Due to scheduling issues, we had our annual family holiday gathering yesterday, a full two weeks in advance of Christmas Eve. We had a lovely time, and got to spend some time with our nieces and nephews, which was great. It was also great how this forced us to complete our shopping early (not that we ever leave it to the last minute), but it is a little weird having this all out of the way now. We will probably spend the actual holiday with friends for a low-key sort of thing, but there's a certain pressure of the occasion that's now relieved. It makes it feel like the holidays will be, well, holidays!

Holiday Links:	Thanks Ant and Mike Martinez and Acleacius.
Play:	Big Tree Defense 2: Evolution. Dangerous Dungeons.
Links:	Real or Onion? 90% (missed #7). Thanks Neatorama. 35 Bizarre and Creepy Christmas Tree Ornaments.
Stories:	Israel Bans Cat Declawing. Thanks Neatorama.
Images:	The World's Largest Bucket of Chicken. The Ultimate Hamburger.
Media:	Woman Makes Meth In Walmart. Dog eats sitting in a chair due to congenital megaesophagus. So cute. No contact Tae Kwon Do.
The Funnies:	FoxTrot. Brevity.