I've always thought that extending the joy is a good thing. When every present is open by noon on Christmas Day, the rest of the holiday seems is a little anticlimactic.

I mailed my gift yesterday. Just in time, it seems. this is my first Buffista seekret santa exchange. I do hope my giftee enjoys their loot!

this has been a frustrating year. I've gotten deeper in debt and put on weight, despite working to not do either.

I, too am working on a book. It is a field guide to art deco buildings in Kansas City. I haven't made a lot of headway on it this year, but I haven't given up entirely either.

Shortly, before this month ends I'll turn 50. This is not a happy thing, as I still don't have my shit together and am still kinda waiting for my life to begin. You know, the one where I have a career, a home, and a spouse. It is probubly time for me to finally admit that none of those things are going to happen.

The very snooty lady at the post office was oh so kind to point out to me that they *prefer* holiday packages to be mailed by the 14th.

You should've told her you were working off the Buffista calendar. This (and a much shorter line) is why I use the self-serve machine.

Thank you, Seekrit Santa. The amber earrings are beautiful. I wore them last night and got compliments on them.

I have sent off my gift. I hope it gets there. The person at the UPS store said the computer didn't recognize the name of the town.

It is a field guide to art deco buildings in Kansas City.

Cool, quester. Do you know about this? [link]

Cool, quester. Do you know about this? [link]

No, Spidra, I didn't. But I've got it bookmarked now! Thanks for the link!

I'm probably not going to be able to get mine out to my Secret Santee until sometime after Christmas, either. Also, for whoever's my Secret Santa, I'm going to be leaving town next week, so if you haven't mailed it yet, it's probably best to wait until after New Years.

I checked the post office dates Priority mail is until the 21st. Since most boxes from my house end up going that way anyway I think the post office scolding was odd. First class mail has until the 19th. I hope to get my giftte's gift out by monday. Oddly, it seems to have a theme.

I mailed my Secret Santa present yesterday...turns out the APO has been open all week, rather than just Thursdays, to provide Xmas service, but they didn't tell anyone. So anyway, I hope that it gets to my Secret Santee by Epiphany or Orthodox Christmas. Or just gets there, knowing the APO.

I don't know what to say about this year yet. When I was 18, I had a major watershed year: left my small home town for the first time, lived on my own in a big city, went to college, fell in love, and completely changed as a person - looks, attitude, wardrobe, everything.

18 years later, I think I may be doing the same thing, though less voluntarily. Motherhood is changing who I am as a person. Who I was is being squeezed out, and I don't know the new me. The depression is changing who I am, or who I perceive myself to be, also. When all is said and done, I hope I like this new person.

erika, coolness! V. cool gift.

Ooh, thanks for the reminder. I'll take my Secret Santa stuff into work and mail today.