The next person to post in this thread...

[Elendil's Heir]

An investment towards personal happiness, sure.

TNP will be going on a long trip in the next week.

[Jizzelbin]

Maybe a mental trip to the eye of the maelstrom.

TNP can think of an explanation why various companies or agencies (utility companies, government offices, etc.) seem unable or unwilling to communicate via e-mail, and insist on telephonic communication for certain things. And "for security" doesn't count as an answer: that can be fixed. It's medieval!

[Elendil's Heir]

Hmm. That's odd. Less of an electronic record to be looked up later if something goes wrong? Quicker for their staff to talk than to be typing?

TNP is a fast, accurate typist.

[Jizzelbin]

Yes. 70-90 wpm, approaching 100% accuracy. Maybe not super-steno-pool speed, but pretty fast. Unless writing in casual e-mails or in forums, then I make no guarantees about accuracy. Also, the more years I've spent reading, the worse my spelling has become.

TNP thinks "touch-typing" is a gimmick, which is unnecessary for those with a knowledge of the keyboard and sufficient practice, and who have no need for greater technical speed. Sort of like the Dvorak keyboard.

[Elendil's Heir]

Yeah, I guess. Haven't given it too much thought, though.

TNP took a brisk walk today.

[Jizzelbin]

Sure, yesterday I walked a bunch. Will do the same today. Yeah, brisk is the word, but it feels less invigorating with even a surgical mask impeding one's airflow.

TNP knows his or her "ranking" in terms of groups to receive at least the first bolus of The Vaccine.

[Elendil's Heir]

No, that's kind of up in the air right now, as a matter of fact. But I should find out soon.

TNP will be celebrating Christmas today, and if so, will say how.

[Jizzelbin]

Yes. I'm meeting my mother and I assume probably my father at an outdoor park Christmas morning for a kind of "brunch" with social distancing. Perhaps the nephews might come along too. My contribution are some airline-size bottles of Jameson whiskey I had the foresight to buy today before work, given the abridged hours of the liquor store. I offered to bring Cheetos, but was told she/(perhaps they) have the food covered. True story.

I intend to bring some Church to the (one hopes brief) encounter by bringing along the Order of the Mass in the universal language. Yes, my Christmas "gift" will be Irish whiskey and unrelenting abuse of the Latin tongue.

TNP wore something relatively festive today, on Christmas Eve Day. For example, a red shirt, in my case, but the possibilities are endless, as one observes.

[Elendil's Heir]

Yes, I had a green sweater and wore red socks with little Christmas tree on them.

TNP has a particularly ugly Christmas item of clothing like a sweater.

[Jizzelbin]

No. I don't have any xmas clothes at all, I don't think. Some red, some green articles of clothing, though. I don't think I have any genuinely ugly clothes at all, unless the myth that "cargo shorts are unfashionable" is true. Which it is not.

TNP considers it Christmas until at the very minimum Epiphany, and perhaps a bit longer (Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Jan. 10th this coming year). And is perturbed that people put away their reindeer ear headbands and probably would respond to "Merry Christmas" with "up yours!" Inconceivable heresy.

[Elendil's Heir]

Yes, I always think Christmas starts 'way too early (all-Christmas-music radio stations before Thanksgiving? Nooo!) but then it ends far too soon.

TNP still has a present to unwrap.

[Jizzelbin]

Just unwrapped one of the last gifts to myself from myself: a bottle of Kilbeggan Small Batch Rye. First thing after work. And by "unwrapped" I mean cut the foil seal and removed the cork and poured a few fingers in a clean glass. Not tasted yet.

TNP plans to buy himself or herself at least one more small gift during the Christmas season, and thinks TNP should probably say what that might be.

[Elendil's Heir]

Yes, as a matter of fact, I think I may get some glassware online soon.

TNP has listened to Handel lately.

[Rube E. Tewesday]

Not recently, no.

TNP has a definite preference about the best breakfast meat.

[Jizzelbin]

Yes, but I'm not going to tell. That would be cheating.

TNP will adjudicate on this matter of global importance: whiskies, Irish, or Scotch? Lives depend on this question!

[Rube E. Tewesday]

Irish, if push comes to shove.

TNP will adjudicate on bourbon vs. rye.

