I hope everyone enjoyed the few days off from work for the Christmas holiday. Most people I know have several weeks because they are educators. I seem to be in a job where even if the school did close (it doesn't) the library would still be open (it is). So I am back at work today. I had a quite lovely lunch with four of my co-workers. Sometimes other people's negative opinions can infect my own feelings towards others so I am super glad that I took the opportunity to get to know my fun co-workers. The longer I am here the more change I can see in the environment. I am happy to say that I have never cried at this job. Strong me! Yay!

I spent my few days off doing what I do best: watching pirate movies, playing Civilization, making bread pudding and drinking sparkling wine. I barely left the house except to buy groceries and pick up Chinese food. I was well on my way to being a hermit. Or at least hibernation.

During my four day weekend I watched a tip show (not much in the way of non-Christmas shows were on so this was on the edge really) on giving gifts to the service people in your life. It went on about tipping your hairstylist, barista, massage therapist, manicurist, favorite sommelier, dog walker, bikini waxer, the list went on and on. I have no problem tipping people for good service, but I felt kind of left out. None of these jobs constitute anything that I frequent on a regular basis. I go to a different Starbucks or coffee place everytime I want bitter morning beverages, I have no dog and I haven't found a haristylist that I actually want to return to (I am more of a Hair Cuttery gal) in three years . So I guess I feel out of the loop that my upkeep is so low. If anything maybe I should be bragging that I don't require a group of people comparable to a Hollywood entourage to keep me going. It might change if I lived in a big city but I have never really known a lot of folks to need this much of a support staff on a daily basis.