Have a good day today, whatever if means to you. Open thread!
Oh, and here’s the one Christmas song I actually like.
— David
Categories
Happy Wednesday and/or Merry Christmas, if you’re into that
We Hunted The MammothBucking the Backlash
Hi fellow mammotheers! Christmas Day is just drawing to a close here in the country that doesn’t exist (aka Australia). I hope everyone has a lovely holiday, whatever you’re celebrating – or not celebrating.
2019 has not been a great year (it can get in the bin, frankly) but it’s been raining here, proper good soaking rain – given the drought and fires, it actually makes me feel happy and mildly optimistic.
Thanks David as always for this space 🙂
A small silver lining in all the madness: a volunteer firefighter rescued these koalas who would’ve been burnt to death
@Mish
It’s hot in the Far North.
I wish it was raining.
It’s been a bad few months for me this year.
Christmas always brings the worst out.
Mish, Kami – thinking of you and your fellow Australians; stay safe. Bless that firefighter.
David, thank you for “Happy Wednesday”, which I have already shamelessly nicked as a useful neutral phrase.
A very Happy Wednesday to all of you, whatever you’re doing.
Much love
Amy
Happy Holidays everyone!
I don’t celebrate Christmas, so for me it’s the fourth night of Hanukkah tonight, but Merry Christmas to anyone who does celebrate it, and Happy New Year! Also Happy Kwanzaa and any other holidays you may celebrate.
O/T: I’m debating whether this is a good time to come out to my family. I know I said I was going to come out three weeks ago, but I got too scared and didn’t then. Since then, I’ve thought more about it and realized that maybe I should wait until spring when half the members of my immediate family (and myself) won’t be dealing with seasonal depression. Should I wait until spring or do it now?
I’m also not entirely sure of what to say. How do I explain to my family? And what do I say when they inevitably ask questions? Fellow trans* commenters, what should I say and what should I be prepared for?
I don’t want to take over the whole thread again, so I’m sorry in advance if that’s what happens.
I Love Being a Cow https://g.co/kgs/Y1HHaF
Happy holidays from a French-Canadian atheist! Merry Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and happy new year! And happy Odin’s day to the pagans out there too – no reason only the Abrahamics get to have season’s greetings. I believe in their religion(s) as much as I do in any other, anyway.
@Naglfar – Dang, I have idea how to help you out on this one, sorry; not many LGBTQ+ people I’m aware of in my friends and family, save for an uncle who had his coming out around the time I was born (late 70s I think) so this is pretty much outside my knowledge. All I can do is give you my best and hope all goes well for you, whatever your choice.
@Naglfar
I can’t help with that, but can I offer you a menorasaurus? (Hope this embeds.)
https://twitter.com/RutiRegan/status/1209703889060204545?s=19
@Mish: thank you so much for the rescued koala pics & the link to the story. Truly uplifting when humanity acts on the “humane” part of our nature, something currently in too short a supply.
@Naglfar: I would caution you to wait a little (oddly, I stumbled across an article in the Advocate addressing this very issue right after I read your request).
The author suggests holding off on this sort of announcement at such a time, only because the holidays are already so fraught with tension and people trying to spin a 100 plates at once. You mentioned you & some of your family deal with SAD. I’d say that plus the holidays are more than enough bubblegum on any one person’s plate.
Also, 1 of the other benefits of waiting is it gives you more time to get your thoughts together & think of ways to answer your family’s inevitable questions.
As to taking over the thread, pretty sure the regulars will let you know if you’re getting close to the line.
I’m also dealing with some thorny issues as I’m apparently no longer part of a couple. I’ve mentioned my partner a couple of times previously. She decided sometime back that we were not compatible (her word choice). She’s said this before, & we’ve been able to talk things through in the past & stay a couple.
Apparently not this time though she wants to keep me as a friend (yeah, where have I heard that before). I know it’s possible, but I also know how much work that entails.
But that’s not even the worst. No, the worst is that, in the middle of all this, I’m going to have to euthanize my horse, whom I’ve had the pleasure of keeping the last 20 or so years. This one’s going to hurt–a lot.
So, now my turn to apologize for potentially hijacking the thread.
@ObSidJag
That makes sense. I’ll wait until the spring. I found the article, and it seems like sensible advice. I don’t think my family is transphobic, but I do recognize the stress that everyone is under and that it would be better received if I waited until the spring.
I’m sorry to hear about your partner and your horse. I rode horses for years, although I never owned one, and it is always sad to lose a cherished animal.
@Naglfar
I hope your family isn’t transphobic.
