You should give them a call Allyson. They're up by now.

Merry Christmas, all!

Health!ma for ita's head and Allyson's stomach.

I got my mother a sonic screwdriver. She loves it, but my dad is playing with it right now and may have just broken it.

I love my family.

Who wouldn't love a shark tooth?? We're having filet roast, as is our tradition. And, apparently, martinis, by the looks of the new bottles of gin, vermouth, and jar of olives to my left -- this is not traditional, but I'm in full support. Well, I don't like gin, but I'm sure I can find a substitute.

Still waiting for the rest of la familia. Wrapping and stocking stuffing done. I could shower, I guess. I'm feeling magnanimous.

I got my mother a sonic screwdriver.

I want to find me one of those! (Sonic screwdriver, that is.)

Naked mice? Do mice wear shirts, hats, and hats like in Cinderella where you come from?

Sadly, no. These are hairless mice in my brother's lab. Eldest nephew thinks they are cute. I won't repeat in public what my brother says they feel like.

Allyson, so glad you are feeling better. Tell you family LOTS OF PICTURES. My brother sent one of D and his signed astronaut picture.

We've stockinged and ham is in the oven. I have a quacking keychain, a vibrating walrus and arghand soaps from Afghanistan, among other things.

From Boing Boing:

"This is the 'Thrifthorror' LiveJournal community blog, where people take pictures of the horrible, horrible things they find in thrift shops, and comment on them. On this page, you can see all sorts of Santa-themed holiday cheer." Link

The rest of Thrifthorror is pretty horrific too. [link] Hey, did that horrible you-know-what that the Zmahems had originally come from a thrift shop? Perhaps that horror should be shared....

Merry Christmas from Dylan!

How are souffles supposed to smell, Kat?

Not burnt. They had bubbled over and spilled to the bottom where it burned. oops.

Who's more popular at Christmastime in Orange County: Santa Claus or Darth Vader?

Darth Vader, by a long shot.

That was the case Saturday in Irvine, where autistic children and their parents celebrated the holidays at California Integrative Hyperbaric Center. The guests of honor were St. Nick, of course, and the 501st Legion, an organization of hobbyists who dress up in Star Wars costumes for promotional and charitable events.

[link]

So glad to hear Allyson is feeling better! Hope to hear ita is starting to feel better, too!

Saw my parents yesterday and did gift exchange then. They are going to Georgia today to see my grandmother and then on to their condo in for a week. WH has no family so we didn't have to plan for them. Still have to ship gifts to my brother and his wife in Scotland. We'll get to see them in February when they come for a visit

Yesterday afternoon WH couldn't wait any longer so we opened gifts then. So, today we haven't really done anything. I think the plan is to see Sweeny Todd this afternoon/evening.

It's strange having WH around today. He almost always has to work on Christmas. I can't remember the last time he had today off.

Mmm, souffles. At least it was just the bubbled over part that burnt?

I discovered we have Panera in B'more, just up the road from me.