You know, you don't have to go to the post office if you have a place where you can leave a package for the mailman to pickup. I did the postage online, printed the label, paid with a credit card and the mailman who delivers at my office picked it up. No waiting in line.

Oh blast, my Secret Santa gift won't be going out until after I get back from vacation. Santee, I'm very sorry, especially since you live far away and it may take a while to get to you, but hopefully it will be a lovely Happy First Week Or So Of The New Year gift!

And to *my* Santa, I'm leaving town tomorrow to visit family in the Midwest and will be back next Friday, so (a) no rush, and (b) if it comes while I'm gone, I won't get to squee about it here for a few days.

My 2007 in review:

It's definitely been a good year for me. I took a couple of fantastic trips (India, Senegal) for friends' weddings and also went to my first big professional conference (ALA Annual in DC -- which reminds me to ask: any Buffista librarians planning to go to ALA this summer in Anaheim?). I accomplished several things at my job that I'm very proud of, including establishing a Teen Advisory Board that boasts 15 members and writing a successful grant application for $20,000. I finished the last of my classes for grad school and now I only have to do my two practicums next semester before I graduate in the spring. I also started dating again this spring, after a prolonged hiatus, and though I haven't met The One yet, I've made one good new friend and regained some confidence in myself, so I'm looking forward to what the new year will bring in that regard. 2008, I've got a good feeling about you.

I am completely Daisy Jane on the mailing. And the leaving the package for pickup is no good, because we're not supposed to do that at work and the weather is not conducive to leaving it out at home, unless it's small enough to fit in the mail box, which most of my packages seem not to be. Hence, the no seekrit santa this year. I find that I'm a bit mellower but not nearly as much in the Christmas spirit. I'm not sure whether the tradeoff is worth it or not.

But I will! Because the house we just bought is just up the street from where we were! Come visit my house and my puppy!

I thought your new house was way out in the burbs, Sparky. Did you end up with a different place? I know you sent an address, but DC addresses don't mean much to me IRT locations.

I thought your new house was way out in the burbs, Sparky.

My house is just over the MD line from DC in Takoma Park, still inside the Beltway, and still close to the same Metro stop we lived across from.

ION, in case you hadn't heard: Tom Scola is Teh Awesome!

Yesterday a box arrived for me from an address my DH did not recognize and I told him it was probably from my Seekrit Santa. My DH unilaterally decided that I should not be allowed to have said box until Christmas Day, (some rule he made up about not opening presents early, bah-humbug!) and he then kept me from getting near the box.

Long story short, even my DH has to sleep sometime, and I am now in possession of the coolest bookends ever and some chocolate to die for. I am assuming that Lee must have snitched about how I steal boring institutional library bookends from my various employers. I tried to get the puppy to pose between the bookends and take a picture this a.m., but she wouldn't sit still for it. Everyone will just have to wait for an in situ picture with books!

THANKS, TOM!

w00t!

Long story short, even my DH has to sleep sometime

Hee!

Yay! Secret Santa is in the mail. Fingers crossed it'll actually get there on time.

I just got the most wonderful card from Thailand. It has Santa and, um, water buffalo? I'm not sure what they are, but I just absolutely love the card, love it. Plus, Fay has the most beautiful handwriting. Thanks Fay!

Cool beans! (Yes, buffalo - the Thais are big fans of buffalo. Seriously. It's a thing.)

wrt Seekrit Santa...well, the good news is that I have posted my package. But the bad news is that, what with the exciting 'Hey, you have no visa!' fun at the end of my time in Bangkok (oh, okay, and mostly with me being a twat with time management) I ended up not posting it from Thailand, but rather bringing the bits & bobs to the UK. So I mailed it yesterday - but I have a strong suspicion it won't get there till after Christmas. Um. So, if you haven't got your pressie by Christmas day...well, don't panic, 'cause it might be from me. In which case, I swear it's en route. Um.

t /sheepish

SORRY!!!

I am assuming that Lee must have snitched about how I steal boring institutional library bookends from my various employers.

Noooo. I'm not sure I knew that actually.

By the way, Anne, that blueberry bark is mighty tasty but those fruity chocolate thingies are freaking delicious and I need to stop eating them before they're all gone.