ND has been in bed all day with food poisoning. Not the most fun way to spend Christmas Eve on a cruise vacation. Sorry to hear many of you are also ill.

Okay, presents wrapped. Well, presents bagged. Family currently in solidarity watching football game.

I'm sorry, Sickies! Get well. Lay low.

Emmett has stolen Matilda's toque and declared himself Christmas Chef.

It's about as chaotic as you would expect in the kitchen right now as he makes horseradish sauce from scratch.

Presents wrapped and the first four of a total eight trays of Aimee's Famous Christmas Cajun Chex Crack is cooling on the table. As soon as it's out, I shower and change and head out for Christmas Eve at the former in-laws.

Sending boat loads of ~ma to ND. I hope he is quickly done with this ick.

Sun has set off Barbados. I went to the electric candle lighting. There were families opening presents in the main ship area. Nice.

Happy Hanukkah to those who celebrate, also Happy Christmas Eve, and Happy Saturday Night to all. I'm in the any reason to celebrate group.

ND and hippocampus feel better soon.

Oh, no, ND! Food poisoning at the holidays is the worst! I send you virtual ginger ale and bananas.

Did some dog training, got my toenails painted, and now I am waiting to take my pie out of the oven. I think it will look fab, but I'm not sure how it will taste; I fear the bottom crust might be kind of soggy. [On delay: woops, nope, not perfect, but pretty good!]

We are definitely doing a staged Christmas this year. Last night we had a nice dinner with my nieces because one of them flew to DC today, and we exchanged gifts with her & her boyfriend. And today my brother is bringing his family up from SJ and we will do takeout and possibly pie with them, and give my niece & nephew her presents. And then tomorrow it's just me, my sister & BIL, one niece, and an orphan friend I strongarmed into coming for dinner.

No Christmas dinner for Dad, I fear; he's on pureed food and antibiotics, and is still mostly nonresponsive. My sister mentioned going alcohol-free for January; I pointed out that that would be particularly hard if Dad continues to decline...

Get well soon, hippocampus, askye, and ND, and anyone else under the weather today.

Love and light to you all.

To all who celebrate this time of year, whether Solstice, Hannukah, Christmas, or some other festival for the spirit, may all of us be blessed and merry, our days full of light and laughter and love. And may the New Year, despite fears and misgivings, prove kind to us all.

In hopes and in celebration, I'd like to share my favorite holiday vid, made by Icepixie, to Hem's Identical Snowflakes. Love and beautiful days to all of you.

What a lovely sentiment, Bev. Thank you.