Well then. It's Christmas morning (Merry Merry to all y'all) and we are about to kerfuffle. Sekrit message to my father: you are a fuckhead.

Sorry to all those with family issues!

We have opened stockings and had breakfast. We're moving slowly this morning. Presents are next.

Hit him with a candy cane, brenda.

SJ, the Pirates figure was well received and perfectly apt as EM's big present to Emmett was an actual painting of Captain Jack (fan art for xmas!), as well as the very cool Dread Pirate board game.

Also, fanishly, Emmett got a ton of Avatar goodies and is busy watching S1 while assembling his Avatar Legos.

I gave JZ the 12 DVD set of The Pallisers - a BBC production of five of Anthony Trollope's novels.

Matilda got Trumpette socks (so of course we talked about flea's endorsement of same), and board books.

I got a biography of Marc Bolan and the cool picture book on Edie Sedgwick and money to spend at Amoeba.

EM made a gorgeous stew for dinner last night - her Dad's recipe. I made a little wild mushroom stew for JZ.

We played a card game last night that was fun - Apples to Apples.

Matilda slept well last night in her Moses basket, and was very smiley and jolly all day yesterday.

We've all eaten cheesy scrambled eggs and quaffed coffees. This afternoon we'll scoot to JZ's Mom's house, with a pit stop on the way at her aunt's house for all the relations to coo over the baby.

Merry Christmas, Buffistas.

Merry Christmas to you lovely folks. S3 and 4 of Buffy is currently in purdah behind the locked post office gate, as I didn't get to my mailbox till after they closed on Saturday. Otherwise I'd be watching The Gentlemen and Watchers being unafraid of gravity.

Otherwise, Merry everything, and may the new year be blessed.

I woke up 7ish this morning with the sore throat and stuffy nose. After I fed the cats, and went back to bed, Harvey got under the covers with me. He proceeded to purr long and hard. When I woke up, I felt better. So Harvey must have cured my cold. It's a Festivus Miracle.

Merry Whatever to everyone!

Sorry for sickies. The DH was apparently deadly ill yesterday with a raging fever. Rather than telling me this, he snapped at me a couple times and then quit speaking to me entirely. I was having the Worst Christmas Eve ever and prepping for Worst Christmas Day ever, but he rallied under a full Mal onslaught and by the time Mallory had opened a couple presents was in good form.

Today has been lovely. I met some Brits in the park (identifiable as such because wearing paper crowns) and we wished each other Happy Christmas. I don't think the little girl realized I spoke English: "Mummy! That baby's on a lead!" "Shh, dear. Those are reins." "But, he's on a lead, isn't he?" "We used to use those with you dear, now hush."

ETA: And even tho Xmas is almost over here, Merry Christmas to all!

Merry Christmas, Raq. Glad it's going better over there.

Storm has been weathered, with only one person sobbing on the porch and one getting a severe talking-to. Which I'm a crack hand at, if I do say so myself.

Oh, but bless my sweet dog. When my sister was out crying on the porch, due to the aforementioned fuckheadedness, Lucy scracted at the door until H let her out, then sat and leaned against her until she felt better. Sweet girl.

But, like I said, we seem to have moved forward and should have smooth sailing for the rest of the day.

We've moved on to bitching about money and snapping at each other.

We had a lovely Christmas last evening, and I had a quiet Christmas breakfast with my Mom before she left for work. This was probably the first "normal" Christmas we've had in years.

I see now that I was clearly bogarting some good-family-ma, and I release it now, hoping that it's not too late. {{{Everyone that's having a rough day}}}

libkitty, from earlier, I think you did the right thing too. And I wanted to tell you that I've been sporting your scarf the last few days, and telling my family about the "internet people" and my seekrit santa gift, and they all thought it was very generous and awesome.

Catching up here reminded me of what excellent people you all are (all the Buffistas). Many blessings and good wishes to you all, no matter your holiday.