First, I wanted to send out a belated happy holidays and happy new year to those of you checking in to see if this place has been updated recently. For those hoping there wouldn't be an update, my apologies. I hope everybody had a wonderful time with loved ones, celebrated safely and received everything they asked for on their Amazon wish lists and more.

Eleven days away from the computer is a long time in blog terms (both in writing and reading). My absence coincided with the company's winter furlough, which happens every year and is the adult equivalent of winter break. During the furlough, the office shuts down and employees are required to take time off. To ensure no one comes to work, the company locks the doors and turns off the heat. Okay, that's not true, but those who want to dwell in their cubicles during the holidays must have written permission from their supervisor.

I was trying to think of the best way to recap the last week and a half and after several seconds of deep thought, I settled on using bullet points. In the past eleven days (and not necessarily in this order), I...

• celebrated Christmas with family
• had Chinese dinners on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
• received very thoughtful gifts, including dress socks from Fluffy, the family dog (who knew he had disposable income?)
• drove down to Anaheim for a short road trip
• visited Hearst Castle in San Simeon
• visited Disneyland and California Adventure for a second time in one year
• gawked at Christmas decorations in the castle and parks
• got soaked in Southern California
• rode a roller coaster in the rain
• drove back to the Bay Area in the rain
• came down sick
• drove up to Sacramento a day after the road trip
• picked a person out of a police photo line up
• got a call from the auto body shop saying the repairs were finished
• medicated myself and slept
• went to dim sum with the family on New Years Eve
• medicated myself and slept some more
• watched The Rocketeer and Jay Leno on a (thankfully) quiet New Years Eve
• drank more soup and jok in a four-day period than ever before
• watched parts of a Monk marathon while recovering
• didn't drink coffee for three days (three whole days)
• failed to write my 2005 resolutions (but will soon)
• watched Dodgeball (for the third time) and The Terminal
• slept like it was going out of style

There are photos to share and bullet points to expand on, but I'm out of writing time. I'm off to find a hot cup of coffee.