...though as I understand it, the weather's not exactly treacherous this year, right?
39 thoughts on “December 24, 2015: Safe Travels”
Don't know how the internet connection is at the Bro/Sis-in-Law's new cabin up north.
Merry Christmas Y'all!
Last night as I was grilling pork chops in shorts and t-shirt, legitimately considering eating out on the deck. I hate this.
I wish you could send it here. Highs in the 20s, snow predicted tomorrow night, Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday. I am grateful that there's no snow forecast for tonight or Sunday, when I need to be traveling.
why would anyone put shorts and t-shirt on pork chops?
dude, you would really hate California.
It's not been bad this winter but it's 16 today and that's way colder than I want. I have been dreaming about California all week.
Old family recipe.
But yes, I would most definitely hate living in California.
But great beer and year-round grilling.
Also, I thinned my orange crop this morning before leaving for the airport. I took about three dozen down the street to a neighbor and left about 8 dozen for my dad to take to the food shelter. Hardly made a dent.
Fair enough, that all sounds great. I'm certainly not saying people are crazy for living there, just that the lack of changing seasons and the lack of my favorite weather would make me go crazy. (Also, great beer here, too 😉
Co-sign everything that Cheaps said here.
I love where I live, but I'd love it more if I could import some California weather in the winter.
We've already got 3-4 inches of snow so far this morning here in Omaha.
On the Grill - got up early and fired up the smoker with cherry wood pieces. Oncet the smoker was at 220F, threw on a 5 lb beef brisket that was dry-rubbed last night with (mostly) this recipe. Should take 5-6 hours. Now I need to figure out what to do for burnt-end BBQ sauce.
where is that jealous button?
I'll be flying to ABQ by way of PHX this afternoon, then taking a shuttle to downtown Santa Fe, where the Mrs will be picking me up. The forecast is for upper 20s and rain, which means freezing rain. Ugh.
On the brighter side, the really nasty weather isn't supposed to start until friday or saturday, when a major winter storm is supposed to hit the area.
CONFIDENCE CONTINUES TO INCREASE FOR A MAJOR WINTER STORM TO AFFECT MUCH OF NORTHERN AND CENTRAL NEW MEXICO OVER THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY WEEKEND. FORECAST MODELS HAVE BECOME MORE CONSISTENT WITH THE TIMING AND INITIAL TRACK OF AN UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM DEVELOPING OVER ARIZONA FRIDAY NIGHT... THEN MOVING ACROSS THE BOOTHEEL OF NEW MEXICO INTO NORTHERN MEXICO SATURDAY NIGHT... AND ACROSS WEST TEXAS SUNDAY.
MUCH COLDER AIR WILL PLUNGE INTO NEW MEXICO SATURDAY... LOWERING WEEKEND HIGHS WELL BELOW AVERAGE. THE FRIGID TEMPERATURES WILL ARRIVE ON VERY STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS. GUSTS AS HIGH AS 50 TO 60 MPH ARE POSSIBLE OVER THE EASTERN PLAINS SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND NIGHT. WIND CHILLS SATURDAY NIGHT ACROSS THE EAST WILL BE NEAR OR BELOW ZERO. STRONG EAST WINDS WILL LIKELY DEVELOP INTO THE MIDDLE RIO GRANDE VALLEY... WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 55 MPH POSSIBLE ALONG THE EASTERN ALBUQUERQUE METRO FOOTHILLS.
SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATING SNOW APPEARS MOST LIKELY ALONG AND SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 40... AS WELL AS ALONG AND EAST OF INTERSTATE 25 TO THE TEXAS BORDER. THE STRONG TO HIGH WINDS WOULD CREATE AREAS OF GREATLY REDUCED VISIBILITIES IN BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW WITH BLIZZARD CONDITIONS FOR SEVERAL HOURS.
w00t, I guess.
Why not the rail runner doc?
It looks like the last train leaves Albuquerque at 8:38 pm. My flight doesn't arrive into ABQ until 7:50 pm. So not an option.
And I am languishing in the Phoenix airport. Flight delayed half an hour, so I might miss my shuttle in ABQ and have to wait for a later one. w00t.
Abide, brother.
