Festive sausage plate of gratuitous links

This is the berry-carrier typing. mo-wo and I have just returned from my employer's Christmas/Seasonal Event/Merry Non-Denominational Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms-Day dinner at a local steak house (we prefer to eat our vegetables second-hand) where we received a considerable shock.

We were advised this weekend is the last weekend before Christmas (or whatever you call it). Is this true?

Our shopping plans, made on the drive home from New Westminster, amount to "everyone will get chocolate". I endorse the one-store shopping plan but feel limited by the choco-option. We could purchase cheese, and wish people a 'merry cheesemas", or to the local vendor of prophylactics. Merry Jizzmas, everyone.

PM