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.

I did way more cleaning than I planned today. Just started load 3 of laundry. I saved folding sheets by putting the right back on the bed.

It helped that I only baked one dessert for Christmas. I may yet make something else, but it will be tomorrow morning if I do.

Now DVDs and wrapping. I wish mac would go to bed, but alas, when you have screwed up your sleep cycle as badly as he has, I doubt I can get him to bed before midnight.

We lit Hanukkah candles and opened Hanukkah prezzies, and then read several of our favorite Christmas stories. My brother and mom are prepping the breakfast casserole for the morning. Soon to bed.

Feel better, sickies. Go to bed, Mac.

wrapping all done, I didn't even start a DVD. 2 presents each. plus some cash for mac. so 7 things to take over to mom and dad's tomorrow. little bitty Christmas.

I think next year we are going to go somewhere else for Christmas and have the trip be the present to everyone except mac. I have been fighting the suggestion for a couple of years, but I think it is actually more depressing to be home with no one in the Christmas spirit than to just go somewhere else. I suggested Scotland, but mom wants to remain in country, so I will start researching places. She and Dad love the Smokey Mountains, so maybe there.