Our Christmas Eve plans just got kiboshed. We have been invited my
nephew for years because he is estranged from his family. I was not
going to invite him this year because of the pandemic but a couple weeks
ago he told my brother that he was looking forward to Christmas Eve at
our place. The government is about to announce a 28 day lockdown
starting Christmas Eve. He called tonight to cancel. That is weight off
our shoulders but we are going to miss him and his family.

Meanwhile, we still have my son, his finacee, brother and SiL coming
Christmas Day. We will be serving from the kitchen so there will be no
common utensils, we will maintain distance and wear masks when we have
to go near each other.

On Sun, 20 Dec 2020 21:18:03 -0500, Dave Smith
> wrote:

>Our Christmas Eve plans just got kiboshed. We have been invited my
>nephew for years because he is estranged from his family. I was not
>going to invite him this year because of the pandemic but a couple weeks
>ago he told my brother that he was looking forward to Christmas Eve at
>our place. The government is about to announce a 28 day lockdown
>starting Christmas Eve. He called tonight to cancel. That is weight off
>our shoulders but we are going to miss him and his family.
>
>Meanwhile, we still have my son, his finacee, brother and SiL coming
>Christmas Day. We will be serving from the kitchen so there will be no
>common utensils, we will maintain distance and wear masks when we have
>to go near each other.

Sounds like fun.

In article >,
says...
>
> Our Christmas Eve plans just got kiboshed. We have been invited my
> nephew for years because he is estranged from his family. I was not
> going to invite him this year because of the pandemic but a couple weeks
> ago he told my brother that he was looking forward to Christmas Eve at
> our place. The government is about to announce a 28 day lockdown
> starting Christmas Eve. He called tonight to cancel. That is weight off
> our shoulders but we are going to miss him and his family.
>
> Meanwhile, we still have my son, his finacee, brother and SiL coming
> Christmas Day. We will be serving from the kitchen so there will be no
> common utensils, we will maintain distance and wear masks when we have
> to go near each other.

Good luck eating and drinking with masks on :-)

Janet UK

On 12/21/2020 6:36 AM, Janet wrote:
> In article >,
> says...
>>
>> Our Christmas Eve plans just got kiboshed. We have been invited my
>> nephew for years because he is estranged from his family. I was not
>> going to invite him this year because of the pandemic but a couple weeks
>> ago he told my brother that he was looking forward to Christmas Eve at
>> our place. The government is about to announce a 28 day lockdown
>> starting Christmas Eve. He called tonight to cancel. That is weight off
>> our shoulders but we are going to miss him and his family.
>>
>> Meanwhile, we still have my son, his finacee, brother and SiL coming
>> Christmas Day. We will be serving from the kitchen so there will be no
>> common utensils, we will maintain distance and wear masks when we have
>> to go near each other.
>
> Good luck eating and drinking with masks on :-)
>
> Janet UK
>
It's the only way Dave can justify ignoring the Covid Protocols.

On 2020-12-21 6:36 a.m., Janet wrote:
> In article >,
> says...
>>
>> Our Christmas Eve plans just got kiboshed. We have been invited my
>> nephew for years because he is estranged from his family. I was not
>> going to invite him this year because of the pandemic but a couple weeks
>> ago he told my brother that he was looking forward to Christmas Eve at
>> our place. The government is about to announce a 28 day lockdown
>> starting Christmas Eve. He called tonight to cancel. That is weight off
>> our shoulders but we are going to miss him and his family.
>>
>> Meanwhile, we still have my son, his finacee, brother and SiL coming
>> Christmas Day. We will be serving from the kitchen so there will be no
>> common utensils, we will maintain distance and wear masks when we have
>> to go near each other.
>
> Good luck eating and drinking with masks on :-)
>
>

;-) Only when walking past others. We will take them off when at a
distance and when eating and drinking.

