Asking the hivemind for a friend: If you are a Londoner or people with knowledge of coats that will be warm enough for London in Janurary and stores that provide a click and collect option, my friend would love an input from you. Details here, and thank you: [link]

I'm super tired and groggy, and really uninterested in doing any work today. I'm going to drink more coffee and listen to Janelle Monae to see if that improves my mood.

Listened to Jon on WMBR this morning which was quite amusing with Santa visiting. Bonus was it totally woke me up.

Your unlimited PTO is not unlimited?

No, as she explained to me a couple of weeks ago, it just meant taking a day or two above what you had before. Which, I argue with the definition, but fine.

And after she sent me a sort of scolding email about the amount of time I was asking to take and the crucial work that could be done on December 26, 27, and 31 (yeah, right), and I rescinded my request, she said oh, yeah, I guess I had these conversations informally with the people in the office, but it never came up with you.

Fortunately (?) we're going back to non-unlimited PTO next year, so whatever. I'm not at all snippy about it, as you can see.

I am realizing that we as a family have no Christmas Day traditions other than opening presents and just hanging out that morning. So without presents it just sort of a non-day. The meal is nothing set and I have no strong opinions or connection to it, like Thanksgiving. There is nothing we watch like we do the parade and dog show and football on Thanksgiving.

I just want to skip it this year. I'm going to start putting together thoughts on things I can do that will become new traditions for me for Christmas.

If we just all lived closer I would host the gift exchange reveal party!!

the crucial work that could be done on December 26, 27, and 31

My face is a dubious reaction gif right now.

I'm going to start putting together thoughts on things I can do that will become new traditions for me for Christmas.

I'll offer my Christmas plans. Cook a simple Christmas dinner, probably centering around a ham, baked beans, and cranberry sauce with cherry pie for dessert. Eat early, then head out to the animal shelter with a bag of treats to snuggle with the cats there.

That's basically what I did on Thanksgiving. The cats seemed to appreciate the company (and the turkey treats). And I enjoyed seeing the cats again.

@@ Dana

I love that holiday plan, Fred Pete

I might go see a movie.

Got the word it's a 6 hour day, hooray!

Out of my 20 person team, three are in the office today. A handful more of us (including me) are working remotely. I've actually gotten done more than I expected. Of course, I expected to get not much of anything done, so that bar's not exactly stratospheric.

Fred Pete, I like your plans.