can get behind this sentiment
I live in South Jersey, so this may be a factor here -- but not once in three weeks of any sort of shopping have I heard a single clerk say "happy/merry whatever" to me upon our sale's conclusion. Not once.
I figure it's a combination of overwork/underpay/shitty labor conditions and the fact that fucking Christbots still come unglued when anyone says "Happy holidays" to them. So now maybe just saying nothing is easier/better/less stress? *
So... you know what this means, right...?
We've WON THE WAR ON XMAS!!!!
Hail Guinea Pig Satan!
* Also, and not for nothing, making any clerk say anything as a condition of employment is bullshit, so I'm not saying they should have to say anything.
Stand down ye with your Xmas Evance
And molest ye not me with your peevance
When comes the singularity
We'll divest of vile gregarity
And you'll know just where to shove that there grievance!
A fine Solstice season celebration to you however you wish to celebrate . May the sun return to our lives. The only predictable thing. So let us celebrate the end of the darkness and hope that one day it shall be banished in our real lives. Unfortunately, my hope in the young, and my increasing age means that I may not see what I wish for a final product.
Now to make cardamom cookies for fika tomorrow. My sweet wife had me multiple shopping missions in the past week, gathering ingredients. I was excited to see cardamom on the list again and she knew that I knew where there were a few little Indian grocery stores to find the fresh stuff. The last suggestion yelled in my direction was "Should I buy some fresh masa?". Yes, blue corn. So that was my last mission, five pounds of warm freshly ground masa. So many varieties of tamales tomorrow. Such is the variety of life if you see it.
I truly appreciate your writing. It is why I pay for things at this little dive bar.
A Happy Yule to all Edrosians! May your days be merry and bright!
Another COVID Christmas. Three new hours of insurrection video. Hearing Feliz Navidad in my head 24 hours a day. I don't care. Nothing can detract from the happiness I feel upon learning that Wirecutter selected one of my purchases as an "Our Pick" best. What could be more American than the pride and joy engendered by having one's buying decisions validated by elite experts? (Especially now that their union has reached a contract with the NY Times and it only took 2 years!) A mere "Happy Holidays" or "Merry Christmas" seems inadequate to the occasion but I'll say it anyway.
Hope Roy and y'all have a splendid holiday.