My faux pas at the Christmas gathering..

[Novaheart]

My cousin was annoying me at a holiday dinner. I made a passing reference to his father's family and our collective surprise that my cousin wasn't born a cyclops. His response was so vulgar (a reference to his blesséd anatomy) that even I was speechless. Thank god I had served a buffet and the real guests were in another room. I should add that my cutting remark about my cousin's father's family was good natured and since that uncle is also my fourth cousin it's not like I could be taken all that seriously.

[Elspeth]

I spent most of the holiday with family who were obsessed with the fiscal cliff. No kidding. Instead of watching New Year's Rockin' Eve, I spent the countdown to 2013 watching Fox's coverage of the fiscal cliff negotiations, er, arm twisting.