Saturday, December 24, 2011

Merry Christmas!


Merry Christmas to all you knuckleheads.

I am busy with the family in Long Island and won't be on the computer all weekend.

I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and that Santa brings you everything you want.

Off to Midnight Mass!

Merry Christmas!
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54 comments:

  1. Fred4PresDecember 24, 2011 at 10:41 PM

    I did the feast at my house. Had the neighbors and friends. Lots of oysters, clams, scallops, fish, etc, etc. All very good. My rice balls were a fabulous hit. Everyone loved them. Lots of wine and beer. Yum, yum, yum. Football and fish.

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  2. Fred4PresDecember 24, 2011 at 10:41 PM

    I wish you all a wonderful Christmas and a happy happy New Year.

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  3. PennyDecember 24, 2011 at 11:12 PM

    It's a Merry Christmas mass for sure.

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  4. PennyDecember 24, 2011 at 11:15 PM

    And for those of us who can spell, it is a right friggin' mess!

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  5. PennyDecember 24, 2011 at 11:18 PM

    Tim, you can spell.

    What say you?

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  6. PennyDecember 24, 2011 at 11:27 PM

    Oh for cripes sakes...nevermind.

    Althouse and Trooper...separated at birth.

    Cool! Neither wants to dispose of the 'whatchamacallit'.

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  7. PennyDecember 24, 2011 at 11:36 PM

    I am going to call it OVER.

    You are both, forever friends.

    Should one of you act stupid, the other will ruffle the other's hair...

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  8. Evi L. BloggerladyDecember 24, 2011 at 11:38 PM

    Penny, what have you been drinking? It seems potent.

    Merry Christmas to you.

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  9. Calypso FactoDecember 24, 2011 at 11:39 PM

    Merry Christmas Trooper's Troops!

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  10. PennyDecember 24, 2011 at 11:54 PM

    "Seems potent" is as good as I get.

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  11. PennyDecember 25, 2011 at 12:00 AM

    Not about me, EBL.

    It's about Troop and Althouse.

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  12. PennyDecember 25, 2011 at 12:03 AM

    One is "the ass".

    The other, "the hole".

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  13. PennyDecember 25, 2011 at 12:11 AM

    And EBL?

    Whatever you doo doo...

    Do not mooooove me.

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  14. PennyDecember 25, 2011 at 12:13 AM

    Would rather eat you up...

    and...what?

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  15. PennyDecember 25, 2011 at 12:19 AM

    Most important Trooper question...

    1. Eat you up, and then some...

    OR

    2. Pick door number...?

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  16. Trooper YorkDecember 25, 2011 at 2:03 AM

    Merry Christmas Penny. Have a wonderful and prosperous New Year.

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  17. Trooper YorkDecember 25, 2011 at 2:06 AM

    And by the way we are past all that stuff.

    We won't be referring to those guys in anyway at anytime.

    They should go their way.

    I will go mine.

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  18. PennyDecember 25, 2011 at 2:39 AM

    Oh for cripes sakes. I can barely hear you, Troop?

    Who's your trope, troop?

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  19. PennyDecember 25, 2011 at 2:50 AM

    Last words...

    You are more like Althouse than the rest of us.

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  20. PennyDecember 25, 2011 at 2:53 AM

    We expect you to figure out a way to make it work.

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  21. blakeDecember 25, 2011 at 4:19 AM

    Merry Christmas, Trooper York!

    o/~loo loo loo
    loo loo loo loo loo
    loo loo loo
    loo loo loo loo~\o

    (Charlie Brown style)

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  22. RonDecember 25, 2011 at 4:59 AM

    Merry Christmas to Clan Trooper! :0

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  23. AllenSDecember 25, 2011 at 7:25 AM

    Merry Christmas, everyone!

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  24. AllenSDecember 25, 2011 at 7:25 AM

    Merry Christmas, everyone!

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  25. DarcyDecember 25, 2011 at 8:17 AM

    Merry Christmas! And God bless you, every one.

    :)

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  26. Jason (the commenter)December 25, 2011 at 8:51 AM

    Happy Hanukkah!

