What’s on your mind?

[Lioness~]

I wish you all a great Christmas in whatever way you make your celebrations / interpretations of it.
💖🙀🎉⭐️

Christmas - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Date of the birth of Jesus - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

As I studied Religion and Litteratur at university. The former with a great, wise and very open minded professor, that I had a very special connection with. I got a lot out of both studies however.

Quite some years later his daughter as a relatively young and not very open minded priest was very involved in both my brother’s and father’s various 'death ceremonies.
Certainly she was trying to be helpful, but she was filled with preconceptions and not very understanding at all about my situation and my own spirituality. She actually had no idea at all.
I can laugh at the coincidences of it all quite well today though.
I will always remember the many, enlightening and laughter filled discussions I had with my professor, and giggle at the irony of it today.

 

[fanboy-ish]

Here's a little Xmas video for you - from a year or two ago. I often seem to stumble across Simon Roper's stuff on Youtube and they're always fascinating so I thought I'd share...

London (well SE accents) through the ages:

1406 and 1586 doesn't even sound like English to me, it sounds like a Scandinavian language, with some English and Latin sprinkled here and there. It's crazy I can understand 1346 but not the more recent passages.

 

[ucfgrad93]

Wind chill supposed to be -20 to -50 in Colorado on Thursday & Friday.

Stay safe everyone.

 

[fanboy-ish]

Inspired by the Christmas gifts giving thread, but not wanting to hijack that thread, I guess I'll post it here.

Over the last few years (7, 8 years) I've been giving, and giving, and giving, both in a materialistic way, in the form of presents, and not materialistic way, in the form of help, support, sacrifices, time, even through my own hardships; now, during the last few months I've been in a "receiving" mood, and people don't seem to really like that.

Apparently, when you change, especially when you go from giving to receiving, when you subtly hint at people "look, I've been giving way more than I've been receiving, now it's your turn", they're not too happy about it.

And by people here I mean friends, coworkers, colleagues, women too, but that's a very much different topic.

 

[Lioness~]

Over the last few years (7, 8 years) I've been giving, and giving, and giving, both in a materialistic way, in the form of presents, and not materialistic way, in the form of help, support, sacrifices, time, even through my own hardships; now, during the last few months I've been in a "receiving" mood, and people don't seem to really like that.

Apparently, when you change, especially when you go from giving to receiving, when you subtly hint at people "look, I've been giving way more than I've been receiving, now it's your turn", they're not too happy about it.

And by people here I mean friends, coworkers, colleagues, women too, but that's a very much different topic.

I don’t think it works very well if you intentionally go from giving to an expectation of receiving.

If you are tired of giving and giving, it's surely understandable. But don't expect too much of people.
Don't expect that you have control of events to happen or not. Just follow what is right and ethical to you. You can’t control other people and/or their actions.
Expect that the bigger picture, alas karma, to have its say instead of your own wishes.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

1406 and 1586 doesn't even sound like English to me, it sounds like a Scandinavian language, with some English and Latin sprinkled here and there. It's crazy I can understand 1346 but not the more recent passages.

Actually, @scubachap and @fanboy-ish: That very thought occurred to me, as well.

1406 (and a few of the sections that immediately followed) did indeed have the sing-song intonation and pronunciation that one associates with some of the Scandinavian languages, which is not surprising, given the influence of Norse on the core vocabulary (and sound) of English.

Fascinating.

 

[fanboy-ish]

I don’t think it works very well if you intentionally go from giving to an expectation of receiving.

If you are tired of giving and giving, it's surely understandable. But don't expect too much of people.
Don't expect that you have control of events to happen or not. Just follow what is right and ethical to you. You can’t control other people and/or their actions.
Expect that the bigger picture, alas karma, to have its say instead of your own wishes.

Of course I can't control other people, but, stopping being there for people all the time it's a great way to really understand people's characters, I've learned that if you stop feeding negative people or, more precisely, people you thought were positive but actually turned out to be negative, they will weed themselves out.

 

[Lioness~]

Of course I can't control other people, but, stopping being there for people all the time it's a great way to really understand people's characters, I've learned that if you stop feeding negative people or, more precisely, people you thought were positive but actually turned out to be negative, they will weed themselves out.

Good for you!
Of course, they will drop off when they can't use you anymore.
But you can't really blame them for your own lack of judgement of people's character's, can you?
Believe me I've been naïve too, most of us have in some way or the other.
Let people earn your trust, and don't give it lightly, instead of expecting anything at all from people in general.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Well, my (artisan) sausages arrived (eventually, and safely), and I am now raising A Glass Of Something Nice to the memory of my mother, recalling how much she loved travel, and (good) food and history and sport and culture and laughter. And us.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Well, my (artisan) sausages arrived (eventually, and safely), and I am now raising A Glass Of Something Nice to the memory of my mother, recalling how much she loved travel, and (good) food and history and sport and culture and laughter. And us.

Enjoy those sausages and sweet memories of your dear Mother.

 

[yaxomoxay]

Just got the following

Liquors:
Chartreuse (Green)
DOM Benedictine
DOM Benedictine B&B
Jagermeister
VSOP Brandy
Sandeman port.

