bread_pirate_naan
Preposterous
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 5,255
softwears
|
 |
« Reply #15 on: November 10, 2009, 10:12:24 PM » |
|
I still have no idea what you're on about.
It's hard out there for a scientist. But seriously folks. Idiomatic or phonetic language that is not punny is, in itself, a sign of foreignness. If you feel good right now, go on with your bad self. If you feel like the butt of the joke instead of a comedienne, stick to standard spelling instead of phonetic. Variations on latter are a sure route to social success at secular celebrations. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
In unrelated news, I'd like a slice of cake. --corny / It will go great. --jackalope
|
|
|
|
frogfactory
|
|
« Reply #16 on: November 10, 2009, 10:16:33 PM » |
|
I still have no idea what you're on about.
It's hard out there for a scientist. But seriously folks. Idiomatic or phonetic language that is not punny is, in itself, a sign of foreignness. If you feel good right now, go on with your bad self. If you feel like the butt of the joke instead of a comedienne, stick to standard spelling instead of phonetic. Variations on latter are a sure route to social success at secular celebrations. Oh, I see. You didn't get it/don't enjoy bad puns. Sorry, mate. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
At the end of the day, sometimes you just have to masturbate in the bathroom.
|
|
|
bread_pirate_naan
Preposterous
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 5,255
softwears
|
|
« Reply #17 on: November 10, 2009, 10:20:16 PM » |
|
Oh, I see. You didn't get it/don't enjoy bad puns. Sorry, mate.
(((hugs))) |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
In unrelated news, I'd like a slice of cake. --corny / It will go great. --jackalope
|
|
|
|
spectacle
|
|
« Reply #18 on: November 10, 2009, 10:20:37 PM » |
|
Aw.... It's just so much funnier to imagine a bewigged Thanksgiving.
Particularly if it includes junkwigs. (and if I just coined that I want credit) Done. May I cite you when using that phrase. Happily. Particularly if you will commit to using it at least once a day. Extra points for use in faculty meetings, as always. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
I think this thread is going well. Don't you think this thread is going well?
|
|
|
|
prephd
|
|
« Reply #19 on: November 10, 2009, 10:25:11 PM » |
|
I'm not sure what a "merkin" is, but I'm pretty sure that a "'Merkin" is an American, as in "'Merka, f*** Yeah!" from... oh, what movie was that?
Though I would probably spell it "Murka."
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Prephd, in all that black, you are like the anti-pink-me. Freewill is a beeyaaatch
|
|
|
|
antiphon1
|
|
« Reply #20 on: November 10, 2009, 10:26:33 PM » |
|
Aw.... It's just so much funnier to imagine a bewigged Thanksgiving.
Particularly if it includes junkwigs. (and if I just coined that I want credit) Done. May I cite you when using that phrase. Happily. Particularly if you will commit to using it at least once a day. Extra points for use in faculty meetings, as always. I hereby agree to incorporate the word "junkwig" into at least one conversation a day and employ its use in faculty meetings in return for citation privileges so help me higher being. And I thought the end of the semester was looking dreary. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
madhatter
We proudly present the fora's Least
Member-Moderator
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 5,351
Just killing time
|
|
« Reply #21 on: November 10, 2009, 11:10:58 PM » |
|
The nice thing about Thanksgiving is that it's an almost zero-pressure holiday, by design. No rituals, no gift exchange, no special costumes or songs or prayers. At its most basic, you open your home to family (and, for the more generous among us, strangers) for an evening of traditional or not-so-traditional foods. Probably there will be some words said about reflecting and being thankful for what good things you have in your life.
Of course, that's the baseline Thanksgiving. If you're unlucky enough to be in a family that has wrapped the holiday in their own skein of bad memories and behavior ... watch out!
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
"I may be an evil scientist, but it doesn't take a degree purchased from the Internet with your ex-wife's money to know how special and important you are to me." -- Dr. Doofenschmirtz
|
|
|
|
barred_owl
|
|
« Reply #22 on: November 10, 2009, 11:27:20 PM » |
|
What madhatter said. And there might be gherkins.
