A friend of mine is writing a research paper and has posed these questions to the locals.  Thought I'd share my responses.
___________________________________________________

Ok question 1 is: Do you have Santa in your house?

You bet! December without Santa is a month without sunshine, IMHO.

Question 2 is: If so is he a pagan Santa or not?

I don't put any sort of label on that personally. We teach the pagan origins of the Santa personae, including the modern interpretation and usage. But "Santa" today is just a jolly fellow in a red suit for me. He makes me happy.

Question 3 is: Do you only do pagan holidays, mixed, or Christian only?

We celebrate both in different fashions. Our religious observance is Winter Solstice, and we also participate in our cultural family Christmas celebrations. Xmas morning has a tree, Christmas carols (yes, all the classic religious ones as well as secular), and presents. I have never seen the need to water down the fun cultural aspects of Christmas because we're pagan. I have happy memories of the day and the season, and refuse to give them up.

Question 4 is: How do you teach your kids about Yule with Christmas being so common place?

See Question #3. We simply teach them that "we honor this holy day this way, and Christians honor it this way." Our children have been free to attend Christian services with their grandparents if they were curious. There are many religious holidays around this timeframe; Yule and Christmas are just two of them. We don't really make a big deal about it; they're just there.

"Hell's Kitchen" has once again sucked me into another season. Life is good.

Yeah, Mr. Hothead, Chef Ramsey is real intimidated by you while surrounded by cameras and security. One wrong move and he OWNS you, dude.

How would you grade President Obama's first 100 days?

A: He's done an excellent job so far. Very impressive.

B: It's been a reasonably good 100 days. I'm feeling optimistic.

C: Fair job, but I was expecting more.

D: He's down near the bottom rung of Presidential successes.

F: OMG. We are SO doomed.

Feel free to elaborate upon your answer in the Comments.

My husband makes staffs, canes etc from the oak branches on our property.  Well, he made one this weekend, and set it in a bucket of vegetable oil to soak up.  The bucket was on our patio, well-barricaded so as to not fall down.  Or so we thought...

This morning, there was a large oil puddle on the patio by the screen door.  And Hunter was looking for sympathy.  Hmmm.... the punching bag top is not where we left it to keep that bucket sturdy.... and where's the bucket....?!

It was easy to figure out what had happened.  It was confirmed later on this morning when he went in the yard, and out came a dark stream of gold from the backside. 

He's going to be VERY regular for a few days.  ;)

Catherine, my older daughter who's getting married next Apr/May 2010 (depending on when they can get a good venue), has requested I send out the word for a few good leads for a small-budget wedding/reception.   Event will be held in San Antonio, no outlying areas.  Any recommendations on the following appreciated:

Venue (Attendance 150-200 people, venue will be for wedding & reception together.  Ideally an outdoor ceremony, but should be able to move it indoors in case of cantankerous Texas weather.)  Something with a dance floor, or a place they can lay one out.  No honkey-tonks or deeply downtown.

Photographers

Caterers (nothing earthshatteringly fancy, nice basic, more likely brisket & beer kegs.  They'd like to provide their own kegs rather than have the caterer do it.)

DJ (no live band)

Any ideas appreciated.  Thanks!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PB4YSNHOlQI

For those of you who know my older daughter Catherine (aka, Kyllo),
especially from CMA, I am happy to announce that she got engaged during
her trip to China! Boyfriend Michael proposed on the Great Wall of
China (they've been together 4 years). I'm going to be a MIL!

No date set yet; she's still getting adjusted from the 8-hour time
difference. When her head clears, the planning shall commence. I'm so
excited!

She crossed over Tuesday morning, 7:40 am Texas time.  

Shortly before Alexandria & I were heading out the door, she tried to get up, which meant she wanted to go to the litter box.  I carried her there, and on the way back, she had a seizure.  Within 5 minutes, after about 3 breaths, she was gone.

She died by her favorite window, with the early morning sun just starting to come in.  Her family surrounded her, gentle hands petted her, familiar voices spoke to her.  Her crossing was quick, painless and she was not alone.  I can't think of a better way to move on into spirit.  

Now we will deal with her loss.  We will adjust, adapt, and remember.  Thank you, Stormlight, for 19 wonderful years.  I'm sure you've found a house on the other side to play in, perhaps with your dog companion Jewel who preceded you.  I can see you now, tearing through the house like Psycho Kitty.  Enjoy your playtime, until we join you.

I can still hear your meow and feel your fur.  I will miss you so much.

Thank you to everyone who offered their condolences.  I appreciate all of you.

She is 19 years old and beginning that decline.  She's been a bit off for about a month now, but things started turning last week when I was TDY in Orlando.  This past weekend the serious slide began.  Currently, we are keeping her comfortable, as she does not exhibit any signs of being in pain.  Mostly she remains asleep, but rallies here and there.  She gives a "where are the people" meow, and we go pet her and talk to her until she drifts back into sleep.

She is no longer eating, but still drinks.  However, there is really no more measurable urine output, she can no longer stand.  She is in an open crate with a padded mesh cube, to help her feel secure.

Here's some pictures from this weekend.

I have mixed feelings about celebrating St Patrick's Day. Yes, it's pretty much secular here in the United States. I'm 1/4 Irish, so Ireland is part of my heritage. And mostly it's just about wearing green and having fun.

However, the religious side of me has reservations, since St Patrick's primary claim to fame is the legend of him driving the snakes (aka, the pagan faiths) out of Ireland. Now, realistically, I know this is pretty moot. There was no forced mass conversion. Pagans tended to be syncretic; they didn't really care what name the Deities were called. "Oh, you call it "insert saint name here" in Christianity? You have a dying/reborn God? Sure, Christianity's OK with us." The Celtic people weren't a bunch of morons. I'm sure a reasonable percentage converted in good faith with no real reservations.

But it just seems a contradiction to me personally to celebrate a holiday that gives a good name to a symbol of pagan faiths being taken over.

Am I overanalyzing this? I don't know. What are your thoughts?