Thai food is yum, and it's not all spicy. A lot of the basil somethings are not particularly hot and neither are the curries. I love the soups.

I think they sound like great gifts, smonster, and they'll think they are when they're working outside in January.

I hope the cough gets better, erin. Codeine and elevation should do a lot.

Hyperbole and a Half is festive for the holidays: [link]

I just read that, Steph. Man, I love her stuff.

I'm really hoping the holiday spirit kicks in soon. I just got done yelling at the kids (as often happens at bedtime), none of the presents are wrapped, and we are leaving in the morning for my parents. The truth is that I can get the presents wrapped once we get there, and I think I will relax some once I get there, but I am just so tired. I know a lot of it is because Joe is gone, but I miss enjoying Christmas like I usually do.

Skipping a couple of hundred posts to slip in under the wire East Coast time to wish you and yours a blessed Solstice!

May the returning Sun shine health, vitality, prosperity and contentment into your lives in the new year.

As my Solstice ritual, I have gotten my house in total and complete order. There is no laundry, rubbish or dirty dishes. I have a new vacuum, orderly files and even a clean chandelier.

Phew. I'm beat. And I've got to get up early to let in the window cleaning crew I hired as a gift to myself. The windows haven't been washed on the outside in 12 years. The landlord just couldn't get it together and each of my own attempts resulted in an injury to one or more of my hands. So, happy Solstice to me!

I want to do a candle ritual now, but I'm not sure I can muster the energy. I hope the Universe will forgive me.

Instead, I'll just do my banishing chant:

Darkest day

Longest night

What do I give to the night?

I give_______to the night!

Given the year I've had, I'm giving a LOT to the night!

Solstice! Longer days for a long, long time!

I am at the airport. Very delayed flight and I've been traveling since 3:30 between cats and traffic. Now my flight is scheduled to finally leave about twenty minutes after I was supposed to land in San Diego. I can look forward to being at a home by about 3 in the morning. I called my parents to tell them lunch is the new breakfast.

I am a total Grinch for the holidays. But! I do know that Christmas is a huge deal for my stepmom and so I step up for that. It's not my thing but it makes her happy. I can do it for her. Friends know that random gifts during the year are more likely than holiday gifts though. I love giving for joy, hate when it's demanded.

Also, hey, there is a really nice little bar at the PDX airport. I had no idea. Closes too soon but it was a nice glass of good wine...

Oh! And travel tip- a long flowing skirt gets an unenhanced pat down at PDX. It's happened twice and this woman actually answered me and said long skirts will do that now. So I might specifically travel in pants now. Or at least skirts with secure waistbands. They aren't awful but the less friendly person last week half took down my skirt while running her hands down my legs.

Still the security line moved quickly and it's still better than any return thru San Diego. Not that I don't love my old town but it is a cramped, unflowy airport.

Dude, who GETS pleurisy?!?

t raises hand

I had it in grad school.

I had it in grad school.

So Cincinnati is the Pleurisy District? Good to know.

No, I had it during my first year of grad school, while I was at CalArts. I didn't know how sick I was and flew to Spokane and back to see a friend perform in her final show in undergrad while I had it. Got off the plane, back to my room, and then went directly to the ER.