On Monday, December 21, 2020 at 9:06:35 AM UTC-6, Dave Smith wrote:
> On 2020-12-21 6:36 a.m., Janet wrote:
> > In article >,
> > says...
> >>
> >> Our Christmas Eve plans just got kiboshed. We have been invited my
> >> nephew for years because he is estranged from his family. I was not
> >> going to invite him this year because of the pandemic but a couple weeks
> >> ago he told my brother that he was looking forward to Christmas Eve at
> >> our place. The government is about to announce a 28 day lockdown
> >> starting Christmas Eve. He called tonight to cancel. That is weight off
> >> our shoulders but we are going to miss him and his family.
> >>
> >> Meanwhile, we still have my son, his finacee, brother and SiL coming
> >> Christmas Day. We will be serving from the kitchen so there will be no
> >> common utensils, we will maintain distance and wear masks when we have
> >> to go near each other.
> >
> > Good luck eating and drinking with masks on :-)
> >
> >
> ;-) Only when walking past others. We will take them off when at a
> distance and when eating and drinking.

Because the virus can't be transmitted when you're "eating and drinking,"
right?

--Bryan

On 2020-12-21 6:26 p.m., Bryan Simmons wrote:
> On Monday, December 21, 2020 at 9:06:35 AM UTC-6, Dave Smith wrote:
>> On 2020-12-21 6:36 a.m., Janet wrote:
>>> In article >,
>>> says...
>>>>
>>>> Our Christmas Eve plans just got kiboshed. We have been invited my
>>>> nephew for years because he is estranged from his family. I was not
>>>> going to invite him this year because of the pandemic but a couple weeks
>>>> ago he told my brother that he was looking forward to Christmas Eve at
>>>> our place. The government is about to announce a 28 day lockdown
>>>> starting Christmas Eve. He called tonight to cancel. That is weight off
>>>> our shoulders but we are going to miss him and his family.
>>>>
>>>> Meanwhile, we still have my son, his finacee, brother and SiL coming
>>>> Christmas Day. We will be serving from the kitchen so there will be no
>>>> common utensils, we will maintain distance and wear masks when we have
>>>> to go near each other.
>>>
>>> Good luck eating and drinking with masks on :-)
>>>
>>>
>> ;-) Only when walking past others. We will take them off when at a
>> distance and when eating and drinking.
>
> Because the virus can't be transmitted when you're "eating and drinking,"
> right?
>

No. Because the way we are setting things up we will be about9 feet apart.

On Mon, 21 Dec 2020 18:45:46 -0500, Dave Smith
> wrote:

>On 2020-12-21 6:26 p.m., Bryan Simmons wrote:
>> On Monday, December 21, 2020 at 9:06:35 AM UTC-6, Dave Smith wrote:
>>> On 2020-12-21 6:36 a.m., Janet wrote:
>>>> In article >,
>>>> says...
>>>>>
>>>>> Our Christmas Eve plans just got kiboshed. We have been invited my
>>>>> nephew for years because he is estranged from his family. I was not
>>>>> going to invite him this year because of the pandemic but a couple weeks
>>>>> ago he told my brother that he was looking forward to Christmas Eve at
>>>>> our place. The government is about to announce a 28 day lockdown
>>>>> starting Christmas Eve. He called tonight to cancel. That is weight off
>>>>> our shoulders but we are going to miss him and his family.
>>>>>
>>>>> Meanwhile, we still have my son, his finacee, brother and SiL coming
>>>>> Christmas Day. We will be serving from the kitchen so there will be no
>>>>> common utensils, we will maintain distance and wear masks when we have
>>>>> to go near each other.
>>>>
>>>> Good luck eating and drinking with masks on :-)
>>>>
>>>>
>>> ;-) Only when walking past others. We will take them off when at a
>>> distance and when eating and drinking.
>>
>> Because the virus can't be transmitted when you're "eating and drinking,"
>> right?
>>
>
>No. Because the way we are setting things up we will be about9 feet apart.

That leaves 1 foot if Big Niece is coming.

Friday morning I will jump in the car and drive the 30 miles to my nephew's
house for Christmas breakfast. We drew names on Thanksgiving and we'll
be exchanging those gifts after we chow down. No masks and no distancing.

On Monday, December 21, 2020 at 6:00:04 PM UTC-6, wrote:
> Friday morning I will jump in the car and drive the 30 miles to my nephew's
> house for Christmas breakfast. We drew names on Thanksgiving and we'll
> be exchanging those gifts after we chow down. No masks and no distancing.

>
Why not go whole hog and insist that no one wash their hands after using the toilet?
Heck, turn off the water to the bathroom sink.

