SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA.
Well, today was a scortcher. High 30sC (that’s something like mid 90sF, I think). All the rellies rocked up to my place at 9:30am, and we all crowded under the tarpaulin in the backyard that was our main source of shade. Lotsa cold beer to go around, and at about 10:00 I fired up the BBQ and cooked more sausages, bacon, mushrooms and tomatoes than anyone ate. We sat around drinking beer and fanning ourselves with christmas cards. No-one made a fool of themselves as my mother had bought only low-alcohol beer. Afterwards I went for a swim in my fathers pool.
I scored a far side desk calander (the second one, I got one at work too), a wallet, a novelty shot glass the holds about 250mls (1/2 a pint) and a mandolin.
All in all, one of the best christmasses I’ve ever had. I suggest that all in the northern hemisphere should spend at least one xmas down here where you can go to the beach after unwrapping your gifts and the song “I’m dreaming of a white christmas” has real meaning.
Now, your turn. What was it like in your neck of the woods…
4 feet of snow on the ground, still snowing occasionally, more predicted.
It hasn’t been above freezing in a couple of weeks, and I doubt it will be soon. Don’t know exactly what it’s like out now, (haven’t been out yet, it isn’t yet 8 AM) but probably about 10 Fahrenheit.
But, Mom and Dad are coming over to have dinner with us later, and we’re OK.
Plant City, FL (near Tampa), about 8am local time, probably about 50(F) outside. I’m at the in-laws’ with my wife, who’s still asleep. Later on we’ll go over to her grandmother’s, open presents, and have Christmas dinner, which will mean turkey, ham, and about 15 different side dishes on the table, plus desserts to follow.
Minnesota, USA. It’s damn cold outside. I woke up with my nephew staring me right in the face. “Merry Christmas, Auntie Sarah!” he said, as I started to complain for being woke up so early. I couldn’t complain. The cuteness factor of that kid is through the roof anyway, but this morning he was just a little cuter. Wearing Christmas style pajamas and holding his stuffed stocking in his hand, he pointed to a pile of presents. “Those are from Santa!” So we opened presents. We played 1000 games of Hi-Ho Cherry-O! and read the books that Santa brought my nephew.
It’s a little after 9 o’clock. I have to take a shower and go to my grandparents’ house. Then I have to go to my late best friend’s house to open presents with her family. Even if today is the worst day of my life, the little smiling face that woke me up this morning will keep me giggling all day.
Temperature, -15 degrees Fahrenheit, about 12 inches of snow.
We do most of our celebrating on Christmas Eve. We had a lovely dinner of prime rib, opened our gifts, and then ridiculed the high school choirs being shown on television, not to mention the idiotic news anchorman who said, on the air, “In the immortal words of Tiny Tim, Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.” Nice…
I received a beautiful sweater from my little sister, from my other sister, a glass carousel horse figurine to add to the collection I havn’t added to since high school, a scarf and glove set from my grandmother, some freesia-scented lotion from my sister’s boyfriend, some jasmine-scented candles from my other sister’s boyfriend, and a CD writer from my parents.
This morning, my father and I are watching Scrooge with Albert Finney. I plan on going home to fiddle with my new CD writer this afternoon.
I’m in Queensland, Australia and today it was SO hot.
The day started out like any other, woke up, watched some TV with my sister. Then me and my family went over to my relatives house where I spent the day listening to my Italian and British rellos talk about stuff. I ate some food, floated around in the pool and ended the day by playing Tomb Raider with my cousin. It was a pretty good Christmas, all in all.
There’s approximately 187 feet of snow on the ground, and while I don’t know the exact temperature, I know it’s cold.
Opened presents about an hour ago. The kids (Junior, the Little Goddess, and BabyGuy) are quite happy. Junior just popped in a tape that my mom got for him, called “Way Cool Creepy Crawlies.” It’s about bugs & stuff, made by the World Wildlife Fund. He’s diggin’ on it huge, and so is the Little Goddess. BabyGuy is still eating tissue paper.
Quite a good Christmas, I must say. But big_yellow_kingswood, yours sounds like it totally rocked! I’ve never barbecued on Christmas. That sounds awesome!
My boys went to their dads for Christmas, so we celebrated our Christmas a day early. I get most of my enjoyment out of watching the kids open their presents, and they had a great time.
Today we are going to a town an hour out of the city to have dinner with my sister in law and her family.
Tomorrow we’re having a Boxing Day celebration with all of my friends and family in the city. It’s the three days of Christmas.
Sani reports to you, as always, from lovely Sanibel Island, Florida. It’s about 65F outside, I guess, and very sunny. We do not see snow. When winter comes, tourists fall from the skies (hopefully landing at the airport safely, though). We were supposed to do the one present on Christmas Eve thing last night, but there weren’t that many and it was just the three of us so we ended up opening them all. I got The Sims Livin’ Large Expansion Pack, a watch, WLT: A Radio Romance by Garrison Keillor, a sweater/pull-over thingy from American Eagle, the X-men DVD, and a webcam, woohoo! Now you’ll be able to see me as if I were actually there!.. but not until I take a shower and get a haircut.
It’s so cold, it doesn’t matter how cold. There is enough snow on the ground so that my feet don’t hit dirt when I walk. The supermarkets are still closed, I’m still sick, and I’m tired and cranky and whiny.
Ass-bitingly cold, but no snow falling. Three inches on the ground. An inch of ice on the road.
Both grandmothers came over, one bringing my mentally disabled uncle Leroy.
The little ones, my foster sister and brother (3 and 4, though the 4-year-old is mentally 2), came back from a visit with their biological parents and grandparents without any presents. They didn’t realize it was Christmas. (Yes, their family is Christian. The kids’ older brother, who is 7, got a ton of presents from their parents on Friday, in front of the little ones, who got nothing either time… This is normal.) We gave them a whole crapload of stuff, and once they got over their bewilderment at being given presents, they were quite happy with their gifts. It was so cute to watch them be so happy! It made my day.
Las Vegas Nevada, USA… 60 degrees bright and sunny with SNOW!! …well, ok, I can SEE snow on the very tip top of Mt. Charleston the tallest mountain in the area.
Beautiful, bright, sunny Chicago, Illinois, here. <snort> Nothing much going on. Just got back from taking a drive down Michagan Ave, then drove by the lake. Watched all the families and looked in the pretty store windows. Hopefully will be meeting a couple of ChiDopers for a drink later tonight. Now if I could just shake this illness that plagues me. In general, though, not too shabby for my first xmas alone.
Guess I’ll have to update you later.