Happy 2019, friends!  It’s been a minute since I did one of these posts, hasn’t it?  The beginning of the year has been beyond hectic.  As you know, we spent Christmas at my parents’ house in upstate New York.  It was a wonderful week, full of family and friends and lots of fun.  We headed back to NoVA on New Year’s Day (with a stop in Baltimore to visit the aquarium – our new strategy for bribing good behavior on long car rides, #winning).  No sooner had the traveling circus rolled back into Old Dominion than I turned around and headed out again – this time, to Miami for a three day business trip.  Before you get jealous, don’t.  I was working in a warehouse in the industrial district, putting in 13-hour days, and the picture above – of a sunrise run on the beach – was literally the only hour of fun I had the entire time I was there.  I got home late on Friday night and have never been so relieved to return to grey skies and bare tree branches.  We spent most of the weekend puttering around at home – I cleaned the kitchen thoroughly on Saturday morning, then took the kids to the library for about four hours while Steve started on a toy-culling project (shhhhh).  On Sunday, we wandered around Mount Vernon and continued straightening up around the house, and Nugget and I made a Wegmans run.  All pretty standard stuff – but it felt good to get back to routines and familiarity after traveling for two weeks straight.

Reading.  It would be too hard – too many pictures to upload at once! – to go back to Christmas week, so let’s just go with this past week, shall we?  I began 2019 in Blackheath, suitably confused as to who killed Evelyn Hardcastle all those times.  It was a totally bonkers book, unlike anything I’d ever read before, and I’m still not sure if I enjoyed it per se, but I’d definitely recommend it if you’re looking for something really off the wall.  From Blackheath I went to Spain and Morocco in the 1930s – a bit of a shift, there.  I’ve been meaning to read The Time In Between for awhile now.  It’s good, but kind of on the long side.  I’ll probably finish it today.  Meanwhile, at the same time, I’ve been dipping a toe into the winter selection for the Tea & Tattle Book Club – Dorothy L. Sayers’ The Nine Tailors.  I love Lord Peter Wimsey, and I haven’t read this one yet – I’m just at the beginning, but can already tell I’m going to adore it.

Watching.  As usual, very little.  On Wednesday night, I did turn on the TV at 10:00 p.m. when I got back to my hotel room and finally was able to order room service – told you not to be jealous; it was not a glamorous trip to Miami.  I was so beat that even a book seemed like too much – and that rarely happens to me.  Anyway, The Office was on Nick @ Nite, so I watched a few episodes.  Side note: when did Nick @ Nite start showing series that I’ve actually seen?  The only time I ever watched regularly was in high school, while babysitting, because I tried never to fall asleep until the parents got home (and let me tell you, that was a challenge when I babysat for the kids of our party animal neighbors who would regularly stay out until 2:00 a.m. or later).  And it was usually I Dream of Jeannie, and I would pop popcorn and LOL at what an OLD show it was, with OLD people, and anyone who watched it must have been OLD too.  And now Nick @ Nite is showing The Office, which I guess makes ME old.

Listening.  A little of this and a little of that.  Some Decemberists – I had a craving to hear Rusalka, Rusalka / Wild Rushes, which is my favorite song from the new album, over and over and over again on the plane back from Miami, so I did that.  Other than that, assorted and sundry podcasts.

Making.  A batch pomodori al forno, thanks very much to my mom’s dear bestie, who served it to us at an appetizer party on the Friday after Christmas and then generously shared the recipe.  I haven’t tasted my own batch, though, because I’m saving it to take to book club on Wednesday (you’re welcome, ladies!).

Blogging.  Still playing catch-up from 2018 – I have my December reading recap coming to you on Wednesday, and then a final accounting of 2018 goals on Friday.  Check in with me then!

Loving.  It’s JANUARY!  I suppose that this makes me a grinch, but – anyone else really relieved when the holidays are finally over?  Don’t get me wrong, I love me some Christmas, but it’s a LOT of noise and bustle and activity and rich food.  I enjoy every minute, but this extreme introvert always winds up exhausted, overwrought, and just ready to get back to daily life.  I invariably find myself wildly relieved and really looking forward to giving my house a good sweep-and-dust, get back to healthy eating, organize myself at work, and shuffle the kids back to school.  My relief was a bit delayed this year, since I had to make the aforementioned trip to Miami, but now I’m finally able to breathe, scrub my kitchen sink, and stuff my fridge full of kale salad.  It feels great.

Asking.  How was your New Year’s?  And what are you reading?