Good Morning, Everybody!

[Clintmax]

:donut: :hi:
I hope all you Nighthawks had a good night! Here we are on Tuesday, the 4th of October, and we got most of our Christmas product yesterday! Can you believe THAT? Almost a MONTH before Halloween, and here's the Christmas product! I was hoping they'd wait to send it until at LEAST after the 31st...but noooooo! I realize that a lot of retailers put out their Christmas product this early, but JEEZE! x(

[Rising Phoenix]

1. good morning!

[Clintmax]

2. Hello, Mrs. Sniffa!

:hi:
Are YOU ready for Christmas? :rofl:

[Rising Phoenix]

4. all ready started my shopping, believe it or not...

[Clintmax]

6. Yes, well....

you're not the only one. I have had people in my store for the past few weeks that were shopping for Christmas! I can't make myself shop this early for that stuff.

[MissHoneychurch]

3. Good morning

Here in Germany they start selling Christmas sweets already in August. I can't understand why.

Stuff like that

[Clintmax]

5. Hi, Miss Honey!

:hi: :hug:
You know...I bet that one of these years, stores will just start selling Christmas stuff in like January! :rofl: How are you, my dear?

[MissHoneychurch]

8. I am not really bothered by the stuff

they can sell it whenever they want. I am not into sweets that much, so I don't get tempted. But it is way too early to start selling Christmas cookies. Yeah, they could sell the stuff in January what they didn't sell in December .... and then we can give it as presents the next Christmas. The candy might be a bit hard but who cares :D

I am fine (except for a cold that tries to sneak up on me I am fighting it)

[Clintmax]

10. Colds sucks!

:rofl:
I've been kicking one myself.

[MissHoneychurch]

15. it sure does

but it is my own fault. Going on rides at the Octoberfest in Stuttgart in the rain doesn't really help staying healthy.

[Clintmax]

18. I bet they were fun though!

You can't fault yourself for having fun, Miss Honey!

[MissHoneychurch]

20. well, I just went on one ride

and that was a long one. Where you got swung around head over toe. In between I didn't know anymore where was sky and where was the earth. But it sure was fun. :D

[Clintmax]

22. Yes, I'm sure it was!

Makes me want to go to Universal Studios and ride the "Mummy" ride again! :rofl:

[MissHoneychurch]

23. normally I don't go on rides

I never know how my stomach reacts. But I got kinda dragged on this one. I survived ... dizzy

[Clintmax]

29. I know how you feel THERE!

I can't ride the rides that take you in a circle inside circle! I throw up every time! I didn't used to! When I was a kid I could ride those all day long! No longer! I don't have a problem with roller coasters, though! I can go upside down, up and down, and every which way a coaster takes you...but put me on one that spins you around and around and LOOK OUT BELOW!

[MissHoneychurch]

32. I am not going on those either

those make me sick too. The one I went on was the upside down thing. Back and forth and head upside down. The friend I was with wanted to do a kinda bungee thing in a ball, where you got shot upwards. I declined. Esp. after the other ride. I know I would have threw up. And the Spaghetti Carbonara I had before were just too tasty to lose it again :)

[Clintmax]

You and I would get along just fine!

As far as rides go! We would ride together and have SO much fun!

[MissHoneychurch]

55. what I like are the water rides

those are fun, just not in the rain. And the swings that pull you sidewards

[Clintmax]

58. Yes they are!

Like I said...:woohoo:

[MissHoneychurch]

64. there are more and more people I want to see on my next trip

and you are one of them big time. Darn, I don't know how long this vacation has to be to see all the friends I made here. I guess it is better if there is a big DU meetup. Otherwise I would have to travel the whole U.S.

[Clintmax]

74. Yes!

I BIG DU meetup! That would be GREAT! I'd love to meet everyone here too!

[NMMNG]

34. Darn, you have a cold too?

I came down with one starting last Wednesday. I have the worst congestion ever (both nasal and chest). I keep expecting a lung to come up as bad as I'm coughing.

[Clintmax]

36. I've been coughing a lot too...

It's tapered off quite a bit now, though. Thank goodness!

[NMMNG]

45. I just hope this thing is gone by the end of the week

I don't want it ruining my trip. :-(

[Clintmax]

48. Yeah, that would suck!

I hope you get to feeling better right away, Miss Buffy!

