The AH Coffee Shop and Reading Room 09

[TarnishedPenny]

Is anyone taking care of the dragon down in the old dungeon? I haven't heard about it for a while now. I'm guessing its fire must be getting stoked for the holiday season, so be careful wandering around the place looking for stuff to put out!

Candy? You've been so diligent with baking and beverages. Did you throw the odd clump of coal down the stairs for the dragon?

 

[Candy_Kane54]

Candy? You've been so diligent with baking and beverages. Did you throw the odd clump of coal down the stairs for the dragon?

I will make sure to get some coal to the dragon since I had to get some for the stockings of those who have been bad (and I don't mean the good kind of bad).

 

[Smuttyandfun]

I've baked some cranberry butter tarts, if anyone is interested. They're great with tea or coffee.

 

[Kumquatqueen]

Had a similar night to @MrPixel, only with a small overwhelmed human. And it took its meds, but that didn't compensate for sleeping in a different place. And not getting enough daytime walkies.

I do have a dragon-whisperer staying, should the dragon also be struggling with Christmas disruption.

The time a child actually asked for a lump of coal in its stocking was actually one of the most difficult presents I've ever had to source, given London is a Smokeless Zone nowadays. Ended up with a friend of a friend of a friend in North Yorkshire being visited, and the precious lump transferred to my mate who was coming south on Christmas Eve and was able to pop in...

All the food is here, the shed is doubling up as a fridge, and I've only got 4 little things left to wrap. Lots of tidying up needed, which may be achieved if I'm well enough - I may have overexerted myself at a party yesterday (that's by standing up - don't get too excited!). And get remaining decorations out the way so we can use the table again!

 

[Candy_Kane54]

I've got a fresh pot of coffee brewing for those who are just getting up (I wouldn't recommend drinking if you're heading for bed - it's high octane). @Smuuttyandfun baked some cranberry butter tarts and there is some peppermint bark for those who like peppermint (I don't). The teapot is hot and the fixings for making hot cocoa are on the counter if you want it.

I did toss a couple of lumps of coal down the stairs but the light wasn't working so I didn't see the dragon but could hear something moving around down there. I hope he likes anthracite coal, but I can get some bituminous coal if anyone knows which one he prefers.

BTW: Since Hanukkah coincides with Christmas this year, I found a menorah and some candles if anyone here celebrates that tradition. They are on the counter if anyone wants to use them.

 

[theWollstonecraftWoman]

Just checking in so you all know the Jew Bitch is still around. Life is busy here, and I'm busy with it. I still come here some and check out what's going on. Busy week coming, Christmas and Hannukkah overlap this year, and this is my first time actually celebrating Christmas. Merry Christmas, a joyous Hannukkah, and a happy New Year to one and all. Now, where's my coffee?

 

[MrPixel]

... I found a menorah and some candles if anyone here celebrates that tradition. They are on the counter if anyone wants to use them.

Thank you, CK. It just dawned on me that we didn't display our menorah last year. There was a lot of antisemitic tension in the air around that time, and we live in a small rural community with no evident Jewish population. Closest synagogue is 50 miles away. I was concerned given the bro-dozer population around here that we would become targets, even though our menorah is simple and subtle, the candles being small votives.

We're only Jewish-adjacent. But our closest friends and my girlfriend are. We are grateful for their faith's positive and generous sense of community. I even have, or had, an assigned "Jewish mother" keeping me on my toes. She passed two years ago. Miss ya', Julie.

 

[theWollstonecraftWoman]

Jewish-adjacent, I like that.

Thank you, CK. It just dawned on me that we didn't display our menorah last year. There was a lot of antisemitic tension in the air around that time, and we live in a small rural community with no evident Jewish population. Closest synagogue is 50 miles away. I was concerned given the bro-dozer population around here that we would become targets, even though our menorah is simple and subtle, the candles being small votives.

We're only Jewish-adjacent. But our closest friends and my girlfriend are. We are grateful for their faith's positive and generous sense of community. I even have, or had, an assigned "Jewish mother" keeping me on my toes. She passed two years ago. Miss ya', Julie.

 

[Rustyoznail]

Jewish-adjacent, I like that.

I guess I fit into that category. My MIL, a red haired Scottish lass, married a Jewish guy and converted. That confused people.

Now we get all the good food and none of the guilt.

 

[Rustyoznail]

Well peoples and dragons, I shall bid you all a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, or even an enjoyable social time.

We're heading off soon to the in-laws for a few days, so I may not be posting too much.

Have a good one, whatever that may be.

 

[MrPixel]

Today is an important day, too! Happy Festivus to all!

(Damn. We missed our Winter Solstice celebration. Too damn cold to even think about running around naked outside.)

 

[Candy_Kane54]

Off to bed. There's a fresh pot of coffee for the people now just rubbing the sleep out of their eyes.

See you in the morning.

