I did not shoot my eye out

I had a great Christmas! Two stockings, many pancakes, and a viewing of A Christmas Story. I got to make a Lego monkey and eat Pepperidge Farm cookies. We ate lovely pan-seared fish for dinner, and then we went to a rooftop party with a bonfire (uh--what fire code?). Also, I found out today that my visa went though, so I'll be off to Beijing next week.