Re: December 2023 Thread

[Phillip Gross]

What are your Christmas plans? Family in town? You going out of town?

We had a family night last night with my oldest and his wife, my second and his girlfriend, and our younger two children. The girl has guys after her, but thankfully we're keeping them at bay for now! She's much more level headed than most girls these days and doesn't see a reason to get into a "relationship" when she'll be heading off to college next fall. I smoked a prime rib and then did potatoes, asparagus, and spinach on the Blackstone. Had a good time playing apples to apples around the table after dinner.

I enjoy cooking and lately use the smoker and flat top for most of our meals. I got into sous vide for awhile, but haven't used that as much lately. It has it's uses, but takes more forward prep time. Still use the traditional charcoal grill at times, but the smoker and flat top are my go-to methods lately.

We go to my wife's parent's house tonight for Christmas eve dinner and fellowship. We'll do immediate family gifts in the morning at home and then over to my dad's house midday.

Unfortunately I'll have to call it an early evening on Christmas because I'll need to be on the road by 4:30a on Tues to go get a job done on the coast. A crane has been scheduled so we can change off roof top units at a school during Christmas break. Then another school is scheduled after the new year to get done before the kids come back into session on the 8th. It'll be a busy two weeks for me, so going to try to relax at least a little today and part of tomorrow.

What are you guys up to?

[joecool]

Both our sons and their families will be here. Prime rib tonight and ham tomorrow. I sit back and enjoy it all. Great service at church this morning.

[Claymore]

Merry Christmas to all, from Mississippi.

Wishing you folks peace, blessings, safety, & joy.

[Phillip Gross]

Merry Christmas. Hope you guys have a great day.

[joecool]

It's been close to 7 years since our interim pastor left and we still keep in touch and have the occasional meal together (2 hours away from us). He's a humble and gifted man of God who helped our church heal and get ready for the next pastor. He also mentioned his dream '67 Mustang a couple of times in his sermons. When he left, a buddy and I presented a mounted car model to him. Yesterday, he told me that it's still on his study desk.

[Phillip Gross]

I think my favorite is the '69 Mach 1 with the 351 Cleveland.

Headed out this morning for the coast to change out RTU's and we were blessed enough to have that rain front hover over us all day! (Tongue in cheek) The only saving grace was that it is still fairly warm in spite of the front. Warm enough for the no-see-ums to come visit us throughout the day. That was nice too!! (More tongue, more cheek) If you've never been around the Paris Island area or anywhere else that has no-see-ums, flying teeth, sand fleas, etc, then you're really missing out.

[ccm2361]

We had nmy wifes family over for Christmas. My family is having Christmas this coming Saturday.

[joecool]

The headlines said "American" and "New Jersey Man," but the truth is so much worse. The man was arrested in Kenya and returned to the US to face charges of attempting to provide material support for a Somali terrorist group. He had devoted his life to waging violent jihad against the US.

Buried deep in the story, he had originally come to the US only 5 months ago from Egypt, and has an Arabic name. One of Biden's unvetted border crossers? How many "got-aways" are still out there, wishing to do us harm?

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