Thus begins my holiday adventures...

I made it. Here I am in the North. My sister called yesterday to ask me to get up here sooner rather than later so I can watch the littlest one. She's three. I said, "Sure." So, while the rest of the world slept, I drove. In the cold. With a fish. AND, here I am. It's only 10:30am and my niece has cried three times. The teens have argued twice. A cat has sniffed me and left cat hair on all my belongnings. I am tired. I need coffee. But, the presents are wrapped and the car is unpacked. I sit here thinking, "COFFEE!!! COFFEE!!!" And, also thinking, "COFFEE! COFFEE!"

I think it got colder as the day grew old. It's frigid out there! FRIGID!!! and, cold, too!

So, the littlest one was rather happy to see me. Too happy. She wouldn't leave me alone, and being three has the social skills of a gnat. Today, alone, I was treated to kicks, pinches, slaps, head butts, screams, yells, and general harassment. And, that was just during a 30 minute cartoon she wanted me to watch with her! I think the real kicker has to be what happened earlier this afternoon. She recently learned how to use the toilet. Every so often she has issues with toilet paper. As I was checking e-mail, she found me. She walked in with her pants in disarray and her underwear applied incorrectly. In other words, legs in wrong holes. I will give the kid some kudos on trying (I fixed her underwear 6 times today. Three of those times I had to chase her around as she made it a game). But, the underwear wasn't the issue. She used to much toilet paper and some got stuck. So, as I was sitting here, she, well, she started to pull out little bits of the TP and left it on my desk right next to my computer. I said calmly, "Ummm, Em? I think maybe you should go put that in the toilet." Yup, Christmas!!!

So, the adventure begins on yet another holiday. What lies ahead for tomorrow as we have to deal with a three year-old who waits for Jolly Ol' Saint Nick? I foresee a burned down house, some dead animals, toilet paper everywhere, a few human sacrifices, and Christmas ornaments smashed into a fine powder. All that during another 30 minute cartoon, I bet.

Heh.

I like one of my Christmas duties. That's the booze. I buy the booze. This year I forgo the wine effort as I have a better suited sibling for that job. I buy the beer. And, that's a process. How do you buy the right beer for the right people? How do I get the right mixture of taste with the food and pleasure drinking? What should I do because there are two major drinking events in one week? Me, I am easy. Stouts. It's stout season, and I like them immensely. I also like the Belgians. I have some of those. As for others? I like to get them the beer they enjoy. It's Christmas. I was at the liquor store for a good 45 minutes in pursuit of some of the finest beers I could muster. My sister likes browns - I found a couple browns. Maybe it was just a sixer of brown. She doesn't drink as much as me. She likes Bock, so I have some of that (I like bock, too). And, then there is New Years. I have to have the right beer for that. I take advantage of every holiday to try something new. Accomplished. And, if all goes well, with what I have for NYE, I should be passed out before 8:00 pm.. Well, just kidding... 8:15pm. I know how to pick some of the fines. AND, Finally, I set up the sarcophagus with all my findings (did that earlier) and ice it all down so by tomorrow - X-mas Eve (that's when we do the WHOLE shi-bang), the beer is a go. I think the moment I prep my gigantic cooler is when it sinks in, Christmas time is here! Time for joy and time for beer!

Have a good night. Later.