What’s on your mind?

[Apple fanboy]

Two, three, beers, I can handle (though, yes, I will admit that I tend to feel three the following day; not hungover, as I take plenty of liquids - mineral water - while sipping my beer, but........yes, somewhat tired).

I recall the days when I would cheerfully consume five beers (while male friends would have consumed - or devoured - eight) effortlessly.

However, these days, I also always have a glass of sparkling mineral water close to hand, which I sip at, while imbibing either wine or beer.


Coffee plays that role for me; I am not fully human until I have had my first coffee of the day.

Even colleagues - across three continents - learned that I functioned better when supplied with (good) coffee.

Increasingly, these days, however, I do like a mug of tea in the evenings, especially in winter.

To be honest a couple leaves me rough, sometimes for 2 days. I used to be able to drink 6-7 no issue. The joys of old age!

Here the washing has come in. Not that it's dried very much! Damp just hanging in the air. At least it was clear for some of my walk this morning.

Mrs AFB has prepared dinner before it gets dark. Just the usual chicken, rice and broccoli. Time for another tea before dinner.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Had a good chat with both Decent Brother, and also with Other Brother and my German sister-in-law, a chat that lasted the best part of an hour with each of them.

Very pleasant.

Washing was done yesterday, and a series of snacks - sautéed bacon rashers (for sandwiches), organic chicken thighs (skin and bone attached) poached (also for open faced sandwiches), and cheese have been set out with their respective condiments.

This is because I'm not really in a mood for serious cooking today - instead, that will be for tomorrow and subsequent days.

Today, books and wine (and an occasional mug of coffee) shall keep me company.

 

[Expos of 1969]

Had a good chat with both Decent Brother, and also with Other Brother and my German sister-in-law, a chat that lasted the best part of an hour with each of them.

Very pleasant.

Washing was done yesterday, and a series of snacks - sautéed bacon rashers (for sandwiches), organic chicken thighs (skin and bone attached) poached (also for open faced sandwiches), and cheese have been set out with their respective condiments.

This is because I'm not really in a mood for serious cooking today - instead, that will be for tomorrow and subsequent days.

Today, books and wine (and an occasional mug of coffee) shall keep me company.

Sounds very tasty. Enjoy.

 

[AVBeatMan]

Went to the pub at lunchtime and had about 4 or 5 pints, then about two thirds of a bottle of wine with Christmas dinner. Now, at 18.50 am ready for bed!

 

[Apple fanboy]

Went to the pub at lunchtime and had about 4 or 5 pints, then about two thirds of a bottle of wine with Christmas dinner. Now, at 18.50 am ready for bed!

I’d be finished until NY on that lot!

 

[Chuckeee]

Went to the pub at lunchtime and had about 4 or 5 pints, then about two thirds of a bottle of wine with Christmas dinner. Now, at 18.50 am ready for bed!

Ohh, to be young again

 

[The Clark]

Came here to type something similar, found you had already done it... better 🤣!

Happy, happy all!

Yeah there is not way in hell I can top that.
Hoe everyone is having a lovely day!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Went to the pub at lunchtime and had about 4 or 5 pints, then about two thirds of a bottle of wine with Christmas dinner. Now, at 18.50 am ready for bed!

Sounds like a good - indeed, a very good - day.

Glad you enjoyed it.

 

[decafjava]

Came here to type something similar, found you had already done it... better 🤣!

Happy, happy all!

Just my sentiments and we know there is a lot to celebrate but also weep and be enraged about. Try to seek inner peace and for my part I will do some small attempts to help and am inviting dear friends to dinner tonight and will see family next week.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Just my sentiments and we know there is a lot to celebrate but also weep and be enraged about. Try to seek inner peace and for my part I will do some small attempts to help and am inviting dear friends to dinner tonight and will see family next week.

For some maybe. Personally I’m just happy we are as far from the 25th of December as we can be. A most detestable day of the year.
One I do my best to obliterate from the calendar.

