It's been long enough that it might be safe to blog again. I've managed to avoid the holiday season altogether. Christmas was crazy, my family took a long-anticipated group portrait now that all the grandchildren are born and over with...or at least until I catch up with my sibling's birthing streak...I assume they came to the conclusion that it would be a while, and they'd better just get the picture taken now. We're an odd sort--we economize typical family functions. If we can hold off a while so as to accomplish everything at once...then we'll just wait. For instance, when I was living in Haiti last Christmas, my family decided they would postpone the holiday get-together until my return in February. That's right...the typically Decemberist-holiday was pushed forward two months, due to the loss of one member. This might make some sense, if our families lived light-years away, or didn't get along, however...on the contrary, we live only 4 hours away and actually enjoy spending time together. This is how they might have pushed getting a family portrait back 5 more years in an effort to give me a shot at having children of my own to contribute to the photo.

New Year's was fun, I discovered that boots are no-good for walking 2 miles in. Especially if the insoles have been replaced with cardboard. I had a blister the size of Canada on my right heel. Six minutes before midnight, someone in the party got the bright idea to start walking to a seedy bar called the "Sugar Shack." I got the even brighter idea to go along with them...so off we went...on an adventure to make it there by midnight. Of course, there was no timely arrival to be had, but Midnight on the street had it's charms as well. For instance, I never knew that my quaint little town shot off canons, or let out sirens to welcome the new year. I made the best of it, and decided that was a worthwhile investment. The rest of the night included capering around with a chain of friends from one place to the next, on foot. Much earlier that morning, we were all ready to fall headlong into bed. Welcome to the year 2006.