Where in the World Isn't Bob Saget?

[Songbird76]

So you can definitely get the puff Cheetos in France (saw them in the gas station mini mart. In the end I didn’t go into the grocery store because we wanted to get on the road, so I don’t know about crunchy Cheetos under the Cheetos brand, but there is one called Belen which is very similar to crunchy Cheetos.

You can get the puff ones here, but we don't like those. Sometimes we can get a generic version of them, but there's one we got that was not very good and I don't remember which ones we like, and which ones we don't, and I can't always find them. There was a grocery store that had the good ones for several years, as well as mac n cheese, root beer, and cream soda. Then they stopped carrying all of the American stuff.

 

[Goofyernmost]

You can get the puff ones here, but we don't like those. Sometimes we can get a generic version of them, but there's one we got that was not very good and I don't remember which ones we like, and which ones we don't, and I can't always find them. There was a grocery store that had the good ones for several years, as well as mac n cheese, root beer, and cream soda. Then they stopped carrying all of the American stuff.

Was it something we said?

 

[King Panda 77]

 

[MinnieM123]

3 days until Thanksgiving

Every year, someone shares this clip -- it's one of the funniest episodes ever from WKRP in Cincinnati. I MISS that show!!

 

[donaldtoo]

So, yesterday my DWifey’s (Carolyn) mother’s side of our family had our annual Thanksgiving/family reunion, like they do every year on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. The number of people in the family, from the matriarch and patriarch (Carolyn’s grandparents) is 232. Sadly, 25 have passed over the years, so that brings it down to 207.
But, 3 younger family members are also now engaged, and 3 others are expecting children soon.
Also, unfortunately, and very sadly, Carolyn’s mother (Shirley) passed in her room in our home on the morning of Friday, August 2nd, from lung cancer. She had already been living with us for almost 2 years, and I spent the last 5 months of her life here at home with her as her full time primary caregiver.
Fortunately hospice was covered by her military benefits, and Carolyn, our special needs son, and 2 daughters all also contributed immensely to her care, and her great granddaughters were always lifting her spirits.
We did not want her to spend her final days in a facility, as she greatly feared those places.
I always feared I’d be the only one home when she passed. As it was, DS had the day off, but was napping when she passed. I checked on her before I went to the bathroom about 10a. When I came out a few minutes later, I checked on her again and she was gone. We had thought she would live into the weekend, at least.
As y’all can imagine, that was not a fun phone call to Carolyn, and special needs son did not take it well at all, either.
We finally buried Shirley’s cremated remains next to her parents, and other relatives, on Nov. 8th in her hometown, here in Central Texas. Carolyn and her mother were very close, so it’s all been very emotional, of course.
Sorry if I rambled, but I thought it might be helpful to provide a little recent background.
Carolyn, among others, is hugely involved in making sure these celebrations go off smoothly every year.
According to the guest book, a little over 150 family members showed up, including the plethora of little kids running all over the place…!!!!!
More than in recent years, due to things like Covid, inclement weather, scheduling issues, etc.
We got there early to set up, and then I and one of Carolyn’s cousins husbands sat on a church pew on a side wall while all the others broke it down and cleaned up.
We talked about how uplifted we were by the turnout, and how so many of the younger family members vowed to keep it all going, especially his son John, who now has 6 young children…!!!!!
Anyway, I continue rambling…!!!!!

Some pics from the day…!!!

Our youngest granddaughter (Audrey) found a new friend in one of her 3rd cousins…!!!!!



The plates, utensils, bread, butter, corn on the cob, pickles, olives, etc. table, the mains in the kitchen, and the dessert table…!!!!!



My plate…and I don’t think I can even name everything that was on it…!!!!!



A wide shot of the hall with the memory pictures table in the foreground…



Vegan pumpkin spice cream sandwich cookies made from scratch by our oldest DD (Megan)…these were REALLY good…!!!!!



The family trivia session, which was both hilarious and informative…!!!!!



