h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Lil there is enough food in this house to feed a bus load of tourists.
I am too fat already. Today we have my mother in law as a guest, of course we have her most weekends so nothing new. But Lil, too much food. My son made up a traditional Viennese menu for last night and he got it spot on.

Today we've had the full English stuff. A list as long as your arm.
Too much. But the good thing is Lil that I have not touched the drink at all. I'm an alcoholic so that is good.

My son's had a reasonable day and I've been asleep. The dogs have not been sick which is good. Mother in law has a habit of giving them titbits which makes 'em puke. So good so far. I'm lucky compared with so many. I count my blessings.

Merry Christmas to one and all.

We had a lovely Christmas Eve with a seafood menu. The girls are happy with their gifts and now we are off to my sister's for Christmas dinner. I'll check in later.

Amy, you're not alone in your endeavor to have Christmas alone. G's at the 'rents, so I have to go it alone myself, since I have no family (outside of her) nearby. Reading one of G's presents to me, is going to be paramount to my day.

Hypatia, I along with you, Marv, and Ben don't feel the season really needs all the commecialism, but understand that it's only there because the stores and economy need it to be. Without the commercialism, there would be no need for seasonal jobs, or the trip to the mall just to see Santa. And although is nice to see the US economy finally come back to life, I wish the commercialism would at least die down a bit. This holiday isn't about the gifts, but rather about those you love to be around, and have around you.

To those of you I haven't had a chance to talk to yet, here's a bit of insight as to my X-Mas. This was to be the first I've had with any kind of family (g/f's included) since I was 19 (28 now). I was totally stoked at the idea of spending the day with G7. But alas her parents got a gift from friends of theirs, a surprise visit from their daughter. While I totally understand her parents are much more important than I am at this point in our relationship, I just wish I could have gone with, as to not let my hopes down so much. But the light at the end of the tunnel is G7 plans on spending from Saturday night to Wednesday with me, and only me.....and for that I am greatful.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

Hi PJCD good to have you on thread.

Update

My 13 yr old son has just put a megawatt of sound energy through the house. His new CD player. Mother in law safely returned home.

I was asleep with my big dog..a 28kg weimaraner.. across my front and me on my back on the sofa. An almight raucous bass boom sets up. My eyes open and Arnie's ears twitch...thunder or low jet, 2nd dismissed it's xmas...Arnie ejects off my chest at full tilt and cracks his skull against mine.

"Dad..come and see this." I stagger upstairs. "The vibrations..can you see the vibration" "watch your ears" I say, staggering down stairs with Arnie in front.

Who needs to watch THE SIMPSONS? Not sure who is copying whom. I'll sue!

Life with a teenager is remarkably loud, with two teenage sons it was even louder!

So having had the first attempt at fitting this huge motherboard into my old PC case, H has surmised that I need a new case, although we weren't entirely surprised as the old one is a Dell and not designed for rejigging. All the other new items are also twice as big, but it should be really really fast and I can finally get that dv tape edited!

Cassie had a happy half hour playing with the wrapping paper, had some turkey from her new bowl and is now taking her pre bedtime walk outside.

Update
Arnie the vanrammer has just nicked the big turkey off the kitchen bench.

Good. I don't like turkey. Bad. Arnie will be sick in about 1 hr.

Christmas!

So far it's been great. I got a rubber lobster toy! It's really floppy and rubbery and....

You know, I just realized that the really neat gifts are the ones that I wouldn't ever think of asking for.

I've gotta start asking for more mundane things, I think....

[{Courtesy}]

Arnie got the turkey!? Hope the bones don't cause problems.

I've been visiting, taking presents to friends. The weather is lowering, with a strong wind, and precipitation is strongly possible. I might take a cue from the cats and have a nap.

At 10.00 pm at night it is 10C! Unless of course the outside thermometer is throwing a wobbly.



I'm getting rather weary and shall head for bed. I got two books amongst my pressies and now have to decide which of the Cornwells to read: Bernard's Heretic or Patricia's Blowfly.

*goes off muttering...*

Decisions....decisions.

Lil

I think he ate one of the wings. He catches phaesants, rabbits and dices with the odd adder in the forest so a cooked turkey is well within his scope. He's totally fearless. Protects my son from fire and snakes. Totally genuine aswell as a total rougue!

He's nicked other peoples Sunday roasts before. That's how we got him. He was rejected by his first owners. He WAS a wild character.

That is why we never get invited back to other folks' homes.

Thanks for the sympathy people I think my brother is visiting the father now. He was someone I was at school with and he's now one of my brothers roomates at university. It's hard to know what to say when an unplanned baby, that was at an awkward time for both parents, is lost.

Yes my brother has a very caring mature responsible attitude, of course it wasn't him that got the girl pregnant. Fortunately she has a good photo of the baby whilst it was alive and some memories of the short life. Brother no 1 is off being mature sensible rock for them both tonight.

I've also discovered that my best friend from school was pregnant and is now without pregnancy or baby, no one wants to ask for an explanation She's around but I haven't seen her..

Merry Christmas everyone ..

I'm back home from my mom's. Poor F had a rough day. I nearly ran him down with the car - didn't know he was there - then the car trunk crashed onto his head and almost knocked him out. When we got to Mom's we discovered that she had misunderstood my brother and he isn't coming until tomorrow. So I changed the menu and carted all that food over there for nothing and now have enough leftovers for an army. Then her sink stopped up so we couldn't do the dishes. Other than that it went fine. I have to work tomorrow and Saturday, so am going to spend the rest of the evening with a book and some soft music.

The new books I've been reading lately have been disappointing, so I think I'll revisit Frederik Pohl's Eschaton Sequence. I have all of them on hand so can go straight through.

for Hypathia, and Frank, I do hope he's ok? Still it's the people that count and the leftovers will save the food bill.

We had an interested dicussion at the dinner table. If you could have a house trained genetically engenieered animal as a pet what would you have..

My Dad went for an small elephant about the size of a cat. I'd like a giaffe the size of a large ish dog, so it could put it's head on your lap, and it would be able to sleep curled up in front of the fire. My sister fancied a large guinea pet about the size of a shetland pony that she could train to be ridden.

What would the salonistas like?

I took a long nap, perhaps too long, but I feel much better. I think the big hit of the day is the thousand piece lego set. My daughter has already built a towering city, several animals, pictures...she's incredibly creative. And of course all the boxes went into her room and are being connected with far too much tape (what is it about small children and cellotape!) to make homes for her new cats.

It's pouring down rain and windy here. I suppose this is what, in Southern California, passes for a white Christmas. But it certainly is conducive to napping.

Merry Christmas all!

Recently returned home from making the rounds.

I got 8x10 pics of all my kids (this causes issues for the pic wall, symetry is all messed up). I also got "The meaning of life" from my mom.

Well, off to figure out the pic wall.

Well, just saw RotK. A nice Christmas plan, I must say.

[WM]

What is it about doing nothing all day that is so tiring?

Well, I just got home from not working. We never did find cold enough temps for making snow, but the rain that MR is complaining about is snow here. Radar showed solid cloud cover from Colorado to the Pacific.