--Bryan

On Mon, 21 Dec 2020 15:59:58 -0800 (PST), "
> wrote:

>
>Friday morning I will jump in the car and drive the 30 miles to my nephew's
>house for Christmas breakfast. We drew names on Thanksgiving and we'll
>be exchanging those gifts after we chow down. No masks and no distancing.

Is that a political statement or are y'all just taking the risk?

On Monday, December 21, 2020 at 6:37:17 PM UTC-6, wrote:
>
> Why not go whole hog and insist that no one wash their hands after using the toilet?
> Heck, turn off the water to the bathroom sink.
>
> --Bryan
>
Well, that's just nasty!

On Monday, December 21, 2020 at 6:47:06 PM UTC-6, Master Bruce wrote:
>
> Is that a political statement or are y'all just taking the risk?
>
We just want to gather, no political statement nor a risk as far as we're
concerned.

On Mon, 21 Dec 2020 17:51:12 -0800 (PST), "
> wrote:

>On Monday, December 21, 2020 at 6:47:06 PM UTC-6, Master Bruce wrote:
>>
>> Is that a political statement or are y'all just taking the risk?
>>
>We just want to gather, no political statement nor a risk as far as we're
>concerned.

Nor a risk sounds a bit clueless.

On Monday, December 21, 2020 at 6:47:06 PM UTC-6, Master Bruce wrote:
> On Mon, 21 Dec 2020 15:59:58 -0800 (PST), "
> > wrote:
>
> >
> >Friday morning I will jump in the car and drive the 30 miles to my nephew's
> >house for Christmas breakfast. We drew names on Thanksgiving and we'll
> >be exchanging those gifts after we chow down. No masks and no distancing.
> Is that a political statement or are y'all just taking the risk?

Probably a bit of both, but it's tossing the dice, not only with thier own families,
but with the rest of us. I was scrupulously careful, yet I got Covid. It didn't kill
My wife, my son or me, but it has killed a lot of people. When I was younger, I
drove impaired by alcohol, so I'm no saint. In retrospect, I know that my behavior
risked the lives of others. What I did was ethically wrong, and I'm ashamed that
I did so. We all tell ourselves pretty little lies, and come up with rational
justifications if we bother to care at all. No one can change the past, but we can
learn from it. Many folks are just stubborn.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Mallon

--Bryan

On Mon, 21 Dec 2020 17:59:33 -0800 (PST), Bryan Simmons
> wrote:

>On Monday, December 21, 2020 at 6:47:06 PM UTC-6, Master Bruce wrote:
>> On Mon, 21 Dec 2020 15:59:58 -0800 (PST), "
>> > wrote:
>>
>> >
>> >Friday morning I will jump in the car and drive the 30 miles to my nephew's
>> >house for Christmas breakfast. We drew names on Thanksgiving and we'll
>> >be exchanging those gifts after we chow down. No masks and no distancing.
>> Is that a political statement or are y'all just taking the risk?
>
>Probably a bit of both, but it's tossing the dice, not only with thier own families,
>but with the rest of us. I was scrupulously careful, yet I got Covid. It didn't kill
>My wife, my son or me, but it has killed a lot of people. When I was younger, I
>drove impaired by alcohol, so I'm no saint. In retrospect, I know that my behavior
>risked the lives of others. What I did was ethically wrong, and I'm ashamed that
>I did so. We all tell ourselves pretty little lies, and come up with rational
>justifications if we bother to care at all. No one can change the past, but we can
>learn from it. Many folks are just stubborn.
>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Mallon

Republicans seem to think that the virus has a preference for
Democrats.

On Mon, 21 Dec 2020 18:45:46 -0500, Dave Smith wrote:

