Today is...

...the first day of winter and the first day of my winter vacation. With what I do, I usually don't get to take much time off during the holiday season. In fact, I honestly can't remember the last time I got to take the entire holiday shutdown (Christmas eve or there-about to the day after New Year's day) off. In the past I have had to travel to other states (only home for Christmas day and a few around it), I have had to be prepared to be called into work, or I have had to actually plan on being at work. Well, not this year, and we don't have any family travel plans in the mix either. I am looking forward to these next bunches of days to relax, read a few good books, spend some quality (and quantity) time with my family, reconnect with my loving wife, play with a friend or two, work on projects around the house, build something neat in my garage... Oh man, so much for relaxing. I've got to finish my Christmas shopping, though I am nearly done and may be able to have Linda finish it for us. We procrastinated enough that the present to Mom and Dad won't get to them until just after Christmas (sorry, hope you enjoy the gift anyway). This is the first Christmas in some time that we will go somewhere else for dinner, usually we are the hosts, but this year we get to celebrate with great friends that we consider family in their reletively new home, and are looking forward to it. Okay, I've lost track of any semblance of a theme or thread in this post.......Happy Holidays