[NMMNG]

56. Thanks, I hope the same for you :-)

[Clintmax]

59. Thank you, Miss Buffy!

:hug:

[MissHoneychurch]

53. it is just startting

running nose and a scratchy throat and not feeling on top. I am fighting it as good as I can.
I hope you feel better soon. :hug:

[Clintmax]

57. I hope you do too, Miss Honey!

:hug: I hate feeling sick! x

[MissHoneychurch]

66. I hate it too

depending on how I feel tomorrow morning I might stay home a day and sleep and rest to get rid of it. Helps too and fortunately we can stay home two days without going to the doc to get a sick leave.

[Clintmax]

76. That's good!

I WOULD stay home if I were you if you don't start feeling better too!

[chknltl]

7. Bah Humbug.... (but Good Morning Clintmax)

I am never ready for Christmas. Too many cranky people, no parking places at the malls, fattening foods and it gets cold outside.
I am always ready for spring though.

[Clintmax]

13. Hello, Chk!

:hi:
I hear ya about Spring! I was born in Missouri, and I got so sick of 26 inches of snow and ice and temps that flirted with the zero mark every single day of winter!

That's why I'm SO happy to be down here in Florida now! We have fall weather all winter long down here!

[chknltl]

28. Florida reminds me that one of your bands....

.... The Genetorturers, (Tampa), are on the move again. They road trip every fall and hit Seattle somewhere close to Halloween each year. Alas I have grown too old to attend such stuff but some of my younger friends will partake in the madness for the first time. If I can I will post a photo of one of these friends in costume just prior to her going out that night. (A likely thread locker I predict).

[Clintmax]

30. LOL!

I thread locker, huh? Must be rather interesting costumes then!

[chknltl]

91. Yes sir.

The Genitorturers are a band headed by the most famous Dominatrix of all time. www.genitorturers.com (Nice pics of Mistress Gen in there)
This band is known more for their stage shows than their music although their music is pretty good too. It is customary for fans to "dress up" for these shows. My female friend might be considered "eye-candy" to some, she will be wearing a naughty cop outfit with spiked heals and fishnet stockings. I will be getting pics of her and her friends prior to the show up here in Seattle. It is my intentions to post a few of those pics. The show is not till the 15th, I should be able to post them just after that. In case that thread DOES get locked I will save a few pics for the morning crowd.
As I am not a member of the morning crowd I am off to bed now. You have a great day sir.

[Clintmax]

92. Thank you, Chk!

Sleep well, Man! :hi:

[Robeson]

9. Good Morning Clintmax.....

....Hope you are doing well. The X-mas stuff is a trip coming in this early.

[Clintmax]

14. No doubt, Robeson!

:hi:
I hope you're doing good!

[tjwmason]

11. Good morning Clint.

:hug:

I'm the one who refuses to put up any Christmas decorations before 24th December, and I scowl whenever I hear carols played in shops before mid-December.

[Clintmax]

16. Hello, TJ!

:hug: :pals:
If I had my way...we wouldn't put out Christmas until the day after Thanksgiving. We don't put on the holiday music until that day now...so that's when you'd have to hear it at MY store! You don't put up your decorations until the 24th?? Greekspeak and I put ours up the day after Thanksgiving.

[tjwmason]

25. Christmas begins on the evening of the 24th

I dislike the tendancy to push it back.

But then I don't do decorations on the outside of the house either - these are, unfortunately, growing in popularity over here.

[Clintmax]

27. We dont' do the outside either...

But that would be difficult since we live in an apartment.

[tjwmason]

38. That does make things difficult...

But I have seen it done - my goodness, I'm sounding like a totally grumpy sod here. Honestly, I'm not.

Oh, and b.t.w. Khashka said good morning to you earlier - http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x4097341

[Clintmax]

40. Thanks for the link, TJ!

I hadn't see it! I know you aren't a grumpy sod...

[tjwmason]

43. Sometimes I am.

But once Carols from King's starts on Christmas eve - I become thoroughly festive; it's just the time before that.

We don't have any real holidays before Christmas now (no Thanksgiving &c.) - just a long period of worsening weather and growing malaise. :woohoo:

[Clintmax]

46. Well then you are missing out, Mister!

:rofl:

[tjwmason]

52. It would be a tad odd for me to keep Thanksgiving.

I could keep the feast of Ss. Crispin and Crispinian (25 October) - this is also the anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt (where we utterly thrashed the French).

