My children said it was the smallest but best Christmas they have had in years. Hey, life is sweet.

I would rather have them happy and healthy than have anyting else.

Cinderella,

I quite like bagpipes, as long as the are in someone elses neighboorhood. (like Neaks)

Did you get everything wrapped?

I haven't been reading as much lately, how are you doing now?

SS

Well, I sort of like bagpipes too. In small doses. I guess I had my Celtic music phase before others discovered it and managed to get over it by going to a Tannahil Weavers concert which was the most depressing music concert I have ever been to. Ties with a concert by my local orchestra and a Gordon Lightfoot concert for the overall title of "Worst Music Event Ever Attended".

Didn't get everything wrapped. I got all the gifts that needed to be done by today.

The gifts for the rest of my family aren't wrapped. I could go do some of them, I suppose. I think I will take them over to my mom's some day when I, hopefully, won't see her and just leave them. And not pick ours up. Just try to put them under her Christmas tree. Today would have been the best day since she is at my sister's. But, when you have no tissue paper and you don't want to go buy it, you can't do a good job wrapping. So, I think I'll go do what I can and let the rest wait till tomorrow.

I had a really great morning. Then I took a nap. Then I got on the computer and I've surfed all afternoon. You would think that, in Music City, USA, I could find a music club open tonight. But I can't. I could go to a movie. Or I may stay home and lick my wounds.

Tell us about the wounds that need licking.
I can see you are doing OK, but with reversations.

I envy the nap, I laid down, but couldn't sleep.
Oh well, I'll sleep better tonight.

SS

I'm long over the end of the marriage - I guess. Although, like everyone, sometimes I pick on the scar. But this is just really done a number to me.

It will be ok. I just keep doing the best I can and we all seem to be getting better. But not me tonight.

Merry Christmas to all.

if I forgot anyone ..throw things!! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />


Hope you are having a great one - Boxing Day here and we are watching cricket, over eating, and letting the kids run wild ... well ok ..wilder <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

You don't know what you are talking about ..BAGPIPES are fantastic especially with a full drum Major led band ... the 5th Military District Band is going to be a treat ..though it has negative stuff due to Aussies departure .... but still I like them. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Hey, A-dub, Boxing Day, I don't think they have that in the States.

My DD is over the ditch this Christmas. Miles from you though, she's on the Gold Coast, Burleigh Heads.

Have you heard from Aussie yet?

And, yep, bagpipes stir my Scottish blood. "Scotland the Brave" on the bagpipes reduces me to tears.

Jen

I've always thought bagpipes sound like someone strangling a cat. I guess the blood of the Wallace clan isn't quite as thick in me as my mother would've liked to believe! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Next year Neak can get them kilts. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

I'm going to bed. I think I'm suffering from an overindulgence of raw pizza crust dough.(It was AJ's fault. HE was the one fixing it, and shouldn't have shared any before it was baked! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />) At any rate, something disagreeable is going on in my stomach and I'm checking out of the battle. We watched Madagascar with the kids, and there's one line in the whole movie that sticks with me as the ultimate life metaphor. I'll tell you about it after one side or the other wins the conflict being waged with my supper. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

Hope everyone had a merry Christmas. At least some of the time! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

t&l

Had a WONDERFUL Christmas t&l. Small family gathering that I cooked for. They've all called me and said it was the best food EVER. I said to my mother it's probably because it was cooked with love. I put SO MUCH into that dinner. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Jen

I am so glad to hear of your happy day, Jen. However, I'm assuming by the upbeat, almost perky tone of your post that you either didn't bake any bread, or managed to stay out of the dough before it passed through the oven! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

Good thinking, that! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

t&l

P.S. For the first time in years, HP got me a Christmas present. I now have manly speakers for my computer, with a sub-woofer at my feet. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" /> Of course, I thought the sound of the scrawny little speakers that came with the computer were OK, too, but no matter--I've been upgraded in spite of myself!

LOL, t&l, didn't make bread but sweated over the baked vegetables which WOULD NOT get all crispy and crunchy. I even swore at them and then looked around to make sure no one heard.

H and I had a lot of hilarity over stuffing the turkey and removing it's worst bits (thankfully in a little plastic bag and not attached to said turkey) to make the stock (which was SUPERB and made all the difference to the gravy). I don't think I'll ever forget having a turkey neck waved at me and being asked what it reminded me of.

