Official Christmas Eve/Day rant thread

[thrill]

Fire places are where it's at.

[Simbagal23]

Sorry I'm late to the party but was back in STL and (shock of all shocks!) my sister's charter internet connection didn't work for the entire 5 days we were there.

In any event, love your rant, Jim...just awesome. And regarding Catholic mass, you are dead on. Only problem, you failed to point out Catholic masses with a choir full of corpses. Good grief! We went to mass at my folks church on Christmas morning....the 110 year old gals in the choir sang every freakin' song like a funeral durge! Never has Joy to the World made me feel like cutting my wrists...or beating up old ladies! I normally avoid the crap they call wine when I go up for communion....but I was ready to grab the entire goblet and chug it in front of God and everyone to get me through the ordeal. My mom apologized to my husband and I the entire mass.....

(Slight disclaimer: Our Catholic church down South is much more hip, outstanding choir and music. My parent's church choir = just kill me.)

[jim]

simbagal - too bad about the choir. Catholic masses, in my opinion, are just beautiful. The hardest thing for us when we switched was handling the more laid back approach. Most of our music is from the 1800's and beyond, not as classic as the music in a Catholic mass. Plus, the ceremony itself is just grander in the Catholic church - really something to see.

While I was somewhat kidding, there is some truth what I was saying. We brew coffee in the reception area so that people can hang around after. It's quite a departure from what I grew up with. Often I enjoy that, but there are times where I really do want to get going and then some very nice person comes up to you and you know it's going to be ten minutes. Christmas Eve I was a Scrooge. I had been in uncomfortable clothes for 9 hours, had hot candle wax drip on my hand during service, and just wanted to get the hell out of there to be honest. But it was impossible.

[docellis]

I don't know many things that feel as good as a fireplace. I mean, as far as things homes can do.

[jim]

I don't know many things that feel as good as a fireplace. I mean, as far as things homes can do.

I agree, although I also like wood stoves. Personally I don't care for the fake log thing. It gives you the look, but it can't duplicate the smell and sound of burning wood.

[Popeye_Card]

I don't know many things that feel as good as a fireplace. I mean, as far as things homes can do.

I agree, although I also like wood stoves. Personally I don't care for the fake log thing. It gives you the look, but it can't duplicate the smell and sound of burning wood.

Ah, but when faced with the decision to have your chimney re-built in order to allow you to safely burn wood, vs. spending ~$200 on some gas logs that look just as good and are much more convenient, you opt for the gas logs.

Then you save the wood for the fire pit in the back yard.

[planet planet]

I don't know many things that feel as good as a fireplace. I mean, as far as things homes can do.

I agree, although I also like wood stoves. Personally I don't care for the fake log thing. It gives you the look, but it can't duplicate the smell and sound of burning wood.

Ah, but when faced with the decision to have your chimney re-built in order to allow you to safely burn wood, vs. spending ~$200 on some gas logs that look just as good and are much more convenient, you opt for the gas logs.

Then you save the wood for the fire pit in the back yard.

Word, we're going through that decision right now. It will cost close to $10k to do the chimney rebuild thing.

[jim]

I don't know many things that feel as good as a fireplace. I mean, as far as things homes can do.

I agree, although I also like wood stoves. Personally I don't care for the fake log thing. It gives you the look, but it can't duplicate the smell and sound of burning wood.

Ah, but when faced with the decision to have your chimney re-built in order to allow you to safely burn wood, vs. spending ~$200 on some gas logs that look just as good and are much more convenient, you opt for the gas logs.

Then you save the wood for the fire pit in the back yard.

Word, we're going through that decision right now. It will cost close to $10k to do the chimney rebuild thing.

Unless it really adds alot of value to the house I might think of the fake one as well. But I wouldn't dismiss what value it could add to the place, you might get that money back and then some down the road.

[planet planet]

I don't know many things that feel as good as a fireplace. I mean, as far as things homes can do.

I agree, although I also like wood stoves. Personally I don't care for the fake log thing. It gives you the look, but it can't duplicate the smell and sound of burning wood.

Ah, but when faced with the decision to have your chimney re-built in order to allow you to safely burn wood, vs. spending ~$200 on some gas logs that look just as good and are much more convenient, you opt for the gas logs.

Then you save the wood for the fire pit in the back yard.

Word, we're going through that decision right now. It will cost close to $10k to do the chimney rebuild thing.

Unless it really adds alot of value to the house I might think of the fake one as well. But I wouldn't dismiss what value it could add to the place, you might get that money back and then some down the road.

We were thinking of redoing one as a wood burning fireplace and the others gas. Popeye, isn't there a way to vent it outside that's still safe and cheaper than rebuilding your whole chimney?

[Popeye_Card]

Word, we're going through that decision right now. It will cost close to $10k to do the chimney rebuild thing.

The pitfalls of living in 100 year old brick homes.

I honestly like my gas fireplaces. No, the smell, etc. isn't there. But if you get a decent set of logs, it looks pretty realistic (and mine are also behind iron grates, so you can't see the full flames anyway). You add the glowing embers, etc. they make, and it adds to the realism. Then to light it is much easier than setting up a whole wood fire--just turn on the gas and light it (or turn the knob if you have a pilot light).

My reminder if you do go with gas is that Lowe's and Home Depot usually slash their gas logs (and other fireplace equipment) to half-off at the end of the winter season. Just keep an eye on it.