easy travels to ita.

rest to Gud.

Merry Xmas, Gud! Sit down and take a lode off!

Merry Xmas quester and msbelle!

I'm almost done cleaning. Partly because I can't put away clean pots and pans, well just pans really, left over from my sourdough wheat bread experiment as it is too noisy. I have to do something with a box of used computer related stuff though.

It's Xmas here. Merry Christmas Peoples!!

msbelle, that picture is too much. Too adorable, too happy making.

We don't open our presents until late afternoon, so Xmas day is a pretty dull until about 4, then it's several hours blitz of Frenzied paper ripping and turkey eating, then it's dull again.

I have to leave obscenely early on Boxing Day morning to head back home. I am dreading it a little. Not the heading back home, just the leaving and getting there.

Which brings me to my complaint: the iTunes store for Canada and the US are different, and I can't find a way around registering for the US store with a Canadian credit card. I want that free John Hodgman audio book for my interminable bus ride home.

I have found various uncluttery places to stow everything in the box and have disposed of said box. I have a used and perhaps defective 10GB iPod that I will try to get working just for the heck of it and maybe give to somebody if I get it working. There's a used digital camera that isn't great, but will be given to my daughter who I've already given a used digital camera that just barely works. Finally there is a used printer. My wife wanted a printer just for the kids so they don't run my printer out of ink, so now I have one for the low price of free. Don't know where the heck I'm going to set it up for them though.

It's Santa time. Gotta stuff stockings, lay out presents, and leave false evidence. Good times.

Seriously awesome picture!

Have fun, Gud!

I got to wish the nephew a happy birthday earlier. Hard to believe it's been 4 years. Of course, he responded with "OKILOVEYOUBYE!" which is his standard phone etiquette these days...

We've done presents and I've made cranberry relish. Half the luminarias are out due to gusty winds, but that just means more tomorrow!

Luminarias in Mesilla were lovely and we ran into several people dad knows, courtesy of his coat (it's a S&R neon orange reflective one, with reflective strips. Hard to miss.)

Mom loves her bat, dad his bowl and we now have books coming out our ears. Some lovely jewelry, wooden kitchen implements from a local craftsman and STORYBOOKS ABOUT HEDGEHOGS!!! (This is a family thing.) And I now own an ipod. Guess I'll have to upgrade my os a few notches and figure out how it works! Dad got mom a roomba and that caused a lot of laughter. She thought about getting him one. Poor cats. Best opening of the night, I'll tell about later. White elephant plays into it, but didn't involve the rottweiler sized gray stuffed elephant that was the surprise gift several years back.

It was fun and there was much teasing. Just the way I like it.

Up for tomorrow: cooking and hanging stuff. And more people!

Merry Christmas! Just got home from the Christmas Eve festivities at my mother's house. Still have some things to do before I crash for a few hours then start on the cooking.

Beautiful heart warming picture of msbelle and mac.

Have a wonderful trip, ita. Lack of pain would be a good thing.

The youngest sib and his wife rolled in around 12:30, so we sat up a while longer with chocolate cake and port and chatted about stuff, while the dogs slowly fell asleep under the table.

Me, I'm thinking how hard it's going to be to go running in the morning, and whether I bought enough stocking stuffers.

Also, why isn't the Yuletide archive up yet?

Msbelle, you and Mac are the cutieheadiest!

ita, take care of that finger and fly safely!

Sail, enjoy S1 of SPN; I know I did. [Insert obligatory Oh, Dean here.]

And now to bed, and now to bed.

Merry Christmas to all the Buffistas who celebrate, and for those of you who don't, well, happy Monday off!

Mom loves her bat

Her what, now?

I'm almost done wrapping presents. Actually, I think I'm done for the evening. I'm going to head to bed and finish up in the morning.

Merry Christmas! [Insert appropriate disclaimer if you'd like one]