Jen

Hey, next year, someone invite me over where Flard won't be present so I can eat food and be with wonderful people! KiwiJ, you can invite me <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

We were under the impression that we were invited to some close friends of my brothers, but they never called us, and my brother refused to call them, so we sat around waiting to be called, until finally around 6 pm they called, my stomach starving, only when we got there we found out there was no supper, no meal, no nothing, so we sat around putting a puzzle together until my brain felt like it would explode from no food (its my brain that hurts, not my stomach. Weird, huh!) so here I sit, just finished my pasta at home. Bah Humbug. Its not just the food, its the WHOLE EXPERIENCE of helping cook, laughter, friendship, fellowship, and the grossly overstuffed comatose feeling AFTERWARDS where everyone lays around on couches and watches tv. Bah humbug. Next year, I'm volunteering at a shelter or something instead of doing nothing. Its time for me to suck it up and get over my pathetic attitude--someone, smack me!!! I feel like I just missed Christmas--rather, I feel like someone STOLE Christmas! If I had of known we weren't invited, I would have made my own festivities, and would have had an absolute blast doing it as well. its not that I can't have fun, even if its just me! But to sit around waiting expectantly for it to happen any minute, and then it doesn't...

Whine session over. I'm heading back home tomorrow! And I'm not answering phone calls on my birthday because I know the Anderson family is going to call me up and pass the phone around prying and poking into my life while using the excuse of "Happy Birthday!" to do so. 23. Seems so young! goodness gracious. I need a hug. I need a dog. I need to pick my brother up from the puzzle people's place. Ciao bellas.

This vegetarian is almost afraid to ask you, "What DOES a turkey neck remind you of?" And can you say it in a mixed, to say nothing of public, forum? <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

t&l, who is really, truly, definitely, right now, turning off the computer and going to bed?

Now I'm sad that you couldn't be here with us, Jen. We've had such a lovely Christmas in spite of its faults and foibles. We wanted to do Christmas in a small way this year (something we have always strived for and never achieved). This year we came much closer than usual, but you couldn't tell because love and happiness and laughter (and a little bit of fighting, too) filled in all the gaps left by the missing myriads of presents.

Yes, I did get Neak's small fry a bag pipe. You should have heard the shreaks of...joy...that were heard when it was unwrapped. It is only a toy, but manages to produce a sound somewhat akin to a dying cat. And yes, I did get the Dervish adrenaline strips (refreshing minty taste). I saw them as I was standing with the Dervish in the interminable line at the pharmacy waiting for Neak's medicine. They seemed a fitting gift at the time. Darling Neaky says she is never going to send me to get her perscription filled again.

For my mom I made a wreath and flower arrangement out of the silk flowers saved from my grandma's funeral arrangement. I had promised her that I would make her something from them 2 years ago, but very sneakily waited until she wasn't expecting it. For my dad I bought magnetic alphabet letters so he can make the messages on the refridgerator like he loves to do.

I also intended to give him and Flard a loaf of pumpkin bread, but in the haste of baking on Friday something seems to have gone wrong and it turned out with approximate consistency of dried rubber cement.I tried to eat some, but it was like eating lead, and definently took the edge off my appetite for quite some time. Today I made them banana bread since I know that will turn out OK. I made Neakbro a batch of peanut butter cookies with peanut M&M's, peanuts, and peanut chips, which were as yummy as they sound.

All the little kidlets were thrilled with their gifts and have been playing with them ever since, not minding at all that most of them came from the second hand store. They got roller blades, tennis equipment, for my Diva an oufit she really wanted. Neak gave me a welcome mat that says "Ring Doorbell, Win a Cat", which everyone loved, especially myself. My mom gave Neak and I chocolate fondue equipment and mix, so we had that for Christmas dinner today. The children had way too much fun with that (so did the adults) and made the most dreadful combinations when they thought we weren't looking. Neak's Diva made herself a full plate of rich chocolate fudge, apple slices and M&M's on top. Even she couldn't eat it and tried vainly to give it away.

All of us ate way more than was good for us, of a wonderfully outrageous combination. We had homemade pizza, veggie lasagna, rolls, breadsticks, garlic bread, and a usually delectable salad that AJ just had to improvise on and made so hot that even he didn't want any. For desert, the fondue, chocolates, and cookies. Sparkiling grape juice flowed like rivers, especially under the Dervish's chair.

This evening we watched my favorite trashy TV movie, one in which a single mom of a lovely daughter gets the incredibly wealthy guy and they all live happily ever after. Sigh... Bet you can't tell why I like it!

I wish you were here with us, and I hope that in some small way my words will make you feel as if you were. If they do, that is my christmas gift to you. It is the greatest gift that I can share, and the hardest to gift wrap, but consider yourself to have lots of love and family in your Christmas stocking today. Merry Christmas.

I'm back. Just greeted in the 26th. Thank goodness Christmas is gone, what a relief, but I did manage to get out of the total negativity where I felt like having a sob session to feeling a passive complaiscent, accepting, "yeah, whatever," mood.