Or there's the Battle of Hasting (14 October).

[Clintmax]

54. Oh ok...

Well I guess you DO have SOME holidays, huh? We just have different ones. :rofl: Like I didn't know that.

[tjwmason]

61. Nobody even knows they're there.

Not even the card shops who drag out every tiny event as yet another crass marketing tool.

The next day off work is St. Stephen's/Boxing Day (26 December).

[Clintmax]

63. Ah ok...

Boxing day? I find that a strange holiday.

[tjwmason]

68. If memory serves me correctly......

apprentices would go round collecting money in boxes which they would break open on the day after Christmas (that being the beginning of their celebration).

A curious aside - no law has been passed in England making Christmas Day (or Good Friday) public holidays - they are merely holidays due to common law and established custom.

[Clintmax]

77. Hmmm...Interesting.

:shrug:

[tjwmason]

83. Sorry

My knowledge of the oddities of English folklore, tradition and history is far to boring to be spread about.

[Clintmax]

84. LOL! Not at all!

When I said "interesting" I meant it, Man. All I know are American holiday's. It's always good to learn about others.

[swimboy]

85. Americans front-end-load their Christmas. As noted, it is already

starting and, this is the terrible part, by about 3pm on the 25th most people are done with it. That's it, no more until next October. Forget about the twelve days of Christmas.

I like to take a day off of work around the 21st and stay at home and bake Christmas cookies. And yes, listening to lessons and carols is joyful de rigueur.

[Clintmax]

88. Mmmmm...Christmas cookies!

I want some!

[tjwmason]

94. That's happening more and more over here.

Some folk even take down their decorations before New Year! Boo Hiss say I.

I'm a great believer in the idea that Christmas lasts until Candlemass (2 February).

[Clintmax]

96. February 2 is a little long, IMO...

Greekspeak and I take down our decors on Jan 1.

[tjwmason]

99. Traditionally decorations come down on 6 January.

which is the 12th day of Christmas.

[Clintmax]

100. Yeah?

I didn't know that! Hmmm...where has my head been? :shrug:

[AtomicKitten]

12. Good morning? I haven't even gone to bed yet.

WTF?

[Clintmax]

17. Hello, Atomic!

:hi: :rofl:
Have you just not been tired?

[AtomicKitten]

19. No, I'm a night person.

Always have been. I'm self-employed and work at home so I can get away with it.

[Clintmax]

21. Ah...that's cool!

I've always been an "Early to bed early to rise" person. Into bed by 11 every night, then I get my lazy ass outta that bed by 5:30 in the morning!

[NMMNG]

24. Good morning Clint!

What-are you kidding? I've seen Christmas product in some stores as early as the second week of September. When I worked in bookstores we'd sometimes get the Christmas stuff on the heels of the Back-to-School stuff. :eyes: Nothing like rushing the seasons, eh?

[Clintmax]

26. Hello, Miss Buffy!

:hug:
Rushing the seasons...yep. I guess retailers do it because the Christmas season is so profitable for them, they want to capitolize on it as much as they can...but STILL! :rofl:

[NMMNG]

31. Yep, though they rush every season, they really do it with Christmas

Thanksgiving is hardly a blip on the radar as far as the retail world is concerned.

[Clintmax]

33. True enough...

There's not really much product they could sell for Thanksgiving. And plus...we don't exchange gifts for Thanksgiving. We just feed our faces. :rofl:

[NMMNG]

35. Indeed

Hallmark just hasn't adequately commercialized Thanksgiving yet. :rofl:

[Clintmax]

37. That's true!

:rofl:

[In_The_Wind]

39. hurray - I can't wait to go Christmas Shopping ... ... ...

:sarcasm:

[Clintmax]

41. LOL!

Well come on in, Miss Joan! I'll help you get everything you need!

[In_The_Wind]

47. I need a HUGE Stocking!

so I can curl-up-in-it ...

I'm sure someone would love to have me gift wrapped just for them ...

[Clintmax]

49. Oh, I'm sure they would!

:hug:
Fun smilies by the way!

[In_The_Wind]

50. BTW

Good Morning!

