Who needs to go downtown to ring in the new year? Sounds like the kids on our street have quite the arsenal of fireworks...

Picked up a Crab Pie from a local seafood market today--yummy! It came out of the oven right as Dad and the boys got home. :)

I am such a "cushy blankie" addict--WallyWorld had really soft blankets in holiday colors marked down to $2.50--I pounced. :)

Spent the day out with Mom, taking her around on her errands--she did great for the first day out since being back home. :)

Peppermint hot white chocolate for the win! :D

Teleclass with Gay and Katie Hendricks just started http://ping.fm/b0Xci

Read the 1st chap. of Daughter of the Goddess last night and I think I'm going to be ordering all of the suggested reading list!

Having another one of those "why didn't I know about this sooner???" moments. http://ping.fm/TZB23

Bah! Got a summons for jury duty that starts on the first day back for the spring semester.

Ooooh, another book delivery from paperbackswap.com ! Daughter of the Goddess--historical perspects of the HP in various cultures.

Kudos to the Beyond Victoriana blog, focusing on multi-cultural steampunk (some gems in there)! http://ping.fm/qoBLI

Today's Djhali's favorite day of the year--she gets to shred the gift wrap without being fussed at. :D

Not quite sure how she did it, but I just found Doc under the little tree--curled up around the trunk, under the tree skirt.

Favorite gift of the day--has to be the window cat hammock from my nephews--they were so excited--picked it out and paid for it themselves!

I hope everyone had a wonderful first day of Christmas! :D

Just discovered chocolate egg nog. Yum!!

Into the theoretical/academic side of steampunk? Found the Journal of Neo-Victorian Studies yet? http://ping.fm/Czbwu

Mom made it through surgery--so far, so good. :)

It's official. Office Depot has lost my XPS system *again*. I've been at this since 9/29 w/ these, um, people--time to file a small claim?

Yet again, Office Depot fails--my computer was supposed to be in on Mon--it's Thurs and still no computer.

Just saw this on tv. http://ping.fm/zLP12 Wrath would probably LOVE having a blue one!

Effort to save Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's former home, Undershaw http://ping.fm/ib1Fi

We're in a holding pattern with Mom's surgery. Her sodium's too low, so they're working w/ her to see if they can get it to a good level.

Have absolutely epic location ideas for SL tours for VWBPE ? Shoot them my direction! Remember--this year's theme is "Be Epic!"

Less than 24 hrs before Mom's surgery. I'm still half expecting her to change her mind and not go through with it.

Saturnalia going on now at AncientWorlds ! Join in the activities at http://ping.fm/SSnyD

I'd forgotten just how good Inis smells! I may have to treat myself to an after-holiday smell-goods shopping spree. :)

Gotta love Paperbackswap.com. Just unwrapped an *amazing* hardcover edition of Joan Evelyn Ames Mastery book. Merry merry to me! :D

Got MOOC? VWBPE will! Curious? Check out what a MOOC is at http://tinyurl.com/3ff6n6j & stay tuned for VWBPE MOOC updates!

Finally heard back from Office Depot about the computer--it *might* be back on Monday. I'll be taking my future biz to Staples/Office Max.

After they flubbed the repair the 1st time, the local store "lost" it & once found, sent it "rush" to their tech center--nearly 2 wks ago.

I am never using Office Depot again for tech services--they've had my good system for nearly 2 months and still haven't fixed it!

AMC's got a great lineup of classic holiday movies--tonight's the original Miracle on 34th Street!

Been tired and achy today--I'm hoping that whole "grad student winter break curse" isn't upon me! (At least I finally got in my articles!)

Great timing! Turned on the tv just in time to see History Channel has Tesla Tech on Modern Marvels! :D

I've rediscovered Summer McStravick's Flowdreaming podcast--fun and inspiring to get jazzed up here in the winding down hours of the day.

"Witchcraft" used as an excuse for violence and abuse against children http://ping.fm/v0cA5

I need to find my digital camcorder. Tomorrow's the boys' Christmas play and Weston's got the lead role of Santa! :D

Guess it's a good thing we don't have damage enabled @ Jaguarland--I did learn that my exploding bear still works!

Was flipping through channels today and caught Wayne Dyer on PBS--he had Dan Caro on--amazing story and spirit! http://www.dancaro.com/

Made Hamburger Helper Stroganoff w/ Boca crumbles. I thought it was yummy, but the fam wouldn't touch it. More for me!!!!

Fun week to look to the skies! Lunar eclipse tomorrow night and a meteor shower on Wed! http://tinyurl.com/cr4mnqu

Trying to come up w/ my vw tour potentials list for VWBPE--I have the SL based stuff, but I'd love to find a cool little-known fab vw.

Just got home from Golf's grad dinner. Congrats Golf! Finally hooded and off to the "big people" job! :D

New SAESL post--SITE conference call for virtual presentations http://tinyurl.com/7axgb22

Popped into Inworldz for a bit but gave up on touring Ona--it'll have to wait 'til I get my good compie back. http://tinyurl.com/85xot4a

@m Aev's News of the Aetherverse is out! http://bit.ly/nI5Irg
Virtually Educated is out! http://bit.ly/oUKkaB

Very nearly ended up as a splat on Hwy 90 this morning--they really should train those flatbed truck drivers better!!!!

Want to learn more about ancient winter celebrations? Join AncientWorlds Saturnalia celebration! Dec 17-19 @ http://tinyurl.com/7c2k2u7

Getting a kick out of the History Channel's "History of the World in 2 Hours" playing while I work today. :D

btw, anyone in the Pascagoula area hear that explosion about 4pm or so? What's the story there?

Kudos to the Cable One tech guy who was waaay patient in helping get the lappie & modem to detect the new router (I killed the old one).

Aev's News of the Aetherverse is out! bit.ly/nI5Irg
Virtually Educated is out! bit.ly/oUKkaB

The latest incarnation of my lit review just hit 24 pages and I still have a *ton* to go through--soooo woot?!

Great way to fight the cold--gumbo! (Lucked into coming home to a bowl from Martha's Tea Room)

Spent a good bit of this afternoon getting Jaguarland ready for the winter season. Forgot how fun playing in virtual snow can be!