At first I thought this was a new torture form to help me realize what I've LOST <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> and it worked <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> that was what I loved about the thndr family--the big hoopla whenever Christmas came around. Flard and I always got so hyped up for going back "home" to watch the kids rip open the wrapping paper, the ultimate coolest part. Don't tell him how pathetic I was today... I want him to know I'm doing SUPER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am too. One day out of how-many-happy-days I usually have isn't to discount all those wonderful days <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I enjoyed hearing about it. I laugh whenever I see you guys refer to the girl trolls as "Divas." I sure hope they truly aren't prancing around trying to act like it! Scary thought. Little Ms. J. Simpson and B. Spears. ACK!

I had cheese fondue for the very first time in Switzerland. It was absolutely delicious! Some random guy was ordering it from the menu and for some weird reason (was it the spittle drool falling out of my mouth like Niagra falls? I'll never know!) offered to split it with me since it was on the pricey end (PRICY END! FORTY FIVE DOLLARS!!!!!!!!!) but it was one of the cheapest things on the menu, and I was in an isolated village with no electricity or running water and I had been on a day-long hike up the mountain trail to get to this place, so yup! I took him up on his offer. I'd have to say, it was the best meal I've ever had. The cheese was absolutely amazing, smothered over bread and little mini-baked potatoes, ohhh my. He also offered to split a chocolate-mint Schnapps (hope I'm spelling it right) with me, which sounded good, but I declined. I later found out what schanpps was (yes, yes, I am STILL unwise in the ways of society). I didn't want to pay the extra $8 for it <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I too, am a Scrooge. Fondus. When I next visit, whip 'em out for me! The Olive Garden has an awesome cheese fondue as well, on top of an AMAZING Chocolate Tiramasu frozen drink! If non-alcoholic, make sure order it that way. Its heavenly. Absolutely heavenly.

My pasta, overcooked, limp, totally utterly dead, still filled me up. Missing the chocolate fondue though. I think I have too much time on my hands <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I'm gonna try to sleep now. I really appreciated your newsy family update.

No news from Aussie Jen.

Bet your DD IS HAVING FUN AT THE BEACH ...not hot here at all. Perfect day in fact.

Kids, from tall to small are either sleeping, watching TV other end of the house, parents went off to visit various other rel-ee's [yahhh!!!] so pretty quiet.

Mum & bro left to look in on Dad who OD'ed on Irish yesterday...he's a wee bit sick <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> lol

Neaksis good to see you had fun... now get them DRUMS for their birthdays !!! lol Neak will love you even more for it..hehehe

gelln have a Happy New Year.

I think I'll have a nice long hot spa, with a book & a
[color:"brown"] COFFEE [/color] <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> NO ONE AROUND TO STOP ME <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" /> !!!!

I don't want anyone to think I'm racist. I loooooooove bagpipes! On CD's, tapes, records, DVD's, radios, 8 tracks, and in Scotland, land of some of my ancestors. (Chest swells with pride.)

But in my living room, I do not like them, Sam I am. Not in a box, not with a fox. Not in my house, not with a mouse. I do not like them here, just there. I don't like them just anywhere...

Drums are not enough to repay such a gift as those dying pipes. It will take me years to find anything worthy. Maybe, just maybe, a hurdy-gurdy and complete polka band. But they might not be loud enough. An Alpenhorn is about the only other thing that immediately springs to mind.

Still working on the scarf. AJ has been very annoying anyway, and keeps waking up partway through the evening, then not going back to sleep till so late I can't see straight to keep going. (But at least he like our cheesy holiday flick last night. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> I just had to quietly let the yarn slip out of my lap and onto the floor.) But I am almost done now, and can finish while he is gone to work.

Just for fun, before I go back to sleep (we had an awesome t&l storm right over head, and a nice little power outage while AJ was getting ready for work), I am going to copy, to the best of my ability, Mr. Computer's report on Journey to Bethlehem.

J to B

I met a nise roman in line we wate ed. a have an hour in line. Than fanole we got to go frst we antstr mane qwashtons, and we lrnd the wrod SHOM. Than we saw romen sogrs and msn. Clag told not go be hind the tant. and two People do not go behaind the tant. we wock over the Godun rive we saw a angli he told us to go to Beethleham and you willl finde emanuwell line in a magr. We wack fastr naw and song we pay aor tax and than we rech the make it and we hade a wadfoil time. We saw mary and Josaf. and finale. We recht the and ave J to B. I Love J to B it was so amasing.

the and

That was the rough draft.

Dear little child. He is a genius, or close to it, but has had a very hard time so far being bothered with tiny little details such as spelling and punctuation. Not to mention proper capitalization. (But ask him to spell suction vortices, and watch him go. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /><img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />) His handwriting is atrocious, as well, but improving under the steely eye of Neaksis.

He will probably be a meteorolgist for NASA someday.

SHOM, everyone.

And I hope all of you have had a wadfoil time, too.