Christmas may be a day of peace, love and merriment, but that doesn't mean there's not a little stress involved. Whether you have a flaming crisis in the oven, an outdoor plan that depends on good weather, or a need to settle the argument over what's on TV, here's some last-minute holiday help.

In the kitchen

Turkey tip lines may get their heaviest use for solving Thanksgiving dinner crises, but the culinary life lines from both Butterball and Foster Farms are also available for last-minute Christmas dinner questions.

Butterball offers their Turkey Talk Line from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pacific time today and from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Dec. 26 through Dec. 28. Experts can be reached by calling 1-800-BUTTERBALL. Additional tips and recipe ideas are also available at www.butterball.com.

Foster Farms offers help to holiday chefs either by calling 800-255-7227 or going online at www.fosterfarms.com. The site also offers recipes such as Citrus Turkey, Holiday Champagne Turkey and sausage oyster stuffing, and tips ranging from how to prepare a turkey to how to stuff one.

If poultry isn't on the menu, the folks at the Honey Baked Ham Company are also offering holiday entertaining tips and preparation pointers, such as the best way to heat and slice a ham, on their Web site at www.honeybaked.com. Though they don't offer a help hotline, questions can be e-mailed to ham experts via the Web site.

If you're starting to panic about those festivities you're hosting tonight, last-minute entertaining ideas, such as 10 secrets to hosting a stress-free party and decorating pointers, are available from the domestic gurus at Home and Garden Television at www.hgtv.com. Or try www.foodnetwork.com for holiday recipes from appetizers to prime rib to seasonal cocktails.

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Of course, there's always the domestic diva herself, Martha Stewart, at www.martha

stewart.com, for decorating ideas and all things holiday.

On the table

Once you have all that advice from the experts, what about the ingredients you're lacking? If you can't find it at Vons or the corner store, you're out of luck; other major grocers are closed today. The Vons location at 1482 S. Broadway in Santa Maria is scheduled to be open today from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

On the Tube

Most networks are airing normal Tuesday programming, but if you can stand it, TBS is showing its annual 24-hour holiday marathon of the 1983 classic “A Christmas Story.” (If you're an early riser who has to wait around for the rest of the family to get up and see what Santa brought, one showing begins at 6 a.m.)

At 9 a.m., ABC is airing the Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade before an NBA double-header. At 11:30 a.m. the Miami Heat will be at the Cleveland Cavaliers and at 2 p.m. the Phoenix Suns will take on the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center. Over on ESPN at 5 p.m., the Seattle SuperSonics make a short trip across the Pacific Northwest to take on the TrailBlazers in Portland.

If you're not interested in the networks' holiday offerings, Blockbuster is scheduled to be open from noon to 8 p.m. and Hollywood Video is slated to be open from noon to midnight so you can rent any DVDs that Santa didn't bring.

The big screen is also an option, with Edwards Santa Maria 10 and Regal Arroyo Grande Stadium 10 cinemas both scheduled to be open today.

On the run

Whether your Christmas meal goes to the dogs like the Parker family's turkey did in “A Christmas Story,” or cooking a big holiday meal just isn't your thing, have no fear!

The Radisson Hotel on 3455 Skyway Drive is hosting a champagne brunch on Christmas Day from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Not to be outdone, the Santa Maria Inn is hosting a buffet from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Reservations are recommended for both events, though walk-ins are welcome.

On the hunt

All major retailers are closed today, but if you want to take advantage of after-Christmas sales, or need to return that oversized sweater from your Uncle Larry, all those stores will be open again tomorrow.

Kmart opens for its regular hours - 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. - the day after Christmas. Walmart will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday, while Target will stay open an hour later until 11 p.m.

Best Buy will re-open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Kohls fashionistas can shop til they drop from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The Santa Maria Town Center will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Macy's and Gottschalks will hold slightly extended hours. Macy's will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and you can shop at Gottschalks from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday. Sears will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

To get a jump start on those home repairs you intend to make in the new year, Home Depot will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. the day after Christmas.

Under the gun

Santa had better lay off the spiked eggnog before hitching up the reindeer and taking off in his sleigh this year.

That's because all 12 law enforcement agencies in Santa Barbara County are participating in a holiday-season crackdown on driving under the influence.

The 19-day heightened enforcement period began Dec. 14 and is expected to run through midnight on New Year's Day.

The effort, called “Avoid the 12,” includes six sobriety and driver's license checkpoints in the county, in-city DUI patrols and maximum enforcement by California Highway Patrol.

About 80 percent of all California Highway Patrol officers are on patrol during the maximum enforcement period, said CHP Officer Gus Lopez.

“The biggest thing will probably be the drinking driver,” Lopez said, but the CHP will also be watching out for those driving at excessive speeds. Officers also hope that more people will wear their seatbelts this year.

Lopez said there is a heightened danger during the holidays due to the increased traffic and drunken drivers on the road. He urged drivers to be alert and allow themselves plenty of time to reach their destination.

“But the single best thing a person can do is wear your seatbelt,” he said.

On the mend

Unfortunately, illness and injuries in humans and animals never take a holiday. Luckily, however, there's help available 24/7.

Marian Urgent care will be open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. today.

For those late-night emergencies, the Marian Hospital Emergency room will be open 24 hours, as always.

The CARE (California Animal Referral and Emergency) Pet Hospital (899-CARE, or 899-2273) is at 301 E. Haley St. in Santa Barbara, and the Central Coast Pet Emergency Hospital (489-6573) is at 1558 Branch Street in Arroyo Grande. Both will be open 24 hours on Christmas.

Under the sun

Stand under that mistletoe and kiss the rain goodbye.

The National Weather Service predicts sunshine today, with a high temperature near 65 degrees in Santa Maria and 64 degrees in Lompoc.

Sunny skies are not unusual this time of year in the Santa Maria area, said National Weather Service specialist Stuart Seto, even though this is the rainy season.

“Normal for this time of year is 65 and the normal low is 38,” he said, so temperatures forecast for Christmas Day are just about the norm.

On the road

For many reasons, Christmas is a good day to stay home. Among them is that no buses are operating. Don't bother trying to catch one until Wednesday, when, SMOOTH, the Guadalupe Flyer and Guadalupe Shuttle will resume regular service.

In the dumps

All area trash pickup service is canceled today, with collection running one day late for the rest of the week.

December 25, 2007