"Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la..." That's right, Christmas is over. Time to yank down the garland, tangle up the lights and toss out the tree. Before I do, I think I need to take pictures of my office. Not that I think you're especially curious about my working environment, but I think I did a damn good job of decorating this year. I started getting into the season early and bringing in little touches to work all month long. I still think it may need a few more lights next year though.... and I'm determined to find a place for the animatronic lawn reindeer.

Christmas at the castle was, in a word, perfect. I did the traditional eat-the-cookies-drink-the-milk on Christmas Eve as evidence of St. Nick's visit for the Clanlad. He was very excited when he came to wake me up at OhmyGod o'clock with squeals of "He came! Santa really came!" (that's my favorite part of the whole season to be honest). The next couple hours were spent opening his presents and some-assembly-required... although, anymore it seems that all his toys need about a dozen sheets of stickers applied to them rather than screws, bolts and fitting Tab A into Slot B. I'm not complaining, mind you, but somehow it seems significant and a litle sad.

The afternoon I spent alone, the Clanlad having gone to his Nana's house. No visitors, no carolers, no relatives... just me, a stack of action movies that Santa brought, my Hungry Man dinner and a roaring fire in the fireplace.