Lets see… Christmas dinner – which has no real meaning in this family – generally gets shuffled around the calendar. Way back when… we always sat down to dinner on the 25th – recently it has become the 26th and this year will be the 24th – with the whole fam-damily in the house all day. I will be found with my brother-in-law out on the deck with a cold beer and a pack of smokes, dodging snow-flakes and avoiding the rest of the clan – a highly disfunctional group of descendant Scots and Welsh. I’ll probably be surly and start an argument when the religious sibling wants to pray… short of leaving the country, I can’t avoid this occasion.

Dinner will consist of turkey and ham, herbed whipped potatoes, turnip (Swede), a very nice sweet potato concoction, baked squash, Brussels sprouts and a light cabbage slaw. My mother will insist on bringing a tourtiere because ‘its a family tradition’ – even though there isn’t a single French-Canadian in the entire family tree. And then a freshly baked apple pie for dessert with tea and or coffee – or more beer/wine/spirit of choice… ahhh aren’t the holidays wonderful?

oooohhh just added to the menu – I’m to do my special short ribs this year… (I really do hope I stay sober long enough this year) A nice selection of Australian Reds came into the house today, and the appetizers have already been started…. (cheeses, shrimp, Tequilla – one of my sister’s additions, more cheeses). Oh, and it looks like I won’t be dodging snow flakes – after the 2 feet (60cm) of snow last Sunday, we’re about to be rained on for 2 days – hooray!!!:rolleyes: )