My mother still doesn’t accept me.
@Naglfar: thank you for your kind thoughts: I truly appreciate them.
Re my horse: what’s somewhat, well, odd isn’t the best word but will have to do, is that I bought my horse to help me deal with a truly awful, nasty breakup 20+ years ago…and now I have to say goodbye on the tail end of another breakup…seems almost karmic in nature.
I will say this current emotional set back isn’t nearly as wrenching as the 1st so that’s something.
Glad you found the Advocate article. I realize your situation is a tad different: you don’t really strike me as the type to tie one on & launch into the 3rd degree on a parent before announcing your revelation, to say nothing of the actual situation you’re living.
I think your idea to wait until Spring is wise. Fingers crossed for you when you do.
@ obsidjag
So sorry to hear about your horsey friend; it’s so hard losing someone who’d been so long in your life. And I really feel what you say about the resonances with aspects of your life. It’s hard to explain, although you no doubt understand anyway; but I had a similar thing with my dear departed doggie. She’d been around for so many significant events in my life; and there’s aways that association. Words always seem so inadequate at times like this; but for what its worth you have my condolences.
To Alan:
Thank you also for your kind thoughts & wishes. I had this discussion with a close friend just the other day (ironically, also a friend who was hit by the 1st breakup–long, long story that I grew tired of telling years ago). She also had to let her beloved dog go due to bladder cancer.
I said that, for me, knowing it’s the right thing to do when our 4-legged companions need us to let them go–because they’re in pain or no longer have any quality of life–is almost worse for me even though I know I’m doing right by them hurts even more.
I try to comfort myself with the thought that he’s had an excellent life and didn’t wind up in some Mexican kill lot .
I’m trying to arrange it so I can be with him when the vet euthanizes him. I’ve never not been there for a pet when I had to sat that final good-bye: I don’t believe in letting a friend die alone.
Luckily, my work superiors have been supportive, which I also appreciate.
Again, thank you for your kindness, and I’m sorry that you, too, had to say good-bye, no doubt too soon.
But it’s the price we pay for caring, & it is our last act of charity to creatures who’ve enriched our lives so deeply.
Australia?
Oh! You mean fourecks? It sounds like Rincewind needs to pay another visit to cool things off.
Hope everyone had a nice Solstice!
Happy holidays! If any of my fellow diabetics are looking for Christmas treats, I’m baking these today:
http://www.diabetesforecast.org/2013/nov/recipes/gingerbread-cookies.html
I haven’t done Christmas for a long time. Today’s just a day off. I do celebrate Solstice with what little family I have left, since none of us are Christians or care much about commercialism. But that’s a small, low-key affair; my big celebration for the season is New Year’s Eve.
@Victorious P:
Those look awesome!
And for any Kemetics out there, Happy Establishment of the Celestial Cow (or as we jokingly say, ‘Merry Moomas’ 😀 )
Happy Hogswatch, everyone.
Stay safe and good luck to people in Fourecks. I’ve been watching the news here in Lincolnshire and wishing I could send you some of the rain that’s currently leaking through my roof and walls (old house on marshland).
Happy Life Day, Mammoth Hunters!
I ate so much cheesecake … roll me over on my side, please? ?
Happy Isaac Newton’s birthday.
@ObSidJag Hugs.
@Sheila C.
Thank you also.
I got to spend some time with my boy today. I basically followed him around the pasture with a chair. When he stopped, I stopped & just sat beside him a d talked to him or groomed his mane. When he walked on, I followed him until he stopped again…and repeat.
It was all very peaceful–and exactly what I needed.
@ObSidJag
Thanks! They’re simple to make, and have a good texture.
@Naglfar
Get ready to be both surprised and completely unsurprised, would be my advice I guess. My gf was possibly more excited than I was about the idea, and all of the friends I’ve told have been right beside me, tho I did pick only the ones I trusted at first. Past that, I haven’t really had the chance to choose when I told people. My gf’s mom ignored my requests and invaded my closet, then questioned us until I finally gave in and told her. A few threats later, and I was crashing at a friend’s place while I apartment searched. My gf’s dad was surprisingly unconcerned tho. My gf’s aunt then outed me to my family, my mom didn’t really care what I did, and my brother decided that he’d misgender me and deadname me as he felt. My maternal grandparents told me I wasn’t welcome at their home unless I was a man, one aunt is on my side, what’s left of my dad’s side doesn’t care, and the rest of my family I couldn’t care less about.
There’s a few friends I felt would be easier just dropping rather than deal with the expected gross jokes, and everyone I’ve met since really only knows me as I am now.