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#1

Making final preparations. Not too much left to do. Wife is helping preside at the 4:00 service, we’re all attending the 6:00 service tonight, I’ll be the reader for the passage from Matthew.
 
Both kids are here. They couldn’t come home last year; the boy was stuck in Germany with visa challenges due to the backlog of applicants from the war. Yeah, our kid couldn’t come home “because of the war.” Odd phrase to be saying, but there we are. And it turned out to be our last Christmas with my father, who was gone a month later. So, we’re still digging through generations worth of their stuff.
 
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1944. Probably somewhere in France. My grandfather spent a very cold Christmas tending to the P-47s of his unit, hoping they could get in the air to provide some much-needed air support to the troops on the ground holding off the German counteroffensive at the Bulge. A ranching man from deep South Texas, at war in Europe. A few months later, he would cross the Rhine at Worms. Today, his great-grand daughter lives and studies near the banks of the Rhine, downstream at Bonn. The world keeps turning, taking us to places, then back again. Some Christmases are peaceful reveries with family. Some are bitterly cold, in a tent (or worse), unsure of how a war will end. I’m not sure what to do with that truth. I’m glad grandpa Ted came home, and raised my mother, who had just been born in January of that year. I’m glad that our family has gone back to Germany, making friends, and a future.
 
I don’t know what next Christmas will be like. But we have this one, right in front of us. I hope you can spend it with people you love. I hope your tent is warm, wherever it may be.

#2

Well said. Every day is a gift. May you all enjoy peace, comfort, love and appreciation for the fact that no matter what any of our current situations are right now, we've got it pretty damn good.

 

#3

We went back home to visit my parents for an "early" Christmas.  My parents are 87 and 96 so I never know what to expect.  With their age comes dread and sadness but want to enjoy Christmas as much as possible with them and with my direct family.  Off to dinner for Christmas Eve tonight and then Christmas Day at my brother's with cousins and friends where a potentially inappropriate white elephant party will ensue.  Thank you to whoever posted the "When Live Gives You Lemons, At Least its Not Chlamydia" shirt.  Tee hee.  I'll bring porchetta, sausage, some sides and desserts.

  • Popular Post
#4

We had an extended family Christmas list night. Tonight we are having a "Lonely Stragglers" Christmas Eve party. Folks without family, spouses of First Responders, empty nesters with married kids that are spending Christmas Eve elsewhere, all coming over fire a fire and Colorado Bulldogs.

I didn't see it, but CHIEF Jr. did. Our video board, coming into the subdivision gate had Cousin Eddie in the famous "shitters full" scene playing. God, I love our media person.

Speaking of 1944 in The Battle of the Bulge. My granddad said that was the coldest he has ever been in his life. I've told the story on here before, but he was a driver for a Major. They went up to the front line, the Major opened the suicide door on the Jeep, a 155mm howitzer lets loose about 40 yards from them. The major slammed the door and then pulled his head inside instead of pulling his head in and shutting the door. It skinned the back side of his ears. My granddad looked at him with the blood dripping off his earlobes. Granddad had tears in his eyes. The Major looked at him and told him, "sergeant, just go ahead and let it out, and get it over with." My granddad said he laughed so hard that he bet the Germans were wondering what could be so funny.

CHIEF

#5
1 hour ago, Brisketexan said:

we’re all attending the 6:00 service tonight, I’ll be the reader for the passage from Matthew.

Is that the one that says it’s better to live on the roof than inside the house with a bitchy wife?  I think that might be in the Old Testament. 

#6

Made it home a few days ago after spending Thanksgiving solo with a pizza, some beer, my weed and football (which was awesome). Have a new niece so wanted to see her, the family is all here and it’s a good time. Don’t like how hot it is though. Merry Christmas you mofos

#7
15 minutes ago, Kennythetiger said:

Is that the one that says it’s better to live on the roof than inside the house with a bitchy wife?  I think that might be in the Old Testament. 

That or "What is best in life?   Cold beer, a hot woman and 4 hour hard on that doesn't require a call to the doctor."

#10

Just doing nuclear family today/tomorrow before meeting up with most of my family on Saturday. The oldest is now 3 1/2, so this is the first Christmas that he has really understood the concept, so tomorrow should be very exciting.

#11
5 hours ago, GhostOfTomJoad said:

Well said. Every day is a gift. May you all enjoy peace, comfort, love and appreciation for the fact that no matter what any of our current situations are right now, we've got it pretty damn good.

Tell me you’re not hanging out with relatives who insist on adding beans to chili, without telling me you’re not hanging out with relatives who insist on adding beans to chili.

