Merry Christmas to all!

It isn't the gifts, it's not the food, it sure as hell isn't the music (ecch!). What it is, is the opportunity to gather with friends and family. That's the real meaning of it all.

Yesterday, I completely inadvertently ran into an old friend from 30 years ago. I didn't even recognize his name at first. We had lunch together and caught up. Great Xmas gift!

I used the wealth of real-time info, forecasts, and updates available to structure my travel around three huge storms in OR and CA. That saved me a lot of grief, and I hope everyone else's holiday travel went smoothly as well. Elon and his protege "Big Balls" were trying to destroy the NOAA earlier this year. Fortunately, he fell out of favor with the emperor. The availability of timely weather data puts the lie to the MAGA chant, GUMMINT AM BAD.

I wish almost everyone well and that you greatly enjoy your time with loved ones. This may be the last holiday season when we can afford travel, or food for that matter. We might have to learn to prepare Christmas pigeon (didn't people used to regularly eat them back in the day?).

Despite the current supremacy of evil in our country, I still believe that we're basically good people and whether you believe in God, the Flying Spaghetti Monster, or both, or neither, good and fellowship are still the driving forces in our lives. 

P.S. if you can't find your cat, look inside the 🎄.

Merry Christmas to you Kevin.  I just put two pecan pies in the oven for tomorrow over at my brother's house, our mom's recipe which I think beats any I have ever eaten, but of course I'm biased on that.  Tons of extended family, wish I had a family tree to keep names, faces, their children/grands/great grands straight.

I'd been stressed about our church drama which I was unceremoniously put in charge of at the last minute, but it went OK.  "Planning a Trip to Bethlehem", Mary and Joseph on the trek to pay their taxes...yes, back then...stopping in at the "Flying Carpet Travel Agency" for help with the trip.  I played the travel agent, trying to sell Mary and Joseph on fancier locals than Bethlehem, a two-seater camel that doesn't spit, but they opt for Bethlehem and the slow one seater donkey.  Not a high-brow trip, lower commission for me the travel agent,  i.e. the story of the nativity with a modern twist, the cast in biblical costume yet a phone, travel posters in the 'office' made by one of our artistic members .  The original 'director' had ducked out.  The play was kinda funny but fell flat at the end so I and the others souped it up a bit, including sound and lights and some applicable music.  

Then there was the Handbells performance and the Cantata which we completed last Sunday, then tonight is another Handbells number for the Christmas Eve service at 6:30pm.  Then our pastor is retiring (86 years of age) and I'm part of the reception committee for that, Dec 28th.  Slowly my stress is lessening with each event.  But, in truth, this stuff keeps me going especially after I lost my husband last July.  Like my mom said when encouraging me to stay connected to a church, any church, "Church people aren't perfect, but most are trying."  I've made some great friends in this church.

Brother just called to tell me what time for lunch.  Best of all he said "NO GIFTS".  I was hoping so, and had not shopped for any for the EF members.

My poor old cat, he isn't much into climbing.  Plus my 'Christmas Tree' is a big and lovely poinsettia, which I do every year instead of a tree.  Easier to clean up after.  And despite having the run of the house and five litter boxes in strategic places, today Albert has left me a sizable out-of-box poop.  At least he keeps them on the cat mats I have under each box.  I still love him, coming up to 18 years of age.  Diabetic, I give him insulin shot twice a day!

I hope everybody has a nice day tomorrow, however you like it.  Wild and festive or cozy and quiet.  

And Happy New Year!

Candy

Merry Christmas everyone!

Candy, first Le Chat: both diabetic and elderly cats can have poop problems. The good news is that they really do want to use the litter boxes. You can try the behavior reinforcement trick: a little treat after Albert generates properly targeted poop. And if he misses: no treat. Scarily effective with one male cat we had long ago.

I like the idea of a satirical Christmas play, probably because as I've explained before, it's a virtual certainty that the Bethlehem story never happened...if for no other reasons than the Romans would NEVER have compelled the entire world to return to their home towns...and certainly not in the dead of winter! I know that contradicts your beliefs, and my childhood indoctrination for that matter, but I don't think Christianity needs mythology to send its message. Like the "Immaculate Conception." Why??? Jesus was human. Therefore, his parents were human. Therefore, Joseph fucked Mary. Like all husbands fuck their wives. Duh. Why embellish it and imply that married sex somehow tarnishes people?

So I couldn't help but dream up scenes for your play, such as:

Mary and Joseph have to wait for hours in a long line to check in with the Augustine Transit Safety Authority and of course, everyone has to remove their sandals, etc.

Mary and Joseph initially think that the nightly charge for the manger is one shekel, but after Jesus is born, the owner of the inn presents them with a bill for 666 shekels "including resort fee."

Mary and Joseph are visited by the Three Wise Men, who give the couple an iPad, a Crockpot, and a Dyson vacuum cleaner. They advise the couple to hang in to these rare artifacts for 1,900 years until electric power is invented.

We had a handbell group? Choir? Orchestra? In my hometown when I was growing up. Of course they performed Xmas carols, but to my surprise, they found and performed several secular non-holiday pieces as well. As I was a classical music nerd, I got a real kick out of this.

Sounds like your Christmas will be as it should be. Enjoy!!

Oh, Kevin, wish I'd had you in the drama group.  Not sure if viewers would have 'gotten' the resort fee and the "gifts", but that is greatly funny!

Though I can do without the F words always, it is said that Mary and Joseph weren't yet married.  Probably not like today, though, when "The first one comes any time, the rest take nine months."

Problem with your suggested training method re Albert's poops, I never witness the act in time to do anything about it.  Cats...they own us!

And my pies turned out perfectly, for a change.  Crusts not burnt.  I think because I baked them in the proper size glass pie plates, instead of the disposable aluminum kind.  Hope they taste as good as they look.

My Christmas pierarchy has always been 1) pecan 2) mince 3) pumpkin but dammit, all I ever see at these family gatherings is pumpkin. Kind of meh compared to the first two IMHO. Glad the pecan gods were kind to you.

Dang, you are one busy girl, Candy! Sounds like you'll be ready for a Vegas break after the holidays....

Just baked my first vegan pecan pie (insert vegan joke here) and now getting my new vertical smoker ready for tomorrow. Three racks of baby back ribs will cook low and slow most of the day for dinner with the extended family.

 As the only vegan in the family, I will enjoy some slow-smoked marinated tofu (insert tofu joke here.)

We'll have our usual light-hearted white elephant gift exchange after dinner, made even better by a few of the grandkids joining in.

Peace and joy to all of you who make this board special!

As a long-time fan of Asian food, I know how versatile tofu is. By itself, it's nothing--mildly repulsive, in fact --but it can take on the flavor of anything it's cooked with and can masquerade as almost any other food as well. I've patronized all-vegan Chinese food places where I couldn't distinguish their dishes from the "real thing." And of course...there's Tofurky. So, no tofu jokes from me! As far as your being vegan is concerned...well, the planets orbiting the star Vega are a long way away, and we should welcome all visitors from there.

Merry 🦃 🎄!

😎  ✌️

Yes, black jack, I am ready for a mind-numbing casino get-away.  My casino BFF and I head to Atlantic City in January.  I suppose a lacto-vegan-whatever pecan pie is possible...no eggs?  This one calls for six eggs, two pies. Your baby-back ribs do sound divine!

Kevin, my mom made a mince meat pie every Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I never warmed up to them...pun intended.  She also put out an oyster dressing...no thank you, but some of the others liked it.