Merry Christmas Eve, people! Hope you have loads of fun today! If you are still shopping for presents, I hope you find tons of sales! Either way have a wonderful day and evening!

We here in Canada will be having three days of merriment? Ok, maybe two, because the 26th is Boxing Day here and that means commercialism craziness! It’s our version of ‘Black Friday’. It means stores will be running big sales and there will be line ups and tents in front of stores. Me? You’ll find me safely ensconced at home with a nice cup of coffee and slippers on my feet doing what I do best, writing on the old computer.

I’ll be having a relatively quiet Christmas. And it’s not going to be white! Darn it! The one day I want snow it won’t. It’s actually warmed up enough the past two days to melt what snow we had. Then after Christmas and for New Years we’ll probably get a damn blizzard! Eh, it’s all good I don’t go anywhere for New Year’s either. Too many crazies out there.

So let’s get to it shall we? Celebrate!

Christmas Eve ~~ We all know it’s Christmas Eve. Some parts of the world it may even be Christmas Day all ready. Merry Christmas! Some families have Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve and some attend church services. Traditionally, the last white candle in the center of the Advent wreath is lit on Christmas Eve to symbolize the coming of Christ. Traditions are a big part of the holidays and Christmas Eve is no exception. Every country has their own customs that make this a special holiday.

Enhance a cozy atmosphere with Christmas music and light some candles to welcome your guests. If you have a Scrooge in your family, bribe him with some good food and shower him with love. He’ll be sure to lighten up. Whatever your traditions are, embrace them. They are part of your heritage!

Old family customs are nostalgic but sometimes not practical in this day and age. Try mixing some old traditions with new ones. If you want to be out and about on Christmas Eve, going out to see a holiday movie or a play will serve that purpose and add some holiday cheer. Check in with the personnel at a local nursing home to get an idea of what residents will not have family in town. Pay them a visit and give them a small, useful gift, all in the spirit of Christmas.

National Egg Nog Day ~~ Now you all knew this day had to happen at some point in December, as Egg Nog is the drink of the month. The traditional recipe for eggnog is milk, cream, sugar, beaten eggs, spices, and sometimes alcohol. The type of alcohol depends on the country where it is made. In Europe, eggnog is traditionally made with white wine. Americans drink it with bourbon or rum while Peruvians use pomace brandy and Germans use beer.

And because I’m the good egg (pun intended) that I am I went and found you a decadent egg nog recipe. It has chocolate in it people, white chocolate. Go here for the recipe and enjoy!

Today is another very short list, so I thought I would include this poem from Maxine (of Hallmark fame) in the way of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’. I thought it was funny, hope you do too.

'Twas the night before Christmas
 And all through the house...
 Not a creature was stirring
 since the cat ate the mouse.

 My support hose were hung
 By the chimney with care.
 (I hung them last Christmas
 And just left them there.)

 My dog, Floyd, was nestled
 All snug in his bed,
 After watching the cat rip
 The presents to shreds.

 And I in my long johns
 And ratty night cap
 Had just settled my butt
 For a long winter's nap.

 When out on the lawn
 There arose such a clatter,
 I swore at the window,
 "What the (blank) is the matter?"

 I tore open the window,
 Not a second to tarry,
 All ready to throw
 The noisemaker a berry.

 A bright moon was lighting
 The new-fallen snow...
 And I had a moon of my own
 Set to show.

 Floyd was beside me,
 Paw pointing the way
 Toward eight tiny reindeer
 Hitched up to a sleigh...

 And a little old driver
 So cheery and quick,
 I thought for a moment
 That I would be sick.

 Like a bat out of...you know,
 His reindeer they came,
 And I whistled and shouted
 And called them some names--

 "Hey, Hornhead! Hey, Furface!
 Hey, Weiner and Turkey!
 Yo, Klutzy and Mangy
 And Venison  Jerky!

 Stay off  of my porch!
 Get away from my wall!
 Now hit the road, hit the road,
 Hit the road, all!

 But as pedestrians before
 My old Buick , they fly
 And head for high ground
 With great fear in their eyes,

 So up to my rooftop
 The fleabags they flew,
 With a sleigh full of toys
 And old Fruitcake - Breath too.

 And then, in a twinkling,
 I heard on the roof
 Holes in my new shingles
 Made by each tiny hoof.

 As I reached for my slingshot
 And a marble as well,
 Down the chimney St. Nicholas
 Tumbled and fell.

 He had a huge sack of
 Cheap junk on his back
 And I whispered to Floyd,
    "Be prepared to attack."

 His eyes they were squinting,
 His toy bag was draggin',
 And I felt for a moment
 Like I'd soon be gaggin'.

 He was dressed all in red.
 With a bell on his hat.
 And a belt of black leather
 To hold back the fat.

 A billowing pipe
 He clenched tight in his smile,
 And the smell was like something
 Had been dead for awhile.

 He had a broad face
 And a little round belly
 That shook when I nailed him
 With a handful of jelly.

 He was chubby and plump,
 Well, actually porky,
 And I laughed when I tripped him
 (He looked pretty dorky).

 He was like a beached whale
 Unable to budge.
 And he tasted good , too,
 If the dog was a judge.

 I spoke not a word
 But went straight to my work--
 A noogie, a wedgie,
 A cry of "You jerk!"

 Until laying a finger
 Aside of his nose,
 With a loud cry of "Uncle!"
 Up the chimney he rose.

 He sprang to the sleigh
 And dragged in the toys,
 Then he cried to the reindeer,
 "Get me out of here, Boys!"

 And I had to exclaim
 As a slushball I tossed,
 "Happy Christmas to all,
 And to all a Get Lost!"

 But then, as I turned,
 I saw 'neath the tree
 Two gaily wrapped presents--
 One for Floyd, one for me.

 A big bag of jerky
 Turned Floyd mighty chipper,
 While for me was a pair
 Of brand-new bunny slippers.

 I looked out the window,
 And hovering there,
 Old Santa was winking
 From his sleigh in midair...

 "Merry Christmas, Maxine!"
 He cried, full of cheer,
 "Same to you, Pal!" I answered,
 ("I'll get you next year!")         THE END