  • Popular Post
#12

71 years ago when my family was stationed at Fort Brooke in San Juan, Puerto Rico, my brother & I served as altar boys for the Catholic chaplain in the military hospital chapel. 
Lots of recovering wounded from the Korean War attended the Mass services, some of them pretty bad off but came in wheelchairs and even on gurneys. 
Lots of emotions were on display from the soldiers - no telling what horrors many of them experienced while serving in that far away combat.
My last Midnight Mass serving there was a bit difficult ……..I was very tired and not feeling too good. When the chaplain priest lit my incense burner and I started swinging it back & forth, the smoke overwhelmed me and I fainted. Lol
Caused quite a stir. I don’t remember if I recovered enough to finish serving the Mass that night.

  • Popular Post
#13

Spending Christmas at home alone this year, by choice; first time since Mom passed a decade ago that I've not traveled to London to spend it with my sister and her family,  except Covid year, but I'll be over there in February. We'll do a video call present opening at some unholy hour of the morning here, my sister and niece will get mad at each other over some trifle, and my brother-in-law and I will pour ourselves some more nog, boosted with extra festivity. So, pretty much like being there!

Following that, will be making Christmas breakfast/brunch, or at least some of it, as is family tradition, then watching football, perhaps with more festive nog. Cannot complain. 

To all of you strangers from a strange land that I still somehow feel I know in a way - Merry Christmas, ya filthy animals! 

  • Popular Post
#14

This is the first Christmas at least some of us have gotten together since my dad passed 2 years ago.  He was HUGE into Christmas (HE made the magic, not our mom),  and the last time we were all together was the Christmas before he died.  It's weird....his presence looms while we don't know how to relate to our mom, who completely disassociated afterwards.

But - she's our only remaining parent. So we have to try. Older sister and her family didn't come, but it's okay. Christmas isn't the same.  But my godpup is cute. 💙

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  • Popular Post
#16

Merry Christmas to those that do and don't celebrate. Cherish this time with family and friends even though they may annoy you so much. 

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#17

My wife and I have been together since we met at Aspenwood Apartments on 46th and Guadalupe while students at the great University. That was Summer of 1999. Our daughter joined us in 2002. My son was born in 2007.

Last year was our first Christmas apart as a family, my daughter had to work a shift for the holiday. That was certainly tough for us all.

Not this year!

We have both daughter and son home again and for that I am grateful.

I did have a rough night yesterday, quite a bit of emotion and sleeplessness. I am not close to my parents, or anyone really. My grandmother was my person. Thanksgiving and Christmas were her time to shine. Our large family gathered around her and she pulled out all the stops, every year. My grandfather's birthday was also the day after Christmas. Both were very devout Baptists with my Grandfather a noted scholar and professor in the New Testament. They lamented the movement of Southern Baptists away from the teachings of Jesus Christ and towards a focus on conformity, loyalty, and control. Yes, the current push for control of Universities has actually already played out in a somewhat similar structure at Seminary institutions 15 or so years ago. She has been gone for 9 years, and he four years. But, you know it just still feels overwhelming some years.

 

Still, I am grateful to have this time of year with family. Merry Christmas and happy holidays.

Edited by pacman

  • Popular Post
#18

Merry Christmas surly mofos

#20
3 hours ago, Armybrat said:

71 years ago when my family was stationed at Fort Brooke in San Juan, Puerto Rico, my brother & I served as altar boys for the Catholic chaplain in the military hospital chapel. 

Episode 7 Wow GIF by Wrexham AFC
 

It’s Surly so I imagined this going in a completely different and horrific direction.

i can’t imagine what those men witnessed, but I bet they appreciated what you all were trying to do for them.

  • Popular Post
#21

Our daughter and son-in-law flew down from Oregon Monday, and our son and daughter-in-law drove down from Waco today.  This is our first Christmas with both kids here in four or five years, so it is wonderful to have the six of us under one roof, even if only for about 24 hours.  Today my son-in-law and I smoked a brisket that's resting in the smoker right now.  My daughter-in-law baked some cookies, made some treats, and brought potato salad.  Tomorrow we guys will smoke some sausage and pork belly burnt ends, and we'll feast for lunch.  I can't wait to eat!

It's also the first Christmas since my dad died.  It's really tough on my brothers and me, especially my youngest brother.  We're getting through, but damn I miss that old fart.  So this Christmas is a strange mixed feelings.

Merry Christmas you wonderful assholes.  I wish you all the very best.

