Dec 24 2011
It’s Christmas eve! Spend some time with friends and family!
My wife and I just had a lovely dinner with the kids at an Indian restaurant in Madison (Maharaja, highly recommended), and now my daughter has fixed us all glasses of potent glögg…after which we’ll pass out somewhere. Don’t you tell me what you’ve been doing! Go do it instead!
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58 comments
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'Tis Himself, OM.
24 December 2011 at 8:59 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I have, thank you. Now I’m spending time on the internet.
Glen Davidson
24 December 2011 at 9:03 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Can’t I enjoy Christmas Eve?
Glen Davidson
Orion Silvertree
24 December 2011 at 9:13 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
With who, now?
Lou Doench
24 December 2011 at 9:15 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Family’s asleep. Mrs Claus is finishing the wrapping of presents. She has already vetoed my episode of Torchwood. What else am I to do?
Sandiseattle
24 December 2011 at 9:17 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Headed in just that direction. Gonna go finish Damia by McCaffery. (surprised the hell outta myself, read half of it in one sitting.)
shouldbeworking
24 December 2011 at 9:22 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
We just home from the favorite restaurant, litt the fireplace and poured me a large and eggnog. Good night and good times to you all.
Thy Goddess
24 December 2011 at 9:29 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
…No! :D I’d rather enjoy my evening.
Tomorrow’s the day where I’ll be forced to cope with my family.
BrianX
24 December 2011 at 9:36 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Just got bitched out for not making pie. Unfortunately for them, I really do not care.
a3kr0n
24 December 2011 at 9:38 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
You were/are in MADISON?
I’m done doing what I was doing, which is why I am here.
I would like to go to Madison tomorrow to witness your greatness, but you’ll probably be gone by then.
Tuppy Glossop
24 December 2011 at 9:39 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
It’s already Christmas day here in Australia.
Nerd of Redhead, Dances OM Trolls
24 December 2011 at 9:44 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
We’re doing laundry here at the Casa La Redhead. And I’m chuckling at her illogic for setting a VCR for the Rose Parade already. Meanwhile, I can’t convince her not to cook a big meal for tomorrow for just the two of us.
thepint
24 December 2011 at 10:00 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
We have no plans to be with family or friends and a good thing, too, since both the Husbeast and I have teh plague and are imbibing copious amounts of Nyquil in between snacking on homemade spritz cookies. I’m keeping my interwebs, thx. Happy Monkey!
whheydt
24 December 2011 at 10:01 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I did spend the day doing “family”. My wife and I ran a bunch of quests duoing in LoTRO. We’ll probably do some more of that tomorrow.
–W. H. Heydt
Old Used Programmer
Dr. Audley Z. Darkheart, liar and scoundrel
24 December 2011 at 10:03 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Bah. Christmas.
Anyway, I’m waiting for my bread dough to rise, so’s i got nuthin’ better to do than screw around on the ‘tubes.
frankb
24 December 2011 at 10:22 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I am at work and it is really slow. I need comments to read. I work Christmas evening too, so please comment tomorrow.
andyo
24 December 2011 at 10:27 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Ditto. Got a one-dollar cake mix, then watch Portlandia blu-ray, then Skype family 5000 km away.
Ibis3, denizen of a spiteful ghetto
24 December 2011 at 10:30 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Just waiting for my sister to text and tell me if she wants to go to bed or watch a movie. My mum is already in bed. B-i-L is at the neighbour’s house (which I just returned from).
Besides, Pharyngula *is* family. Right?
chigau (難しい)
24 December 2011 at 10:38 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
PZ
You are such a knob.
Merry Happy to you and yours.
grendelsfather
24 December 2011 at 10:41 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I dunno, PZ. My family is a lot like the one described in my favorite Christmas carol:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P37xPiRz1sg
They are family and I love them, but a little goes a long way.
Merry Christmas, y’all.
some bastard
24 December 2011 at 10:44 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I’m doing that tomorrow. I was planning on enjoying a nice evening to myself, but my sister and her husband decided to push back their holiday plans until Christmas morning. Which means I can’t netsurf in the nude (as I am prone to do when by myself).
Add to that the fact that I just wired my brother in Arizona some cash, only to find out that he’s almost arrived at my parents house, where I could’ve just given it to him in person.
Fuck it, I’m pouring some eggnog and takin’ off the pants!
F
24 December 2011 at 10:45 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Already done, and now I’m looking for all those interesting things all the interesting people say in teh comments and blogs. It’s good to see reports of others having already had a good time, or simply not giving a rats ass for the assumption that these days are any different than others. I’m firmly in both camps.
thewhollynone
24 December 2011 at 10:53 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
But, but, but I thought that I was among friends…oh, well, have a happy Saturday night, y’all. Isn’t tomorrow somebody’s birthday?
magistramarla
24 December 2011 at 11:02 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Ahh, but Pharyngula is family!
Lou @#4 – Now, why would your wife veto Torchwood? I LOVE Torchwood! We’ve just finished watching the Dr. Who Xmas special, and we can’t wait for the Dr. Who Xmas show tomorrow.
