I’m sure Anne Laurie will be along in a bit with some seasonally appropriate tree-hugging pagan thing, but in the meantime here is a nice late-night song from Ralph Towner’s album Solstice: “Drifting Petals.”
@Cassidy: I’va always had the suspicion that someone bought Sir Paul one of those Casio 26-key keyboards for Chrimbo on a lark, and this treacle was his way of retaliating. It certainly has that 26-key keyboard composed sound. And an edge of retaliation. When the war on Christmas has Santa holed up in his bunker, I’m sure this is what will be blasting.
Seriously, why do you even bother? Shut this thing down already.
21.
Anya
I’ll give you something to care about. The best fucking film monologue.
22.
Suffern ACE
I don’t care anymore either. First they came for the Phil Collins fans…and then the Celine Dion fans…and also the Heuy Lewis fans…but since I liked Asia I figured they weren’t ever going to come for me.
My local news just did a story about kids getting high on cough syrup, because apparently the news team and producers have all been asleep for like 6 years and thought this was something new?
It is amusing to hear the very white news anchor lady and others say “robo-trippin'” and “sizzurp” and stuff, though.
24.
The prophet Nostradumbass
Diablo 3 is coming out soon, John. There is something to care about.
Also, just thinking about force choking some idiot on the other end of the phone is too tempting…
28.
Steeplejack
Clint Eastwood just finished killing everyone in The Outlaw Josey Wales. Thank God for the DVR’s buffer. I was able to fast-forward through AMC’s five-minute commercial blocks.
Dunno why I watched it. It was on in the background, and then I realized I had not sat through it in years.
29.
amk
I toldja to get a snake as a pet.
30.
moderateindy
My standard response lately to the, “how are your holidays goin” question has been; They’ve been kind of egg noggy….They have had an off-putting viscous texture, they’ve left a less than appealing taste in my mouth, and are only barely tolerable when combined with copious amounts of bourbon.
heavy sigh….. tired and emotionally exhausted. Stepfather passed last night and now it’s phone calls and lengthy conversations about death and passing and pain. They passed within a month of each other (my Mother and her 2nd husband) and while the destination was never really in doubt, the journey was as emotionally arduous as anticipated. I just wanna finish my phone calls and drive home in time for Christmas and with luck, Santa may just allow it.
Thank you all for your support and friendship during this emotional holiday season, I think I just want to fall asleep for a week, but also want to enjoy this respite with my family before returning to handle the end game of closing accounts and selling off of their lives. I really didn’t want the story to end, but here we are at the epilogue anyway.
Hope your holiday season will bring you glad tidings and allow you to be thankful for your friends and family, be they of the two or four legged variety (those of you with four legged family members, feel free to share). Treasure those who make an impact in your life and don’t forget to tell them so.
32.
Steeplejack
My condolences to you. I lost my father in March, and he has been in my thoughts as I weigh up the past year.
33.
pattonbt
Does this mean we can expect three or four days of 10 posts a day from you?
Or is that only when you feel like quitting / going galt?
@Yutsano: Uh, I thought it was directed at #41, but I see your point. Also, too, that weird Philipina chick that shares the same first name as our FLOTUS.
45.
Yutsano
@dead existentialist: I will freely confess to cat toying. But I also hate coy. It’s the Scorpio in me: say what the fuck you mean.
piratedan, take care of yourself. Condolences, and let friends give you that extra Christmas cookie. Try to remember some of the better times from both mom and stepdad.
50.
geg6
Piratedan, you have my condolences. Losing the parents is tough as he’ll, especially if it was a lingering kind of thing. Lost both parents within a two-year period (Jan.1999 and 2001). Dad went quickly by massive heart attack, but mom went slowly from breast cancer. Those two years were the most physically and emotionally exhausting of my life. Take good care of yourself and take the time to mourn properly. And if the last months and years were difficult, try to remember them at their best. I’ll keep you in my thoughts over the holidays.
51.
kindness
At least John isn’t screaming at us to get off his damn lawn.
So sorry. I’m expecting the phone call from the nursing home any minute now for my mother who’s at the end of the end stage of Alzheimer’s. It’s been horrible. We’re supposed to be having 20 people for Christmas dinner so if I got hit by a car and went into a coma until February, I’d be a-ok with that. There’s just nothing to do except go through.
54.
