First, I just want to say thank you for the comments. I don't think you understand how much I appreciate it when people leave comments on my blog. It's very comforting, if that makes any sense. So thank you :)

Well I went to the market this morning to pick up my freshly killed chickens, and the lady who was supposedly getting them for me gave me some story about maybe they were here yesterday, but now they aren't here. Sorry. I was actually not surprised. Or angry. Well now what to do? Earlier in the week, I had seen some frozen turkeys in one of the mercados (small grocery store). But when I went over there this morning, no turkeys. All sold out. They did, however, have whole frozen ducks (I know right?!). They also, thankfully had little teeny frozen baby chickens, each about 2-3lbs each. So there were my choices: tiny frozen baby chickens (halal chickens from Brazil, no less. I know, very bizarre), whole frozen duck (I don't even know how to begin to cook a duck), OR we could go to the large grocery store and pay $15 a kilo for a whole roast to make roast prime rib. It was quite the weird, twilight zone sort of choice. Well, Leland and I didn't want to pay the money for the beef, plus our oven is finicky and if I screwed up a $30 piece of meat I would be very angry with myself. I have no clue how to cook a duck, plus duck on Christmas seemed a little odd. So we will now have seven people for Christmas dinner here: a Jew, a Muslim, a few Christians of various sects, and an agnostic. All sitting around three baby halal chickens. On Christmas. I thought the idea was very amusing. Sorry if I offended anyone with the religious comments, I just thought it was funny.

I will also make mashed potatoes, gravy (thank you mother), sweet corn, and we will roast potatoes and carrots in with the chickens. But the best part of all is the broccoli-cauliflower cheese. And of course fudge for dessert. So hopefully the cooking will go well, and I won't burn down the kitchen like I almost did last time. Our friends arrive tomorrow and we are so excited to have them here. The weather has been nice, a little cool, but perfect for beach lounging. They are coming from an island that doesn't really have any beaches, so it will be a nice change for them. The packages have not arrived, so I will have no gifts this year, but I will have halal chickens and broccoli cheese. And of course, my friends. I mean, come on? What more could I possibly ask for :) Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you celebrate the day well.