What I do find almost humorous at this time of the year is the way adverts flip from buying loads of food and having the ‘perfect’ family Christmas (whatever that is!) to the join a gym, start a weight loss program and book a summer holiday adverts.

I mean if you skip the first, you don’t need the second!

 

[decafjava]

For some maybe. Personally I’m just happy we are as far from the 25th of December as we can be. A most detestable day of the year.
One I do my best to obliterate from the calendar.

What I do find almost humorous at this time of the year is the way adverts flip from buying loads of food and having the ‘perfect’ family Christmas (whatever that is!) to the join a gym, start a weight loss program and book a summer holiday adverts.

I mean if you skip the first, you don’t need the second!

Understood, I agree about the second - that's marketing for you. As it stands though I am planning a "plov" (pilaf Central Asian style) tonight with lots of veggies, meat yes and a nice salad.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Understood, I agree about the second - that's marketing for you. As it stands though I am planning a "plov" (pilaf Central Asian style) tonight with lots of veggies, meat yes and a nice salad.

We eat the same whatever time of year it is. Mrs AFB can only eat a very limited range of foods, so nothing special unless I’m away for work. That’s about 5-10 nights a year. Other than that a bit of chicken, rice and vegetables more often than not.
Sometimes I switch if up for tuna or pasta if Mrs AFB has eaten separately.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Understood, I agree about the second - that's marketing for you. As it stands though I am planning a "plov" (pilaf Central Asian style) tonight with lots of veggies, meat yes and a nice salad.

Plov.......

Ah, I love plov.

I have had (and greatly enjoyed, nay, actually relished) versions of this dish in Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, southern Russia (close to the Kazakh border), among other places.

Veggies go well with plov, but a salad - tomatoes and cucumber, perhaps drizzled with live oil, are just fine and work perfectly well with this dish, in my experience - is even better.

And good bread, and/or naan type breads.

Anyway, do enjoy.

 

[Expos of 1969]

The presence and activities of the Russian shadow fleet in the sea just a few miles from my home.

 

[Apple fanboy]

The presence and activities of the Russian shadow fleet in the sea just a few miles from my home.

I can only imagine. So many things look bleak for 2025. One can only hope it’s a more peaceful year than 2024.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

The presence and activities of the Russian shadow fleet in the sea just a few miles from my home.

Yes, I can well imagine.

Not something remotely pleasant to have on one's mind.

Stay strong, safe and sane.

 

[rm5]

This is my 1000th post on this website. I signed up in 2013 when I got my first Macbook Pro.. never thought I'd remain semi-active but it's a great site with a great community!

Congratulations!! Honestly, I’m not all that interested in tech, but I always keep coming back here because of the wonderful people.

Also, this site is lucky to have you, and I am lucky to know you! You’re very nice to talk to, and it seems we share some common interests!

 

[rm5]

I am thoroughly enjoying my trip—it is so refreshing! At the halfway point now, and I’ve already seen so much! Am a little sick, but I think it’s just a cold and Tylenol is working great.

Also, my high school reached out to me about speaking on a panel, but I’ll already be back in WI and it just won’t work, which is really too bad. They have absolutely no idea how much I wish I could do this, and I honestly do feel very frustrated that I can’t. I’ve offered to be present on Zoom, but I don’t think they’ll go out of their way for that. It was so nice of them to think of me though!

 

[avz]

The presence and activities of the Russian shadow fleet in the sea just a few miles from my home.

Fleet is being.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I am thoroughly enjoying my trip—it is so refreshing! At the halfway point now, and I’ve already seen so much! Am a little sick, but I think it’s just a cold and Tylenol is working great.

Wonderful; I'm glad that you are enjoying your trip, and I hope that the rest of it goes well.

I find that it is all too easy to catch colds on long distance flights; I always carry tea tree oil - it is anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-viral - (some drops find their way to tissues which I inhale during the flight; I usually dab a few drops under my nostrils, as well) and Olbas Oil, for ease of breathing, when flying, and (strongly) recommend this.

