I feel very fortunate that working in higher education, it's easy to take the full 2 weeks off for the holiday season, which I did starting last Friday :). I'm also blessed to be at the life stage of no longer having young kids, or even kids at home so life is a lot more relaxed for me than for many others. I've got a few more little gifts to wrap and today will make a grocery store run to pick up some last minute things. Also need to get to Omaha Steaks to get my son's fiancee her gift (a selection of yummy frozen stuff she can heat n eat; that girl works way too hard and doesn't take care of herself). Later I'm going to roast shrimp for the shrimp cocktail and make a key lime pie, Need to tidy up the patio, which is where we will be eating-it's easier to have 12 people there than jammed into my small dining room. We are doing a somewhat modified holiday this year; in the past we would go to my MIL for her Xmas Eve celebration, then my family for Xmas day. MIL went into assisted living a few months ago, and my stepmother has family visiting plus some other family drama/hijinks, so this season we will host my husband's side including MIL on Christmas Eve and then there is nothing planned for Christmas Day. I'm actually anticipating that-maybe I'll go see one of the movies that are opening and do Chinese takeout, just because I can. Anyway, things feel pretty calm this year, unlike most although my daughter posted this video and every time I watch it, I crack up...as I commented to her I resemble that remark!

Chris, all of mines are still outside too and I live in Ma. like you! They have all been doing ok, as long as they are getting some full sun. The one that get the most dry out faster than those that do not. So I stick the ones that need the full hot sun to dry out quickly for the very cool nights on my flat roof exposed to sun all day. Chris, is that the first time you set up the lights like that? You only use one per shelf? I have the very same lights and I use two per self. I was wondering if the one is good enough and if you had success? Less I have to use the better on electricity cost) Did you use a timer? I did and thank God for those. When I know it's going to be a cool cloudy day, I just leave them dry. When it rains and it's cool, it doesn't seem to bother them, even the cactus. I remember walking into a greenhouse full of succulents and cacti and the temps in there was below the 50's and they were all watered during the middle of winter. I asked how in the world they did not rot, and they said that they were getting lots of sunlight and air movement. It made me a bit more bolder in leaving my plants out so late into the season now. Kara, beautiful flower! Don't you typically run a very cool weather pattern ? Are you along the coast or inland. I do keep an eye on temps there in San Francisco and I noticed they run 50's and 60's for days on end, cloudy too. Not sure what it's like for you. Mike

I'm at work. Just brought in my 6 foot tall inflatable turkey so he won't fly away. I'll be here through most of it. Hope it passes through without any damage to property or people...

OK so now that my choice Christian is gone I will be rooting for Davie. He was pretty darn smart figuring out how nick faked that idol find. He impressed me. Angelina and her skin tight white tights are seriously needing to go. Who in their right mind would choose to take skin tight WHITE tights as their main wardrobe on survivor?? GROSS GROSS GROSS! THEY ARE DISGUSTING! She looks naked and dirty. Excuse me while I go throw up.