  • Popular Post
#23

My 2nd Christmas now off the mainland. With any luck next year will be the final Christmas I spend on American soil. For this year I’ll work, maybe go see a movie and get my fishing gear together to go early next week for a couple of days of fishing and swimming.

Today I am just going to remember that my Oma, all of 18 years old was spending her first year since she was 5 without having the Nazis in power in Germany. She was pregnant with my dad. She had a sister that survived the war, but she lost her brother at Stalingrad. She would turn 19 on January 24, 1946 and my dad was born the next day. He was one of the 250,000 German children who were born with American GI’s for dads at the end of the war. My dad never met his real father. I do kinda wonder what Christmas was like for my Oma in 1945  in her hometown in Eschwege. I’ll think of her today and how much I still miss her 35 years after she passed away from Ovarian cancer. So many good memories with her at Christmas. I’ll call my mom and talk to my niece and nephew to see what Santa brought them as well. They’re 6 and 3 so it should be fun to listen to them.

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#26

Merry Christmas to a special group of people here that make me laugh, teach me a few new things and makes me scratch my head in wonderment at times!

Hookem Horns!!!

#27

Merry Christmas! 

I'm enjoying this thread and the one right below it called Slutcon.   A very Surly Christmas.

#28
19 minutes ago, tigol said:

Merry Christmas! 

I'm enjoying this thread and the one right below it called Slutcon.   A very Surly Christmas.

My Christmas bookend movies are It’s A Wonderful Life and Christmas Vacation.   These threads do the same.

17 hours ago, BehoId, The Underminer! said:

My wife has long been dedicated to fighting the counteroffensive at the bulge.

So she watched Bands of Brothers and determined that indifference was the key to victory.

#29

Merry Christmas! May have had one to many Blanton’s playing Santa late last night…

#31
17 hours ago, BehoId, The Underminer! said:

My wife has long been dedicated to fighting the counteroffensive at the bulge.

"Band of Sisters"

#33
17 hours ago, BehoId, The Underminer! said:

My wife has long been dedicated to fighting the counteroffensive at the bulge.

"Band of Sisters"

Been watching for years.

Edited by Slacks

#36
15 hours ago, seven said:

Merry Christmas to those that do and don't celebrate. Cherish this time with family and friends even though they may annoy you so much. 

I see your user name and all that comes to mind is ....

Whats In The Box GIFs | GIFDB.com

  • Popular Post
#37
21 hours ago, CHIEF said:

 

Speaking of 1944 in The Battle of the Bulge. My granddad said that was the coldest he has ever been in his life. I've told the story on here before, but he was a driver for a Major. They went up to the front line, the Major opened the suicide door on the Jeep, a 155mm howitzer lets loose about 40 yards from them. The major slammed the door and then pulled his head inside instead of pulling his head in and shutting the door. It skinned the back side of his ears. My granddad looked at him with the blood dripping off his earlobes. Granddad had tears in his eyes. The Major looked at him and told him, "sergeant, just go ahead and let it out, and get it over with." My granddad said he laughed so hard that he bet the Germans were wondering what could be so funny.

CHIEF

There is literally nobody who loved Christmas more than my late father. His 9th Armor unit defended the crossroads town of St. Vith during the Bulge from 16 December until Christmas Eve, when Monty told them to find their way west to the 82nd airborne, who were creating an escape pocket.   

IMG_5656.webp.c9af1a832e77ba426fb63c265006b513.webp

Staying inside a Sherman for eight or nine days in that cold was not pleasant according to dad.   Something about conduction.  But finally arriving safe behind Allied lines on Christmas Eve - and enjoying a hot Christmas dinner the next day when you’ve been convinced for a week you had to hold on until you died -  made an indelible mark on his appreciation of Christmas.

Merry Christmas to all.   My Christmas miracle was I woke up in a soaking wet bed with no fever or blinding headache for the first time in four days.  My dog had been staring at me, wondering why I suddenly hated him and refused to walk him.

*not my dad‘s tank, but 7th armored Shermans at St. Vith. The seventh was at the northern end of the fortified goose egg, the 9th defended the southern end.  Something about that photo relays just how cold it was.

  • Popular Post
#39

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas with the peace of newborn baby Jesus and warmth from the soft glow of electric sex. 
 

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#41

Last year with one of our sons, the excitement and trepidation of college is the backdrop as admissions letters have started coming in. the other just turned 16 and got his car this morning. Second time we’ve been able to do the big red bow Christmas for our sons. I feel very fortunate to be able to get them the car and truck they wanted. Core memories aren’t always predictable but this one is. 

