msbelle, you're a rockstar for giving those girls an opportunity and reminding them their mom needs to be thought of, too. One of those things that falls all too often between the cracks when things fall apart.

Amy, the Twelve Days is definitely awesome.

ita, you sound really happy and at home.

Tom, I agree with the folks urging you to hook your wagon to photography. You have a wonderful eye and a clean, focused style that could be the foundation of a whole new career for you, in a completely new direction. I wish you courage to take the step, and excitement and fulfillment once you do.

David, Rich Little's Christmas Carol, if you can find it. He played all the parts with impersonations of then-famous celebrities. I think you and I may be the only people who like Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol. I love some of those songs--my first Tabletalk tagline was a lyric: "We're rep.re.hensible, We'll steal your pan and pensible". Formative years, loyalty, what can I say?

We're watching lava flows on Netflix streaming How the Earth Was Made. Just introduced H to Inspector Morse played by a very youngish John Thaw. We've *years* of episodes ahead of us, then Inspector Lewis. He's got football tomorrow evening, so we may not get our traditional watch of the extended LotR dvds in tomorrow. But there will be music and food and nog and spice-mulled hot cranberry juice ('S good! and doesn't cause migraine like red wine) with orange slices, and ham, and neighbors. And the kids will call from H's mom's at some point during the day.

Wishing a most happy day to Buffistas everywhere!

I think billytea needs this shirt: [link]

The dark knight/chess shirt is up for sale again at the same site. Along with a Firefly one, and a who one and possibly a few others of interest.

The creatures are stirring... Including some unpacking the insulation in the kitchen! Yikes!

Let the chaos ensue.

I have just bought the Dark Knight one, found out paypal seems to hate Jamaica, and had an argument with my father. Seriously, why is a joke that you never receive presents funny when you haven't given one in ten years? Why do I need to indulge that conversation when I'm just trying to get you to not leave the house so we can have a family breakfast and gift exchange? Apparently it's funny to forget we're together most Christmases, or that I've been making the egg nog for 25 years. No, I have typical xmas morning lack of humour.

My sister sent me this article about a Jamaican patois Bible. Obviously I think it's a good idea, but the new transliteration method they have chosen makes me eye gougey. It's definitely not one I can understand without sounding out in my head. I've seen at least one other that I could understand as I read.

[link]

Merry Christmas, you old Building and Loan Buffistas!

I'm all flaily because I got a Kindle Fire!!! And the kids are delighted and everyone's happy. Except the cats, who are confused and being dumb.

Merry Christmas to all that celebrate!

About to go spend the day at the movies. We are seeing four this year--so it should be a long but fun day. I wish a merry, happy and joyous day to all Buffistas, not because it's Xmas, but because I love you all.

Merry Christmas, all what celebrates!

We're (by we, I mean myself, my son and my d-i-l) are about to head over to my daughter's for Christmas brunch. There will be breakfast foods galore, egg nog and two pounds of peel and eat shrimp with homemade cocktail sauce. Yum. Before we leave, though, we have to stuff four bags and a couple large boxes of presents into the trunk of my car. Damn, it didn't seem like I bought that much when I was shopping! I think the presents got up to hijinks in the closet I had them stashed away in.

I'm jealous of your four movies. especially inLA! Here in Indy some of the best stuff is not yet out. And my mother is insisting on brunch (at noon!) AND dinner, so my sister and I, who usually see two or three movies, only have time for ONE. We are displeased.

On a similar note, my BFF is going to be about two hours away on Wednesday, so my sister (who also likes her) and I are driving to meet up with her and her gf. My mom is all "oh, you're going where? Maybe I'll come with!" I do not want to spend four hours in a car with my mother. What can we say to her that is not super hurtful? (I believe her plan would be to drop her off at a friends house and then come pick her up. But it would end up being all about what works for her).