Why not ask 98 what the typical 98-family T-day has been like in the past? Oh, and if you want some time alone with 98, volunteer to do the dishes with him. Trust me, no one will stop you from performing this task!
Then, reward yourselves with a slice of pumpkin pie a la mode.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
...I can't help rooting for the underdog underbird. |
|
|
|
drlanguage
|
|
« Reply #23 on: November 10, 2009, 11:33:33 PM » |
|
I still have no idea what you're on about.
It's hard out there for a scientist. But seriously folks. Idiomatic or phonetic language that is not punny is, in itself, a sign of foreignness. If you feel good right now, go on with your bad self. If you feel like the butt of the joke instead of a comedienne, stick to standard spelling instead of phonetic. Variations on latter are a sure route to social success at secular celebrations. According to Wikipedia (Yes, I know, the queen of scholarly sources), "Merkin" has been used since the 1960s in Europe to humorously refer to Americans. I wasn't aware of the lower-case meaning, and somewhat regret having looked it up. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
t_r_b
|
|
« Reply #24 on: November 10, 2009, 11:35:12 PM » |
|
If you're lucky, they'll be football fans. The dinner will be a nice break between games, but the socializing will generally consist of sitting around the TV arguing over whether or not that was pass interference, and whether or not to go for it on fourth down. In both cases, "tough call" is almost always a safe bet. When in doubt, take the side of whichever person is most visibly upset about what's happening on the field.
If they don't do football, then there will be actual conversation, which could be good or awful depending on the conversationalists. "Smile and nod" is usually a viable strategy. If they are either curious or polite, they will ask about you, and will be very interested to hear about life in a culture that does not celebrate the American version of Thanksgiving. Descriptions of Thanksgiving-like celebrations in your culture/cultures will probably be well-received, provided they do not suggest any anti-American sentiments on your part.
About the food: be sure to ooh-and-ahh over the turkey, how perfectly it was cooked, how moist and flavorful, etc. Even (or especially) if it is burnt to a crisp, bear in mind that some poor soul slaved for hours over it and has earned some appreciation. Find out who made the stuffing and let that person know how much you like it, but don't do so too loudly lest you provide an opening for a fan of some other sort of stuffing to rekindle the stuffing wars. For the various side dishes, expressing curiosity about ingredients and asking for recipes is never amiss. Offering to help with serving and/or cleaning up is a win/win, as you will earn some gratitude as well as escape the odious conversation of the lecherous curmudgeon seated next to you. Make sure to save room for dessert, and lots of it, as someone probably slaved for hours over that too.
Consider this a great opportunity for people-watching. If you pay attention, you'll learn a lot about what makes this family tick: passions, antagonisms, addictions, eccentricities, obsessions. Before you go, ask SO for a thorough briefing on the various personalities and relationships. You won't be able to keep everyone straight (unless he has a pretty small family) but at least you'll have some inkling of what to prepare for. And be ready to be surprised: they could be infinitely better or infinitely worse than you expect, or both. Holidays tend to bring out the extremes in families. That makes the holiday season very trying, of course, but it also offers you a chance to pick up on things that you would otherwise spend years trying to figure out.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
If you want to be zen, then stay in the freaking moment.
A lot of the people posting on this thread need to go out and get kohlrabi.
|
|
|
|
t_r_b
|
|
« Reply #25 on: November 10, 2009, 11:44:06 PM » |
|
One more thing: this is also a great opportunity to learn more about SO. If, to use an extreme example, he happens to be nuts, he may be quite skilled at behaving sanely with you and other non-relations, but being back at the family hearth might well pull away the veil. More generally, watching him interact with his family will give you some clues as to what you can expect if the two of you stick together for a while. For example, if when you are around his family, he starts acting more childishly than you are used to, watch out. Sooner or later, most of us turn into our parents, in one way or another. And if we don't, it's generally because we never stopped being our parents' child.
