I am ensconced in the Catskills, where my brother and niece were in the middle of a surprise visit, so I got to see them, too.

I made a strategic run into Porter Square Books, which is the nice independent bookstore near Jesse's, and instead of gift cards, most relatives are getting calendars. Safe choice, calendars, right?

Got some good presents, so far have been sticking to my diet fairly well. A bit irked that my brother, who I specifically asked for a Christmas ornament, gave me this weird large wall-mounted bell. I have no idea what to do with it (and it's very heavy. And he gAve the same thing to my sister and my parents. He's a crappy gift-giver).

Tomorrow, movies! Though we haven't digured out what yet--probably Into the Woods?

We've had a nice spaghetti dinner and opened an old bottle of wine, which had turned to vinegar and was full of dregs. Luckily, there's beer.

My sister talked to the couple who bought our old farmhouse where we grew up. They've renovated it and it sounds like they've done a good job bringing the place into the current century. I'm glad.

Accidental Dickens!

Something I made today required a mixture of breadcrumbs and beef stock as a binder. I made too much so I just gave the leftovers to the dog as a treat. (Also we are low on chow.) she wolfed it in about a nanosecond and begged for more.

At which point I realize, here's poor orphan Darby, eating only gruel for her Christmas Eve dinner, and earnestly asking "can I have another?" And I about lost it.

That's hilarious, brenda!

Aw. Get her a goose as big as her! You know, after the spirits visit.

Aw, Darby.

Theo, the calendar I got at Porter Square Books and gave as a gift today was very well received!

~ma of the appropriate flavor to all whose holidays are suboptimal.

What she said.

Have had family Christmas and church, and am now watching The Grinch. Phew.

I don't have enough cheese for tomorrow! The grocery store was closed by the time I got there after work. I will have to snack on other things during my hermitage tomorrow. Cue the 1st world problem pout.

First, sending love and peace and calm to those struggling with grief or anxiety or depression or even just general meh this holiday season. We love you. You're never alone.

ND and I are just happy we didn't have another ER visit this Christmas. With his mom's poor health, it's happened many times--including last year. But it's so difficult to see his mom at this point; she's lost the person she used to be, the person I'm lucky I knew at least for a few years before she began to lose her mental faculties along with her physical ones. So no ER visit, but a difficult couple of days regardless. I don't know if she knew who we were most of the time. I wish I could do anything to make it easier.

So now we are slowly working our way through holiday traffic to LAX to catch a red eye to Florida. We will be there for about a week visiting my dad and my cousin L, who also lives in south Florida. I'm looking forward to seeing them.

For those in earlier time zones, Merry Christmas! And Merry Christmas Eve to the rest. I wish you all happiness, regardless of whether you celebrate.

I got the car charged last night so I could drive to get a blood test today. It showed me severely low on red cells, so I got to tear over to the infusion center to get bloodwork before everyone left for Christmas Eve. Tomorrow I go over the river and through the woods to an 8 a.m. transfusion that will last most of the day.

You're never too old to ruin Christmas.