I just heard an amazing thing on Marketplace: You know why NORAD tracks Santa every year? Because one time a newspaper put their phone number by accident as the place to reach Santa! And the guy in charge that day played along. That's hilarious.

That's so funny, Jesse.

It reminded me of a scene I loved from the comedy show This Hour Has 22 Minutes - "Betty Hope" (a Nancy Grace parody) doing an interview with NORAD about The Santa Threat (actual NORAD not involved).

Thanks!

Aww, sara, hard parental stuff is hard.

And Cass, yeah, you gotta make decisions for you. The kids will make goofy calls, and that's just how it is.

That's wild about NORAD! I love stuff like that, where big orgs can have a sense of humor or wonder.

I have spent all morning troubleshooting home network troubles. They had a guy in from the phone company and he did...things, leaving us partially operational. I called him for more deets, and apparently my father was clenched apprehensively for the phone call to go pear-shaped.

I insist "it's Jamaica" is not a good enough excuse for not paying attention to your work, but he insists that's just the way. However, I do know how to talk to people. I'm not sure why so many are afraid of me (that was a topic at the wedding--apparently I used to scare the shit out of the bride/my cousin--that hurts!), but I handled the call JUST FINE, THANKS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT, DADDY.

I admit to ribbing him by saying things like "It's okay--I will wait while you go check your records," but I do feel it's decent to give them an out that's couched in the best possible benefit method. He was tense and terse at first, but as soon as he properly realised I was the person that set the network up to do things he didn't understand, he warmed up to me.

Does Christmas just feel like a time of broken relatives because it's when most people get in touch? It's kind of sad.

I realised, my version of the LBD game (where you lose and lose BIG) is the Feliz Navidad game. Good lord, can I not stand that more...

And I just lost it, because Jamaican radio is that cheesy, and so is our helper. I really like her, but she has picked some cheesy radio this morning.

My father had the "here's what we want when we're infirm" conversation with me last night. Don't wanna! Can't we at least get past the gorging and gift-giving before we discuss handicap-retrofitting the house because neither of you want to go to homes? (And he doesn't expect me to come home, but something in the way he said it, made my stomach clench...)

Network not working, though.

Unfortunately I lost Feliz Navidad LONG ago. Still no LDB.

I'm sorry for family fraughtness all around.

It's been quiet in our house... I still have gifts to wrap, portfolios to score and a pair of pajamas to sew.

I am at work, but it's quiet here, so that's a plus.

My father had the "here's what we want when we're infirm" conversation with me last night. Don't wanna!

I'm getting the 'we've got no infirmities' but LET US SHOW YOU THEM.

To which I'm apparently all practical and irritated which makes for fun times.

Eh, I'll live. What's bad is I really don't have anything for dad this year( he doesn't want stuff! He has everything!) and it looks like I'm holding a grudge, which isn't the case, just lacking inspiration.

I am so out of inspiration on the gift front. I just... I don't know.

The worst is buying stuff from the kids for K. I'm feeling Christmased out.

The twins are watching Charlie Brown Christmas which I bought yesterday and really love.

I insist "it's Jamaica" is not a good enough excuse for not paying attention to your work, but he insists that's just the way.

Heh, Tom's your indignant New Orleans counterpart.

I am at work, but it's quiet here, so that's a plus.

Insent, Scrappy.