Ah, the house is filled with food and drink and we have fallen upon it with great gusto, and presents have all been passed out and opened, with many piles of stocking stuffers (so full they were all overflowing), and there is wine and Lambic (a Belgian fruit beer which is really good, even non-beer drinkers seem to like it). There are warm chocolate melting cakes in the oven.

I received a book of Sondheim lyrics, the soda stream soda maker (yay!), a big cast-iron skillet and a Tagine Mediterranean cooker, miscellaneous candy and toys and gizmos, the new Star Trek movie, the 80's production of Into the Woods I've wanted for years, some Beatles pint glasses, Ed Hardy coasters, fuzzy slipper socks, the Van Gogh TARDIS exploders print, and an 11th Doctor Sonic Screwdriver.

Life is good. I'm hoping for big things for me in 2012, because of course it's the end of the world coming, including LOSING WEIGHT and maybe somehow finishing up Ring of Fire and maybe finding someone interested in maybe buying it.

Oops, warm chocolate melting cakes a little overcooked and not as molten as they ought to be. Still rich and delicious!

It's 8:36 in Phoenix, still 3 1/2 hours to go. Woot!

Happy New Year, wherever you are!