> On 2020-12-21 6:26 p.m., Bryan Simmons wrote:
>> On Monday, December 21, 2020 at 9:06:35 AM UTC-6, Dave Smith wrote:
>>> On 2020-12-21 6:36 a.m., Janet wrote:
>>>> In article >,
>>>> says...
>>>>>
>>>>> Our Christmas Eve plans just got kiboshed. We have been invited my
>>>>> nephew for years because he is estranged from his family. I was not
>>>>> going to invite him this year because of the pandemic but a couple weeks
>>>>> ago he told my brother that he was looking forward to Christmas Eve at
>>>>> our place. The government is about to announce a 28 day lockdown
>>>>> starting Christmas Eve. He called tonight to cancel. That is weight off
>>>>> our shoulders but we are going to miss him and his family.
>>>>>
>>>>> Meanwhile, we still have my son, his finacee, brother and SiL coming
>>>>> Christmas Day. We will be serving from the kitchen so there will be no
>>>>> common utensils, we will maintain distance and wear masks when we have
>>>>> to go near each other.
>>>>
>>>> Good luck eating and drinking with masks on :-)
>>>>
>>>>
>>> ;-) Only when walking past others. We will take them off when at a
>>> distance and when eating and drinking.
>>
>> Because the virus can't be transmitted when you're "eating and drinking,"
>> right?
>>
>
> No. Because the way we are setting things up we will be about9 feet apart.

Just being in the same room for hours makes the masks kinda useless.
I wouldn't come to a dinner like that if I had to wear a mask to
socialize with family for several hours.

-sw

On Monday, December 21, 2020 at 7:52:12 PM UTC-6, Master Bruce wrote:
>
> Nor a risk sounds a bit clueless.
>
The same crowd gathered at Thanksgiving for h.o.u.r.s sans masks. We mingled,
cooked together as well as ate together. A group photo was taken and when the
festivities were over, hugs and kisses were shared by all.

On Monday, December 21, 2020 at 9:00:06 PM UTC-6, Sqwertz wrote:
>
> Just being in the same room for hours makes the masks kinda useless.
> I wouldn't come to a dinner like that if I had to wear a mask to
> socialize with family for several hours.
>
> -sw
>
Thank you.

On Mon, 21 Dec 2020 19:15:57 -0800 (PST), "
> wrote:

>On Monday, December 21, 2020 at 9:00:06 PM UTC-6, Sqwertz wrote:
>>
>> Just being in the same room for hours makes the masks kinda useless.
>> I wouldn't come to a dinner like that if I had to wear a mask to
>> socialize with family for several hours.
>>
>> -sw
>>
>Thank you.

Mask or no mask, it's stupid to organise this and stupid to go.

On Mon, 21 Dec 2020 19:14:58 -0800 (PST), "
> wrote:

>On Monday, December 21, 2020 at 7:52:12 PM UTC-6, Master Bruce wrote:
>>
>> Nor a risk sounds a bit clueless.
>>
>The same crowd gathered at Thanksgiving for h.o.u.r.s sans masks. We mingled,
>cooked together as well as ate together. A group photo was taken and when the
>festivities were over, hugs and kisses were shared by all.

Just because you were lucky once, doesn't mean a thing for the second
time, weeks later.

On Monday, December 21, 2020 at 10:04:19 PM UTC-6, Master Bruce wrote:
>
> Just because you were lucky once, doesn't mean a thing for the second
> time, weeks later.
>
Don't fret, you're in no danger of being exposed to us.

On Mon, 21 Dec 2020 21:08:02 -0800 (PST), "
> wrote:

>On Monday, December 21, 2020 at 10:04:19 PM UTC-6, Master Bruce wrote:
>>
>> Just because you were lucky once, doesn't mean a thing for the second
>> time, weeks later.
>>
>Don't fret, you're in no danger of being exposed to us.

I'm just surprised at the lemming attitude.

Master Bruce wrote:
> On Mon, 21 Dec 2020 21:08:02 -0800 (PST), "
> > wrote:
>
>> On Monday, December 21, 2020 at 10:04:19 PM UTC-6, Master Bruce wrote:
>>>
>>> Just because you were lucky once, doesn't mean a thing for the second
>>> time, weeks later.
>>>
>> Don't fret, you're in no danger of being exposed to us.
>
> I'm just surprised at the lemming attitude.
>

Really? I thought you were sniffing.

On Monday, December 21, 2020 at 11:13:07 PM UTC-6, Master Bruce wrote:
>
> I'm just surprised at the lemming attitude.
>
Oh? Is everybody here also gathering with their families for Christmas
sans mask?

On Mon, 21 Dec 2020 21:41:19 -0800 (PST), "
> wrote:

>On Monday, December 21, 2020 at 11:13:07 PM UTC-6, Master Bruce wrote:
>>
>> I'm just surprised at the lemming attitude.
>>
>Oh? Is everybody here also gathering with their families for Christmas
>sans mask?