We ate sushi at our favorite little sushi joint and now we’re drinking eggnog and eating the mincemeat cake that I just baked.
Thankfully, all of the adult kids and the grandkids are in different states, and we are having a very calm, adult holiday this year – just the two of us and our very spoiled dog and two cats.
Greetings from the coast of CA!
tielserrath
24 December 2011 at 11:08 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I spent Christmas eve working in emergency, and it’s 4pm on Christmas day already, AND I’ve just got home from my Christmas day shift.
I’m allowed time on the internet.
So there.
(Merry Christmas from Downunder!)
baryogenesis
24 December 2011 at 11:19 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
The net happens to taste really good tonight with a few Pilsner Urquells and Wernesgruners.
Tomorrow brings the annual juggling of time between two families of two ex’s who can’t stand to be in the same room together.
Ah, christmas.
cybercmdr
24 December 2011 at 11:21 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
To all you Pharyngulites out there, Io Saturnalia!
unholyholly
24 December 2011 at 11:30 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Just finished setting up my Festivus pole. Quick check of the webs to be sure all is well with my pals in no-gods-land! To those who have to work or deal with whacky family, you are in good company. Cheers!
FossilFishy
24 December 2011 at 11:42 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
No way, I’m hiding in the room where my daughter is napping to get away from the in-laws. We’ve had a very nice Christmas day so far. It included kite flying, something I would never have considered doing back in the northern hemisphere. Mind you, there’s been successive waves of thunderstorms so we’ve been grounded. Time to brave the kitchen again, the Pavlova is worth it……
carolw
24 December 2011 at 11:48 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Merry Xmas from deep in the heart of Texas. I thought I’d be drinking white wine in the sun, but we got a fucking cold front. I have spent many Xmases in shorts, but I guess not, this year. It’s really hard to spell christamasesess when you’ve had several white wines. I hope the horde all has a tentacal-refic holiday.
Classical Cipher, Murmur Muris, OM
25 December 2011 at 12:02 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
You kidding, PZ? Spent all day trying to become invisible, with my extended family in the house (EVERYWHERE). (Although my brother and my mom and my brother’s girlfriend watched Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II after they were gone, so that was nice.) And we have the present-opening ceremony tomorrow in the morning, plus I’m obligated to help my brother make a gingerbread house. No more social time for me tonight, thanks. Tim Minchin, Vienna Teng, and Pharyngula. Maybe some Buffy, even.
Merry Squidmas and a Happy Monkey to y’all.
mythusmage
25 December 2011 at 12:02 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Tomorrow is the birthday of Sir Isaac Newton (Dec. 25th, 1642). So don’t forget the alembic or the prism, and remember Newtonian mechanics every time you watch a car slide across a patch of ice.
Lofty
25 December 2011 at 12:26 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Had a lovely xmas lunch at home with my wife and son, no-one else invited, then watched the Fascinating Aida DVD I bought her. What a gorgeous bunch of atheists. If you haven’t met Fascinating Aida yet check out their signature “Cheap Flights” on Youtube.
SallyStrange, Spawn of Cthulhu
25 December 2011 at 12:52 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
You’re not the boss of ME, Professor Poopyhead.
Bill Dauphin, avec fromage
25 December 2011 at 1:20 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Eh, just stopped by on my way to bed. The tree is begifted and tomorrow’s dinner (Korean pork with kimchi slaw, not turkey) is prepped and ready to pop in the oven.
Those of you who meh about the family thing reminded me of this classic bit.
Happy holidays, all!
AussieMike
25 December 2011 at 1:34 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
id write a comment but it wold be the beeer talking,
cheers bigears!! merry xmass higgs boson gives xmas its mass youknow
DLC
25 December 2011 at 1:37 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Bored. was watching The Nutcracker Suite on cable tv earlier, presented at the Royal Opera House. really good dancers, excellent music, nice staging. I’m not a “traditional christmas things” type person, but I enjoyed this presentation. Now, I’m sitting up playing World of Warcraft and listening to music on youtube. Not Christmas Music… lately it was Wagner. Mozart later. Happy Christmas, Free-Thinkers.
Azkyroth
25 December 2011 at 1:54 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
My family were relatively tolerable this year (very little whining about dinner), aside from the gratingly affectionate interactions between my brother and his fiance. >.>
cheescrackers
25 December 2011 at 3:32 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Just wanted to take the opportunity to chime in on why I celebrate Christmas as an atheist, why I still call it “Christmas”, and why I think other atheists should too:
Our culture is becoming more and more assimilated as we continue to urbanize and as worldwide instant communication (the Internet) spreads, so it is becoming increasingly difficult to have tribally-separated celebrations like we used to in the infancy of civilization. “Christmas” is the popular name of the current festival we all in the Western world love to celebrate, and calling it by that name is no different than using other Christian-derived names like Halloween, St. Patrick’s Day or Valentine’s Day for our otherwise secular holiday celebrations. In fact, calling it by the name of “Christmas” helps to further its secularization; this recent American trend of “happy holiday” is accomplishing nothing other than making Christmas seem more religious than it actually is.
davidct
25 December 2011 at 3:33 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I don’t know where to post this. The BBC reported that the Pope made a speech decrying the commercialization of Christmas. He owes me a new irony meter since mine is completely fried. He is complaining about the glitter from inside his gilded temple in his glittery robes (he is not afraid of catching the gay). He does not seem to understand that without the commercialization few would even be interested. If he wants a modest celebration he should just go inside and pray instead of putting on a Vegas style event. He is the King of hypocrites in his golden crown.