 

[Lifestyle66]

Off to bed. There's a fresh pot of coffee for the people now just rubbing the sleep out of their eyes.

See you in the morning.

In context, I must admit to several ... glasses ... when I popped into this thread and read this.

Glancing quickly ... 'off to bed' and 'rubbing" something "out'...

Have a good night!

 

[Duleigh]

Ok, I'm back!
It's been a crazy couple of months but I think I got a handle on it now, and I have the support thread posted for the Valentines Day contest... all I need is a story.
QUICK! GIVE ME AN IDEA!
I'm sure @MediocreAuthor has a suggestion

 

[MediocreAuthor]

Ok, I'm back!
It's been a crazy couple of months but I think I got a handle on it now, and I have the support thread posted for the Valentines Day contest... all I need is a story.
QUICK! GIVE ME AN IDEA!
I'm sure @MediocreAuthor has a suggestion

I have an idea for a valentine's day story if you wanna co-write?

 

[NotWise]

Ok, I'm back!
It's been a crazy couple of months but I think I got a handle on it now, and I have the support thread posted for the Valentines Day contest... all I need is a story.
QUICK! GIVE ME AN IDEA!
I'm sure @MediocreAuthor has a suggestion

Girl (or wife) thinks her boyfriend (or husband) is ignoring her and probably spending time with another girl, so she follows him and finds out that he's refurbishing the car of her dreams as a Valentine's Day present. She atones for her suspicions.

 

[JuanSeiszFitzHall]

Today is an important day, too! Happy Festivus to all!

My feat of strength is bringing the clean laundry up from the basement. My airing of grievance? See: My feat of strength.

 

[Candy_Kane54]

Well, it's Christmas Eve morning for those of us in the Western Hemisphere and the coffee is brewing. There is a cheese cake on the counter and some jams to top it with so help yourself. The teapot is hot for those who want a cuppa.

The punch bowl is full and I'd like to lift a cup to the ones that we lost this year:

@TxRad - the founder of this coffee shop and who kept us fueled up to get some writing done for all of these years. He will be missed.

@KeithD - he could be difficult to get along with but he was a fount of knowledge when you got past that. I learned a lot from his posts and he, too, will be missed.

Please feel free to add to this list.

We almost lost @Handley_Page but the tough old dragon is hard to kill so he's back as @HandleyPage. May he continue to roam the basement looking for coal.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Holidays to all!

 

[Duleigh]

Today is an important day, too! Happy Festivus to all!

(Damn. We missed our Winter Solstice celebration. Too damn cold to even think about running around naked outside.)

Wait... I built this 18 foot tall straw man and now you say the celebration is cancelled?

 

[Candy_Kane54]

Wait... I built this 18 foot tall straw man and now you say the celebration is cancelled?

I'm sure we'll find a way to use it before too long ...

 

[Duleigh]

 

[Smuttyandfun]

Happy Holidays!

Hope everyone has a very happy and healthy new year.

 

[Naughtylit81]

Too damn cold to even think about running around naked outside.)

Never to cold if you are determined enough. I spent a year north of 76°N latitude and we had a Dane who would go outside every morning to raise his flag (not a metaphor thank god) in nothing but his robe and slippers. He would stand there long enough to smoke a cigarette before going back inside.

The only time he wouldn't is if he couldn't hold the robe closed due to the wind.

 

[Duleigh]

Never to cold if you are determined enough. I spent a year north of 76°N latitude and we had a Dane who would go outside every morning to raise his flag (not a metaphor thank god) in nothing but his robe and slippers. He would stand there long enough to smoke a cigarette before going back inside.

The only time he wouldn't is if he couldn't hold the robe closed due to the wind.

I've done that running around in the cold thing. Stationed in North Dakota (On the Saskatchewan border (and I spelled that correctly without help!)) it was bitter cold, often competing with Siberia for frigid weather. I stepped outside wearing a just a pair of gym shorts every morning. Of course I had just ran 3 miles indoors (try that if you've never experienced 'boring' in your life) followed by a long rest in the sauna. If you get your core body temperature up nice and dangerously high, then step out into -40 F (-40 C also) degrees weather outside, it feels quite invigorating... for a few minutes.

 

[Kumquatqueen]

In Norway, you'd get beautiful sunshine reflected off snow. People would go skiing in bikinis, for that great tan, because you get plenty warm enough if you don't fall over. Sometimes people would be at ski resorts in the nude, but pretty rare. I only recall one guy, who was a well fit lifeguard-figure type who whooshed down a slope five times while I sipped coffee and went ow. Each time he swept to a rapid stop at the bottom, inconsiderately spraying others in snow. Until the last, when he did that, bumped into a kid, and fell over in the snow. Schadenfreude...

If you're moving, -10 is fine on bare skin. Though I always at least wore a swimsuit in the snow. Being in a warm outdoor pool at night, watching the stars become snowflakes which land on you, is a joy only surpassed by quickly running from the pool to a bar, and then leaping back into the warm water.