I had a Christmas miracle. Mac called and really talked with me, even asked girl advice. He is supposed to FaceTime his grandparents later and I really hope he does. I have had virtually nothing but caffeine and sugar today. I need some real food.

I am alive, and still making it from day to day, and I love you all. Take care of each other, ok?

Will do! Wishing you merriment, Karl.

I had a Christmas miracle. Mac called and really talked with me, even asked girl advice.

Whoa! Let's carry this vibe into the new year.

Emmett was very amused at the stealth potato I gave to him (a tiny fingerling in a jewelry box). He also cracked up on receiving a Four Seasons Total Landscaping t-shirt (with Gritty).

So we had a fun Zoom call this morning with Emmett and EM, as we opened stockings and presents.

Then JZ and Matilda went to church, and I started making a bolognese sauce for a lasagna (to given to Jacqueline's friend Maggie for xmas). And now we're on our third Zoom call of the day.

I'd go for a walk because I'm a little stuffed on spanakopita, but it's pouring rain. Maybe I'll nap it off! Yeah, that's the ticket.

Yay, Mac!

Hi, Karl

Good on you, Mac!

Hello, Karl!

Yikes, Kate.

We have had a totally chill day, and it has been wonderful. Stockings after pancakes and eggs. Then opened a present every once in a while until about 5p, when we had our Chinese food and started Wonder Woman. I am now making my mom's fudge recipe while DP naps. Zoomed with family at 2p. Oh! And didn't get out of bed until after 9a, which was great. My niece normally wake us all up at 6a (mind you, she's 22 now. Doesn't matter. )

Happy Christmas, Christmas-keeping people! We had my brother come over for dinner. It's been almost a year since we could see him in person. (Ryan was very glad to see one of his uncles again, and has concluded that the two of us are really weird.)

My other brother was off to Canberra, but we'll catch up with him in January.

Karl! So nice to see you.

Caught up here! I've been busy enough at work that I'm all spirited-out. R arranged for a heat-it-yourself turkey dinner from Whole Foods which was quite nice and we had a sit-down dinner.

I haven't heard from any relatives. That's not helping my mild depression any.

Jealous you can have people over, billetea!

I cruelly abandoned the dog for about an hour, to go rescue friends whose car had broken down (and who had their dog with them so couldn’t get an Uber, and mine wouldn’t fit with all them). He was very relieved when I came home. And barked a lot while I was gone.

It feels a hell of a lot later than 430

That’s really wonderful msbelle. And Karl! Lovely to see you as always.

Seriously craving trout dip right now.

We did not have the Xmas we were planning (who did, really?) but it’s been okay. With my dad in the hospital and no real idea for how long we had to go retrieve his dog and then decided just to move Xmas there anyway. We’d already planned to have a traditional Canadian tourtiere that my mom used to make for Christmas Eve, and he was going to get Indian takeout for Christmas Day so I went ahead and made the pie on Tuesday and picked up the Indian food yesterday and then we loaded up gifts and decorations and everything and moved it all lock stock and barrel to Wisconsin.

Highlights: He got sprung! He came home about 2 o’clock today. His dog and mine are just over the moon to have him back. We’re pretty chuffed too.

The food has been great and just the level of comfort we needed. The new Xmas addition to the cabin is an electric fireplace with a mantel which is just so soothing and mellow so we’re all blissfully crashed out.

We’ve rolled with the punches and dropped what needed dropping and it’s been real good.

.

Oh, that’s good to read, brenda!