Bittersweet Christmas as we get ready for dinner. I’ve teared up several times. It might be morbid but I’m starting to see these times from their point of view when I’m no longer here. Not sure if that’s good for my health, but it’s interesting nonetheless. 

My whole purpose right now is launching them successfully then finishing a family legacy.  I feel like these are the years that mean the most, I guess it’s nice to be in them rather than being through them, but I can’t help but think about the future being much different. 

Edited by scramblyn

#42

Anybody get anything cool yet? Only thing I really wanted was a Bighorn Infrared salamander grill. Steaks will be nice on it, but I really bought it for making chargrilled oysters. I looked to see if there was a video of someone grilling oysters yet, but nothing on Youtube.

 

CHIEF

#43

I got some socks. Given the toe fungus issues they are pretty spectacular. Breathable, all the things. Would recommend, the socks not the toe fungus. 

  • Popular Post
#44

It’s been a great day. I got a new backpack for travel and some legos. Wife is happy with her new IPad and the kid is happy with his new desk chair.

It’s been a good day. I cooked - fam came over. It’s our second Christmas without my FIL and he’s missed. He died Dec 18th last year. Last Christmas was just get through it. This one was great. My sister and her family join us and she has two younger kids - which my MIL adores.

My 14 yr old son helping his 5 year old cousin build legos. She’s been his shadow since she could walk.

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#45

Watched gremlins early by myself before anyone was up.  Did Xmas presents. Ate a lot. Just finished die hard with the family.  No complaints. 

  • Popular Post
#46
12 hours ago, Gatorubet said:

There is literally nobody who loved Christmas more than my late father. His 9th Armor unit defended the crossroads town of St. Vith during the Bulge from 16 December until Christmas Eve, when Monty told them to find their way west to the 82nd airborne, who were creating an escape pocket.   

IMG_5656.webp.c9af1a832e77ba426fb63c265006b513.webp

Staying inside a Sherman for eight or nine days in that cold was not pleasant according to dad.   Something about conduction.  But finally arriving safe behind Allied lines on Christmas Eve - and enjoying a hot Christmas dinner the next day when you’ve been convinced for a week you had to hold on until you died -  made an indelible mark on his appreciation of Christmas.

Merry Christmas to all.   My Christmas miracle was I woke up in a soaking wet bed with no fever or blinding headache for the first time in four days.  My dog had been staring at me, wondering why I suddenly hated him and refused to walk him.

*not my dad‘s tank, but 7th armored Shermans at St. Vith. The seventh was at the northern end of the fortified goose egg, the 9th defended the southern end.  Something about that photo relays just how cold it was.

I thought about this battle today. I worked for a bit with McAuliffe’s great nephew out here. Looks just like him, but didn’t follow in his footsteps and join the military. He really doesn’t like Patton.

I may have posted a little about this, but I met a woman out here whose father was one of the Battered Bastards of Bastogne. She does not know a great deal about his service because he was mostly quiet about it. The chance encounter with her and her sister and helping them get back to their cruise ship on time got her to do something unexpected. She gave me a small booklet produced at the war’s conclusion about the service the 101st performed in the war. She also gave me the only notes she took from the onetime her father talked about his war experience. She asked me to help piece together where and when he was at a place going by her notes. I had told her why I was out here and she sent me that stuff saying that “I hope it can help you out on your journey.” One of the coolest things a person has ever given me.

Edited by UpperWestside

#48

Had a pretty good little Christmas this year. Son is home from his first semester of college, so we’re navigating the dynamics there (he is struggling with it not feeling quite like home anymore, yet not feeling fully at home at school, so we’re trying to help him navigate that with love and grace).  My dad is three years into a Parkinson’s diagnosis, and it’s manifesting not with physical issues like tremors, but with mental cloudiness and loss of language facility and processing (proving really difficult to accept for a guy who wrote and spoke publicly for a living). Still, we hosted everyone at our place yesterday for the first time in a while, which was nice, and did Christmas Eve church with my parents as well, which is not common and just felt right. 

  • Popular Post
#50

Merry late Christmas to all my surly family!  A lot of us have been thru a lot of years together thru good times, bad times and trying times.  I spent a lot of time on here through some pretty bad times of self pity drowned in alcohol here and it’s always been an escape for me, a way of feeling connected somehow when I didn’t in real life.  This year has been my best in a long time by far. Last January I made a decision to cut the alcohol down to a couple times a month if that and to totally change my diet, exercise and mindset.  Since then my career has taken an amazing turn for the better, I feel great, I look great lol, amazing how that works.  I’d like to thank all my random internet friends for being a huge support system for me over the years without even knowing it.  Merry Christmas Surly!

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