And here is the sauce - riff on KC BBQ: garlic, tomato paste, chili powder, paprika, crushed red pepper, allspice, ground cloves, cooked in oil until dark brick red. Then ketchup, water, Saba (no Molasses in Scandia), rice vinegar (no cider vinegar), brown sugar, kosher salt, Pickapeppa (no Worcester sauce), English dried mustard, black pepper, bay leaf.
No molasses (or cider vinegar) in Scandia, and yet, just down 61 in Gem Lake, I know a guy ...
I don't know what happened this year - probably being away from home for the entire weekend following Thanksgiving - but Christmas has come much, much too quickly.
I intend to make it more of a proper Christmas celebration length this year (until the Baptism of Christ!) because I sure don't feel like I got it on the front end.
Last night, I got the chance to play one of the hottest boardgames on the market right now: Codenames.
EXCELLENT game. In fact, I think we need to incorporate this game over at CdL. I think it would also make for a great Survivor game between two tribes. I'm looking to get this game in time for New Years.
This reminds me, thanks for the recommendations. We ended up getting Istanbul for my brother-in-law.
Also, I'm curious to hear from Nibs if he went with one of the recommended games too?
I sent the idea along to my parents (they were the ones who asked), but they had already gone in a different direction. I'm keeping your recs in the back of my mind for birthdays, etc, though.
I played this with friends last week and let me tell you, if your partners don't think like you it can be so frustrated. I spent half the game with my hat covering my face haha.
I ordered it off Amazon as a present. Can't wait to give it, play it.
It's nearly time for me to head out for my Christmas Eve services. May everyone at the WGOM have a wonderful and blessed Christmas.
Merry Christmas, Jeff.
What ubelman said ... Merry Christmas To the rest of you all as well!
Why I hate Christmas and Christmas gifts, part one million: my mother gave me a drip coffee pot for Christmas. That was it. A coffee pot!
We use a French press.
She bought it so that when she comes to our house I can pull it out and make her coffee because she doesn't like the French press.
Christmas Eve dinner was literally leftovers. Her original plan was to make macaroni and cheese for my daughter and some sort of appetizer. When I told her we would be stopping at McDonald's on the way today, because, you know, we have to eat, she said that was never the plan, she was making dinner. Hello, I specifically remember her telling me Mac and cheese, and I suggested maybe a frozen pizza because we would be hungry.
Then she served leftovers.
Merry Christmas, son!
I have received a lifetime of gifts like this. I truly would have preferred nothing to this insult.
Ugh.
Ugh. Sorry to hear this Boss. We had frozen pizza tonight because, well, nothing went according to (admittedly half-baked) plan from about noon on...but nothing like what you got dealt.
That being said, I got a book from my favorite author whose work I hadn't even mentioned out loud (to my bride) in years and a red rye ale clone kit that I never would've picked for myself but am ecstatic to brew.
Threatened Kernel with calls to divert Santa about forty times today, then for the first time as a parent, watched A Christmas Story - purchased for $4 last Jan - and caught things from the parents characters that I'd never caught before. While drinking prosecco and flirting with the aforementioned bride!
My family comes tomorrow and hers on Wed. In between, a Bachelor party for my brother in Osceola of all places. God give me strength to ... well, you know the rest.
Again, Happy Christmas all. Or do your damnest to fake it anyway.
Yesterday was easily the most miserable Christmas Eve I've ever had. The trinket got it going early by pushing the bauble out of the cozy coupe he was getting that couldn't be wrapped. It was all down hill from there.
Today I have to fake it at the in-laws, but at least by the end of the day I'll be up in Somerset for what should be a good weekend.
Osceola?! I assume you're going to the casino, cuz ain't nothin else in Osceola.
Oh, man.
On the other hand, think of the stories you will have after they are gone. I'very been thinking on this topic of late.
If it helps in a really insensitive way, I'm really enjoy this cup of cold-brewed French pressed coffee.
#winning
If I do nothing else in this life, I can still take pride in having proselytize for cold brewing in the French press.
That is a doozy. Your views on the holiday/gifts are... Understandable. I'd probably be louder if I were in your shoes.
Believe me, the situation is much worse than I have admitted to.