And, finally, the lighted glass angel table in memory of those family members that have passed…



Again, sorry for rambling, but I thought some might appreciate the tradition involved.
Thanks for indulging me…I hope…!!!

 

[trr1]

So, yesterday my DWifey’s (Carolyn) mother’s side of our family had our annual Thanksgiving/family reunion, like they do every year on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. The number of people in the family, from the matriarch and patriarch (Carolyn’s grandparents) is 232. Sadly, 25 have passed over the years, so that brings it down to 207.
But, 3 younger family members are also now engaged, and 3 others are expecting children soon.
Also, unfortunately, and very sadly, Carolyn’s mother (Shirley) passed in her room in our home on the morning of Friday, August 2nd, from lung cancer. She had already been living with us for almost 2 years, and I spent the last 5 months of her life here at home with her as her full time primary caregiver.
Fortunately hospice was covered by her military benefits, and Carolyn, our special needs son, and 2 daughters all also contributed immensely to her care, and her great granddaughters were always lifting her spirits.
We did not want her to spend her final days in a facility, as she greatly feared those places.
I always feared I’d be the only one home when she passed. As it was, DS had the day off, but was napping when she passed. I checked on her before I went to the bathroom about 10a. When I came out a few minutes later, I checked on her again and she was gone. We had thought she would live into the weekend, at least.
As y’all can imagine, that was not a fun phone call to Carolyn, and special needs son did not take it well at all, either.
We finally buried Shirley’s cremated remains next to her parents, and other relatives, on Nov. 8th in her hometown, here in Central Texas. Carolyn and her mother were very close, so it’s all been very emotional, of course.
Sorry if I rambled, but I thought it might be helpful to provide a little recent background.
Carolyn, among others, is hugely involved in making sure these celebrations go off smoothly every year.
According to the guest book, a little over 150 family members showed up, including the plethora of little kids running all over the place…!!!!!
More than in recent years, due to things like Covid, inclement weather, scheduling issues, etc.
We got there early to set up, and then I and one of Carolyn’s cousins husbands sat on a church pew on a side wall while all the others broke it down and cleaned up.
We talked about how uplifted we were by the turnout, and how so many of the younger family members vowed to keep it all going, especially his son John, who now has 6 young children…!!!!!
Anyway, I continue rambling…!!!!!

Some pics from the day…!!!

Our youngest granddaughter (Audrey) found a new friend in one of her 3rd cousins…!!!!!

View attachment 827466

The plates, utensils, bread, butter, corn on the cob, pickles, olives, etc. table, the mains in the kitchen, and the dessert table…!!!!!

View attachment 827472View attachment 827473View attachment 827474

My plate…and I don’t think I can even name everything that was on it…!!!!!

View attachment 827475

A wide shot of the hall with the memory pictures table in the foreground…

View attachment 827479

Vegan pumpkin spice cream sandwich cookies made from scratch by our oldest DD (Megan)…these were REALLY good…!!!!!

View attachment 827483

The family trivia session, which was both hilarious and informative…!!!!!

View attachment 827484

And, finally, the lighted glass angel table in memory of those family members that have passed…

View attachment 827485

Again, sorry for rambling, but I thought some might appreciate the tradition involved.
Thanks for indulging me…I hope…!!!

wow you have a big dining room and sorry for your loss

 

[JenniferS]

