Good morning, Washington. We here at DCist hope that your Christmas Day was just as relaxing as ours was. Today is what's commonly referred to as Boxing Day, a holiday devoted to returning those two-sizes too big sweaters and and engaging in some last-gasp holiday consumerism -- and boy, could a lot of stores use the business. There will probably be plenty of big discounts to be had around town, considering that it's been one of the worst retail seasons in recent memory.

Doggies + Christmas = Aww: You have to love reading the newspaper on Christmas Day -- it's really a comprehensive exercise in inspirational, feel-good storytelling. This year, it appears that a canine motif swept over the local media. WTOP covered the happy happy joy joy of adopted dogs, while simultaneously reporting on Vi Mars, a seeing eye Labrador who cheers up sick kids at a Bethesda hospital. Then there's the Post, whose Christmas coverage featured an adorable story about a postman -- aptly named Santa Paws -- who dogs love (he delivers about 100 "doggy stockings" every year around Christmas). Of course, we at DCist love the pups, too; I must say, this editor's never seen a better behaved dog than my family's Mastiff-Retriever, Tessa.

Update on River Road Repairs: It's not great news in the aftermath of Tuesday's massive water main break -- NBC 4 reports that officials are saying that the road could be closed for "several more days," and the cause of the massive three-foot hole in a water pipe may not be known for six weeks. Construction work on the road will continue Friday.

Briefly Noted: Elderly churchgoer beaten with baseball bat and robbed before midnight Mass in College Park...Police stop robbery in progress after short shootout on 2600 block of Georgia Avenue NW...How high can you score on WaPo columnist John Kelly's Washingtonian quiz?

This Day In DCist: Last year, we had a listen to Councilman David Catania's flustered 911 call; also, cab drivers were handing out surveys regarding preferences between meters and zones.

Photo by dr_kim_veis.