holiday aftermath

[jessipsaloquitur]

Christmas was, for the most part, lovely.

Christmas Eve was somewhat less than lovely as it was spent at my aunt's house and I've decided that's the last time that's going to happen. There are some people I tolerate at holidays because, dammit all, they're family, and despite their various flavors of crazy and even some out-right fucked-up-ness, I love 'em. But, I will NOT spend another holiday with her creepy almost-but-not-quite-ex-husband, being his typical asshole self, and making everyone around him either uncomfortable or furious. There is simply not enough alcohol in the world for me to adequately deal with that shit. So, first resolution for 2010, no more holidays with assholes who are not family and I therefore do not have to tolerate.

Christmas day, however, was wonderful. The Nieces (and their parents) came over on Christmas morning and while the adults caffeinated, they ripped into their holiday loot. There were bikes and skateboards and books and games and all kinds of nifty things. They were both beside themselves with glee. There was menudo for breakfast and later I cooked up a humongous pot of gumbo for dinner. Cultural mash-up FTW!!!

In the better-late-than-never category: thank you to all of you who sent lovely holiday cards! I loved getting such wonderful reminders of the amazing people I have in my life! Y'all ARE the "merry and bright" part of the holidays and every day! *mwah* I'm also very sorry that I didn't get my holiday cards out this year. Please know that I love you all and wish you all the love and laughter possible in the year to come!

So, other than catching up with family and eating more yummy food than is probably advisable, the rest of my holiday weekend has been spent reading Yuletide fic! It's been awesome!!!

Here are some of my favorites so far:

Fandom: Black Dagger Brotherhood (Ward)
- Gifted (Butch/Vishous)

Fandom: Dark Hunter series (Sherrilyn Kenyon)
- it all started out as such an ordinary day (Dev Peltier/Sundown)

Fandom: Nightrunner series (Flewelling)
- Taking What the Gods Send (Alec/Seregil)

Fandom: Glee
- By Far the Most Volatile (Kurt/Puck)

Fandom: American Idol RPF
- Sensory Overload (Kris/Adam)

- I Can't Turn This Around (Kris/Adam): Amnesia!Fic. Just really well done, paced perfectly, with great character development. So good!

- They Come in Threes (AI/Merlin Crossover, Kris/Adam, feat. Merlin): This was absolutely DELIGHTFUL!!!

- Just a Kiss (Adam/Tommy)

Not Yuletide, but still eminently rec-able and thoroughly satisfying reading:
- On Skin (Adam/Tommy, R) by janescott

- Even the Losers Get Lucky Sometimes (AI/SYTYCD: Adam/Jakob Karr, NC-17) by mosca: Finally!!!!! \o/ Attention fic writers: MORE OF THIS PLEASE!!!!!

So, there you go, lots of good stuff to read! Now I need to get back to my lovely holiday weekend, which will of necessity have to include a little more productivity and a lot less awesome fic reading today. *sadface* My brother, sister in law, and the girls are moving in this week, so I need to get the office moved and the house ready for tripling the number of inhabitants. Dear gods, this is going to be insane! But, you do what you gotta do, right? Anyway, hope y'all are having/have had an equally lovely holiday weekend! *mwah*