It's Chinatown in SF, The largest chinatown outside of Asia.  It's like walking into another world.  Rounding a corner and being transported half-way around the world.  And its this huge working deal, not just a tourist thing.  It's a highly concentrated population doing the day to day living pretty much the way its been going down for a couple of centuries now.  You can buy live ducks and chickens - they'll wring it's neck for you.  All sorts of stuff in the produce section that you have no idea what they are.  All the writing and speech is all Chinese, some English here and there, but no real effort to incorporate it.  That's pretty much how you tell the real from the tourist, the real places don't cater to English.   All the products looks similar but not a single one is familial.

Very pretty
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We'll be doing our traditional dinner at a Chinese buffet and then go to a friend's house for games and dessert.  You'd be surprised how busy the buffet was last year.  We had to wait 15 just to get a seat.

Alex

I want to take my dad to dinner, as the rest of my immediate family is out of town. He'll want to pay, but I won't let him. I'm not sure what kind of food he wants...Living in a multicultural city is so difficult when you like ethnic foods. Where to eat? Do we want Japanese, or Somali, or Indian, or Middle-Eastern, etc.?

My family is not Christian, so as far as we care, Christmas is a time to celebrate the impending disappearance of those endless holiday ads on TV. Also, it's a nice time to lie down on a sofa watching TV, and kick your feet up on the armrest.

I think I'll just eat, drink and be Mary.

Everyone at the Christmas party was feeling merry so Mary got mad and went home.  (better said than written) 

Christmas is a time to celebrate the impending disappearance of those endless holiday ads on TV.

It is a pretty blessed event in that regard.

Thanks Tekla for the info on China Town. We are due a trip to SF that would be an interesting place to see when we go.

Quote from: Mrs Erocse on December 12, 2010, 10:54:38 AM
I didn't know that about China Town.

Rent or buy the movie "A Christmas Story" - the one about little Ralphie who wants nothing more for Christmas but a Red Ryder BB gun.  Set in the midwest in the 50's.  Peter Billingsley stars.  It's been a favorite in our family for decades.  The most precious scene is near the end, when the next door neighbors' dogs get into the house and destroy the family turkey.  They turn in desperation to Chinatown, and have roast duck for their Christmas dinner.  The waiters stand around (since these are their ONLY customers) and sing "Fa-ra-ra-ra-ra-ra-ra-ra-ra".  Belly-laugh time.   

I will try to have a good time.  The difficulty is, they will not get to meet Colleen, only my middle son has been so brave, and the very LAST thing my wife wants to do is meet "her".  But we will see.  Christmas miracles are not unknown.  I will have faith, and do my best.  Bless you.

I will be going to a friends house for Xmas dinner and then come home to go to bed.  Xmas is not a big deal any more.  For me it is just another day, without family.

Quote from: Janet Lynn on December 12, 2010, 11:54:11 AM
For me it is just another day, without family.

I know it's been said, but I want to put this out there again.  You guys have truly become a family to me, and, though we cannot all get together over the holidays (I doubt anyone would have a table big enough for us), I'll be thinking of you guys and wishing that we could. 

I would think there must be a way to set up a video chat?  THAT would be a big enough table...

Usual stuff for Christmas; seeing my folks, eating, drinking and making silly jokes. A few films and musics, the odd present and then a bunch of pissed uncles for New Years on the banks of the Thames... I'm also giving said pissed uncles a Jack the Ripper tour (I know very little about him at the moment.)

Jack or your uncle?

Hopefully I'll be able to catch some Christmas specials on my parents television because I'm used to watching the 25 Days of Christmas special and I can't do that because I don't have cable.  I'm also going to be cooking a meal of Cornish hen for my parents (assuming we can find some).  And I guess that's about it.  We'll probably Skype my sister because she's deployed and it'll be nice to talk to her on Christmas. 

I also might wind up being able to take some beautiful Christmas pictures this year because there's actually snow in England. xD

With the death of my spouse and then the birth of Kate, I've shed a lot of holiday traditions.  This year I think I'll just wrap myself in a blanket, eat too much stuff that's not good for me, zone out in front of the television (football and/or stupid movies), and in the afternoon go for a long walk in the snow.  A day of self-indulgence sounds good to me.

Joy to the world.

- Kate

I raised my kids for the most part in Iowa and I always thought the best part of Christmas Day was going out in the afternoon and playing with all snow toys, and then hiking down to the bridge over the river later with the adults and the beautiful peace that is a nice woods in the snow.  Tragically all the fun and beauty of the snow ends that day, all the snow from Dec 26th on just sucks.

Dim Sum (always get there when it opens sinfe it gets packed), Powells bookstore and a movie. We do this with a large group of friends every year, take public trans. so we don;t have to drive and have a nice leisurely day. First thin in the morning the kids open their gifts. Then we head down town,
Cheers,
Myles

Possibly working. Someone has to keep things running .

I've been told I have the time off, but I don't know for sure for another week (until the rosters go out - which is always a day or two before the fortnight starts).

I know I'm working up to and on the 24th for sure, then heading out with some workmates to the pub for xmas beers after work.

It's not my first post-transition xmas, but it is my first "lads night at the pub with scantily clad, possibly topless women".

Here's hoping I can still pull off the straight act after a few beers and surrounded by topless women. Hopefully I'll remember to keep my eyes on the women! (Luckily, the guys I'm going to the pub with are not my type).

Pretty sure I have the 25th off, so I'm staying home and having friends over for lunch. If I have the 26th off (also possible) then I'm going to my folks house for lunch.

I'm not Christian (or religious for that matter) but I figure - big cluster of public holidays, rampant consumerism, and an excuse for parties? Why not! Sounds like some fun action to get in on if you don't take it too seriously

I've already spent about $3500 on "gifts" for myself in the last month or two... I'm writing it off as "Christmas Cheer (tm)" .

Well xmas is convieniently sanwiched between coming out and going full time, so I guess I'll be playing that traditional xmas game 'A million and one awkward questions with a hundred and one relatives!!'

Yeh hey!! I love being trans

Oof, good luck Millie!

This xmas I'll be waving my engagement ring under my single, brother-in-law-to-be's nose and being disgustingly happy.
(Last xmas he got drunk at our house, hit on me in front of my fiance and called me a '->-bleeped-<-' when I rejected his advances)