Thanks for the summary, @avclub-e57f718840a576abbb40a7d046c4e3b0:disqus . Yep, Crossroads of Twilight is the one that killed the series for me, but I did go on the read the Knife of Dreams. I made it that far, but I never read any of these last 3. I am fairly certain I'd have to reread the series in order to fully…

I can admit to nodding my head thinking, "right on" to the bumper sticker that said NOBAMA. I was thinking, "yeah, No Bama. Fuck Alabama." until I noticed the other tea party stickers on the car. Then, I was glad people could not read my thoughts.

You got to want it, @JudgeReinhold:disqus .  Admittedly, if I could summon such just out of pure will, Saban would have been dead long ago.

Just do like I do. Root for a meteor.

I went to a Trader Joe's for the first time last week, and it kind of sucked. For one, no wine in grocery stores here, so no wine bargains. And secondly, it seems like a place for people who don't cook. Lots of premade meals and such. It was also crowded as fuck and I just couldn't see what the fuss was about.

@avclub-3be42d8a3412057f79af152555e39bd4:disqus  Unfortunately, no. Although, that sounds more fun than what I do. I am an integration engineer in healthcare IT.

Nah, I had some bacon for breakfast this morning. It was the entire stick of butter for making the roux, a pint of half and half, and an entire bag of shredded cheese that put it over the top.

@avclub-3be42d8a3412057f79af152555e39bd4:disqus Just don't let it get you down when you don't find one right away. I had fairly in demand and marketable skills plus 10 years of experience and it took me three months. Whereas, my fiancee (who is in the same field and only had 3 years exp) found a job in 2 weeks of…

I've never tried the pharmaceutical route and the patches gave me crazy dreams and made me edgy as hell. Last time I quit, I went cold turkey and did fine with it. What truly helped me was replacing the affectation of holding one. I rolled up a bunch of post-it notes to approximate the size and just held it in my…

@avclub-3be42d8a3412057f79af152555e39bd4:disqus  and @avclub-d1dd537846e529e1101d7c23e170fe4b:disqus  jump at the job switch. I started looking last year around this time and had a new job by the end of March. Starting a new job is fairly stressful (and I moved to a new city), but putting a old shitty job behind you…

Yeah, I am going to try to quit smoking as well. I am finishing off my last pack, today, and I have a e-cig to work on weaning myself off the nicotine. Also, I am going to curb my drinking. Not quit, mind you, just cut it back.

Older sister for me, as well. I think I was 4 or 5. I actually don't remember believing in Santa.

I don't have much of a yard, and I rent my house, but I did make a pepper garden and a spice garden last year. Both were going swimmingly until there was a solid month of 100 plus degree weather with no rain. I am going to try some more things this year.

Huh, I guess I have never really thought to look into the origins. My family, and pretty much everyone I knew growing up, had black eyed peas and cabbage on January 1.  Many restaurants in the south serve them that day as well. My grandmother would get absolutely frantic if you hadn't had any peas.

Yeah, the Bill Martin has a better selection of pig parts than it does cereal. I stood in awe staring at the cross section of meat that was simply labeled, "HOG MAW."

Ha! High five, Jimmy. I used salt pork in both the cabbage and the peas. Plus, I purchases said salt pork at a grocery store that could have been sent from the 50s called Bill Martin's.

Since I've actually had some time off these holidays, I was able to try some new things. I was given a bamboo steamer and used it to make steamed pork dumplings which I have to say came out excellent. The turkey meatballs with plum sauce, not as much. Turkey is just so quick to dry out.

Unfortunately, we both have to work. Add in, we had some Moet Rose champagne that someone gave us and it was a great meal. I just happened back to this thread because I was putting on some Vince Guaraldi Christmas music after the food.

Unfortunately, we both have to work. Add in, we had some Moet Rose champagne that someone gave us and it was a great meal. I just happened back to this thread because I was putting on some Vince Guaraldi Christmas music after the food.

@avclub-cd3625144831df8821a27bcf76c5e653:disqus  Agreed, we are trying to both have a good time ourselves and make sure everyone else has fun, too. That drink sounds  tasty. We are going to have a car service to deliver people back to the hotels.