JCT
@piratedan: Strong thoughts your way, taking such good care of your mom and her husband through to the end is the ultimate mitzvah. Now take care of yourself and have a Healthy New Year.
@piratedan: I am so sorry for your losses. As others have said, please take care of yourself.
@Cat Lady: There is absolutely no good time to be waiting for that phone call, but I’m extra sorry it’s happening for you during the holidays. Please don’t get hit by a car; lots of people, including your family and the BJ community, need you to be non-comatose.
{{{hugs}}} to both of you.
57.
Emma
@piratedan: I am so sorry. Please pace yourself. It can be exhausting dealing with even — or perhaps especially — well-meaning people. Step away when you need to and don’t feel guilty about it.
@Cat Lady: So sorry to hear about that. I’ve been down that road a few times, too. My dad passed this summer after a very fast downhill slide from Lewy Body Dementia. Waiting for the phone call is almost the worst part, I think.
64.
capt
Just take two “fucitol” tablets and post tomorrow?
65.
4jkb4ia
John, are you all right!? | I was going to say that “I Don’t Care Anymore” was
(Sleep may have cured this) | better than “Sussudio” but I didn’t think I was
| going to get any takers. “Another Day In Paradise”
| is also better. It made at least one “Greatest 80s
| Protest Songs” list, from someone not otherwise
| inclined to cut Phil Collins any slack.
(FYWP? It looked all lined up in the comment window)
66.
4jkb4ia
piratedan, I hope you get as much comfort and rest as you can.
The movie actually holds up pretty well for being 35 years old.
68.
Paul in KY
@piratedan: My condolences. Please take care of yourself also.
69.
different-church-lady
You okay, John?
70.
Paula
To piratedan and everyone still grieving this year, good thoughts to you and I hope you are all spending time with people you care about this season. The later part of 2011 has been rather shit, personally speaking, but it’s been nice to have family and friends to keep me sane.
Speaking of sane, I don’t see why Cole shouldn’t take an extended break. It’s pretty common among blog hosts and he’s got enough front pagers to keep the site going …
dead existentialist
That’s the holiday spirit!
Mnemosyne
I never did believe you much, anyway.
LT
Liar.
JGabriel
John Cole:
Me neither. They can just go fuck themselves.
.
Villago Delenda Est
Turn that frown upside down!
Zam
Scott Walker cares.
hhex65
…is another great Phil Collins song.
Cassidy
Well hell, just cue up your favorite holiday music. That should shake out the blues.
The moon is right
The spirit’s up
We’re here tonight
And that’s enough
Simply having a wonderful Christmas time
Simply having a wonderful Christmas time
The party’s on
The feelin’s here
That only comes
This time of year
Simply having a wonderful Christmas time
Simply having a wonderful Christmas time
The choir of children sing their song
Ding dong, ding dong
Ding dong, ding, oh, oh
Steeplejack
Whoa. Cole posts at the exact moment of the winter solstice. Cosmic.
Dee Loralei
damn you Cassidy! Fucking earworms, how do they work?
John, make some hot chocolate, I’ve got some homemade creme de menthe marshmallows to put some holiday cheer in you.
Overwhelmed by 3 dogs and cats? Pack them all in the car and go to the beach with the family, you’ll be glad you did!
Fucen Pneumatic Fuck Wrench Tarmal
this post deserves no reply at all
Villago Delenda Est
@Cassidy:
OK, this comment, Cassidy, this is ban bait if there ever was ban bait.
Steeplejack
@Steeplejack:
I’m sure Anne Laurie will be along in a bit with some seasonally appropriate tree-hugging pagan thing, but in the meantime here is a nice late-night song from Ralph Towner’s album Solstice: “Drifting Petals.”
Vixen Strangely
@Cassidy: I’va always had the suspicion that someone bought Sir Paul one of those Casio 26-key keyboards for Chrimbo on a lark, and this treacle was his way of retaliating. It certainly has that 26-key keyboard composed sound. And an edge of retaliation. When the war on Christmas has Santa holed up in his bunker, I’m sure this is what will be blasting.
There’s just not enough nog…..
Yutsano
What is this “care” thing you humans speak of?
CaseyL
So you’re carefree, then?
Mnemosyne
@Cassidy:
It’s not actually an inherently bad song. It’s all in the performance, as Tom McRae demonstrates.
