Please overlook the typos. I am typing on a broken IPad.
Presentments have been opened. Instead of a hoodie, I got a dark grey work shirt and a dark grey long-sleeve T-shirt (because I never wear undershirts under shirts). The mystery package was a kayak rack I can mount on the side of the house.
Mrs. L.A. liked her ‘freebie’ teddy bear from Ben Bridge. Too bad I couldn’t find something to put in its pouch. She lived the movies, and the Patagonia shirt and hat. (DOH! I forgot to take the sticker off of the hat! I hope she didn’t see how much it cost.) And she loves the heated throw blanket. 
Breakfast is cooking.
Merry Christmas to those who celebrate! 
Last night’s dinner and gift exchange with my besties was awesome. The Story of Marvel Studios actually made Male Best Friend cry: he knew it existed, and he really wanted it, but he never imagined getting it because of the price. At first he kept saying “it’s too much!” It’s the most perfect gift I think anyone could have given him this year, which made me so happy. 
He and Female Best Friend have had a particularly challenging year, plus they were the ones who took me to/from the hospital and got me through the first week post-op. I went a little overboad, but they deserve it!
Right now it’s noon-ish, and a balmy (but slightly overcast) 60 degrees here in Northern Virginia. It’s supposed to get up to 67. Good driving weather, thankfully: in a little while I’ll hit the interstate, to spend some time with my dad and brother in Baltimore. Dad might want to just sit around and talk, but there’s a fair chance we’ll wind up watching at least one of the Christmas episodes of The West Wing (which I won’t mind).
Including today, I’ll have been out-and-about five times in the past eight days. I’m a relatively social person, but that’s a lot for me! 
I am definitely glad for the time I’ve spent with friends (and will be spending with family), but at the same time I’m looking forward to being back home with my doggy this evening and having nothing to do tomorrow. I will also have nothing to do next weekend, except un-decorate. A three-day work week followed by four days of doing whatever the hell I want – including not leaving the house, if I don’t want to – sounds pretty perfect right about now.
For me, the worst will be New Year’s Eve: I always have such a hard time facing the idea of another year starting without my mom.
Nope, never would have guessed that in a million years.
Time to take the doggy outside, then shower/dress and head north…I hope everyone with plans has a successful day!
Merry Christmas all
Howdy all. Went to church last night with the family, first time I have been in a house of worship since I was in Jerusalam 7 years ago. Pastor was nice and all, but the crowd was sparse and older than me–no young’uns to be seen.
Then drove around the area for a bit (family was at XMas service) and am now enclosed in Brother’s house, awaiting his and younger nephew’s return from the dog park with the Bloodhounds and then opening presents. Will leave early tomorrow for home.
And a Merry Christmas to all. And {{{Butters}}} and anyone else who needs them at this time of the year.
Take care all.
Merry Crispness!
Back later.
butters {{{hugs}}}
flyboy snow! 
Happy Holidays to all!
You don’t have to go out in it!
I have to knock the snow off of the top of the canopy garage… which means I’ll have to shovel a path… which means it will become icy and slippery… which means I’ll have to deploy ice-melt. I’ve brought in all of the wood that was stacked in the catio. Now I’ll have to go out in the back yard to pull logs from the shed.
Our friend fell and hit his head. Hubs took him to Urgent Care and has no idea when he’ll be back. I’ll put the chicken in the smoker in an hour or so. The nice thing about smoked chicken is that it can wait a long time to be served without drying out. VGC loves smoked chicken, so he will get some cut into little kitty bites.
George got a box wrapped with a sheet of mylar. He loved it! There was a feather in the box, but the wrapping paper was much more fun
I hung some treat bird seed sticks on the feeder and our yard flock seems very happy. I had to dump ice out of their birdbath this morning, winter is finally here.
Merry Christmas everyone and many wishes that 2022 will be nicer than 2021.
The junkos are enjoying scratching in the snow for the birdseed I scattered. The hummingbird feeder isn’t frozen. One hummingbird hung out on a railing under the roof for an hour or so.
Merry Christmas!
Had sausages snd waffles for breakfast, opened gifts, waved to Santa’s helpers (volunteers from the local fire department go around with sirens blaring) and are chilling until the guests arrive at 2:00. The big question is whether the snow (from up north) is going to arrive first.
I’ve started the paella by making the sofrito from scratch. For those who don’t know, it’s basically tomato pulp, onion pulp, mild red peppers, lots of garlic, some pimenton and a bit of salt. All of it is sweated in olive oil for about 30 minutes until most all the liquid has cooked off and the mixture is a deep red. Now I need to take a break before putting in the rice and saffron-seafood broth.
Brunched, lunched, and napped. Watching the Packers game.
Ah, I thought maybe you were celebrating a late Krampusnacht. 
but {{{{{Butters}}}}}
Nice. I’ts 69* right now, so the only way I’m getting a white Christmas is if Tony Montana shoes up.
*nice
Howdy Y’all! We ate. We drank. We made merry. Then they left. Nappage happened cause I was tahrd, plus I’m old and need naps. Dishwasher is now doin’ it’s thang and we chill. All in all a nice day. I keep remindin’ myself that tomorrow is Sunday. My brain wants to think yestiddy was Sunday cause I took it to church twice. Now I must take my leave as a turkey sammich and deviled aigs are callin’ out to me.
Snails have been ingested. Hunka deadcow is searing in the oven before roasting. Mrs. L.A. doesn’t want potatoes, so we’ll just have the creamed spinach with feta as a side-dish.
Home, stuffed, and beat. Daughter and SIL have to buy a bigger house to accommodate all the toys Roxy and Toby got. One of my sisters gave Roxy and her cousin Grayson each 1500 box of lego!! But they’re too small for 3-y/o fingers, so we’ll put the box away in my storage room till she’s a little older.
I just finished emptying Mom’s car of their miscellaneous stuff so we have space for our miscellaneous stuff. I put Roxy’s car seat in the back and Higgs’ leash and harness in one of the pockets. We’ll tend to the rest of the stuff tomorrow. The car is a Mazda 5 and the 3rd row seating is split, so Roxy will sit on one side, and we’ll have the other seat down to accommodate stuff and Higgs’ blanket. Toby and Daughter will sit in the middle row. It will work nicely. They’re planning to get here around 9 tomorrow, giving us enough time to pack the car and hit the road by 10 or so.
Our gift exchange game was fun, but if we do it next year, I’ll modify the rules just a bit. I ended up with a Christmas dish with a handle in the middle - it will go back to the thrift store post haste! FCD brought home a lighthouse nightlight thing that will be great for Roxy’s room. One of my sisters got the chocolate fountain that I took - she’s planning to regift it next year. 
Anyway, overall, a nice day, but I’m whipped. Chillage shall ensue.
The roast is out of the oven, and tenting for half an hour. Dinner at five!
Made it home, in one piece.
Thankfully.
It was pouring rain the whole way home; at one point I couldn’t see the road.
I was so glad to be off the highway.
I thought wouldn’t it be some shit to make it almost home and then have an accident?
Came close, I heard the sound of the slide of the car behind me, they tried to stop to quickly and slid across the road.
Much too much chaos and confusion this year. Everybody was running late, presents were lost, then found. So glad to be back home to my quiet house.
It’s nice to see everybody, but damn are they unorganized and loud.
{{{Butters}}}
Potatoes are baking, and steak is coming to room temp. Sipping a Vieux Carré.
Packers won, but gave me angina for the second week in a row.