popping in to say Cute! Ded from Cute! Grace & Matilda and clingy (NSM) Santa Monkeys!

Also, hooray for awesome and fantastic guests like D. Please to suggest that everyone needs to sample her holiday deserts. Also, she resisted the urge to log on as me... at least I think so...

Headed your way DCistas! (+/- a few detours)

Sincerely yours,
Prickly but Festive
(alias brought to you by a last minute trip to Longwood Gardens - [link] )

Greetings from the calm after the Christmas storm. Ham, stuffing, corn casserole, pie, and assorted other goodies have been consumed. I bought barbecue this morning, but I think my hometown place has gone downhill and wish I'd only bought one pound. (I bought two pounds of chopped pork and sauce to snack on during the week, since we're here till Monday, but I may toss it out and roam a bit farther afield to satisfy my pork cravings.)

Biggest news items: I'm going to be a great-aunt again in another 8 months or so if all goes well--my oldest niece, whose daughter is almost a year older than Annabel, is pregnant again.

In less cheerful news, my oldest nephew, the one who served a tour in Baghdad with the National Guard, is going back into the military, this time into the regular Army as a captain (he was a 1st lieutenant before). He hates having a desk job and misses army life. He's going to be a Ranger and expects to be in Afghanistan in '09. It's definitely the life for him and I think the Army will be lucky to have him, but I sure hope the next president is less inclined to waste the lives of men like Nathan on fool's errands.

Susan --congrats on pending Great Aunt hood!

I'll be praying for your Nephew and hope that he's safe.

I just sent off my resume to a job, we'll see what happens.

I'm glad people like your nephew want to serve, Susan. I hope he can serve a long and disguished career.

I'm leaving Saturday. It's only Wednesday and I'm losing my will to live.

shoves Fernet through the intertubes

a neighbor gave a us a bag full of treats including a some packages of hot chocolate. nom nom nom . On the package of hot chocolate I just had was the information " even better with whipped cream" . i can't argue with that information. However, it seemed obvious to me. Now if had said add a small scoop of eggnog ice cream - that would have been new information. and yummy.

now I need a nap

Guitar Hero is clearly either the best present I got the DH this year or the worst. Actually, it's fun, but I lament the fact that the 80s music is only for PS2.

Off to mail Xmas presents (yes, I do suck that much).

Ah Raq is the latest Guitar Hero widow. Or is it the not getting to share enough that you are regretting? I've only watched the boys on it. It seems likely that I would totally suck at it.

Matilda video was such a delight!

Yay for aunthood! My thoughts are with your nephew and the others that find themselves in harm's way, Susan. War sucks.

I'm in a big funk today and just want this year over. I got a call from a nurse this morning. My very first doctor customer (and friend) that I have known for 19 years had a stroke over the weekend. His nurse found him in the office Saturday morning. He's my age. He is in very bad shape. He's still in critical care, they haven't even moved him to intensive care yet. His practice was all elderly patients, but he made an exception and has always been my personal physician for the kids and me. He stitched up Brendon's head when he fell off his bike; he removed the drywall screw from Bobby's foot. I've been dysfunctional all day.

DH went to visit him a little while ago. He is badly shaken. This is 2 of his buddies in one year. We seriously need to start taking better care of ourselves. This mortality thing is tough.

I love my Guitar Hero. I have GH II, GH III, and Rock Band. We finally got Kristin to start playing Rock Band with us. She has played Bass and has been our lead singer.

This mortality thing is tough.

I certainly consider it a Bad Idea. I hope things are better than they appear now, Laura. {{{Laura and DH}}}

My family went shopping, so I'm posting. Being home makes me feel like I'm about 12 and not in a good way.