Nalbar
Go make some cookies, it always works for me.
.
Comrade Mary
I’m not angry any more.
handy
@LOLAgainCole
Seriously, why do you even bother? Shut this thing down already.
Anya
I’ll give you something to care about. The best fucking film monologue.
Suffern ACE
I don’t care anymore either. First they came for the Phil Collins fans…and then the Celine Dion fans…and also the Heuy Lewis fans…but since I liked Asia I figured they weren’t ever going to come for me.
Alison
My local news just did a story about kids getting high on cough syrup, because apparently the news team and producers have all been asleep for like 6 years and thought this was something new?
It is amusing to hear the very white news anchor lady and others say “robo-trippin'” and “sizzurp” and stuff, though.
The prophet Nostradumbass
Diablo 3 is coming out soon, John. There is something to care about.
Calouste
@Suffern ACE:
The Heat of the Moment is high-grade sucktitude, specially considering the talent available in the band.
H.E. Pennypacker, Wealthy Industrialist
Can’t you care about SWTOR and the fate of the empire? My sith warrior says it’s time to join the dark side.
Villago Delenda Est
@H.E. Pennypacker, Wealthy Industrialist:
The Dark Side has cookies, you know.
Also, just thinking about force choking some idiot on the other end of the phone is too tempting…
Steeplejack
Clint Eastwood just finished killing everyone in The Outlaw Josey Wales. Thank God for the DVR’s buffer. I was able to fast-forward through AMC’s five-minute commercial blocks.
Dunno why I watched it. It was on in the background, and then I realized I had not sat through it in years.
amk
I toldja to get a snake as a pet.
moderateindy
My standard response lately to the, “how are your holidays goin” question has been; They’ve been kind of egg noggy….They have had an off-putting viscous texture, they’ve left a less than appealing taste in my mouth, and are only barely tolerable when combined with copious amounts of bourbon.
piratedan
heavy sigh….. tired and emotionally exhausted. Stepfather passed last night and now it’s phone calls and lengthy conversations about death and passing and pain. They passed within a month of each other (my Mother and her 2nd husband) and while the destination was never really in doubt, the journey was as emotionally arduous as anticipated. I just wanna finish my phone calls and drive home in time for Christmas and with luck, Santa may just allow it.
Thank you all for your support and friendship during this emotional holiday season, I think I just want to fall asleep for a week, but also want to enjoy this respite with my family before returning to handle the end game of closing accounts and selling off of their lives. I really didn’t want the story to end, but here we are at the epilogue anyway.
Hope your holiday season will bring you glad tidings and allow you to be thankful for your friends and family, be they of the two or four legged variety (those of you with four legged family members, feel free to share). Treasure those who make an impact in your life and don’t forget to tell them so.
Steeplejack
My condolences to you. I lost my father in March, and he has been in my thoughts as I weigh up the past year.
pattonbt
Does this mean we can expect three or four days of 10 posts a day from you?
Or is that only when you feel like quitting / going galt?
not motorik
Good. Get rid of her.
Yutsano
@not motorik: Get rid of whom?
freelancer
@not motorik:
That’s fucking racist, you not-clever racist.
not motorik
I’m not super-into race warriors.
But opinions may vary.
Yutsano
@not motorik: How’s about this: you stop being vague and state exactly what the fuck you’re talking about.
not motorik
She Who is Not Good At Blogging.
taylormattd
@freelancer: So now we’ve jumped from assuming a cryptic post is about ABL all the way to pretending somebody accused someone else of racism?
None of which actually happened.
This is like a low-rent parody of a wingnut comments section.
Anne Laurie
@piratedan: My condolences. I’m gonna go give the Spousal Unit an extra hug, and maybe the dogs as well…
Yutsano
@not motorik: Megan McArdle?
Bago
Very nirvana.
dead existentialist
@Yutsano: Uh, I thought it was directed at #41, but I see your point. Also, too, that weird Philipina chick that shares the same first name as our FLOTUS.
Yutsano
@dead existentialist: I will freely confess to cat toying. But I also hate coy. It’s the Scorpio in me: say what the fuck you mean.
PurpleGirl
@piratedan: Condolences.
Elizabelle
@piratedan:
Thinking of you. You have been through a lot.
Enjoy that drive home, and raise a glass to your mom and step-dad over the holidays.