Also, my high school reached out to me about speaking on a panel, but I’ll already be back in WI and it just won’t work, which is really too bad. They have absolutely no idea how much I wish I could do this, and I honestly do feel very frustrated that I can’t. I’ve offered to be present on Zoom, but I don’t think they’ll go out of their way for that. It was so nice of them to think of me though!

How wonderful; it would be terrific if you could do this on Zoom, as you will not be able to do it in person.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Another dull miserable day out there. Cold as well.

Not enjoying these few days off. Will be back at work on Monday and I’m not looking forward to that either.

Hope the weather improves enough for a walk this weekend.

Already starting to get dark. Not that it ever got light with the mist.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Another dull miserable day out there. Cold as well.

Not enjoying these few days off. Will be back at work on Monday and I’m not looking forward to that either.

Hope the weather improves enough for a walk this weekend.

Already starting to get dark. Not that it ever got light with the mist.

Dull, dark, dreary, miserable, agreed, yes.

And damp and cold.

However, I have ample supplies of books, beer, coffee, and wine........

Oddly enough, while I never much cared for Christmas, I quite enjoy (in an understated way), those days between Christmas and the New Year; time seems to - sort of - stand still, while normal life, routines and activities seem to be suspended; thus, to my mind, it is an excellent time for thinking, mulling things over, and for taking stock of things. Or the simple business of "stuff".

 

[goldmac2006]

I am thoroughly enjoying my trip—it is so refreshing! At the halfway point now, and I’ve already seen so much! Am a little sick, but I think it’s just a cold and Tylenol is working great.

Also, my high school reached out to me about speaking on a panel, but I’ll already be back in WI and it just won’t work, which is really too bad. They have absolutely no idea how much I wish I could do this, and I honestly do feel very frustrated that I can’t. I’ve offered to be present on Zoom, but I don’t think they’ll go out of their way for that. It was so nice of them to think of me though!

What is the panel presentation for? Is it for a science project or for a conference? I did one for work and a couple of others when I did my research projects in college and school.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Dull, dark, dreary, miserable, agreed, yes.

And damp and cold.

However, I have ample supplies of books, beer, coffee, and wine........

Oddly enough, while I never much cared for Christmas, I quite enjoy (in an understated way), those days between Christmas and the New Year; time seems to - sort of - stand still, while normal life, routines and activities seem to be suspended; thus, to my mind, it is an excellent time for thinking, mulling things over, and for taking stock of things. Or the simple business of "stuff".

For me they mark the days between Christmas and a rather painful anniversary. So I’d sooner just fast forward.
Especially if I could fast forward to Spring, better weather and the promise of summer.

 

[jedimasterkyle]

Dull, dark, dreary, miserable, agreed, yes.

And damp and cold.

However, I have ample supplies of books, beer, coffee, and wine........

Oddly enough, while I never much cared for Christmas, I quite enjoy (in an understated way), those days between Christmas and the New Year; time seems to - sort of - stand still, while normal life, routines and activities seem to be suspended; thus, to my mind, it is an excellent time for thinking, mulling things over, and for taking stock of things. Or the simple business of "stuff".

As I get older, I find that my willingness to celebrate Christmas has decreased dramatically. Maybe I'm too cynical for it now but my wife goes all out with the decorations and the tree and everything about it. I envy her being able to just engulf herself into it. It's kind of like the people who go nuts with decorating their houses for Halloween or even for the 4th of July.

I guess to me, going all-in on decorating for any kind of holiday anymore takes away from the meaning of the holiday in the first place. When you spend all your time decorating the house and buying presents and baking a million cookies all in the span of 3 weeks, by the end of it, you're exhausted, broke and ready for everything to be done with.

In a way, I understand the Grinch better now than I did as a kid. I dont agree with the methods but I understand the message lol.