[Jizzelbin]

Oh, I'd go from recent 30% plus rye mash bills for the ryes, which is pretty high for the Irish, but low for the KY/TN rye whiskies. Even the malignable Ezra Brooks from Kentucky, which is rough, but drinkable. I like the bourbons as well, but it can be difficult to find one that isn't too sweet for my tastes. One of these days I'll finish off the middle-of-the-shelf Irish whiskies. Although, TBH, I'd rather just drink Powers Gold, but my local shop doesn't carry Powers.

TNP has occasionally just picked a bottle off the shelf based on looks or sounds, and has not been disappointed gravely. Nothing ventured, nothing gained! I shouldn't say this, but a whiskey is like a woman: better some than not at all, and one never knows without trying, but often the appearance indicates the quality.

[Elendil's Heir]

Yes, not being especially well-informed on such things (especially wine), I will confess that a nice label sometimes is juuuuust enough for me to reach for my wallet.

TNP has been to Chicago in the past three years.

[Jizzelbin]

No. Although it's an appealing city, in some ways, I'd like to spend more time in.

TNP thinks it's rude and unprofessional to record one's (private) incoming voicemail greeting as "Hi, you've reached xxxxxxxxxx. Due to an unprecedented number of calls, we ask that you reach us by text or e-mail." (After deliberately filling up one's voicemail "box"). On the premiss that there's no possible reason for anyone except an unsuccessful troglodyte, a fool, a troll, or maybe a cop to leave a voicemail.

[Elendil's Heir]

Well, ideally, everyone should be reachable at work by phone, email or text, but I know that's not how the world works, especially during this #$%^&! pandemic.

TNP has followed the news from the U.S. Capitol very closely in recent days.

[Rube E. Tewesday]

For a Canadian, pretty damn closely. Never really believed I would see this.

TNP is hoping for a President who gives his Twitter account to a 22 year old intern who does nothing with it but send birthday wishes.

[Jizzelbin]

Yes, and even that at the very most. I think it's absurd to use a child's software platform like Twitter in any professional capacity. Unless one is, maybe an entertainer of some sort.

TNP can remember the last time he or she had an injection in the ass. You know, one of the buttocks, not literally the asshole (I don't think the latter exists as a practice, but I could be wrong). No need to give details, but whatever.

[Elendil's Heir]

I know I did when I was a kid, but it's been a loooong time, and I don't remember when, exactly, or what it was for.

TNP has spoken to a doctor in the past week.

[Jizzelbin]

No, just an FNP, whatever that is. And some very nice nurselets.

TNP thinks those bastards who raised tobacco taxes in several states recently can suck it. Apologies to any bastards out there.

[Elendil's Heir]

No, they can jack 'em up as high as they like. Raises revenue and discourages tobacco use, which is OK with me.

TNP would say 2021 is more good than bad so far.

[Rube E. Tewesday]

Couldn’t go that far. Back in province wide lockdown, find the situation in the States disturbing.

TNP is thinking about 2022 vacations,on the assumption that 2021 is likely to be another gong show.

[Jizzelbin]

No. Call me a fool, but I'm pretty optimistic about 2021, and in particular about provisional vaccinations.. It seems to me the time where rubber meets the road, especially since it can hardly be any worse than 2020. Well, you know, maybe Hegel's dialectical wheel is applicable. Obviously, I don't know, but I have a good feeling about the immediate future. Really, one must, lest one go mad in some way.

TNP has yet again been disappointed by the overly-peated nose and finish of some bog-standard Scotch whiskies. Bollocks, one could say.

[Elendil's Heir]

Not I, but then, I haven't drunk too many of them.

TNP has green placemats on his or her dinner table at the moment.

[Jizzelbin]

Dinner table? What is this strange thing! OK, yes, I have a table that was probably built for dining upon, but holds microphones, an audio mixer, a power amp....and a bunch of papers....so...that's negative. It is possible I might have some placemats around somewhere, but I'm pretty sure they're not green. So, no, false. Final answer.

TNP thinks today was an especially good day to ironically wear a T-shirt advertising Miller High Life, and a khaki fishing/tactical vest to work. You know, so if a cop pulls you over, they can tell you're on the insurrection side. The "good" side.