Am sorry to hear.
hamletta
I’m so sorry, piratedan. It must be hard to say goodbye during what’s supposed to be a joyous season.
CarolDuhart2
piratedan, take care of yourself. Condolences, and let friends give you that extra Christmas cookie. Try to remember some of the better times from both mom and stepdad.
geg6
Piratedan, you have my condolences. Losing the parents is tough as he’ll, especially if it was a lingering kind of thing. Lost both parents within a two-year period (Jan.1999 and 2001). Dad went quickly by massive heart attack, but mom went slowly from breast cancer. Those two years were the most physically and emotionally exhausting of my life. Take good care of yourself and take the time to mourn properly. And if the last months and years were difficult, try to remember them at their best. I’ll keep you in my thoughts over the holidays.
kindness
At least John isn’t screaming at us to get off his damn lawn.
Omnes Omnibus
@piratedan: My condolences.
Cat Lady
@piratedan:
So sorry. I’m expecting the phone call from the nursing home any minute now for my mother who’s at the end of the end stage of Alzheimer’s. It’s been horrible. We’re supposed to be having 20 people for Christmas dinner so if I got hit by a car and went into a coma until February, I’d be a-ok with that. There’s just nothing to do except go through.
JCT
@piratedan: Strong thoughts your way, taking such good care of your mom and her husband through to the end is the ultimate mitzvah. Now take care of yourself and have a Healthy New Year.
JT (your new fellow Arizonian)
magurakurin
@Steeplejack: “buzzard got eat same as worms.”
SiubhanDuinne
@piratedan: I am so sorry for your losses. As others have said, please take care of yourself.
@Cat Lady: There is absolutely no good time to be waiting for that phone call, but I’m extra sorry it’s happening for you during the holidays. Please don’t get hit by a car; lots of people, including your family and the BJ community, need you to be non-comatose.
{{{hugs}}} to both of you.
Emma
@piratedan: I am so sorry. Please pace yourself. It can be exhausting dealing with even — or perhaps especially — well-meaning people. Step away when you need to and don’t feel guilty about it.
Cat Lady
@SiubhanDuinne:
Thanks. I just want it to be over. If that makes me a bad person, so be it.
Samara Morgan
Know what what would make you feel bettah?
Kick the fuckin’ loogies off your blogroll.
Do you honestly need any more FUCKIN PROOF that Kain just scammed your ass and exploited your good nature for clicks?
well maybe that would just make me feel better.
;)
RossInDetroit
Cat and Girl has you covered today.
El Cid
And then there were three.
bago
@Alison: The ‘tussin!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqUmMCb4r-U
Original Lee
@Cat Lady: So sorry to hear about that. I’ve been down that road a few times, too. My dad passed this summer after a very fast downhill slide from Lewy Body Dementia. Waiting for the phone call is almost the worst part, I think.
capt
Just take two “fucitol” tablets and post tomorrow?
4jkb4ia
John, are you all right!? | I was going to say that “I Don’t Care Anymore” was
(Sleep may have cured this) | better than “Sussudio” but I didn’t think I was
| going to get any takers. “Another Day In Paradise”
| is also better. It made at least one “Greatest 80s
| Protest Songs” list, from someone not otherwise
| inclined to cut Phil Collins any slack.
(FYWP? It looked all lined up in the comment window)
4jkb4ia
piratedan, I hope you get as much comfort and rest as you can.
Steeplejack
@magurakurin:
True dat.
The movie actually holds up pretty well for being 35 years old.
Paul in KY
@piratedan: My condolences. Please take care of yourself also.
different-church-lady
You okay, John?
Paula
To piratedan and everyone still grieving this year, good thoughts to you and I hope you are all spending time with people you care about this season. The later part of 2011 has been rather shit, personally speaking, but it’s been nice to have family and friends to keep me sane.
Speaking of sane, I don’t see why Cole shouldn’t take an extended break. It’s pretty common among blog hosts and he’s got enough front pagers to keep the site going …
Brachiator
@piratedan: Condolences on your loss.
tony
Amen brother.
It’s all a load of hooey.
This day does sort of suck , too so there is that.
More Power to you , love your posts and delicious snark.
4jkb4ia
@4jkb4ia:
Sacrifice. This one is terrible. That’s a song that was honored for a hundred years, since I was 12.