So, yesterday my DWifey’s (Carolyn) mother’s side of our family had our annual Thanksgiving/family reunion, like they do every year on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. The number of people in the family, from the matriarch and patriarch (Carolyn’s grandparents) is 232. Sadly, 25 have passed over the years, so that brings it down to 207.
But, 3 younger family members are also now engaged, and 3 others are expecting children soon.
Also, unfortunately, and very sadly, Carolyn’s mother (Shirley) passed in her room in our home on the morning of Friday, August 2nd, from lung cancer. She had already been living with us for almost 2 years, and I spent the last 5 months of her life here at home with her as her full time primary caregiver.
Fortunately hospice was covered by her military benefits, and Carolyn, our special needs son, and 2 daughters all also contributed immensely to her care, and her great granddaughters were always lifting her spirits.
We did not want her to spend her final days in a facility, as she greatly feared those places.
I always feared I’d be the only one home when she passed. As it was, DS had the day off, but was napping when she passed. I checked on her before I went to the bathroom about 10a. When I came out a few minutes later, I checked on her again and she was gone. We had thought she would live into the weekend, at least.
As y’all can imagine, that was not a fun phone call to Carolyn, and special needs son did not take it well at all, either.
We finally buried Shirley’s cremated remains next to her parents, and other relatives, on Nov. 8th in her hometown, here in Central Texas. Carolyn and her mother were very close, so it’s all been very emotional, of course.
Sorry if I rambled, but I thought it might be helpful to provide a little recent background.
Carolyn, among others, is hugely involved in making sure these celebrations go off smoothly every year.
According to the guest book, a little over 150 family members showed up, including the plethora of little kids running all over the place…!!!!!
More than in recent years, due to things like Covid, inclement weather, scheduling issues, etc.
We got there early to set up, and then I and one of Carolyn’s cousins husbands sat on a church pew on a side wall while all the others broke it down and cleaned up.
We talked about how uplifted we were by the turnout, and how so many of the younger family members vowed to keep it all going, especially his son John, who now has 6 young children…!!!!!
Anyway, I continue rambling…!!!!!

Some pics from the day…!!!

Our youngest granddaughter (Audrey) found a new friend in one of her 3rd cousins…!!!!!

View attachment 827466

The plates, utensils, bread, butter, corn on the cob, pickles, olives, etc. table, the mains in the kitchen, and the dessert table…!!!!!

View attachment 827472View attachment 827473View attachment 827474

My plate…and I don’t think I can even name everything that was on it…!!!!!

View attachment 827475

A wide shot of the hall with the memory pictures table in the foreground…

View attachment 827479

Vegan pumpkin spice cream sandwich cookies made from scratch by our oldest DD (Megan)…these were REALLY good…!!!!!

View attachment 827483

The family trivia session, which was both hilarious and informative…!!!!!

View attachment 827484

And, finally, the lighted glass angel table in memory of those family members that have passed…

View attachment 827485

Again, sorry for rambling, but I thought some might appreciate the tradition involved.
Thanks for indulging me…I hope…!!!

Lots to unpack there - I wasn’t sure which reaction emoji to pick. First I was sad for y’all, then happy, then picked love.

That year of firsts following a passing is really hard, but it sounds like you’re a bonded, loving family, so that helps.

You weren’t hanging here at the time, so you wouldn’t know that Mike’s family has a very emotional Boxing Day (their annual big family get-together) coming this year. Mike’s 66 year old brother (the best man at our wedding) had a sudden fatal heart attack on the plane on the way to Hawaii in January; and then his oldest sister’s husband (like a second father to Mike) passed in May. And then an uncle, and a cousin’s wife, and another cousin’s husband. And a close family friend. And most recently, his brother’s wife’s mom. There’s just going to be a lot of sadness over the holidays for a lot of them.

For everyone who will be feeling sadness and loss over the holidays, I pray we all can find some of the peace and joy this season brings.

 

[SteveBrickNJ]

Lots to unpack there - I wasn’t sure which reaction emoji to pick. First I was sad for y’all, then happy, then picked love.

That year of firsts following a passing is really hard, but it sounds like you’re a bonded, loving family, so that helps.

You weren’t hanging here at the time, so you wouldn’t know that Mike’s family has a very emotional Boxing Day (their annual big family get-together) coming this year. Mike’s 66 year old brother (the best man at our wedding) had a sudden fatal heart attack on the plane on the way to Hawaii in January; and then his oldest sister’s husband (like a second father to Mike) passed in May. And then an uncle, and a cousin’s wife, and another cousin’s husband. And a close family friend. And most recently, his brother’s wife’s mom. There’s just going to be a lot of sadness over the holidays for a lot of them.

