Semi-rhetorical question: why am I awake?

Not-even-semi-serious answer: so that in the short time I have in front of a computer today, I'll have a Buffista to post with?

Hi Nilly! How are you!? happy new calendar year to you!

Hey, Nilly! Hey, Kat!

Hey Cindy! I peered in Minearverse and had to run away since it was all blah blah blah Mr. Rogers blah blah blah to me.

Kat, how were the holidays? When does the new semester start?

As for me, one of my most favorite cousins just moved to a building near mine. she used to live in Jerusalem, which is not far, not even by Israeli standards, but this three-blocks-away deal is making me very happy. She's a bit upset with the move, since she had to leave friends and a job when she came here (for a new job), so I feel a little strange by being happy about something that makes her not-so-happy, but still.

[Edit: Cindy! The question to Kat about the how-abouts of the holidays is addressed to you, as well.]

Hey Cindy! I peered in Minearverse and had to run away since it was all blah blah blah Mr. Rogers blah blah blah to me.

Heh. I'm glad I provided one recognizable title. After I posted and scrolled down to the "Buffistas home" link, I had to look at the thread title to see where I'd just posted, because there was such a disconnect between the topic, and the thread. Then I remembered there is no topic in Minearverse. Lately, it makes Natter look focused.

Nilly, our holidays themselves were nice, but each one of us (including my poor mother) was bitten by a stomach virus during the days off. I wish we'd had more healthy time. After Christmas day, there wasn't one day where all of us were healthy at once.

How was Hanukkah? I read a post of yours, I think you made it, after you'd lit the last candle. I know you love the ease of Hanukkah.

Hi Nilly! I'm excited for you to have your cousin nearby -- and think of it this way: your being there is making her transition to the new place much friendlier.

Does she at least like her new job, Nilly?

The holidays were hectic as my parents have been here visiting. I haven't spent so much uninterrupted time with them as an adult ever. The last time I saw both of them together, we were in a forest in Wyoming and Lori and I ran away after 3 days. So this has been a learning experience.

The upside is this: I wanted to start exercising and having them here compelled me to exercise because it meant I got to leave the house and do things alone or only with Lori. So that's good.

My new teaching semester doesn't start until March. But I have some random other teaching I have to do between now and then and my classes start in two weeks. Which reminds me: I have a paper to write for both of my classes.

After Christmas day, there wasn't one day where all of us were healthy at once.

Oy. Was there a time with only one healthy adult? Also, are you all all-better now?

you love the ease of Hanukkah.

It's the best of all the holidays. The only downside of it is that there's no vacation time during it. I think it's a plot by the other holidays, so that Hanukkah wouldn't become the one most perfect holiday ever.

It has its rules and the things you have to keep during it, but they're more relaxed than in any other holiday. And there are eight days of it, each exactly as imposrtant as any other (as opposed to one or two holiday-er days, as it usually is in the longer ones), so you can get to spend it in all sorts of ways - with family, with friends, different groups of friends, and even curled up with a book (though, this year, I didn't have enough time to get that). The very best holiday.