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  27. Roger J.December 25, 2011 at 9:04 AM

    Merry Christms and Happy Hannukah to the folks at trooper's blog

    Best of wishes for the holiday season and the coming year.

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  28. chickelitDecember 25, 2011 at 9:29 AM

    Merry Christmas Troop and all the Troopies.

    Special hugs to Penny, who seems to have needed them last night.

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  29. ndspinelliDecember 25, 2011 at 9:58 AM

    Merry Christmas folks. May the Good Lord protect and comfort all the good people here.

    Fred the feast sounds terrific. Lot's of vitamin D!!

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  30. AnonymousDecember 25, 2011 at 10:00 AM

    Merry Christmas! What's with this Penny? A little too much Christmas cheer perhaps?

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  31. ndspinelliDecember 25, 2011 at 10:00 AM

    And Happy Hanukkah to all members of the tribe of Judah!

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  32. Michael HazDecember 25, 2011 at 10:09 AM

    What a beautiful morning! It's sunny, clear and bright where I am. No snow yet, that's unusual, but the day is simply extraordinary, the way Christmas Day should be.

    Our Christmas celebrations are over, it will just be the two of us at home today. Christmas isn't usually like that, but we are basking in the joy of the pending birth of our first grandchild, due to arrive later today, or perhaps tomorrow. We'll see.

    We're both a little sore today, happily so. We skated in our family's long-traditional Christmas Eve Day ice hockey game yesterday afternoon. There were dozens of family, extended family and other friends on the ice. Count 'em up, divide by two, and there's your teams.

    It looked like maybe twenty skaters per team, all on the ice at the same time. There were little kids who were in their league uniforms, high-schoolers, college kind home on vacation, and the rest of us. The rec league players beat the heck out of each other, but were pretty gentle with everyone else.

    The game was followed by pot-luck chili, joking, photos, and exchanging gifts with those we won't see today.

    Then home for a nap and a half bottle of Advil.

    We went to midnight Mass in a old, beautiful church downtown. It was said in Latin, like in the olden days (and the way is should always be said, in my opinion). The choir was strong, the homily magnificent. We were home by 2:00 AM, had a glass of wine and at long last fell asleep.

    This morning is quiet. Mary is still asleep and I'm taking time to reflect on the Day, the year, and the value of good friends.

    I wish all of you a very blessed and Merry Christmas. May our Lord continue to hold your soul and the souls of those you love safe in his merciful heart.

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  33. chickelitDecember 25, 2011 at 10:14 AM

    Then home for a nap and a half bottle of Advil.

    They should test a liquid formulation and call it advidol.

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  34. AnonymousDecember 25, 2011 at 10:16 AM

    Congratulations on your first grandchild Michael! A Christmas baby , how exciting, best wishes and safe delivery to mom and child.

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  35. Michael HazDecember 25, 2011 at 10:27 AM

    Oh, and Trooper, thanks very much for putting up a page where we who believe in Christmas and love our Lord don't feel that our beliefs are questioned or ridiculed.

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  36. The DudeDecember 25, 2011 at 10:37 AM

    Congratulations on the soon-to-be first grand child, Haz. I can imagine that will be a wonderful addition to your family.

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  37. DarcyDecember 25, 2011 at 10:45 AM

    What a lovely Christmas Eve tradition, Michael.

    Looking forward to the baby news!

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  38. Fred4PresDecember 25, 2011 at 10:53 AM

    The feast was a big success. How did your's go?

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  39. blakeDecember 25, 2011 at 11:01 AM

    Haz--

    That sounds amazing! Thanks for sharing!

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  40. ricpicDecember 25, 2011 at 11:14 AM

    Merry Christmas.

    May Santa continue to bring us all the gift of breath.

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  41. I'm Full of SoupDecember 25, 2011 at 11:34 AM

    Merry Christmas to Trooper and all!
    And special best wishes to the Haz family and the first grandchild!

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  42. ndspinelliDecember 25, 2011 at 11:43 AM

    Congrats Haz! And this great tradition might even have Trooper taking a pass @ ripping hockey. He had a very bad experience in his early years w/ hockey players.