We spent the evening with the brother in law, the father In law, the two nephews, and the baby mama. The two nephews can't remember our names, and refuse to acknowledge that they have and aunt and uncle. The BIL sent a text to dr. Chop earlier this year telling her that she was a bad sister and a worse daughter. This is funny considering the length dr. Chop went too to help her dad recover from knee replacement last year while her brother went ice fishing.
So much family trauma there. The contrast between her family and my family couldn't be starker, and every year it becomes harder to come back for Christmas.
Our Christmas Eve began with me and the daughter working at the new place. Cooked a Prime Rib Roast for so I could feed my staff something good, since they were working on Christmas Eve. Had enough left to bring home and the family had Prime Rib too. Went to a candlelight service at our church, and then crashed on the couch and watched movies with the family until around 11. All of this had pretty much been tradition at our house on the 24th.
Christmas Day was the usual, opening presents and then a nice big breakfast. Wife wanted to take a nap, so I actually went in to work and dealt with accounting/paying bills for about 3 hours this afternoon. Made some Bison and smoked Gouda patty melts tonight and now back to movies with the family.
Don't know how the internet connection is at the Bro/Sis-in-Law's new cabin up north.
Merry Christmas Y'all!
Last night as I was grilling pork chops in shorts and t-shirt, legitimately considering eating out on the deck. I hate this.
I wish you could send it here. Highs in the 20s, snow predicted tomorrow night, Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday. I am grateful that there's no snow forecast for tonight or Sunday, when I need to be traveling.
why would anyone put shorts and t-shirt on pork chops?
dude, you would really hate California.
It's not been bad this winter but it's 16 today and that's way colder than I want. I have been dreaming about California all week.
Old family recipe.
But yes, I would most definitely hate living in California.
But great beer and year-round grilling.
Also, I thinned my orange crop this morning before leaving for the airport. I took about three dozen down the street to a neighbor and left about 8 dozen for my dad to take to the food shelter. Hardly made a dent.
Fair enough, that all sounds great. I'm certainly not saying people are crazy for living there, just that the lack of changing seasons and the lack of my favorite weather would make me go crazy. (Also, great beer here, too 😉
Co-sign everything that Cheaps said here.
I love where I live, but I'd love it more if I could import some California weather in the winter.
We've already got 3-4 inches of snow so far this morning here in Omaha.
On the Grill - got up early and fired up the smoker with cherry wood pieces. Oncet the smoker was at 220F, threw on a 5 lb beef brisket that was dry-rubbed last night with (mostly) this recipe. Should take 5-6 hours. Now I need to figure out what to do for burnt-end BBQ sauce.
where is that jealous button?
I'll be flying to ABQ by way of PHX this afternoon, then taking a shuttle to downtown Santa Fe, where the Mrs will be picking me up. The forecast is for upper 20s and rain, which means freezing rain. Ugh.
On the brighter side, the really nasty weather isn't supposed to start until friday or saturday, when a major winter storm is supposed to hit the area.
w00t, I guess.
Why not the rail runner doc?
It looks like the last train leaves Albuquerque at 8:38 pm. My flight doesn't arrive into ABQ until 7:50 pm. So not an option.
And I am languishing in the Phoenix airport. Flight delayed half an hour, so I might miss my shuttle in ABQ and have to wait for a later one. w00t.
Abide, brother.
And here is the sauce - riff on KC BBQ: garlic, tomato paste, chili powder, paprika, crushed red pepper, allspice, ground cloves, cooked in oil until dark brick red. Then ketchup, water, Saba (no Molasses in Scandia), rice vinegar (no cider vinegar), brown sugar, kosher salt, Pickapeppa (no Worcester sauce), English dried mustard, black pepper, bay leaf.
No molasses (or cider vinegar) in Scandia, and yet, just down 61 in Gem Lake, I know a guy ...
I don't know what happened this year - probably being away from home for the entire weekend following Thanksgiving - but Christmas has come much, much too quickly.
I intend to make it more of a proper Christmas celebration length this year (until the Baptism of Christ!) because I sure don't feel like I got it on the front end.
Last night, I got the chance to play one of the hottest boardgames on the market right now: Codenames.
EXCELLENT game. In fact, I think we need to incorporate this game over at CdL. I think it would also make for a great Survivor game between two tribes. I'm looking to get this game in time for New Years.
