The complete set is here at Flickr.  A sample after the cut:

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This was a very odd Christmas for me; some really high points and low points. Some old traditions unexpectedly brought back, and some things mucked.  Julbord and full holiday report after the cut:

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Went out and got prescription reading glasses today; my prescription is +1.75, and they work very nicely.  Worst part was slipping and falling HARD on the slick tile floor just inside the Vision Works store; as I’ve said before, with my cruddy balance, I learned long ago to fall down the best way I can when I do slip and fall.  Mostly managed to ( Read more... )

John and Mere were working on the tree on Friday night, with help from Kurt, me and Susan, and  got it up in record time.  A full run of the photos is here, and two of the best are below:

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The snow wasn’t as bad as advertised; we ended up with maybe 4-5 inches, but really sloppy wet stuff that was a pain to shovel, according to the shovellers.   Kurt and John are here, but Kurt is *really* tied from a very long week at work.    Mere had a snow day, and did Mere things most of the day.

I’ve been at a breaking point stress-wise for a ( Read more... )

A novel way for a penguin to escape from a hungry killer whale.    Props to beldar.

Now comes the rush to the holiday…to children, it seems like it takes forever until Christmas, but I got news for ya, Kids - it’s a whole lot busier for the grownups, who have to make sure that everything gets done in the process…like fixing up the house, or shopping for presents, or hoping that Santa brings stuff that will work well for the kids ( Read more... )

Meredith stayed home from school on Monday (her birthday) sick, and we were nervous - she’d reported a tightness and pain in her chest, and THAT got our attention in a major way.   Luckily, though, she perked up considerably, and she’s doing much better.   She walked to school with her pals Melody and Cheyenne (twins, BTW) who are in her classes ( Read more... )

Oh, there’s some things I’d like to get, but we’re really short on money today.   Susan is out right now at Home Depot; Mere’s bed is broken, and Susan has to get some plywood to put it together again.  That trumps a lot. And nobody in the house is about to fight huge lines and crowds, period.  We’re too *ah* laid up from leg / foot stuff to do it ( Read more... )

I’m noticing that a lot of my friends-list and others online - and the few I talk to on the phone (man, I am so housebound) - are going to take the holidays easy, cheap and local this year.  Our household will, as usual, trot out to Susan’s aunt Marlyce’s house and do the holiday with them.    Susan will make up her exquisite pumpkin pie and the ( Read more... )