So we returned home from visiting family to view the aftermath of this morning's gift-opening orgy. In the living room were empty gift boxes, scraps of wrapping paper, bits of toys (Nothing broken yet - These were manufacturer intended bits) , an oft-redecorated Christmas tree (LD, You put all those ornaments back on that tree right now!), slightly askew furniture and the cat lying in repose in the midst of it all.

My wife's comment?

"It looks like Santa wandered in here and exploded."

***

We're trying to take it easy this season. We have a variety of things to nosh (nom nom nom) while at the same time avoiding anything that's going to take too much effort to prepare. So lunch o' the day was the following:

• Crackers (3 kinds) and assorted cheeses (Havarti, Gjetost, Montery Jack, Extra-sharp cheddar and Garlice white cheddar)


• Sliced apples to go with above. (A sesame cracker and a slice of Gjetost is a rare pleasure)


• Granola (Received from friendly natives)


• Home-made veggie plate of celery, carrots, pea pods, baby tomatoes and broccoli


• Mixed nuts (Not us-Legumes!)


• Sliced Baguette


• Hummus


• non-official chocolate orange


• Frangos


• Christmas enchiladas (Made and initially enjoyed last evening)


• Dark Chocolate Chipotle Christmas Chili (Also enjoyed the previous evening - The cook wasn't wholly pleased but it didn't seem to interfere with us downing it like starving hyena: Great slavering gulps occasionally punctuated with hysterial laughter.)


• lil oranges.

Dinner will include all of the above plus a Virginia ham that was given to us by native family.

Needless to say, we should be able to graze for several days without ever lighting the stove.

Geekdom wins again

My Father is currently in Virginia for work, and has been since the middle of November. As such he's missed both Thanksgiving and Christmas. In a fit of geeky brilliance, I ran to the local Electronic Robbery store, and purchased a motorized webcam. With some clever jiggery pokery and dragging the wirelessly enabled Laptop upstairs into the oncoming "Theatre of war", I was able to give my father not only the camera's-eye view of the action but the remote ability to point the camera at whatever caught his eye as well. We had some difficulty getting his microphone working, so we lost the ability for him to communicate back to us. Overall, however, he seemed quite pleased. It was fun dragging the confused kids to show their presents to the orb-on-the-table, and we'd get messages from him to move furniture around so he could see.

Of course, now I have this really cool webcam I have no further use for...

***

This year I was able to give my wife a Lovecraft-themed Christmas subtly enough that it didn't arouse the in-laws notice. I think it's proof that my parents would be sorely pressed in a true zombie invasion or Elder God event. It's probably not right to pity them.

I've been instructed to include "more zaniness" by the owners. Therefore,
here's some crazy british folk explaining techno beats. "Libations". heh.

-BS