Last year I was in a very un-holiday-spirit place. This year, my house is all decorated, there is snow on the ground, I'm actually taking time off to enjoy my family, and I'm enjoying the season.

I didn't think things would turn around so much. Not that everything is sparkly wonderful, but it is nice to know that things are better.

I like having a tree but D fessed up to me that the reason he's not big on Chritmas is because holidays tended to suck for him when he was a kid so I decided to shrug it off this year and just pile my presents on a table.

I know baking cooking with you definitely helped me capture the holiday mood, Suzi! My brother thinks your ginger cookies are wizard, BTW.

Cash, I forgot to say, I hope the kids get better quick. Sick at Christmas is so not happy-making.

Picture from one of the senior apartment complexes in Madison: [link]

Thanks, Andi and Barb. The good thing is that they're not feverish or pukey (YAY for the little things!).

I'm glad Daniel is safe, but YIKES! Be careful out there!

I'm behind on the Christmas prep but I'm less futless. I feel bad for all the blergh that's going around for the holidays. Money is tight everywhere, kids are sick, families are crazy, work's insane for people and family and pet health woes are dragging so many people down. All I want for Christmas is a huge dose of happiness and health, with a sprinkling of prosperity. Is that too much to ask? Everyone's been good! They deserve it.

meara, I have to ask - are people in Washington the state any better with snow that in Washington the city?

Today's my last day at work until Jan. 2 - I couldn't take time off earlier and we're on a use-it-or-lose-it deal, so it all accumulated (not that I don't enjoy having the time off, but it would have been nice to have been able to take it at other times ... like for the F2F). I'm accomplishing remarkably little at work. My personal Christmas preparations are minimal - isn't really doing gifts these days, so I just need to pick up a few things. But I'm not in any kind of Christmas spirit - I just want it over with. sigh ... bah, humbug indeed

I know baking cooking with you definitely helped me capture the holiday mood, Suzi! My brother thinks your ginger cookies are wizard, BTW.

Yay and Yay! I'm sorry we didn't get you over to my apartment so I could show off my holiday decorations (and my new pad). So far Nicole is the only one who has seen the wonderfulness of my new place. This must change....y'all are invited over for dinner.

Sail, you're getting way more than us down South. We've maybe got 4 inches and might only get one or two more. Not really the Snowpocalypse everyone was expecting. We just got brushed with the edge of the storm.

It may continue snowing lightly for the next three days but they don't expect a lot more accumulation.

That's great news about Zoe, Kristin!

Finally some Buffista pet news that's positive.

You might've saved Christmas.