>>Had the Christmas dinner here Christmas Eve with some of the family and
>>Lisa. That one was roast pork with crackling, applesauce, mashed potatoes
>>and excellent gravy made by Lisa, steamed squash, peas - no brussels
sprouts
>>
>>Went to the Island Christmas Day for the Christmas dinner at my ex's house
>>with more of the family. Had roast turkey, mashed potatoes, roast
potatoes,
>>roast sweet potatoes, stuffing, gravy, peas, carrots, my children's
>>stepmother's totally excellent brocolli and mushroom casserole - no
brussels
>>sprouts.
>
>Oohhh.  A progressive gustatory orgy!
>
Truly

>>She and I made a sherry cream sauce to
>>go on it, which means I whipped cream, she read a recipe for brandy sauce
>>and left out things she didn't like and put in sherry instead, and I added
>>things to make up for what she left out, and it was sinful. Decadent.
>>Excessive. Not Suitable for Small Children.
>
>Yum.
>
Very

>>I'm home now, safe and sound, many funny, silly memories, too much good
>>food, far more wonderful gifts than I could ever have imagined (I made out
>>like a bandit) wonderful, wonderful memories, much laughter, and no
brussels
>>sprouts
>
>Hooray!  Sounds like you had a "nothing exceeds like excess" time, too!
>
There's something very nice about a big chunk of the family all being in one
place at one time. They're all nuts. Comments are made that cause great
gusts of hilarity, with Gwen looking baffled - it wouldn't be right if she
started to catch on, you know, it would spoil things after all this time.
She's just not a twisted, sick individual, even though her own natural born
kids are, and nearly all of the kid-in-law are, and (of course) Doug's and
my kids had no hope. There's something very comforting about being with the
herd, hearing the stories, the teasing, the jokes. No one in this family
ever seems to get snarly or snipy, and I find it an enormous relief. Even
when someone gets defensive (their poor step-mother again, and one of the
daughters in law) it doesn't turn into a fight, it turns into laughter and
hugs

Of course, my ex (also known as Mr Tactful) is apt to say, "Never mind,
Dear, we love you anyway" which earns choruses of "You're not
helping!"
>
Laurie feel reborn Phoenix

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