Well, here we are: another year. Seeing as how time and our calendar are simply constructs, I don’t get as excited as others. This time of the year is always so weird, with being off work/school, holidays, and all that. It’s a time warp that chews you up and spits you back out in a new year, same old schedule eventually.

Back to work today, even though all other government agencies got off; sigh. Let us recap the last week or so. That first Friday we were off, I worked until 11:30, then Ash and I went to lunch and did a bit of Christmas shopping. We were successful anyway. Watched a movie at night. The following two days were a bit of the same; cleaning, wrapping, prep cooking. On Sunday, my oldest had to work but the rest of us did our traditional Xmas Eve Mexican lunch out.

Christmas day went very well; kids really enjoyed their gifts, seemed grateful, and then my meal turned out really well too. What’s not to love a our food, family, and football?

Tuesday was mental recovery day for me, I feel like. I puttered around, tidying, checking out my best gift: Heavys headphones. They’re pretty awesome! I think both Ash and I ran that day and I honestly don’t remember what else we did. Ate leftovers, drank some beer, watched movies.

Ash took two of the kids to see Aquaman Wednesday so while they were gone I finished packing up the car because the plan had been to leave for my parents’ place as soon as they got home. We got to town around 5:40 their time and had dinner and visited. That was all before my kids ‘ behavior went to shit. I thought this time there’d be no complaints because they’re all older but I was wrong. Elliot especially sucked because he complained about his sleeping situation.

deapite their awful attitude, I had a nice time. The first day, my sister and Justin came and we did our second Christmas and had enchiladas. The next day, my dad took the kids to the air plane museum and Ash and my mom and I went to bottle shops, then we all met for lunch. We went back out to two breweries we’d never visited them back home. Left immediately Saturday morning and told the kids things are changing around the house. No more devices like they’ve been doing; more reading.

So far, that’s working out. It was nice to get back Saturday and catch up on stuff. We went to our friends house that night for a little get together and then Sunday, we did nothing. I mean, nothing for new years. I made pollo con queso with yellow rice, did laundry, watched football, won my fantasy football league (and Dakota won the one I run!) then fell asleep. Ok, not true. We did watch a couple movies, stayed up ’til 12, then promptly went to sleep.

Monday, I did another run, Ash rode his bike 25 miles, and I finished putting away the decorations. All the bins are in the living room ready to go back up into storage. I always like regaining my house after the holidays, even though I enjoy that too. Time went oddly fast yesterday; I didn’t get my run in until 11 due to cleaning and all that so we ate around 2, went out for ice cream, then took Elliot to work an impromptu shift. We basically just watched the bowl games all evening. This morning, Ash got up for work and got all the way there before realizing the governor gave all state agencies off – except us! Now granted, we are legislature and have semi-different rules. But we got all the other extra days off like the other agencies so it was a bit confusing for us to be back in the office today. Oh well.

Well, that’s it for today; just trying to get my bearings back here in the office; Session 2024 starts in one week!