What are you doing for the holidays?

Not a thing! :)

Not a thing! :)

Putting together Christmas dinners for needy families. If you know of anyone in need please contact me through the micro blog function of TT. It's just a small group of friends so we cant service a ton of families but would like to be a help where we can.

We were thinking of going somewhere to serve dinner to the homeless, does anyone know of any churches or places that might need volunteers?

Ronald McDonal house is always looking for volunteers at the holidays.

slowsol, thank you. This will be my first year, so I didn't know where to start.

I thought we were doing the usual, until it dawned on me this week that my husband will be working.

His regular work schedule includes Saturday and Sunday evenings. Hadn't occurred to me that Christmas Eve/Day falls on Saturday and Sunday this year. (Same goes for New Year Eve/Day - he'll be working then too.)

At least he'll be home for Christmas morning - that's a big deal with 2 kids ages 7 and8!

I should add that his work schedule is normally a blessing with the kids, because he's home every school day when they get off the bus.

So, although it worked out inconveniently this year when it comes to the holidays, it is fortunate that it typically gives him quality time with the kids during the week. :)

My wife and I take the last week of the year off. We always have a weeklong festivities, starting on Christmas Eve at my house with 20-25 family members over and then I have family come in the day after Christmas and my house will be packed with the kids doubling up. Every night is a big family dinner – 10-12 people… Always lots of wine and beer flowing, my favorite time of the year.

Purchasing thing for the Battered Womens Shelter and buying toys for the kids of striking Cooper Tire folks. Then off to NYC for long holiday weekend!!

Nothing glamorous like the above! ;-) We might drive a few hours to see some relatives, usually on 24th or 25th.

I saw some interesting volunteer opportunities in the Metroparks calendar: help clean up the last of the tornado damage at Oaks Openings on two Saturdays. That might be fun!

No altruism here. Honestly, I wrote one check for charity this year and it didn't involve people. (Paws & Whiskers Animal Shelter) I know, shame on me. But there's only so much dough to go around. Tomorrow we are driving to Florida and visiting every botanical garden along the way.

And I'll throw some cash in the Red Kettle. I really like and respect that group.

holland, do you plan to visit Kanapaha Botanical Garden outside of Gainesville, FL.? It's just off of I-75.

I agree about the Salvation Army. They are the good guys in this season. I once read that their executive director (commander, general, whatever) makes about $40,000 a year. Other nonprofits pay their CEOs six figures.

Yes. On the way back home. Have you been there? Are there any others you recommend? Have you been to the University of South Florida Botanical Garden in Tampa? How about a side trip to Athens GA. for the Sate Botanical Garden? How about I quit straying from the original post topic? Sorry.

RockChick and Holland... Can I hitch a ride? SOunds like you will be having fun. SensorG... What are/do you make for Christmas dinner? AND.. What time? LOL

I'm singing at St. Pius X at 4 p.m. for the children's Mass, and then heading over to my mom's for a big Polish Christmas Eve dinner: pierogi, perch and potato pancakes. After I get home, we'll set out cookies for Santa, send the kids to bed, send the kids back to bed, and threaten to call Santa and tell him not to come if they don't get their little a$$$es in bed immediately!

I'll try to get a little nap in, and then go sing at Blessed Sacrament for Midnight Mass.

With about four hours' sleep Christmas Eve, I'll have the whole fam over for brunch Christmas Day. Once they all leave, we plug the kids in to their new electronics and I take a nap.

I LOOOOVE Christmas!

Hey Holland, I'll look for you. My sister and I are flying to Port Charlotte on Friday and then coming back home next Wednesday.

I am the only Holiday spirit kind of person in my family and I have just finished a round of chemo & radiation treatments, so this year everyone will have a very quiet Christmas with a small lunch at my sisters on Christmas day. Not even a single ornament up at my house. But I guarantee you that no one will appreciate their family and friends any more than me come Christmas day.

You are an inspiration tim0000.. Here's to you and your spirit! I hope you have great health at Christmas and for years to come.

Dealing with cancer this year made me really want to spend the holiday with both of my sons. Local son and I are driving to Philly on Christmas Eve to spend the holiday with Philly son. Then local son and I will drive to DC to see the Rockets play Air Force before heading home.

I don't usually take the week between Christmas and New Year's Eve off, but I think I've earned it this year. Chemo is done and my last radiation treatment is tomorrow, so I plan on spending the rest of December in celebration mode. :)

I'm heading to my folks' house in northeast Indiana for the extended weekend. I'm really looking forward to seeing them - it's been a hectic and depressing few months since I've been able to visit.

golddustwoman - Thank you!
Valbee - Congratulations! I just had my last radiation & chemo at Hickman three weeks ago. I hope you heal quickly and are able to enjoy this holiday season and many more to come!

