Doesn't it seem that way to you? I mean, yes, we're all told that officially the winter solstice is on December 21 and that it's the tipping point--after that, the days begin to lengthen again. But it seems to me that the midpoint falls a week or so earlier in the month. It seems to me that the days are very short for a long time before the 21st--a couple of weeks, anyhow. But after the 21st, they start to get longer very quickly. Like, last night, when I realized that the days are already long enough so that it's not completely dark as I drive home from work.

Wow. That was boring.

I've decided that, from now on, I'm going to have all my clothes made for me. I was designing things in my mind and picturing them on me and I decided that what I really need is to find someone with the sewing skills to make these designs a reality.

Also, I need some red shoes, but that's a different topic.

It's a wasteland here at the office today. Earlier this morning there were a couple of other people in my half o the building but this afternoon, I'm all alone in the world. In the front half of the building, the full staff of five people are all working away, but I have 60% of the place to myself. Tomorrow I must remember to bring my walkman.

I've been just plowing through the work today, enjoying myself enormously. Sadly, I remember a minute ago that I still have 26 pages of website content to edit* today. Blech.

Also, in a conference call with the Bowery Boys yesterday, I promised to do some research and get back to them in 48 hours with some new ideas. Granted, you and I know I said that mostly to get them to shut up and hang up the phone, but they don't, so I need to go find something that looks new and wonderful for them. Double-blech.

I love my job. I wish they'd leave me alone to do it.

My own personal ChaosManager, Vela, was saying yesterday that she needs to figure out a way to "incent" me for all the work I do.

First, of course, I wince at the incenting. I do wish people wouldn't "incent" me. It makes me cringe. But I don't argue with her, because I'm too flattered.

I also don’t point out that they already "incent" me every other week. It's called a paycheck.

Next, I realize that she also said that coming to work in the morning is starting to make her sick at her stomach, so who knows if she'll be here long enough to really follow through? But it's the thought that counts (unless you want to go shopping), so I'm pleased at the compliment.

I have to work Friday. Although I feel for Vela and the now-departed Gidget, I'm not yet at the point where the aggravations of this place outweigh my interest in the work I'm doing, so I don't really mind.

I got fabulous loot at Christmas this year. Two new games (one PC, one GameBoy), DVDs, clothes (!!), edibles, smell-pretties, and I don't know what-all.

At the moment, the R.C. is having to fight me for the DS every evening so she can play her new game. I'm completely enthralled with Harvest Moon (recommended by Rapunzel) and am actually musing over breaking the budget with a $130 indulgence in a second DS, so I don't have to be generous and let the R.C. play with (her own) machine. (Not seriously. I'm mindful of the fact that I have another $2,500 worth of work that needs to be done on my car. I'm just not good at sharing.)

Which reminds me that I owe Rapunzel a letter, and I need to box up the old games I promised her (along with some books I think the L-i-K-S might like) and get them sent off as well.

Which chore leads inevitably to reminding me that I am, in fact, at work. I should be working.

But first--a trip to the kitchen. Because life is too short not to eat custard muffins when the opportunity arises.

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* I could have declined the honor, but I know that if I don't watch them, these people will load up gibberish, bad grammar, and painful punctuation. I just can't let that happen.