At Kohl's.




I stopped dead in my tracks, grabbed by girlfriend, and pointed in horror.

It's exasperating but I have to confess I do like those "bubble-lights" on their big Xmas tree.

I like the stuff.

What kills me is that my family gets together the week between Christmas and New Year's - and the eggnog is all gone!

for Dec 25. Come Dec 26, they remove all trace of its existence from stores, malls, and even community commons as quickly as possible. Radio stations cease playing any holiday or winter-themed music at all come the 26th.

Our family always traditionally considered the Christmas holiday to be from about mid-Dec through the New Year. The tree NEVER went up more than a week before Christmas and it stayed up through the New Year. Parties were throughout that period.

And I saw Christmas stuff in a store BEFORE Labor Day this year. I forget where.

Valentines. The poor radio dj's are probably sick to death of Christmas carols that have been playing since before Thanksgiving. A lot of people spend December going to Christmas parties, so they are sick of cookies and such. My family still keeps Little Christmas

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Christmas

Last year we had a good time - my daughters and I had tea and nibbles at one end of the table while the guys had some more substantial eats in front of the TV football games!


Maybe with the increasing number of Latinos we'll see the season spread into January 6.

Ours probably was determined mostly by when school vacation began and ended. Though in college there were times when I didn't arrive home until a day or two before Christmas.

When my kids were little, it seemed like they were barely home and then back to school. It makes sense because most families need to have a babysitter now.

As an aside -

Boo! Hiss! on teachers who give homework or projects over the holidays! Five of my kids had the same math teacher in Junior High, and the same packet of math problems over the Thanksgiving holiday!

And I don't worry about Salmonella from that measly one or two eggs.

It makes the most divine French Toast ever.

Just sayin

Or, if you're not a purist - best addition?

This kind of dark aged rum from Guyana/Barbados is so good and amazing sipped on the rocks...
Sometimes ill do a sphere ice with some mole bitters and a dash of simple syrup for an rum old fashioned.
And it works great in a Palmetto... which is 2-1 ratio of rum to carpano antica formula (red vermouth) with a dash of Bokers bitters.

I can see why pirates got so worked up over the stuff!

Guyana has some of the densest and largest tracts of unspoiled triple canopy jungle in the world. A truly amazing off-the-beaten path place. Northern Brazil and Eastern Venezuela, too.

Gotta check out the view of the Kaeiteur Falls from over the edge of that little rock ledge in the foreground:

any time I allow myself to give into temptation.

Especially my best and oldest friend's homemade eggnog.

I'd rather have the eggnog than the Halloween frenzy. As a matter of fact, a healthy dose of eggnog could help negotiate that frenzy nicely, lol.

Right now, though, I'm working hard on my health, which means eggnog, pumpkin wonders, and all goodies of any kind are out. I AM enjoying the beautiful October leaves, the pumpkins and jack o'lanterns appearing everywhere, the corn maze, and the fact that when the night is upon us, I will be tucked in at home, miles away from trick-or-treating. I'll pass on the usual cider and popcorn, but a nice fire and a good movie will do.

I get your point about the commercial frenzy; I find that to be true of all popular American holidays, though, and I think we can allow ourselves to enjoy the seasons and their celebrations in whatever fashion we like, commercial or not.

Yum.

They're trying to market it as just a Fall drink I think along with cider, etc. Next they'll probably push it for Thanksgiving, which is pretty smart to me - skipping over Thanksgiving to try and get it solidified during Halloween before moving back to Thanksgiving to connect all 3 holidays.

Edited for the cartoon.

http://www.sheldoncomics.com/archive/041219.html

TlalocW

putting up Christmas trees at the same time they were putting up the Halloween decorations, in late September.

People talk about the "war on Christmas" but I hardly ever seen anything about the war on Halloween.

I'm still amazed that people more and more are putting up their trees before Thanksgiving! I guess that must be for parties, but it's sad to see the trees out at the curb Dec 26!

I didn't realize how much I missed the stuff until I had a sip of the Silk version. Heavenly.

People pick away at it bit by bit no matter what the weather.

Trader Vic's looks oddly brown. Is it not frozen?

ETA: I hope I'm not hounding you; I'm always interested when I hear of people drinking T&Js outside of the area.

My mind -- blown.

Vic's is a shelf-stable product. I had no idea there was a frozen variety.

Two tablespoons in the glass, then the rum/brandy, then top with hot water and sip *under* the foam.

If you're ever in the area, I'll set you up.

Icicle lighting in California....

I love Truman Capote's Christmas Memory.

Here in Upstate New York I always hope for a green Christmas. I-90 from Syracuse to the state line runs through the snow belt, which can make holiday travels difficult. (Going over the mountain ridge to Albany isn't always a treat, either!)

One year we had to leave Buffalo to be back at work. A huge snow storm swept in just as we were leaving. We made it out, but the family members who stayed made a run to the grocery store and then hunkered down for another couple days of celebration. (Fortunately, they all like each other!) I think most of buffalo did the same. Best Christmas ever!

It seems that happens less and less these day.

Like Canadians?

Pumpkin patches get cold at night!

Thats why these corporations look so desperate.

I figure when the holidays come the stuff will be gone from the shelves so I'd better get some now.

It's pure comfort food, and if it was in the stores all year, I would buy it. I like it as a summer treat made with vanilla ice cream and semi-frozen to make a slushy eggnog milkshake. When someone is sick, I make homemade eggnog and serve it warm or chilled, or cook it as a soft custard for an easily digestible protein and source of nutrition.

mix the eggs, liquor ( 1 1/2 oz 80 proof per egg) spices and sugar 3 weeks ahead of time and refrigerate in a sealed jar.

When ready to serve, strain it to removed any eggy bits, add the dairy and enjoy

The claim is that the alcohol kills any bacteria, and that the time allows everything to mellow.

Though I'll admit as a non-drinker I've never had it with rum, I really love it on its own.

i positively hate Xmas now. i REALLY HATE the songs. there is a REASON they should be played only 2 days a year.

Here, you can have mine.