Holiday Traditions and Perversions

[TANSTAAFL58]

Merry Christmas to all my fellow Christmas Eve celebrators!

My Christmas started last weekend with my son and his partner, (we also celebrated her divorce!)

Christmas eve will be different this year.. between gluten allergies and people whodont eat pork, there will be no Tourtiere for the first time in over 35 years. (A traditional French-Canadian ground pork meat pie loaded with spices and with the pork fat and beef broth absorbed by bread crumbs all in a rich pastry).

Im thinking frozen vegan pizza tonight. With cauliflower crust.

Under the "perversions" heading, the presents from our favourite Kink shop arrived this week. We will open it tonight and take the lingerie and toys for a test-drive

Merry Christmas all you wonderful pervs.

 

[Tallcajun]

Today is the traditional gumbo I make. Chicken and sausage.
Tonight, some sort of smoke salmon.
Tomorrow, the traditional turkey and ham with the timings.

 

[Acktion]

 

[midwestyankee]

Baking the pecan pies tomorrow morning. The pie dough is already resting in the refrigerator.

I’m on my way. Yumm.

 

[gracie920101]

The pies are done and cooling.


J is hovering over the oven watching the standing rib roast (a small portion for the two of us) and I have Hassleback potatoes baking in the countertop oven.

Looking forward to popping the cork on a nice pinot noir to go with dinner in about an hour.

 

[Acktion]

In all seriousness, about my only traditions for the last... four(?) years are lit-centric.

I change my avatar, my profile photo, and my sig for a time. I post some naughty Christmas songs here and there. And I post some recordings of me reading some Christmas stories a few years ago when I still had a voice, this year in JustAnotherFlower's Christmas Audio Thread down in the PG.

Other than that, it's pretty much just another day hanging out with the fur babies and trying not to have to go out more than absolutely necessary for a couple of days.

 

[TANSTAAFL58]

In all seriousness, about my only traditions for the last... four(?) years are lit-centric.

I change my avatar, my profile photo, and my sig for a time. I post some naughty Christmas songs here and there. And I post some recordings of me reading some Christmas stories a few years ago when I still had a voice, this year in JustAnotherFlower's Christmas Audio Thread down in the PG.

Other than that, it's pretty much just another day hanging out with the fur babies and trying not to have to go out more than absolutely necessary for a couple of days.

Thats a great thread. I think I contrivbuted to a previous version xa couple of years back with "The Cremation of Sam McGee".

But, on that subject, i just fulfilled a tradition that I have been observing for at least 35 years. I just listened to a reading of "The Shepherd" by Frederick Forsythe on CBC radio. They have played this recording by the late newsman Alan Maitland every year since 1979. Sit back with a warming drink, and listento this Holiday ghost story...

The Shepherd

Just click on the > arrow top left.

Have a great Christmas.

 

[gracie920101]

Christmas Eve dinner is done and my first attempt of Hassle back potatoes was successful. The pies came out...well, one is guest-worthy. The one on the left will travel for a dinner tomorrow evening but we're splitting the funky one tonight! Let's see who gets the bigger piece!

 

[Tallcajun]

That all looks very delicious!
Those potatoes are a ‘must try’

 

[IrisAlthea]

Christmas Eve dinner is done and my first attempt of Hassle back potatoes was successful. The pies came out...well, one is guest-worthy. The one on the left will travel for a dinner tomorrow evening but we're splitting the funky one tonight! Let's see who gets the bigger piece!

Mm, that looks so good!
Merry Christmas!

 

[Saintdragonslayer]

Well... This being my first Christmas as a single guy in a long time, I am at least spared the excruciating 4 hour visit to my ex's family, on this day.

20+ people packed into a small living room with seating for perhaps 10 of us, I usually wound up sitting on the floor, and would usually have a broken arse when it was time to leave. Never once offered a glass of wine or a bottle of beer in 22 years...

Then it would be a visit to my folks, where my ex would sit in silence and then start making the "When are we going home?" eyes at me after about an hour.

Today? I am going to my sister's place, a 2 minute walk from my front door, for lunch/dinner. Her husband is quite the amateur chef, so I know the food will be good. He is also, almost as bad as me with the booze, so the wine and whisky will start to flow right away!

Later, I will stagger home, roll a joint and settle down with a Christmas movie (probably Die Hard, as that is my favourite.)

I have already made some nice contacts on Tinder (Got a couple of pots coming to a slow boil on there) and when I get my new car in January, I expect that I will be out dating again...

Maybe this single life ain't so bad after all?

Merry Christmas to you all!

 

[gracie920101]

Merry Christmas, SDS.

Enjoy your newly found freedom and the joy of new traditions.

 

[Saintdragonslayer]

Merry Christmas, SDS.

Enjoy your newly found freedom and the joy of new traditions.

Thanks Gracie... Yes we had a great time and I am optimistic for the future...

 

[Saintdragonslayer]

This made me sad and happy. Sad for so many years of unhappiness. I’m sorry for that. Happy that you have a fresh start.
Divorce is both the best and worst of all the things that have ever happened to me. The first year was the hardest. Unlike you, I was in love with and close to his family. I cherish and miss the memories.
Moving on, my guy spent all last night and morning hanging out with my boys. They exchanged nice gifts that were all them picking it out. We are all spending a quiet day here at home.
Tomorrow they will go see their Dad.