Renting a car to go home is out of budget. Luckily my girlfriend invited me and my dog to come over Christmas eve and stay the night. She's even lending me her car so I can go to midnight Mass :) then spend Christmas day with her wonderful family.

Will miss my family, but I'm very much looking forward to Christmas this year.

Hope everyone on TT and their family are doing well and have a wonderful Christmas, Hanukkah, or a Happy Holidays.

tlm0000: I wish you great health in the new year.

In the back room memories my mind of the late 50's... A Capon and a Duck both stuffed with dressing and roasted together set on an angle to fit in the big Nesco Electric Roaster which was plugged into the outlet in the bathroom of our appartment. I got to change the fuses all day...

All the other items like pies, potatoes, hot veggies, in or on the appartment sized stove in the kitchen...

About 12 or 14 of the family there for dinner in that small appartment, cold beer and cards afterwards. Those were the days.

tlm0000 and valbee: Bless you both and Merry Christmas!

We will be moving from the ghetto of perrysburg ( perry lake village) into a house in north Toledo area. Lol that's what we will be doing over the holiday!

tlm0000, I didn't see your posts until this morning! I wish the same for you! I am bouncing off the walls with joy this morning, knowing that this is the last day I'll have to drive over to hospital until next year.

I hadn't planned on even putting up the tree this year. We usually have a holiday open house to collect toys for Toys for Tots, but my boyfriend rightfully decided it would be too much to deal with this year. So, knowing I was going out of town anyway, I was just going to forego it. But then we caught "It's a Wonderful Life" a couple of weeks ago. The tree was up before I went to bed! :)

Holland, thank you and Merry Christmas to you as welll!

Valbee.. Bless you as well... I wish you great health at Christmas and for many years to come. Between you and tim000, I am wondering why I am wallowing in self pity... I can kind of feel that old Christmas spirit starting to creep in. Good luck today, get plenty of rest, and make merry!

Holland, a worthwhile related stop is Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park near Gainesville at right off I-75 at Micanopy, a little town worth seeing on its own (just past the WE Bare it All truckstop).

Drinking... A lot.

I agree about the Salvation Army. They are the good guys in this season. I once read that their executive director (commander, general, whatever) makes about $40,000 a year. Other nonprofits pay their CEOs six figures.

I've dropped a dollar or two in almost every red kettle I see when I go out...and plan to do so until they close 'em up Xmas Eve. They're really hurting this year (story from Detroit, but I'm sure Toledo is down too).

valbee--congratulations on making it through! Safe travels.

THank you offshore. I had no idea Gainsville was such a hot bed of horticulture!

I typically do not get overly excited for the holidays for various reasons. But this year it feels different, perhaps because I have a new grandson to share the experience with.

I will be getting one year older on Christmas Day.Very bad day to have a birthday if you are just a mortal man.My family always wonders why I am so crabby over the holidays.LOL!I can't wait for January 1.

Holland, you’re welcome. Gainesville naturally has a unique sort of urban forest, tree canopy cover. After leaving Kanapaha Botanical Gardens try driving east over to 441 then south to Micanopy. Merry Christmas. Signed: envious Offshore

I have four Christmas celebrations I'll be going to this year. Thankfully, all of them are in town. One of them is new to me this year, but it should go over well. I am most looking forward to the one that includes my niece and nephew, they love opening presents! I just hope we have some snow on the ground!

This is an odd year for me, Christmas-wise. For me, personally, my chronic health issues are stable, I have money in the coffers, a brand new kitchen to bake cookies in and much more. This is all VERY good, and a far cry from Christmases past.

Outside these four walls, however, the lives of all my family and friends is in turmoil: My mom's health is critical, my siblings are both separated from long-term partners/spouses, one sibling's health is very bad and the other needs to find work. The list goes on.

I jump like a neurotic squirrel whenever the phone rings. I'm just certain it's more bad news.

I'm hesitant to plan any kind of open house or dinner, given the current house of cards. I think that instead, I'll just encourage everyone to drop in whenever they like, and make sure I have suitable food and drink on hand.

Truth be told, my self-preservation instincts are kicking in, persuading me to fabricate a "dome of silence" around my household to keep the bad stuff out. I so desperately need a happy, healthy, sane holiday season. But in my heart of hearts, I know that I need to remain engaged with everyone, do the right thing(s) and not let my fear get the better of me.

Well THAT was gloomy, wasn't it?