Learned yesterday that my maternal grandmother passed away over the weekend.  Grandma Root (1922-2016) was sadly the grandparent I barely knew.  We'd met a few times when she came down to see my aunt (father's sister) who lived locally.  And, until her health started failing and she moved into a senior center up in Sasketchewan, I got Christmas cards.  But I just knew her as a nice older lady.  But she will be loved and missed.

More bland than bad somewhat sadly.  Meryl Streep is, as always, a treasure.  As is Kevin Kline.  And Streep's daughter Mamie Gummer does a good job potraying someone both deeply depressed and really angry.  But despite having lots of interesting character seeds, the movie never really grows them into a really interesting story.  Also the writing, especially the dialogue, was clunky at time.  Which was something I remember writer DIablo Cody being sharper at in preious works...

Off to the family Christmas Eve get together. Best wishes to all of you...

Matilda, my new niece, born yesterday...

Survived the Kid-a-palooza, as did everyone else. Very little in the way of cranky pouting and the like. My uncle's oldest girl and my step-sister Jessica's two oldest are all looking crazy mature for 11-13 year olds. Uncle Tim especially is not looking forward to the coming years of teen-girl-dom...

Only some clothes and a McDs gift card tonight, but more gift giving expected tomorrow at day-of dinner. Nice clothes though, including a new set of black jeans to match the ones I wear all the time now. And the gifts I gave out seemed to go over well across the board...

And more holiday music from the f-list:

Between work and family expect light posting to continue for the rest of the week...

Got all shopping done in about 15 minutes. Probably because I bought everything off Amazon and went more for gifts for family groups, rather than individuals. So games mostly, including two sets of Apples to Apples...

Happy day to all the moms out there!

Went out and hit Bookstar earlier. Found copies of The Yiddish Policeman's Union and the Parker Sunny Randall book I was missing in thier discounted piles. Hardbacks for seven bucks is always nice. Family is home, so I don't need to be dogsitting anymore. I have SOME hope that the Honda is FINALLY ready to be picked up and I'll be done with cadging rides or borrowing my mom's truck. Glad I went out for more books since I ended up finishing both of Jasper Fforde's Nursery Crime books today. I wish he'd put out his next book. The new series or a new NC or Thursday Next...

Picked up the 'rents from the airport around quarter to 11. They got in early after having to reroute to a different flight that made them later than originally planned. Then headed back down to sleep in my own bed. And of course find porn on my own computer...