You and the other Joans.

On Monday, December 21, 2020 at 11:43:06 PM UTC-6, Master Bruce wrote:
>
> You and the other Joans.
>
You're safe, just wear your mask. After all according to the 'experts', masks will
keep us all safe.

'Night.

On Mon, 21 Dec 2020 21:51:59 -0800 (PST), "
> wrote:

>On Monday, December 21, 2020 at 11:43:06 PM UTC-6, Master Bruce wrote:
>>
>> You and the other Joans.
>>
>You're safe, just wear your mask. After all according to the 'experts', masks will
>keep us all safe.
>
>'Night.

I wouldn't wear a mask so much, but I wouldn't go to the party.

Goodnight.

On Tuesday, December 22, 2020 at 12:41:25 AM UTC-5, wrote:
> On Monday, December 21, 2020 at 11:13:07 PM UTC-6, Master Bruce wrote:
> >
> > I'm just surprised at the lemming attitude.
> >
> Oh? Is everybody here also gathering with their families for Christmas
> sans mask?

I'm gathering with my husband, just like every other Christmas for the
last 15 years. We stopped going to his parents' house after the year
the smokers gave him such a bad asthma attack I thought we might
be eating Christmas dinner in the hospital.

Best decision we ever made. Neither of us likes our families, and
nothing beats a quiet Christmas morning in the hot tub with my sweetie.

Cindy Hamilton

Master Bruce wrote:
> > wrote:
>
>> Master Bruce wrote:
>>> I'm just surprised at the lemming attitude.

Hence the worldwide pandemic, hospitals maxed out, and way too many deaths.

>>>
>> Oh? Is everybody here also gathering with their families for Christmas
>> sans mask?
>
> You and the other Joans

Masks or no masks, there are no Garys in this ng gathering with their
families (or anybody else) this Christmas.

On 12/22/2020 12:51 AM, wrote:
> On Monday, December 21, 2020 at 11:43:06 PM UTC-6, Master Bruce wrote:
>>
>> You and the other Joans.
>>
> You're safe, just wear your mask. After all according to the 'experts', masks will
> keep us all safe.
>
> 'Night.
>

Not completely safe, just a bit safer. Do you not wear one in a grocery
store either? That quick trip would probably be safer than a large
gathering for hours with hugging and kissing.

I do wish you well, Joan. You got lucky at Thanksgiving. Why press your
luck? Would it be so awful to spend Christmas alone with your live-in
brother?

People have been obscessed for years now talking constantly on their
cell phones and even with live video on smart phones. Those things
should be everyone's "best friend" right now.

On 12/21/2020 8:49 PM, wrote:
> On Monday, December 21, 2020 at 6:37:17 PM UTC-6, wrote:
>>
>> Why not go whole hog and insist that no one wash their hands after using the toilet?
>> Heck, turn off the water to the bathroom sink.
>>
>> --Bryan
>>
> Well, that's just nasty!

LOL That reminds me of a funny that Julie told a few months ago.

Something close to:
"I could flush the toilet and water came out of the faucet."

On 12/21/2020 10:15 PM, wrote:
> On Monday, December 21, 2020 at 9:00:06 PM UTC-6, Sqwertz wrote:
>>
>> Just being in the same room for hours makes the masks kinda useless.
>> I wouldn't come to a dinner like that if I had to wear a mask to
>> socialize with family for several hours.
>>
>> -sw
>>
> Thank you.

Mask or no mask, I won't go to a dinner like that.
Family members that don't live together are no safer than strangers in a
store.

On 12/22/2020 12:41 AM, wrote:
> On Monday, December 21, 2020 at 11:13:07 PM UTC-6, Master Bruce wrote:
>>
>> I'm just surprised at the lemming attitude.
>>
> Oh? Is everybody here also gathering with their families for Christmas
> sans mask?
>

Yes, but with the same people I've been associating with all along. No
big crowd of unknowns.