As for beers:
2x Westmalle (750ml bottles)
2x Chimay Grand Reserve (750ml bottles)
2x Chimay Reserve (750ml bottles)
2x Rochefort Trappist (11oz bottle)

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Just got the following

Liquors:
Chartreuse (Green)
DOM Benedictine
DOM Benedictine B&B
Jagermeister
VSOP Brandy
Sandeman port.

As for beers:
2x Westmalle (750ml bottles)
2x Chimay Grand Reserve (750ml bottles)
2x Chimay Reserve (750ml bottles)
2x Rochefort Trappist (11oz bottle)

Superb selection.

Re Rochefort Trappistes, which number? I am rather partial to all of them (am sipping a Trappistes Rochefort 8, as I write) though the 10 is seriously sublime.

And I am equally partial to the beers from Westmalle.

Anyway, do enjoy.

Any wines on this list?

 

[yaxomoxay]

Superb selection

Thanks!

Re Rochefort Trappistes, which number? I am rather partial to all of them (am sipping a Trappistes Rochefort 8, as I write) though the 10 is seriously sublime.

Ah, enjoy your TR8! Both bottles are TR10, which is by far their best one albeit a bit more powerful.

And I am equally partial to the beers from Westmalle.

I think that Westmalle is the best beer in the world, and it’s by far my favorite. Also, Chartreuse is slowly climbing its way on being my favorite drink of all, replacing even DOm Benedictine and Absinthe. I had the pleasure to drink some Chartreuse just yesterday while engaging in a conversation - in real life - about Ancient Rome and the Middle Ages.

Anyway, do enjoy.

Any wines on this list?

No wines. I have some crappy Cabernet Sauvignon at my house and that’s it. I admit that despise my Italian heritage I am not the best admirer of wines.

 

[Clix Pix]

Well, my (artisan) sausages arrived (eventually, and safely), and I am now raising A Glass Of Something Nice to the memory of my mother, recalling how much she loved travel, and (good) food and history and sport and culture and laughter. And us.

Its a few hours later now when I am reading this, so since I happen to have one in hand, I'm raising my Glass Of Something Nice, too, to the memory of your beloved mother.

 

[yaxomoxay]

Its a few hours later now when I am reading this, so since I happen to have one in hand, I'm raising my Glass Of Something Nice, too, to the memory of your beloved mother.

Same here. Dear @Scepticalscribe, a raised glass in honor of your beloved mother.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

My official hours are 8-4:30. I rarely leave too late. Maybe 5 or so. But I often start work again in the evening. But that goes with the territory with senior management.

Exactly the same hours as me, although I finish at 4 on a Friday, sometimes 2pm. I often log in during the evening to sign drawings off as I’m senior too.

Not many firms offer only 20 days these days. You should point that out to your employer!

I haven’t come across many job offers in my field with more than 20 picked days a year. I’m sent offers all the time lately as there’s a lack of engineers in South Wales. I used to work for a firm that offered 25 days a year but that company has since gone bust lol. I’ve just had my second pay rise in 6 months but will be pushing for more in the new year as some of the packages I’m being offered are considerably better than where I am. My only reservation is I’d have to drive quite a bit further and right now it’s convenient.

 

[HDFan]

It's like ordering a $100 Wagyu steak and slathering it with tomato sauce.

As for steaks, the Angus beef where I live in Scotland doesn't cost anywhere near $100 per portion even in the age of inflation, and it tastes amazing no matter what you put on it.

Attended a Presidential candidate rally where the candidate wasn't visible due to the floodlight behind their head beaming directly into the audiences' eyes. Annoyed I decided to eat at a multi star restaurant which was near. Looking at the menu I saw a 4 oz Wagu from Japan for $50. Thought I would try it even though quite expensive. After I ordered it everything changed - cooks were smiling and waving at me, waiters were constantly refilling my water, asking if everything was ok. Steak certainly was good, but not worth $50.

When the bill came I discovered why I was so popular with the restaurant staff. The steak actually cost $150, the 1 in front of the 50 didn't show up very well on the daily printed menu. Likely the most expensive thing I've ever eaten at $600 a pound, even counting desserts with gold and silver.

 

[VulchR]

Sorry - it's a little late, but happy solstice!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

My Christmas beer (comprised mostly of bottles of Trappistes Rochefort and St Bernardus, dark, delightful, delicious Belgian beers) has been delivered.

 

[Apple fanboy]

My Christmas beer (comprised mostly of bottles of Trappistes Rochefort and St Bernardus, dark, delightful, delicious Belgian beers) was delivered.

Enjoy your beer. Here it’s Luke warm sweet tea still. But getting better so will be able to drink regular tea soon hopefully.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Enjoy your beer. Here it’s Luke warm sweet tea still. But getting better so will be able to drink regular tea soon hopefully.

Ouch.

How are your throat ulcers?

Getting a bit better, I hope.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Enjoy your beer. Here it’s Luke warm sweet tea still. But getting better so will be able to drink regular tea soon hopefully.

I thought it better to acquire (order, pay for) the beer today, rather than wait until the proverbial last minute.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Ouch.

How are your throat ulcers?

Getting a bit better, I hope.

Somewhat better, but still plenty left.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Somewhat better, but still plenty left.

You poor thing; try to take good care of yourself.

 

[Apple fanboy]

You poor thing; try to take good care of yourself.

It’s Mrs AFB I’m more concerned about. She’s just had plain noodles and broccoli for her evening meal. The mist food I’ve seen her eat this week.