I too am having a big party on Christmas Day (now over 190) and do not cook like you all do. I have to have help. I like to have a cleaned up kitchen at all times so things move easily through to the party. Garbage and dirty dishes need to go away. My tips are: Start with an empty disihwasher and garbage cans. Have a covered tub or tubs that you can put the rinsed off dishes in that can't go in the dishwasher and keep it off to the side. Keep the dishwasher going the whole party and empty it and add. At the end of the party, if this works, you have a lot less to do. That's what I have to offer.

A hot dog I found in the freezer, wrapped in foil since..? Tasted good tho. That's about all, not counting all the cookies I made plus all the cookies and candy friends and neighbors have dropped off. Just got back from Christmas Eve service at the church, and I'm sure I'll start picking through the plates of goodies again. Ooo, hash with poached eggs - one of my favorites. Wish I had some for my breakfast tomorrow. All by myself Christmas Day as we had the family dinner at my brother's today at noon; but I have a big slice of ham to cook tomorrow for my dinner, some dressing, sweet pot., and probably corn.

Cleaned up and ready for bed! Dinner went well. A few people cancelled due to icy roads, everyone else made it and as each new group arrived they were hailed as heroes. It really is crazy slick out there. I decided to steam the crabs, but to assuage my vegan friend, I first chilled the crabs by setting them outside until they went dormant, then placed each one in boiling water to kill it quickly, before transferring to the steamer. 25 minutes steaming. The crabs were very good, although I can't say they were dramatically different than boiled crabs. After dinner, getting ready for a white elephant present game. SWMBO is sitting at the piano. The man in the black sweater is a standup comic, a very funny guy. His wife has white hair and is also wearing a black sweater. She was a model in England in the early 1990s, now a makeup artist for film, TV, and print. She recently returned to England and reconnected with her friend who fronted the BritPop band "Lick" and, for a brief moment, was in the limelight, then walked away from music. https://youtu.be/jYeAE4y6Vkg She and her friend are working on a book or screenplay or something about those days. It is an interesting story. The English music scene then was controlled by a few labels and promoters who choose which bands to make into stars. He was overtly gay and that was still unacceptable in the industry. They struggled, finally found a label, started touring and released an album, then the pressure blew the band up and he decided it wasn't for him. He recently regained control of his band's music and I've been listening to their first and only record. Not exactly my kind of music now (or then - in the 1990s I was a jazz snob), but it sounds pretty fresh even 25 years later. We haven't had a big dinner party for quite a while. It was fun to shake off some of the rust and get a bunch of friends together. Finally, here's the cat with her Christmas present, knitted by DD. She doesn't mind wearing it.

(Sort of) sorry to add a bit more stress, on you who "work", as in being employed for essential compensation. One more reason to be thankfully retired, not having to juggle the timing of when to celebrate holidays. Could you use a Christmas gift from ole ... (let's call it "old" this time - as it involves suggestions/((advice)) from one who claims to be a senior) ... old joyful/joyfuelled. Sometimes I approach a smoker, usually one standing the required 75 feet or so outside the door of a store or mall and with a smile and a bit of a lilt in my voice, I say that how s/he chooses to live his/her life is their business ... but ... how would s/he like to retire early? As you can imagine, I receive a variety of responses, but try to keep the conversation in a humorous, light-hearted fashion. Perhaps it's substantially curiosity, coupled with their impression that it looks as though this (old) guy isn't about give them a hard time, but quite a few are willing to pursue the conversation. I suggest that they write down the cost of their smoking for at least a month, but I suggest that a quarter or a half or a year may be better ... and give thought to whether they might like to retire early ... and whether transferring a good (and increasing?) portion of that money to investing for an earlier retirement might be a good idea? Plus ... it's been pretty well established that non-smoking may add years, and more than likely healthier years, at that, to one's life. If the conversation is going well I may ask whether they might be interested in using some of their spare time to start a new hobby. As a financial planner for some time, I've suggested to quite a few people that learning how money works can be an interesting hobby - and it pays well! As does learning about taxes! Back to old joyful's gift to you. If you're a smoker - you might like to consider the message so far as part of it. Is it time to have a hard look at the results of Christmas at your home/in your extended family connection, as to whether, in the light of remembering that much of the media advertising related to the season pretty well paints a picture of Christmas as equalling shopping ... ... the gifts that are exchanged really provide sufficient value to the recipients among your family and loved ones to make them worth their cost?? Many families choose to choose names and give to only one adult, and others choose to concentrate on gatherings of loved ones. Some choose also to agree among their connected ones to devote a percentage of their Christmas giving to helping needy fellow humans. For a number, they might be tempted to reconsider the above ... when the credit card statements arrive in the new year. (Anyone up for an addition to the new year's resolution list?). If you don't/aren't able to pay the credit card bill in full each month, if you don't know the rate of interest you're assessed ... in your wise and effective management of your money, it's important that you find out! On many store-issued cards it's often up near 30% annual rate, compounded monthly, and on bank-issued and similar agencies, up just under 20% - but several percentage points higher on cash advances. For those of you with ongoinng balances owing on your credit card(s) ... how faithful are you at fulfilling promises that you make to yourself?? If your record is bad - ignore what I'm about to say - please - please!!! Quite likely your bank/credit union may be willing to lend you money at 5% or less: less if you have collateral or co-singer (who'll have to pay if you default!). Your promise is to buy no more using the card till the loan is paid off ... ... and after that, your iron-clad promise to yourself is that those amounts owing must be paid in full every billing period!! Anyone who fails should have arranged with four friends to give him/(her?) a kick in the rump every month so long as that new credit card balance runs over that month. The lower rate if interest will enable the loan to be paid off much earlier! And don't e.g me started on these horrible pay day loans - $20. fee to borrow $200. for up to two weeeks?!?! Horrible! I hope that you all have a joyful, companionable and blessed Christmas/holiday and a new year that brings the fulfilment of one/some of your dreams ... and the envisioning of some new and worthwhile ones! Remember, please ... learning how money works is an interesting hobby - that pays well. Taxes, too. old joyful (ole joyfuelled)