I think that it's great that the man in your life can connect so easily with your boys... It must make things so much more relaxed for you, to know that he is buying into the full package of what you are...

As Gracie said, you can always form new traditions. I will be hitting the sales tomorrow, as I will be looking to expand my wardrobe... Hugo Boss, Ralph Lauren etc. are going to get a boost! Aren't all the girls crazy for a sharp dressed man?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wRHBLwpASw

 

[melimelissa]

merry d/smas

So sorry about
my hattitude - I'll be better
than ever soon, sir.

Merry D/sMas

Méli

 

[ToPleaseHim]

Merry Christmas to you, SDS. I hope you had a great time with your sister and are feeling good and enjoying Die Hard right about now.

I’m close to six years post-divorce and I wouldn’t change it for the world, but that first Christmas is rough. My kids have good relationships with my partner which is great because he and I are definitely very long-term. My ex is much happier with his new partner and I clearly am with mine. Some things aren’t great, but our daughters are young adults so I think that does simplify some things. My ex and I have been good about sharing holidays, about the only thing we’ve truly done well “together” since parting.

 

[twister947]

Christmas in Houston...they still have cherry tomatoes on the vine, fercryinoutloud! I met my new family; I think it went well. More people than I was expecting, but all vaxed up. Fingers crossed. Merry Christmas, y'all.

 

[gracie920101]

Keeping this idea for next year!

 

[Saintdragonslayer]

Merry Christmas to you, SDS. I hope you had a great time with your sister and are feeling good and enjoying Die Hard right about now.

I’m close to six years post-divorce and I wouldn’t change it for the world, but that first Christmas is rough. My kids have good relationships with my partner which is great because he and I are definitely very long-term. My ex is much happier with his new partner and I clearly am with mine. Some things aren’t great, but our daughters are young adults so I think that does simplify some things. My ex and I have been good about sharing holidays, about the only thing we’ve truly done well “together” since parting.

Thanks TPH. I am happy to hear that you and your ex have worked out a routine that is best for your daughters... It doesn't matter what age, or how mature they are, they still look to both of their parents for a guide in how to behave, because, unfortunately, this relationship upset is equally as common as 2 people going the distance. Your kids may have to face the same situation one day, and your example may teach them how to break up with dignity...

We don't have any kids, but we do have a 55Kg fur baby that means the world to both of us... I maintain a good relationship with my ex for his sake, so that we can share him, and care for him, in his twilight years...

Only time will tell if we can still remain cordial, after his passing (He is ten years old). I hope that we can, because as much as I know that our relationship is over, I loved her for 28 years and I just can't find it in myself to cast that aside and I want to know that she is safe and protected in her new life without me...

And Die Hard was awesome, as it is with each viewing!

 

[Anastasia1999]

This is freaking awesome!

Saint dragon slayer, I’m glad you had a good day yesterday and enjoy the clothes shopping today.

 

[IrisAlthea]

This made me sad and happy. Sad for so many years of unhappiness. I’m sorry for that. Happy that you have a fresh start.
Divorce is both the best and worst of all the things that have ever happened to me. The first year was the hardest. Unlike you, I was in love with and close to his family. I cherish and miss the memories.
Moving on, my guy spent all last night and morning hanging out with my boys. They exchanged nice gifts that were all them picking it out. We are all spending a quiet day here at home.
Tomorrow they will go see their Dad.

Yes, it is kind of strange how people marry into a family and if they divorce, all those relationships tend to be lost too. Friendships can also break.
I try to stay in contact with people I have forged my own relationship with even if I got to know them as a partner of a relative or friend. It’s not always easy though.
It’s sad really.

 

[IrisAlthea]

Learning new things here.

When we were visiting Austria when I was a kid, I remeber asking ny dad or perhaps my grandma about the C+B+M and numbers written in chalk on dorrs or door jambs here and there. They answered that it was a catholic thing.

Years later my cousin married a catholic girl (not the first catholic in the family but the first keeping this tradition) and the letters and numbers started to show up on doors in the family. So I asked her and she said tgat the letters were for the holy three kings Caspar, Balthasar and Melchior and that it was a blessing for the house and the year.

I was this old when I learned that the writing traditionally would be done by starsingers on twelfthnight and that the C+B+M actually stands for ” Christus Mansionem Benedicat".
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_singers

Anyone familiar with the tradition?

 

[gracie920101]

Learning new things here.

When we were visiting Austria when I was a kid, I remeber asking ny dad or perhaps my grandma about the C+B+M and numbers written in chalk on dorrs or door jambs here and there. They answered that it was a catholic thing.

Years later my cousin married a catholic girl (not the first catholic in the family but the first keeping this tradition) and the letters and numbers started to show up on doors in the family. So I asked her and she said tgat the letters were for the holy three kings Caspar, Balthasar and Melchior and that it was a blessing for the house and the year.

I was this old when I learned that the writing traditionally would be done by starsingers on twelfthnight and that the C+B+M actually stands for ” Christus Mansionem Benedicat".
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_singers

Anyone familiar with the tradition?

Not at all but thanks for the link, very interesting to read about.

 

[melimelissa]