Cindy Hamilton wrote:
....
> I'm gathering with my husband, just like every other Christmas for the
> last 15 years. We stopped going to his parents' house after the year
> the smokers gave him such a bad asthma attack I thought we might
> be eating Christmas dinner in the hospital.
>
> Best decision we ever made. Neither of us likes our families, and
> nothing beats a quiet Christmas morning in the hot tub with my sweetie.

sounds very nice. yeah, i would avoid heavy smokers
again too if i had the choice. as a kid we had no choice
at all.


songbird

On Tue, 22 Dec 2020 07:46:54 -0500, Gary > wrote:

>On 12/22/2020 12:51 AM, wrote:
>> On Monday, December 21, 2020 at 11:43:06 PM UTC-6, Master Bruce wrote:
>>>
>>> You and the other Joans.
>>>
>> You're safe, just wear your mask. After all according to the 'experts', masks will
>> keep us all safe.
>>
>> 'Night.
>>
>
>Not completely safe, just a bit safer. Do you not wear one in a grocery
>store either? That quick trip would probably be safer than a large
>gathering for hours with hugging and kissing.
>
>I do wish you well, Joan. You got lucky at Thanksgiving. Why press your
>luck? Would it be so awful to spend Christmas alone with your live-in
>brother?
>
>People have been obscessed for years now talking constantly on their
>cell phones and even with live video on smart phones. Those things
>should be everyone's "best friend" right now.

Maybe Joan relies on her gun when the virus comes knocking.

On Tue, 22 Dec 2020 11:23:22 -0500, Ed Pawlowski > wrote:

>On 12/22/2020 12:41 AM, wrote:
>> On Monday, December 21, 2020 at 11:13:07 PM UTC-6, Master Bruce wrote:
>>>
>>> I'm just surprised at the lemming attitude.
>>>
>> Oh? Is everybody here also gathering with their families for Christmas
>> sans mask?
>>
>
>Yes, but with the same people I've been associating with all along. No
>big crowd of unknowns.

It doesn't matter if you know them or not

On 22/12/2020 16:23, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
> On 12/22/2020 12:41 AM, wrote:
>> On Monday, December 21, 2020 at 11:13:07 PM UTC-6, Master Bruce wrote:
>>>
>>> I'm just surprised at the lemming attitude.
>>>
>> Oh?Â* Is everybody here also gathering with their families for Christmas
>> sans mask?
>>
>
> Yes, but with the same people I've been associating with all along.Â* No
> big crowd of unknowns.

We'll be doing a Zoom gathering with the family, in three different
times zones. Even if I wanted to risk travelling - it's not possible at
the moment.

On Tue, 22 Dec 2020 14:19:57 -0500, songbird >
wrote:

>Cindy Hamilton wrote:
>...
>> I'm gathering with my husband, just like every other Christmas for the
>> last 15 years. We stopped going to his parents' house after the year
>> the smokers gave him such a bad asthma attack I thought we might
>> be eating Christmas dinner in the hospital.
>>
>> Best decision we ever made. Neither of us likes our families, and
>> nothing beats a quiet Christmas morning in the hot tub with my sweetie.
>
> sounds very nice. yeah, i would avoid heavy smokers
>again too if i had the choice. as a kid we had no choice
>at all.

No, especially since I was one.

On Tuesday, December 22, 2020 at 6:47:02 AM UTC-6, Gary wrote:
>
> On 12/22/2020 12:51 AM, wrote:
>
> > You're safe, just wear your mask. After all according to the 'experts', masks will
> > keep us all safe.
> >
> Not completely safe, just a bit safer. Do you not wear one in a grocery
> store either? That quick trip would probably be safer than a large
> gathering for hours with hugging and kissing.
>
Gary, there is no store here that I know of, that will allow people in without
a mask. Whether I'm heading to Kroger, Aldi, Walmart, Home Depot, Ollie's,
Walgreens, JoAnn Fabrics, etc. I A.L.W.A.Y.S. mask up.
>
> I do wish you well, Joan. You got lucky at Thanksgiving. Why press your
> luck? Would it be so awful to spend Christmas alone with your live-in
> brother?
>
My brother will be spending Christmas with his wife, children, and mother-
in-law. He sees them every single day of the week.
>
> People have been obscessed for years now talking constantly on their
> cell phones and even with live video on smart phones. Those things
> should be everyone's "best friend" right now.
>
I *think* I turned my cell phone on last month, maybe it was 3 weeks ago.