I got engaged. 
I ran out of people to tell.
I now subject you all to my glee and my “koala-crapping-a-rainbow-in-my-brain” giddiness.
GLEEGIDDYGLEE
PS - thanks, Sealab 2021.
Congratulations, LilGypsyGirl!
Last night, cooked and ate a traditional Cuban Christmas Eve dinner. This morning, got up and opened presents, went to Mass, then went to my sister’s for Christmas dinner. Typical Christmas for us…quiet, but very nice, and lots of good eating.
Got up at 5:30 with Fast Eddie. We made breakfast for our local kids and grandkids, my Mom, my sis and her hubby-raised waffles with your choice of syrups or fresh blueberry sauce and whipped cream, bacon and/or sausage. Coffee and choice of orange juice or mimosas (I had three), V-8 or Bloody Mary, or apple juice, Opened presents. Cleaned up after the massive breakfast invasion. Got a phone call from Queen Bruin who is on vacation in Cancun. She’s climbing pyramids with The Highwayman and taking pictures and videos. She’s also been sampling the local beers and tequilas. Fast Eddie called both of his out-of-state daughters, and talked to the grandkids, too. I had a nap in bed, and I suspect Fast Eddie had one in front of his computer. Then we went over to my sister’s house and had Prime Rib.
I’m full. 
Update: Dreamgirls it was – and about 15 minutes from the end, just when Berry and Diana – er, Curtis and Deena – are having the fight when he tells her he chose her because she was a blank slate, the phone rings.
It’s my brother, wishing me a Merry Christmas.
Given that I haven’t spoken to my brother in almost three years, that was fairly WTF.
Our daughter got a new job out of state in October, and she managed to get nearly a week off for Christmas, and she flew here. So I’ve been busy enjoying her for a few days. When I’m not visiting with her, she’s on the computer…and I owe several people some mail, sorry.
We had a very nice turkey dinner, though my husband bought a HUGE turkey breast (10 pounds!) and it took forever to cook. It came out just right, though.
Drank a bit too much Egg Nog on Xmas Eve, felt a little (OK, a lot) green around the gills. Woke up at 3 am thinking I hadn’t gotten quite enough for my wife, so I got a Borders gift card at the (thank heaven!) 7-11.
Had mimosas, smoked salmon and trout, bagels and cream cheese for breakfast. The mimosas didn’t help the gills thing. Kids opening a freaking metric buttload of presents, screaming at everything. Good times there, ya know?
In laws came over for dinner in the evening. That was fine, although I still wasn’t feeling all that chipper (I am never drinking Egg Nog again, damnit!).
Now it’s time for that time of year I despise the most…January. If I was well off, I’d take the time between Xmas and my birthday (Feb 25th) off and hibernate. I’d read books, play guitar, burn doobage, watch documentaries and the world could just completely fuck off.
But, reality being what it is, I’m at work, poorer but not wiser, and facing the dead of winter.
OK, that sounds depressing…it’s not that bad, just hard to get back in the groove. And I’m thankful for all the good things I have, especially my family.
I worked Xmas eve until 8, then hung out with my best friend and her two little boys. I gave them their presents and then we drove around looking at Xmas lights. After the boys went to bed, I helped her finish wrapping their gifts, and we got to catch up with each other and chit chat, so that was cool.
Christmas day I had lunch with my brothers and my oldest brother’s girlfriend, which we’ve done for a few years now, so I guess it’s our new tradition. My brother gave me some cash, which is always cool, and all the pennies he’d saved over the year(which he’s done for as many Christmases as I can remember), and then he beat my butt at Scrabble. Then I went home and took a nap.
Very relaxed and mellow holiday, all in all(except at work). Just the way I like it!