OK, so, anyone besides me can't get LJ to cooperate this week? I've been able to manage just one comment and one post this week, and those only came from switching to Chrome. And that was a really marginal improvement. I've had a lot of trouble with the compie this week, it's fully updated, turned it on and off a few times, cleared the cache, Norton says all clear, but it's still cranky. Eesh.

I passed on Menygwacon, I'm exhausted, the weather is lousy and I'm just not up to driving a distance in 'mixed precipitation' and then dealing with their crazy neighbors and certain unpleasant gamers. So instead I took down and put away all the Christmas decorations (before you say it's early, Mom wanted them down on Christmas), and then sat down to mainline 'Homeland'. I have all of that and Dexter recorded and waiting for marathons, and today I watched six straight eps. I'd like to finish it tomorrow except football will likely get in the way, but I should be able to finish all of both shows by the time I go back to work Wednesday. Meanwhile, 

it takes some balls to waltz in and blow away an FBI task force. Meeps.

Well, whaddya know - we have a white Christmas. Can't remember the last time that happened, but almost an inch of snow fell today, just enough to touch up everything. Nice. Unfortunately it also touched up the roads, a friend didn't even try to come after she barely made it home, and the family was late.

I've got a decent haul: the Kindle, of course; series 2 of 'Luther'; Dr Who's 'Christmas Carol' special; Cards Against Humanity; a party game called 'Martini Time', how appropriate; some books and some accessories for the Kindle. Promptly spent time playing backgammon with No. 1 nephew on the Kindle. Mom's haul included a book written by a certain meerkat-ish author (thanks for the signed nameplate, she loves it!) and a ton of Keurig-related things to include the machine itself. I don't drink much coffee, so I've never been inclined to invest in one; but the family is crazy for theirs and felt Mom should have one. Fortunately they did include a lot of tea for Mom and cider & chai for me. The boys were very happy with their games (Carcassonne, Ticket to Ride USA, and various card and Star Wars games), Janine loved the necklace & earrings and Mike is intrigued by his annual sampler CD.

The dinner was crazed; we did the usual pickup of a complete dinner at Safeway, but for some reason half the stuff was frozen solid. The turkey's juice overran the pan and caught fire in the oven, fortunately just smoke. The mashed potatoes needed over twice the recommended time to cook because they were an ice cube, and Mom forgot the vegetables until after everything else was cooked, so by the time the veggies were ready most things were cold :/  But it was a darn good turkey and mashed potatoes, and I suspect we'll be eating it all week.

Phew. Need bedtime. After I let out the hysterical dog.

There's presents to be wrapped and put under the tree, a house to be cleaned, much cooking to be done, a table to be set, etc etc and I'm working a half-day - so my brother decided now would be a good day for Mom and I to babysit. Two hyper Christmas-crazed boys who want to open their presents NOW in the middle of all the work we have to do yet? Swell.

For the first time since I can remember, I lost at Monopoly. And not just lost. My brother just whipped the tar out of me. He traded me for New York Ave, put a hotel on it and then I managed to hit it 3 straight times. Game over. They're continuing the game without me now. Mind, this is the 'Star Wars - Clone Wars' version of Monopoly I gave Jack for Christmas. I would rather have played the Beatles Monopoly I gave Mike, but little boys rule on Christmas.

BTW, my Christmas haul included:
Seasons 3-7 of the West Wing, completing my collection
Season 4 of Lost
The Dark Knight
The Torchwood Archives book
a Torchwood calendar
The John Howe Workshop book
a black and purple winter hat (Ravens!)
the complete Tom Lehrer collection
and Good Old War's new CD.

Mmmm, fandom. Lots of fandom for me.

The office was open all day today, and I figured it was going to be slower than mud what with the holiday, so I decided what the heck, I'll take a swing at writing a fanfic. Yup. Busy as bees, we are today. The boss called from France, the primary clients had a crisis, one of the attorneys is having a personal crisis, tons of mail and complaints, and a month's worth of referrals. Didn't get squat done beyond actual work.

Then when I get home, I have to tackle the Christmas tree (Mom tried to put it up yesterday despite my repeated statements that I was going to do it, and she put it up upside down) and finish cleaning the house, and find Jack's stocking because we still haven't found it, and get a haircut, and...holidays. Sheesh.