This reminds me, thanks for the recommendations. We ended up getting Istanbul for my brother-in-law.
Also, I'm curious to hear from Nibs if he went with one of the recommended games too?
I sent the idea along to my parents (they were the ones who asked), but they had already gone in a different direction. I'm keeping your recs in the back of my mind for birthdays, etc, though.
I played this with friends last week and let me tell you, if your partners don't think like you it can be so frustrated. I spent half the game with my hat covering my face haha.
I ordered it off Amazon as a present. Can't wait to give it, play it.
It's nearly time for me to head out for my Christmas Eve services. May everyone at the WGOM have a wonderful and blessed Christmas.
Merry Christmas, Jeff.
What ubelman said ... Merry Christmas To the rest of you all as well!
Why I hate Christmas and Christmas gifts, part one million: my mother gave me a drip coffee pot for Christmas. That was it. A coffee pot!
We use a French press.
She bought it so that when she comes to our house I can pull it out and make her coffee because she doesn't like the French press.
Christmas Eve dinner was literally leftovers. Her original plan was to make macaroni and cheese for my daughter and some sort of appetizer. When I told her we would be stopping at McDonald's on the way today, because, you know, we have to eat, she said that was never the plan, she was making dinner. Hello, I specifically remember her telling me Mac and cheese, and I suggested maybe a frozen pizza because we would be hungry.
Then she served leftovers.
Merry Christmas, son!
I have received a lifetime of gifts like this. I truly would have preferred nothing to this insult.
Ugh.
Ugh. Sorry to hear this Boss. We had frozen pizza tonight because, well, nothing went according to (admittedly half-baked) plan from about noon on...but nothing like what you got dealt.
That being said, I got a book from my favorite author whose work I hadn't even mentioned out loud (to my bride) in years and a red rye ale clone kit that I never would've picked for myself but am ecstatic to brew.
Threatened Kernel with calls to divert Santa about forty times today, then for the first time as a parent, watched A Christmas Story - purchased for $4 last Jan - and caught things from the parents characters that I'd never caught before. While drinking prosecco and flirting with the aforementioned bride!
My family comes tomorrow and hers on Wed. In between, a Bachelor party for my brother in Osceola of all places. God give me strength to ... well, you know the rest.
Again, Happy Christmas all. Or do your damnest to fake it anyway.
Yesterday was easily the most miserable Christmas Eve I've ever had. The trinket got it going early by pushing the bauble out of the cozy coupe he was getting that couldn't be wrapped. It was all down hill from there.
Today I have to fake it at the in-laws, but at least by the end of the day I'll be up in Somerset for what should be a good weekend.
Osceola?! I assume you're going to the casino, cuz ain't nothin else in Osceola.
Oh, man.
On the other hand, think of the stories you will have after they are gone. I'very been thinking on this topic of late.
If it helps in a really insensitive way, I'm really enjoy this cup of cold-brewed French pressed coffee.
#winning
If I do nothing else in this life, I can still take pride in having proselytize for cold brewing in the French press.
That is a doozy. Your views on the holiday/gifts are... Understandable. I'd probably be louder if I were in your shoes.
Believe me, the situation is much worse than I have admitted to.
We spent the evening with the brother in law, the father In law, the two nephews, and the baby mama. The two nephews can't remember our names, and refuse to acknowledge that they have and aunt and uncle. The BIL sent a text to dr. Chop earlier this year telling her that she was a bad sister and a worse daughter. This is funny considering the length dr. Chop went too to help her dad recover from knee replacement last year while her brother went ice fishing.
So much family trauma there. The contrast between her family and my family couldn't be starker, and every year it becomes harder to come back for Christmas.
Our Christmas Eve began with me and the daughter working at the new place. Cooked a Prime Rib Roast for so I could feed my staff something good, since they were working on Christmas Eve. Had enough left to bring home and the family had Prime Rib too. Went to a candlelight service at our church, and then crashed on the couch and watched movies with the family until around 11. All of this had pretty much been tradition at our house on the 24th.
Christmas Day was the usual, opening presents and then a nice big breakfast. Wife wanted to take a nap, so I actually went in to work and dealt with accounting/paying bills for about 3 hours this afternoon. Made some Bison and smoked Gouda patty melts tonight and now back to movies with the family.