Great Traditions, y'all! Okay, I might sound like an odd ball here, but here we go... We don't really have any traditions. (we can't ever get two Christmas' to be the same!) But we usually put up the tree, and complain because it is the artificial pre-strung type and not a REAL tree. We like to procrastinate around here, so that usually happens a week or two before Christmas. (unlike a lot of people who put theirs up between Thanksgiving and December 1!!) Well, then there's the traditional "Light Wars" between the family. First the tree is plugged in, then its unplugged, then its plugged in, then its unplugged... you get the idea, and it keeps going like that until the last person goes to bed. And in the morning whoever is up first either leaves the tree unplugged or plugs it back in depending on what side they're on. (what can I say, some people like the lights and some don't!) Usually Christmas Eve we have snack-type food. The past couple of years we haven't had Christmas in the traditional sense (here's where the odd ball part comes in) we don't buy Christmas Presents FOR Christmas Day. We would wait until After Christmas when all of the HUGE sales were on and then buy and have Christmas a week or so later. But, this year we are thinking about doing just one Large Family Gift and skipping all of the little gifts. Oh, and we have yet to send out this year's Christmas Cards. It is really bad... we always plan to get better about that every year, and then... it never happens. They are always getting out late. Well, I guess that is all that there is to tell about Christmas around here. I don't know, I might sound crazy here, but I really enjoy Christmas, but I don't like all of the "commercialism", fanfare, and the huge production that is made over this One day of the year. I guess I'm just a simple person, so I like it really simple. You get up Christmas morning and look out the window to the snow-caped earth (or in some cases the un snow caped earth) and just think about the great life you have with friends, neighbors, family, and loved ones around. It really is a great feeling to look around at a Christmas gathering and notice all of the people that seem to go by Unnoticed through the year. It really is wonderful, and everyone is happy. You know, I don't think I've ever been to a family Christmas gathering where someone was upset. (except maybe me once when some little kids kept taking our ornaments off the tree-they were homemade ornaments and I was worried they'd break) Anyways, I"m starting to babble. I really enjoy hearing about everyone's Christmas celebrations, and I hope that you have a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a wonderful 2009. General Grant