For everyone who will be feeling sadness and loss over the holidays, I pray we all can find some of the peace and joy this season brings.

A big "yes" or "amen" to your closing sentence

 

[JenniferS]

Yesterday we watched Spirited again, this time with Spenser. It was sooooo good.

Mike asked what I wanted to watch tonight, and I said he could pick. Big mistake. First up - Megyn Kelly, and then Christmas Vacation. I’m not crazy about Christmas Vacation. It’s okay, but not my fave.

 

[donaldtoo]

wow you have a big dining room and sorry for your loss

The dining room is an SPJST hall out in, literally, the middle of nowhere, Texas, but close enough to a lot family members.
SPJST is a Czech Catholic organization particular to Texas.
Carolyn’s mother’s family is mostly of German descent, but the hall is in a good location and can be rented for a decent price. Although, next year it’s going from $350 to $500, but it’s still manageable.
The first time I was at one of these celebrations when Carolyn and I were dating, it was held in one of her aunts homes.
A coupla’ years after that, we had to move it to larger venues, because of family growth.
This particular SPJST hall burned down about 7 years ago, and we had to have 1 celebration in a Lutheran church hall before it was rebuilt.
We go on…!!!
Also, thank you for the condolences regarding my MIL…!!!

 

[donaldtoo]

Lots to unpack there - I wasn’t sure which reaction emoji to pick. First I was sad for y’all, then happy, then picked love.

That year of firsts following a passing is really hard, but it sounds like you’re a bonded, loving family, so that helps.

You weren’t hanging here at the time, so you wouldn’t know that Mike’s family has a very emotional Boxing Day (their annual big family get-together) coming this year. Mike’s 66 year old brother (the best man at our wedding) had a sudden fatal heart attack on the plane on the way to Hawaii in January; and then his oldest sister’s husband (like a second father to Mike) passed in May. And then an uncle, and a cousin’s wife, and another cousin’s husband. And a close family friend. And most recently, his brother’s wife’s mom. There’s just going to be a lot of sadness over the holidays for a lot of them.

For everyone who will be feeling sadness and loss over the holidays, I pray we all can find some of the peace and joy this season brings.

Your emoji was perfect, as, ultimately, love of family was what it was all about…!!!

Yes, I remember the first Christmas after my first grandparent passed in 1978.
It was my grandfather on my Pops side, and my grandmother was stoic, but also very emotional at times during the day. She ended up outliving him by 25 years, and things, obviously, got easier over time, especially when great grandchildren started showing up…!!!

Oh my, that’s a lot of loss so close together. My sincerest condolences.
In the last 3 years, I’ve lost 4 uncles, an aunt and a cousin.
My Pop is the last of his immediate family, at almost age 92.
Mom is 85, and 1 of 6 children, with her and 4 others still with us.

And, Amen to your last sentence.
Close family really helps.

 

[JenniferS]

I’m going for a gastroscopy with sedation tomorrow. Mike and have been working 6, sometimes 7 days/week for more than 6 months … we’re exhausted.

I said to Spenser: I can’t wait to be put to sleep tomorrow.
Spenser: Yeah, you might want to rephrase that.

 

[PUSH]

I’m going for a gastroscopy with sedation tomorrow. Mike and have been working 6, sometimes 7 days/week for more than 6 months … we’re exhausted.

I said to Spenser: I can’t wait to be put to sleep tomorrow.
Spenser: Yeah, you might want to rephrase that.

We were disguising turkeys today, and most students turned their turkey into a police officer, football player, etc. One of them said, "I'm not a turkey. I'm a person who is going to sleep." Then drew the turkey in pajamas, a sleep mask, and holding a teddy bear. I had never related to a student so much.