Also, while the state of my own personal life inclines me to focus on the negative, this can also be an opportunity to find out really cool things about SO, and meet some really great people. It works both ways.
Good luck. And have fun.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
If you want to be zen, then stay in the freaking moment.
A lot of the people posting on this thread need to go out and get kohlrabi.
|
|
|
bread_pirate_naan
Preposterous
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 5,255
softwears
|
|
« Reply #26 on: November 11, 2009, 12:37:54 AM » |
|
I still have no idea what you're on about.
It's hard out there for a scientist. But seriously folks. Idiomatic or phonetic language that is not punny is, in itself, a sign of foreignness. If you feel good right now, go on with your bad self. If you feel like the butt of the joke instead of a comedienne, stick to standard spelling instead of phonetic. Variations on latter are a sure route to social success at secular celebrations. According to Wikipedia (Yes, I know, the queen of scholarly sources), "Merkin" has been used since the 1960s in Europe to humorously refer to Americans. I wasn't aware of the lower-case meaning, and somewhat regret having looked it up. Wait. You mean I am right about the foreign idiom/phonetic thing? Gadzooks! *** What madhatter said. At our thanksgiving, people wear shorts until dinner time and drink margaritas. There is a blueberry pancake breakfast. Thoroughly Irish attendee makes an potato leek soup with a pound of bacon around noon. I always break out the fancy cheeses, baguettes and crackers around 3pm. The night before we all go out bowling. There is volleyball. There is football watching. In recent years a gluten-free contingent has broken out. Vegetarianism, not well accommodated. We look a photo albums of past thanksgivings. It is my favorite holiday. It is like that every year for decades. Extended and adopted family. If you are lucky, there will be some semblance of tradition and a minimum of dysfunction. Why not ask 98 what the typical 98-family T-day has been like in the past?
Logic! This is important. This is a heterogeneous nation. Expect turkey. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
In unrelated news, I'd like a slice of cake. --corny / It will go great. --jackalope
|
|
|
|
barred_owl
|
|
« Reply #27 on: November 11, 2009, 12:52:08 AM » |
|
Yes, expect turkey.
If the family is very traditional, the menu will look something like this:
Turkey
Stuffing (various kinds are available--hope for homemade)
A sweet potato dish/candied yams
Mashed potatoes
Green bean casserole (the kind with mushroom soup, topped with crunchy onion thingies)
A relish tray (olives, pickles, and the like)
Something with cranberries in it (cranberry sauce, e.g.)
Rolls or bread
Maybe a salad of some kind
Pumpkin and/or sweet potato pie with whipped topping for dessert
Hope for leftovers on the turkey.
Oh--are you staying there overnight? Best to find out if members of the family are into the whole day-after-Thanksgiving shopping extravaganza. That Friday is often touted as the first day of Christmas shopping season. Some people really get into it (like getting up at 4 a.m. to hit the stores that open at 5 a.m.); personally, I'd just prefer to succumb to the turkey tryptophans and sleep in.
I like the idea of blueberry pancakes followed shortly thereafter by margaritas, too. Two of my favorite things!
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
...I can't help rooting for the underdog underbird. |
|
|
|
frogfactory
|
|
« Reply #28 on: November 11, 2009, 12:57:20 AM » |
|
How do flowers work as a gift?
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
At the end of the day, sometimes you just have to masturbate in the bathroom.
|
|
|
madhatter
We proudly present the fora's Least
Member-Moderator
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 5,351
Just killing time
|
|
« Reply #29 on: November 11, 2009, 12:58:01 AM » |
|
How do flowers work as a gift?
Perfectly lovely. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
"I may be an evil scientist, but it doesn't take a degree purchased from the Internet with your ex-wife's money to know how special and important you are to me." -- Dr. Doofenschmirtz
|
|
|
|
