Finally got the Thanksgiving pictures up last month. If you read my update at the first of November, you may want to go back and see that the second half was a little better. By the time Thanksgiving rolled around, I was very sick, worried and depressed. I'm not near as sick feeling anymore, and am taking my meds on schedule. I've actually been feeling pretty good for about 6 days now; although I have gotten incredibly itchy and have a tiny rash. I figure it's all the antibiotics that I'm taking. When I started up this new drug regime, I was hoping that I would be through the worst part and not look like "death warmed-over" by the time I got to go visit my family in NC for Christmas and it looks like that is going to be the case. WooHoo!

It's a busy week for me, and I started it out by screwing up my back! But luckily it's not too bad. I've been so sick the last couple of months that my house wasn't trashy but it was getting messy. Since I was feeling better and will be having people over to watch the kidz, I thought I'd do some cleaning. And I guess I did too much. LOL But this isn't the week to slow down. Since I'll be heading home for Christmas on Thursday (see below), these last couple of days are like the days just before Christmas. When I leave Thursday, the next time I am home will BE Christmas, so I've got to get everything together this week.

I passed out some gifts at work; worked on some projects for the boss; made popcorn balls; baked some cookies; cleaned the house; packed my suitcase; finished making some Christmas presents. Whew!! And I still ain't all packed up; but I'm excited about the trip!

Christmas in the Carolinas: for a second year in a row, I've been given the gift of "home". Last year, several co-workers pitched in and bought me a plane ticket home. This year, my family did the same. After not being home for Christmas in 18 years, it's absolutely wonderful that I've had this opportunity two years in a row. I hope to update this special section while in Charlotte, so stay on the lookout for some updates!! You can view the pictures and hear the tales of my trip back home for Christmas here.

Of course, after I added that section (above this one) and headed to the airport, my flight was canceled. Most of my friends have now told me that they are NEVER hiring me to book any of their flights! I'm scheduled out in the morning, over to Pittsburgh and then down to Charlotte before noon. (If that doesn't happen, you'll read all about in down in Week Four)

Eventually I got to Charlotte and had a wonderful Christmas Holiday with my family. Click the link in Week Three to find out all the nitty-gritty and to see a bunch of pictures from the trip.

Fresh from the sunny South!
And ready to start a brand new year.