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Every year my “turdy pinecones” is the wrapping job I do on the presents. I’m not very good at wrapping presents and I don’t particularly enjoy it. Some of our gifts are still just in Amazon boxes under the tree. After they’re opened today it won’t matter though!

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🤣 by 5 in the morning on Christmas “Eve” I was still wrapping the last gifts with a budding resentment and fury that threatened to undermine the whole thing! Thank God in Jesus’s birthday I got a little merciful sleep, and the morning was true fun anyway, fueled by caffeine and cookies.

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Laughed, learned and loved this. Thank you!

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Good one! Enjoyed the theme. I think you will be able to use this again and perhaps go deeper. I think you're on to something here. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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Exactly what I needed to hear! Thank you so much!! I've made a few turdy pinecones in my past too.

Actually I used blue cornmeal to make corn bread and it baked into the color of moldy bread. Not too appetizing, even though it tasted great.....

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Blue food is so inherently spooky! Was just talking about this last night... save for blueberries it’s hard to think of a non-moldy edible example :)

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Catherine, I don’t know you; but you sure are fun to read. I discovered your absolutely human approach to having actual fun in the Washington Post's piece about fun being "scheduled," "Instagramed" and 'performative,' the latter word misused. (Lots of journalists, especially political writers stole this word from social theorists like Derrida. I believe they mean a Performance, or gestures of rituals). This is too abstract, I know; but important I think to drive the Post's narrative that much of US-styled fun is just one :-) HAPPY FACED performance on Instagram after another. (By the way, my wife who is a Southerner baked a pecan pie for Christmas. Our son-in-law, who is from pecan-rich Georgia (the Peach state, go figure) gave it a two thumbs up. I'm not a big lets-have-fun on Christmas guy. I have to admit, though, that my wife en-Joys baking for our grandkids. Theirs is a moment for joy, spontaneous. I wish I could say that we have "more" joyful fun like that. From the little that I've seen, you've laid down the path for a road long lost. Keep up the good work--and Happy New Year.

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Hilarious and inspirational and validating post - I see you! The Christmas Poo-cones are worthy fun on so many levels. I think they look good!!

But if I were playing the creative poking fun game, I would say they could be mistaken for poo porcupines.

We were up until 5 AM wrapping presents and getting stuff ready for Christmas morning for our ONE daughter, so failing life’s impossible checklist as working parents is assured for us, too. We did get our daughter to bed at midnight, so that bought us a late Christmas morning and 5.5 hours of sleep salvation at least.

Happy holidays and be assured that your sincerity here only serves to strengthen your overall message of seeking opportunities for fun while acknowledging the daily shit that happens to us all! 🤗

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Ryan, you're so right about the porcupines! Actually, if I had used slivered almonds, it would have been even better! If anyone tries that, take a photo. . . .

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