Christmas has come and gone, and I’m left with a strange sense of relief coupled with disappointment that it ended so quickly. We spend all this time preparing for these few days–and then it’s done. All was finished on time and we sat around the fire on Christmas Eve, listening to carols and munching on lots of goodies. I was totally exhausted and have already made my new year’s resolution, even though it’s a bit early–no more home improvement projects after Thanksgiving! Trying to finish painting the family room before Kevin and Soula arrived was not a good move on my part. It delayed all the decorating, baking, gift wrapping, etc. so that I was doing all that stuff right down to the wire with little time left to enjoy the holidays.

I’ll be starting in on finishing up the couple of remodeling things I’ve started as soon as I have all the holiday stuff packed up and put away once more. Also have to finish up the year-end stuff for 3 clients and then can get back to the final bit of painting, etc. Since Kevin’s wedding is in May, I doubt that I’ll start much in the way of new “projects” until all that is behind me.

Christmas resulted in lots of great gifts. Patrick gave me a new phone system that I need to spend time studying to figure out all the bells and whistles. He decided my old kitchen wall phone needed to be replaced with new technology with built in caller id, voice mail and stuff that I didn’t even know existed. Kevin and Soula got me a Roomba–a remote controlled vacuum system. You turn it on and it runs around the room on it’s own cleaning your floors. The Jetsons have arrived. Lots of other goodies including books, dvds, clothing, decorations and gift baskets. Thanks abound for all this thoughtfulness.

Just heard from Kevin, calling from the airport in Seattle. They arrived safe and sound and were in the process of claiming luggage and heading for home. Time to head off to bed knowing I have another day off tomorrow and have nothing that I have to do! I’m ready to relax and enjoy!