[Clintmax]

51. Good Morning to you too, My Dear!

:hug:

[In_The_Wind]

93. My brain was running

faster than my manners this morning :hug:

[Clintmax]

97. Naw...

It's ok...I love you still! :hug:

[In_The_Wind]

102. I need ALL the love that anyone wants to send my way.

thank you

thank you

thank you

:hug:

[Clintmax]

104. Anytime, Miss Joan!

:hug:

[In_The_Wind]

108. Thanks - right back at ya!

:hug:

[tjwmason]

105. There's always plenty of love around for Joan.

:loveya: :hug:

[Clintmax]

106. Yes there is!

We ALL love you, Miss Joan!
:hug: :grouphug:

[In_The_Wind]

109. Wow - I didn't know that you cared, tjwmason!

:hug:

I'll remember that when I feel like I need a hug!

[MrScorpio]

42. Morning, Friend

Greetings from the dark side

[Clintmax]

44. Hello, Mr. Scorp!

The dark side, huh? :rofl: Hmmm...should I join?? I can't EVEN decide! :rofl:

[swimboy]

60. Good morning, Clintmax!

I'm awake and waiting for the coffee to finish dripping. Zzzzzzzzz. Well, almost awake.

[Clintmax]

62. Good morning, Swim Dude!

:hug:
Coffee in hand here! Good to see you this morning! How've you been, Mister?

[swimboy]

73. Very well, thanks.

:donut: I have my coffee now and I think I hear the Popeye music! It's great to see you this morning. :hug:

[Clintmax]

78. LOL!

"I yam what I yam..." :rofl:

[tjwmason]

70. I'm almost awake too.

Pity it's getting towards midday by now.

How are you today? :hi:

[swimboy]

75. Good morning, tj!

I think I'm going to be fine. It's still quite dark and I miss the early morning light. You and Clint are my early morning light today! :hug:

[tjwmason]

87. I'm glad to have some use.

I find it a million times harder to rouse myself without light in the morning - so you have my sympathies there. :pals: :hug:

[billyskank]

65. Morning Clint!

:hi:

[tjwmason]

69. Good morning billy.

:hi:

How's you doing this fine morning?

[billyskank]

71. Hi mason!

:hi:

I'm ok thanks! How are you?

[tjwmason]

72. Slowly waking up.

Work has been ssssssssssslllllllllllllllloooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwww today.

Lunch soon(ish) :D

[Clintmax]

79. Hello, Billy!

:hug:
How's it hangin', Dude?

[billyskank]

95. *adjusts hanging position*

Hanging quite nicely, even if I do say so myself!

[Clintmax]

98. ROFL!

Careful! You'll lock my thread and I'll have to get mad at you! :rofl:

[Scooter24]

67. Morning :)

Tis' the season...

We actually thought about holiday decorating last night, but decided to wait till Nov. 1 to do so. Neither of us have the time right now plus it's still in the 90s.

But it is time for Christmas shopping. I have 30 people to buy for this year, so I began my shopping in mid-August. Not to mention about 130+ Christmas cards to personalize and mail out.

Ahh...gotta love the holidays :hi:

:hug: I think it's time for a morning trip to Starbucks.

[Clintmax]

81. Hello, Scooter!

Starbucks, hell! I get my coffee from Clintmax's kitchen! :rofl: It's the BEST coffee around!

[khashka]

80. Morning my dear Clint!

And I agree. What the hell happened to Halloween and Thanksgiving?


Khash.

[Clintmax]

82. Khash!

:hug:
Good to see you, Buddy! I thought you were going to bed!

[khashka]

86. I did

But..... gross out warning.....

I was having dreams where all my skin was removed and never healed and I just bleed profusely for the rest of my life. Seemed like a good excuse to wake up....


Khash.

[Clintmax]

90. YIKES!

*shudder*
Dude...that's a BAD dream. I don't get bad dreams. Greekspeak has them all the time. Me? I hardly ever remember mine. But if I had any bad ones, I sure don't remember it!

[tjwmason]

89. Good morning sweety babes.

Do you want me to :hug: you to make everything better?

[khashka]

101. Actually most of it was pretty good

Peggy and I went to London together and had a great time. And ran into Shari. all in all not so damn bad til the blood thing started,,,,,


Khash.

[tjwmason]

103. You poor little darling.

But the part about you and Peggy visiting London sounds good. I just need a dash over an hour's notice and I'll be there.

[Clintmax]

107. Well folks...

I'm off to get ready for work now! I had a good time talking with everyone today! I hope you all have a fantastic day! Hugs to all!
:grouphug: