Today seems to be a good day for the sekrit santa giftees. I picked up a package today from my "not so sekrit santa." It had dark chocolate truffles, a Paddywax candle (chocolate scented, soooo yummy!), a Lush bath melt and bubble bar (more yummy smells!), some cranberry fluid (which I believe is booze, but I'm waiting to confirm that before I tipple), and a large silver glass ball that hangs from a chain. Thank you, Ginger!

My sekrit santa box is away and will, sadly, not be sekrit at all in that it involves a customs form on which I had to put the contents. I thought about trying to be clever and write misleading things but then worried that custom agents would rip it apart.

Still, it is away and I'm hoping it wings its way far, far away quickly!

I've been thinking about my recap and am finding the year a sort of bizarre blur. Nothing huge stands out. It seemed to be an extended period of great effort that just didn't pan out.

A relationship that didn't work out...all for the best.

Lots of machination around work that...didn't work out...all for the best.

A HUGE effort for the marathon that...didn't work out...not entirely sure if that was for the best, but I'll do it this year for sure.

Things didn't start turning around until I decided to go back to my original name. That process has been the very definition of interesting...but slow and unlikely to be resolved for a very long time.

Since then, lots of good things happening around business...also unresolved but very, very optimistic.

I'm surging into '08 with energy and hope in my heart.

For goals, I'd have to say the top 3 are:

• to build my two businesses to the degree that I can make exceptional progress on my debt while comfortably covering all my expenses...including the health insurance I don't currently have.
• to get into my right body with some fun and new activities.
• adding to my family of friends with 2 or 3 happy and stable new relationships.

  Oh, and if the right intimate relationship comes along, that would be cool...but it not, I'm okay with that too. I'd also like to be there in the best possible ways for my surrogate mom and her 95 year old hubby. And to keep Bartleby safe and happy.

  About N&G, she told me today that he said he expects to be dead within the next 2 years. He's really healthy apart from lost eyesight and a troublesome back. But what an amazing perspective. "I won't make it to 100, so 97 seems like a good place to stop." Nothing maudlin or traumatic...just, practical. Bless them both.

  I'm wishing good choices, wisdom and prosperity for all Buffistas!

I was going to write a note, Sail, but the process of getting everything in a box and mailing it took all my energy. The truffles and the cranberry vodka/liqueur are homemade. The latter is useful for cranberry martinis and added to white wine or bubbly stuff for a kir something or other. The candle is from a local company that I like. The silvery thing is stainless steel and therefore unbreakable, and was designed for outdoor decor. After I packed it, I realized that between the sloshing liquor noise and the chain noise, the package could easily have been mistaken for a bomb. I'm glad neither of us has gotten a visit from homeland security.

The box did clank in a sinister way. The post office lady said something about it, but was more concerned that something had broken. I think we're safe from Homeland Security. I'm glad to know, however, that thing is stainless steel as I have a less than stellar track record with round shiny objects in my possession. (Count them, not just one, but two! broken gazing balls for my balcony. Sniff.) At least this one will be safe from me.

The truffles are quite nummy as I sampled one already. The cranberry vodka will be tested out this weekend. My brother gave me a bottle of bubbly for Christmas, so it sounds like just the thing to go with it.

Thanks again!

I was rather thinking of your balcony and your round shiny object experience.

My friend T gave me the most excellent Christmas present. She usually picks up this and that throughout the year but this year she outdid herself. I received two boxes at the end of last week: one with lots of bits and pieces with an Asian theme. (Well, except for the cat toy - which had a catnip theme.) The other package was a very cool portfolio whose cover was decorated with images of sushi.

Then I went away for Christmas and came back to find another package from her on my doorstep! This one had an excellent bookbag/satchel made out of very kimono like cloth with a sketchbook with an image of a cat from a Japanese print on the cover and an Artist's Way Creativity Journal AND a lovely ceramic watercolor palette and a cool Chinese bag. And when I phoned her she told me that she MADE the portfolio! And that others could be coming my way. I feel inspired - clearly I must have work to put in the portfolio.

I thought about trying to be clever and write misleading things but then worried that custom agents would rip it apart.

Yes, this is worrisome, isn't it? The lady at the post office was quite sympathetic, and suggested helpfully opaque phrases like 'decorative objects'.

My best friend gave me the coolest present ever, a Genographic Project Kit. (Yes, she did spend too much.)

"Paper goods" is also fairly non-descriptive while being factual, about anything from notepaper to books to decks of cards.

If you feel you have to tumble to "jewelry," use "costume" rather than "plastic and metal", as the latter can easily set off mental defense alarms.

"Metal, glass, ceramic and paper goods. Candle." is nicely factual and non-descriptive of, say, a glass-and-metal votive holder with candle, a decorative figurine, a book, and a paper fan. And I always undervalue so that my recipient doesn't have to pay customs charges.

Dude, Ginger, that's an awesome present!