    You probably are sensitive to know this. But, when your birthday falls in the Christmas season it tends to get overlooked. Probably not so much in these modern times. But I've had many converstions w/ folks from my era[born in 1950's] that had birthdays during the Holiday season and many felt slighted. Mine is on New Years Eve. So, I quickly learned it was NY Eve, not my birthday. That fit my personality well because I was never one to like attention. I don't even like getting gifts. But, a lot of folks have resentment. First grandchild..I don't think it will be an issue!!

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  43. chickelitDecember 25, 2011 at 11:48 AM

    Congrats, Haz!

    One of my GGfathers was born on Christmas Day. They named him Emmanuel.

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  44. chickelitDecember 25, 2011 at 11:53 AM

    He was born in 1791 in PA. His wife had 17 children (that lived). Six sons and three grandkids of his fought for the Union.

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  45. AnonymousDecember 25, 2011 at 11:55 AM

    Off to daughter and son in laws for a standing rib roast , all the family has made it this year! Missing those who are dear, but not near.

    Last night was Seven Fishes, Prime Rib and good company. But heck no eggnog , I feel cheated , have to make up for it today. Merry Christmas!

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  46. windbagDecember 25, 2011 at 11:56 AM

    Merry Christmas, y'all.

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  47. ndspinelliDecember 25, 2011 at 11:58 AM

    Fred, We had a change in plans, a quiet Christmas Eve, just us and our daughter. It was nice. She lives 4 hours away in the Twin Cities. So, I made her favorite, pizza fritta. Pizza dough fried in olive oil[individual size] w/ meaty tomato sauce, parmesan reggiano, and salad.

    My inlaws are coming along w/ my son and girlfriend today. We would in past years have prime rib. But, my son loves bbq[as do we all]. I learned how to 'que when I lived in KC. So, it's a beef brisket that was rubbed on Friday. I'll cook it for ~4 hours in oven and then 2 hours w/ hickory wood on the Weber. Always w/ Gates sauce from KC. Baked beans and a grilled sweet potato salad w/ bacon, shallots, olive oil/vinegar and rosemary. And of course, cornbread, or white bread if you want a sandwich. In the hood, where bbq is best, if you want a brisket sandwich you eat it on cheap white bread. We have to honor tradition. It's 40 degrees today in Cheeseland.

    As I said to you earlier this week, I envy you having the traditional feast. But, I'm in Norwegian/German land here. We have to adapt. I will not eat lutefisk. Norwegians don't know shit about food, the Germans do.

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  48. The DudeDecember 25, 2011 at 12:04 PM

    There's no beef in barbeque.

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  49. Roger J.December 25, 2011 at 12:10 PM

    Sixty--our local Memphis Jewish community has a wonderful kosher BBQ every fall--there are always workarounds :) There is always beef and no pork need apply.

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  50. Roger J.December 25, 2011 at 12:12 PM

    Nick: agree with your comment on lutefisk--but on the other hand what doesnt kill you will make you stronger :)

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  51. The DudeDecember 25, 2011 at 12:13 PM

    Yeah, I know, I was just yanking that midwestern style barbeque from the perspective of North Carolina. It's all good.

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  52. ndspinelliDecember 25, 2011 at 1:09 PM

    Sixty, I have travelled all over and eaten bbq of all styles. They all have their merit. In Texas, no sauce..and it's damn good. Carolina, vinegary and good. Memphis tastes a lot like KC. Having grown up in New England w/ no heritage of bbq, I didn't have any bias and I still don't. I learned bbq from black folk in KC and you can't go wrong there. But, it's all good!

    And as we know RogerJ, Jews love beef brisket. When we lived in Chicago we were in a Hasidic Jewish neighborhood and ate @ a kosher Chinese restaurant. No pork in the hot and sour soup and no moo shu pork. It was good, owned by Chinese immigrants, just a bit odd. Chicago has great ethnic neighborhoods. You can walk blocks on the northeast side and only hear Polish spoken.

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  53. Evi L. BloggerladyDecember 25, 2011 at 1:26 PM

    I am deeply moved that Baby Jesus was born in a stable and was laid in a manger. A feeding trough, a foreshadow of what was to come. A filthy humble place.

    I am just a humble cow.

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  54. TTBurnettDecember 25, 2011 at 2:01 PM

    Merry Christmas everyone!

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