Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 5:30 a.m. in "The City."

The current temperature is 49/51° under clear skies. Today's high is forecast to reach that aforementioned 49°, also under clear skies with winds of 15 - 20 knots and gusts possible to 25 knots! So, in spite of the balmy temperatures yesterday and today, those winds will mean that yet another Small Craft Advisory will be in effect from 8:00 a.m. today until 9:00 p.m. tonight. Waves will be building to 3 to 4 feet. Those winds and waves are expected to produce hazardous conditions to small craft. Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller vessels, should avoid navigating in these conditions.

The sun will rise today @ 8:15 a.m. and set later @ 5:15 p.m. on what is Boxing Day in parts of what used to be the United Kingdom. There are competing theories espoused for the origins of the term Boxing Day, none of which is definitive. One gives the earliest attestations from Britain in the 1830s, defining it as "The first weekday after Christmas day, observed as a holiday on which postmen, errand boys, and servants of various kinds expect to receive a Christmas box." In any case, the day is still officially and unofficially observed in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Bermuda, and many other countries and territories that were part of the British Empire.

We had a remarkably unremarkable day yesterday. We don't celebrate Christmas Day with presents any longer as we have everything we need, but we do enjoy a vegan Christmas Dinner with all of the trimmings.

Of course, to drag out that phrase from the old Shake and Bake commercials, I helped!" A perfect place to insert a link to that long-forgotten commercial.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhUTboHTrO4

Of course, there have been updates to that commercial, but I believe that this one was the definitive version.

Since we are now vegans, none of the references to chickens are apropos, but with the assistance of our Senior Staff Photographer and her trusty Smart Phone Camera, I do have some pix of our repast, as well as our choice for a holiday movie, Love Actually, which we watched during the  consumption of that meal,

As I've noted many times, you can't replace Ocean Spray™ jellied cranberry sauce.

I had a small role in the preparation of the Herbed Scalloped Potatoes and the Hammish, and a big role in the consumption.

Proof, that we watched Love Actually.

Today should be relatively routine. We'll be dropping Ginger at daycare before making our appointed rounds. STWD will be staying home and enjoying her time on the bed.

Tomorrow, we will run more errands and then kick-back to read and relax. I don't have to take down our outdoor Christmas decorations until next week, when I'll take advantage of the unseasonably warm temperatures. According to the 10-day forecast from the NWS, New Years Day will have a high temperature of 40° with only a slight chance for precipitation. Or, I may do that as soon as Saturday. We shall see. Ciao.