christmas eve at the golden fish world headquarters

well the evening before the great day itself is well underway with the first annual christmas eve barbeque quite done.

so here's the process: one . . . locate the barbeque in broad daylight. two: trudge through the snow and throw half-a-dozen matches in and hope that the liquified propane turns into gas and ignites . . . three: if succesful to this point, then chuck hunks of formerly mobile quadripeds onto grill and leave until you absolutely have to head out into the cold, dark, wintry night to flip'em and then claim 'em . . . . anybody who complains about them being over or under done, receives nothing they can eat but lots they can infer from!!!!!

steak, tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, and mashed potatoes. wonderful early-winter comfort food! for sweet, christmas cake shaped and jam-packed with love by my mum and dad.

fuel for the cook was provided by harbour estates winery who bang out a very tasty and experience-enhancing cabernet sauvignon.

my mainsqueeze brenda and our daughter alexia have gone to church which this evening will also be populated with animals as there is a special service offered replete with sheep and other livestock to add colour, scent, and presence to the christmas story.

brother-in-law stephen left with each arm holding clinking packages of liquids to be consumed at his friend's hearth.

leaving the dawsonboy and i.

he is immersed in the buzzing of his blackberry pearl- communication sentinel of all cool grade nine students.

at this point i have the most dreaded and despised job of all - wrapping my christmas presents. i have never liked it - even as i write this my face has involuntarily contorted into a nasty grimace.

so what else is there here to tell you about? hmmm well there are two trees . . . the girltree - purchased at a charity fundraiser last year. it is truly lovely with a pink fuzzy star atop its gracefully positioned and cleverly decorated artificial limbs . . . there's also "the family tree" which is real and covered from head-to-stump with all manner of ornaments with all sorts of history, each hung with care by the two minor iterations of myself and my mainsqueeze.
then there's candles everywhere. i love candles and so does everyone else in this house! candles everywhere. and ornaments in all shapes and sizes - everywhere . . .
well, the wrapping must be done so i'm off!!