So, by the Orthodox calendar, today was Christmas.

Seemed like time to finally get the family's Christmas letter written, you know?

They should go out tomorrow. Even though the wife had the cards and envelopes ready weeks ago. (And no, Sis, I don't think there's anything in there you don't already know. Especially if you're reading here.)

If you can't tell, I'm having a heck of a time writing anything at all this winter.

But hey, astronomers tell us, based upon conjunctions of Venus and Jupiter, Jesus was probably born on 17 April, not in December. So actually, I'm way early.

(In 6 BC, by the way. Which makes sense, since Herod died in 4 BC... but looking at it, given the centuries the church had to look back, being five years off is a pretty small error.)

The April date happens to jive with the lines about "shepherds in the fields, tending their flocks", since the only time shepherds actually do that is in the spring, when their sheep and goats are giving birth.

In either case, whether you celebrated today or not, hope your Christmas Day was a good one.

The heelers had pig meat with their dinners yet again, so they're quite happy with the day.