This will be my third Christmas with Ponzi, and we’ve already got one standing tradition: we open our Christmas presents on Christmas Eve. Yeah, I know it’s not the same as waiting until 5AM on Christmas morning to let the wrapping paper fly, but since we don’t have kids, we’re enjoying being Christmas kids ourselves. There are certainly stockings hung by the chimney (although I’m not sure if I can tell whether or not care was taken when they were put up). Wicket and Pixie have a few gifts coming, too - although they really don’t know what’s going on, other than there’s a new “minty” drinking bowl with floaty green nibblets in the living room. We’re going to try hitting a local mall tomorrow, even though our Christmas shopping is done (please note my freshly-posted “best and worst last-minute Christmas gift ideas“). There’s something about the rush of shoppers scurrying around at the last minute to get you in the Holiday mood. I know that several folks are counting the hours before the Christmas season is over, but I’m not one of ‘em. This was the first year I tried playing Santa Chris for Gnomies, and it worked out well; those five subscribers will each be sent small financial boost to help see them through this year’s holidays. Santa Chris will be back again next year.

This is truly the season of giving, and I hope you have a fantastic time with your friends and family this Christmas… or Hanukkah… or Kwanzaa… or Solstice… or Boxing or Bodhi Day… or Festivus. It seems that no matter what we choose to celebrate, we celebrate nonetheless. At least we can agree on that, eh? It’s not like we celebrate the season by doing anything in particular, either; Ponzi and I are likely to sit around the house on Christmas and watch movies on the big screen television (which Santa delivered six-months earlier). We’ve already watched “A Christmas Story,” so it may have to be something on DVD instead. Just because it’s the season to be jolly and merry doesn’t mean we have to watch Christmas or Holiday-themed programming! Of course, I don’t really know what I’m getting for Christmas, so I can’t say that I’ll be playing with new toys by then. Ponzi will be getting a few fun presents, none of which are really toys - except for the Slinky that will get shoved into her stocking). There’s a couple of large boxes next to the tree with my name on them, but I don’t dare shake them for fear that they’ll either (a) leak, or (b) growl. Happy Holidays!

[tags]holiday,gifts,christmas,holiday shopping,santa,santa claus,seasons greetings,solstice,presents,kwanzaa,last-minute,christmas shopping,hanukkah,bodhi day,festivus[/tags]