The Coffee House

[limr30 3]

I've been sick since Christmas day. Slapped down with the creeping crud: low-grade fever, sinus headache, rumbling tummy - whatever these germs are doing, they've been enjoying their stay. Of course the hubby got it next, and he's not the stoic type. He gets annoyed when he gets sick. The nerve of those germs!

Seriously, what is it with men and colds? Hope you're both continuing to get better!

 

[VidThreeNorth]

New Years Aukland, New Zealand:

I searched around the world for New Year's reports, a bit last night and again this morning. The results were too many to bother with, but it was fun. I'm only posting 1 result, by the "Associated Press" ("officially" Dec 31, 2025):

"New Zealand new year 2026 LIVE: Countdown and fireworks in Auckland",
""​

 

[jeffashman10 1]

My laziy dinner plan is always pasta with butter, garlic paste and parmesan cheese.

We don't normally to HH, but the box was in the cupboard, left behind by my youngest. One of our lazy dinners is similar to yours, pasta with brown butter and garlic and either a good parmesan or mizithra cheese. Another one is baked beans and eggs on toast, or BLTs.

 

[jeffashman10 1]

New Years resolution? Continue to avoid alcohol. It's amazing the difference it has made. Another one is to pick up the camera again and start going out again.

Tonights dinner in honor of the end of 2025 (don't let the door hit ya on the way out 2025...) is black eyed peas with smoked beef kielbasa sausage. I prepped it by sautéing onions, garlic, and bell peppers in olive oil, turmeric, and black pepper. We'll be drinking Martinelli's sparkling cider tonight, and may or may not be up at midnight. Probably will be up because our Cavvie hates fireworks and will want to try to climb into my skin when things start booming a mere half mile from the house.

On how to make TPF better, not sure.

 

[terri35 6]

OK, it's year-end awkward question time, y'all...How to make TPF better in 2026? What we need more/less of for next year?

More: being tolerant of newbies who ask questions because they don't know what they don't know...and we're here to help.

Less: reporting of snarky comments to newbies who ask questions because they don't know what they don't know... because the snarky comments go way down in number, making everyone happy!

That's a good way to start.

What else?

 

[SquarePeg37 8]

So.....Any New Years Resolutions to share????

I crushed my New Year’s resolutions this past year - lots of walking, lost weight, started yoga, went to the gym, shared my art work, made some new friendships, resurrected some old ones, stuck to my budget, decluttered my home, volunteered… No new resolutions for 2026. I’m good. Its external factors turn to show some improvement!

Making TPF better? If there’s interest, I will bring back the weekly challenges. Let me know.

 

[cgw117 142]

I crushed my New Year’s resolutions this past year - lots of walking, lost weight, started yoga, went to the gym, shared my art work, made some new friendships, resurrected some old ones, stuck to my budget, decluttered my home, volunteered… No new resolutions for 2026. I’m good. Its external factors turn to show some improvement!

Making TPF better? If there’s interest, I will bring back the weekly challenges. Let me know.

 

[snowbear116 47]

Got through the stores without a kit of idsue, still a bit sore. I hot my teo five-gallon buckets of sand, and 150 pounds / 68kg of rock salt.

So.....Any New Years Resolutions to share????

i made a NYs Resolution to not make any more resolutions. I havent broken that one and it's been over 40 years.

I will, as usual, try to do better at whatever I do and try not to run over ***holes with the truck.

We picked up a few things to make a charcutterie board, and grabbed a bottle if Asti and a bottle of Prosecco if the fam wants either ine. I'll take axsmall sip if both, if I'm awake at midnight

 

[cgw117 142]

Photo-dumping, zero to near-zero comments from said dumpers, Google-oblivious, drive-by "what color socks for Tuesdays" posts piss me, yeah...Guilty. Sorry.
Weekly Challenge worked. Needs to be revived. "Soft" C&C Gallery-style critique should involve
more members. Has the dialogue shrunk to a mere handful of inmates? Back to the party.

 

[smoke665]

Happy New Year!!!!!!

Starting my day with a balmy 25 degrees. Today we're doing the Southern New Years traditional meal of black eyed peas, ham, collard greens, and cornbread. Hopefully it brings luck and prosperity in the year ahead.

What's on the menu elsewhere?

 

[limr30 3]

Hey hosers.

Buzz and I went to dinner last night, had a lovely meal and our traditional New Year's Eve martini. We were asleep before midnight. While we're not ones to go to parties or bars to be out at midnight, we do usually stay up until midnight, but last night, it just wasn't happening. It's more unusual for me, what with being an incurable (and unapologetic) night owl, but hey, sometimes I just need my beauty sleep

Olives for me, twist for Buzz.

Resolutions? Continue last year's journey: lose more weight (I'm more than halfway to goal), pay off more debt, and add to savings (I'm halfway to goal). I've also got some specific professional goals that will hopefully pay off in a promotion, a couple of published articles, a fellowship, and restructuring my program to preserve services for up to several hundred students.

TPF? Far too long ago, I agreed to take over the member spotlight and then never followed through. I volunteered at the wrong time. I would like to honor that commitment this year.

 

[snowbear116 47]

Happy New Year!

26 / -3 this morning, and I see a light dusting of snow on the cars. I have no plans for the day; still too sore to want to do much so maybe a hot shower and watch "The Pitt" or "Victoria" with MLW. I think MLSIL has some of the usual mysteries recorded, so there is also that. My mother insisted on the southern thing but had sauerkraut on there for some reason; maybe an influx from the Pennsylvania twig on the family tree. As a kid, I didn't like collards or 'kraut so I was happy it was only one day. I have no idea what we will do today.

At some point, I need to shoot a coat on the '68 Camaro model and finish that up. That will leave two cars, a fire truck, a WW2 plane and six wooden boat kits. I have a few more on the wish list, but I want to finish these before I buy any more. The company accidentally doubled the order for the boat kits (three boats in a package) and hasn't responded to my inquiries on how to send one back, so I guess I have two sets.

 

[SquarePeg37 8]

Happy New Year!!!!!!

Starting my day with a balmy 25 degrees. Today we're doing the Southern New Years traditional meal of black eyed peas, ham, collard greens, and cornbread. Hopefully it brings luck and prosperity in the year ahead.

What's on the menu elsewhere?

Happy New Year Hosers! It just stopped snowing here. We got an inch or two - just enough that I’ll need to clear it away before it gets dark.

Nothing special on the menu today. Everyone is tired of big holiday meals and party food. All the leftover goodies are going in the trash. I had fruit for breakfast and I might whip up a Sunday sauce and some meatballs if I get ambitious later. That will give us some options through the weekend - pasta, chicken parm, meatball subs, home made pizza… we’ll see how I feel after snow removal and finishing de-Christmasing the house. I want to start the new year with a clean slate.

 

[snowbear116 47]

We'll undecorate in a couple days so MLSIL can enjoynit a little longer. Lazy Lobster has a friend with goats and has requested the real tree. I'm going to set part of the trunk aside for a turning project but they can have the rest.

 

[SquarePeg37 8]

We'll undecorate in a couple days so MLSIL can enjoynit a little longer. Lazy Lobster has a friend with goats and has requested the real tree. I'm going to set part of the trunk aside for a turning project but they can have the rest.

We have the option of dropping real trees off in the back of the local zoo parking lot for the goats (there’s a mountain goat habitat). Haven’t had a real tree in many years but am thinking maybe next year I might. If I can find one that’s in a pot and can be replanted.

Did anyone else watch the Netflix special about the Christmas tree sellers in NYC? It was very entertaining.