a baseball bat?

A wrought iron mammalian bat.

Ah yes. I can see how that sort of bat would be difficult to get through airport security as well.

When I was little, big presents were all from friends or family. We usually got to pick one to open Christmas Eve, when we put up stockings, which Santa filled with small toys, fruit, candy, nuts and a dime or quarter. In the morning, we had to wait for the parents, although, later on we were allowed to open the stockings sometimes. As a teen, I was visiting family for Christmas, and discovered that my aunt and uncle put out stockings as well as my cousins. The "kids" filled their parents stockings at night after the parents went to bed. The parents got up early and filled the kids stockings, and put out any special presents.

This all reminds me that I have many errands to do, including buying and mailing of gifts, but I have a gimpy ankle and its snowy out, so they will not get done. Oh, well. At least people are used to getting things late from me.

My neighbor's pastor's twin grandsons just stopped by to see Mister Kitty. They are adorable- probably 6 or so. They're just as curious about my house as they are my cats.

Romance? Have I been hearing about the wrong Santa?

[link]

I don't know when I realized Santa wasn't real (I suspect my dad's handwriting on the gift tags helped give it away) but I know I didn't express my disbelief partly because of my younger brother and partly because it was just fun. I think my dad enjoys it more than we ever did. He'll still label gifts as being from Santa.

So one of our vendors sent us a bunch of assorted snack foods for Christmas. Cookies, chocolotes, sesame sticks, etc. Generally good stuff and very nice of them.

One item is called Chili Citrus Snack Twists. I just tried one.

Oh my God. It is perhaps the most vile thing I've ever tasted that could be remotely called food.

On top of that, it hit with me with a ridiculously spicy aftertaste about 5 seconds later. So not only was it disgusting, but then it felt like my mouth was on fire.

Drinking a whole glass of water didn't help. I finally had to clear my palate with a mini-peanut butter cup from the candy jar (it was closest thing in reach) which wasn't quite enough, so I followed it up bite-sized Snickers. Ugh. Neither of them tasted right, but at least the air doesn't taste funky anymore. Ugh.

Ah the joys of Christmas time.

You need something with some citric acid, Kalshane.

Well, I just polished off a Pepsi, so I apparently chanced into the right thing. Things seem to be back to normal.

Now the question is, on Monday, should I warn my co-workers to avoid them or encourage them to try them.

If I wake up from an accidental nap, and really want a diet coke, but don't have one, it's okay to have beer, right?