Make sure he keeps in mind that it really isn't about the flashiest gear. I know more than a few schools that have great gear but are lacking the instruction to really teach with it. They turn out sub-grade students all the time. In my opinion the new gear is the easy part to learn, it's the listening and people skills that are very hard to develop and are the ones that will carry a new engineer far.

There are two pictures of Dubya and Laura Bush sitting in the living room. It was a thank you for my father's long support of the RNC.

Shoot me.

Oh, Laura, I'm so sorry. That sucks beyond the telling. This is the first year Nick's gotten me a thoughtful gift since he was in grade school and was forced to make one in art. I've never gone without a present, though. I wish I could make it all better for you, and I hope someone kicks some ass and it doesn't have to be you. There is enough crap in this world that family shouldn't be the ones to make you sad.

ND, I'm glad you're there for your mom, but I wish things were easier for you. I can't even think of how you could fix the bed situation, though I bet getting more sleep would help.

Laga, I hope your Christmas, despite the cranky people, is going well.

Cashmere, I count this one in the big win column for us, too. This is the first year that Greg actually surprised me with something that I love. It seems silly, maybe, but it's a green marble mortar and pestle and it's beautiful.

Nick, Aidan and Kara are all thrilled with their presents. Everyone's stuffed full of good food, and the kids are going to bed soon before Aidan melts down any further.

Can we have the Buffistas tropical retreat ready by next Christmas?

I vote cruise ship. Plenty of people there whose sole job is to pamper you. And plenty of lounges if you need to get away for a few.

so the filet mingon roast - turned out really well. I did roast it at 375 - after the potatoes were roasted and some onions and carrots. Matt - doing his main holiday job( actually , he'd cook all day - but it doesn't matter unless he makes gravy) - ground up the onions and carrots with wine to make gravy.

I drank just enough wine to be slightly sad that our new wine glasses do not fit in the old wine glass rack , so DH will have to fix...

[link]

The 100 funniest jokes of all time. It was helpful to me today.

I drank just enough wine to be slightly sad that our new wine glasses do not fit in the old wine glass rack , so DH will have to fix...

He can re-build it; he has the technology?

Oh, Laura and ND, both those situations suck. I went to the movies today,b ut had to do dinner with the fam, which was slightly less pleasant than yesterday's weird goodness. My sister even baited my father just as we were leaving, so that we got to hear his crazy views on global warming (not real, and even if it is, the Democrats are stupid for whatever htey want to do about it)

Also, I was told I have to come back tomorrow so that he can "have a talk" with me. Um. I think I will not manage that, becuase I have no idea what the hell he wants to talk about, but it sounds like a lecture, and he can do that over the phone.

But now we're back at my sister's and all is well.

Now it is time to listen to everyone complaining about things. My family must celebrate a weird version of Festivus without the aluminum pole.

It may not be aluminum, but there is a pole. There is at LEAST one.

Laura's kids are not too old to be spanked. It may take a cadre of us to do it, but we can. Oh yes we can.

Personally I'm willing to bite the bullet and spend Christmas day with them if I can then kidnap ND away elsewhere.

Any way you could become a black person first? Then we're talking big fun.

Still so sick. Head feels like a heavy rock. I have slept most of the day.

Merry Christmas to thems that celebrate and healthy hugs to the rest. Gifts were opened and oooh & ahhhhhed over in record time this morning. I believe we had all hits and no misses this year.

DH bought me a necklace (he has been forbidden from buying me jewelry as the last few pieces have been disasters.) He took K-Bug for her approval and they found me a winner. It is a white gold and diamond palm tree pendant from a Hawaiian jeweler. I love it.