HaggisForBrains
25 December 2011 at 4:02 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Have a cool Yule, from a surprisingly mild Scotland!
Sir Shplane, Grand Mixmaster, Knight of the Turntable
25 December 2011 at 5:45 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Merry Purportedly Magical Baby Jew Day, Pharyngula. Hope you all have a good time. <3
ottomarxhausen
25 December 2011 at 5:58 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Oh, goodness. I live in Madison – just about a stone’s throw from the Willy St. Co-op. I’m sure your daughter has a handle on the Madison scene, but there are some . . . really good off-the-map Madison things that could be done if you and the fam have a little spare time.
shouldbeworking
25 December 2011 at 5:59 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Happy Newtonmass everyone! The cats slept through the arrival of Santa, but when it’s the time for the traditional opening of the morning cat food, well they’re at the bedroom door meowing and pawing at the door as usual.
Only 15 hours until the Dr. Who special!
NovaC
25 December 2011 at 6:11 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
(whine) But whyyyyyy? (/whine)
The family up here in MN really don’t invite us to anything family oriented (It’s been this way longer for him…I married into it. And the family that does want us around (whether here or down there) happen to be over 1700 miles away) so, the phone is going to get a workout!
That and we’ll be having noms and watching Doctor Who! Not a bad way to spend the holiday together!
eclectabotanics
25 December 2011 at 7:05 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Watched Winter’s Bone last night. Seemed appropriate as it’s winter and we live in Missouri.
Tonight’s feast will be soft tacos on corn tortillas with home-made refried beans. Gots to eat high-fiber if you want a visit from Mr. Hanky.
Markr1957
25 December 2011 at 7:21 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Flew to Scotland to spend Yule and Hogmanay with my son and his fiancee – can’t get more family than that:-)
Zeno
25 December 2011 at 7:21 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Oy. Christmas morning. Time for the gritted-teeth jaunt to the family farm. Over the hills and through the woods, etc., except that we have neither of those between points A and B. It’ll be a closed-loop transit, A-B-A, being careful to be present at my parents’ only while other family members are there. That will reduce the likelihood of outbursts of crazy-talk, which always occur when I’m not protected by strength of numbers. (Ha! My shield is math.)
Ho, ho, ho, and all that, everybody!
frankb
25 December 2011 at 7:30 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Christmas morning, my son stayed overnight so he wouldn’t have to drag ass across town in the morning. My youngest just got up, now to call the oldest who lives five blocks away. Merry Christmas.
Dr. Audley Z. Darkheart, liar and scoundrel
25 December 2011 at 7:34 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
PZ,
Your cheer is almost infectious. Merry Xmas, Prof. Poopyhead.
Ibis3, denizen of a spiteful ghetto
25 December 2011 at 7:44 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I may have to wait until 7:30 am on Boxing Day to watch Doctor Who. Family events may prevent me from watching at 9 tonight, but we’ll see.
Jezzie
25 December 2011 at 7:47 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
After telling his readers about what he’s been up to, PZ Myers gives the instructions: “Don’t you tell me what you’ve been doing! Go do it instead!”
Really PZ? Love the ‘do as I say, not as I do’ thing… it’s almost like being back home with my fundie So.Baptist family. :p
carlie
25 December 2011 at 7:49 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Had a fantastic dinner last night, opened presents to much fun this morning, now on the internet for the next round of enjoyment. And you all ARE friends and extended social family, so there. :p
cybercmdr
25 December 2011 at 9:26 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Personally, like all the other Whos in Whoville I’m looking forward to the Dr. Who Christmas Special tonight.
Niki M
25 December 2011 at 10:03 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Dicking around on the internet with my SO playing Skyrim is exactly how I wanted to spend Newtonmass, so there, Professor Poopyhead!
…though, watching MPR (no, not a typo) and seeing a chorus of little Hmong children singing “Little Drummer Boy” in Hmong is providing some serious D’AWWW in this cynic’s heart. :)
billgascoyne
25 December 2011 at 12:58 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Kind of reminds me of staying to the end of the credits in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”…
Sili
25 December 2011 at 3:56 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
You’re not my real dad! You can’t tell me what to do!
Sili
25 December 2011 at 4:15 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Old Style.
Azkyroth
26 December 2011 at 2:32 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
That must be nice.