Back in the Saddle

I'm finally back to blogging after a several weeks off. Things were really busy at work a few weeks ago. November turned into a busy month with lots of press deadlines, and I was working a lot of long hours. So, because of so many busy and stressful days, I haven't had the energy to write when I got home. Plus, I was also trying to "get ahead" on some of my projects because I was taking a vacation over the Thanksgiving week. Needless to say, I was more than ready for that vacation to start!

My vacation back home was a wonderful one. It was quiet and relaxing, and that was just what I needed. I spent a lot of time with the family and I wrestled with the puppies. I slept a lot and I ate a lot. With my Pa making my breakfasts and my Ma making dinner, I was very well fed. Unfortunately, I had to check my work e-mail a few times to keep one really messy project moving forward, but for the most part I could put work entirely out of my mind. It was a wonderful vacation, and, as usual, it was over much too quickly.

Even though I had a wonderful, relaxing week off, I was immediately thrown back into the fire when I got back to work. I still had a lot of messy projects to deal with, more press deadlines that were right around the corner, and a new employee to help train. And in spite of finishing a lot of projects, a lot more keep hitting my desk. The first week back at work felt like going from Park immediately into the Fourth Gear. So I'm feeling stressed and overwhelmed already, but I'll be back home again for Christmas in a few weeks. So I at least have something to look forward to.

Current mood: tired
Current drink: Clos du Val Napa Valley Merlot

Empty

I am now coming to the end of a wonderful vacation. For the past week, I've had most of my family in town. My parents and one brother stayed with me, two other brothers and their families stayed in nearby hotels, and my sister and her family lives not far from me. The only person missing was one sister-in-law, and she was missed. We were all gathered together to attend my nephew's wedding. The wedding and reception were beautiful, and what was most wonderful was simply having the family together in one place. We are a tightly knit family with very strong bonds. Even though we might not see one another every year and, unfortunately, we often go several years without seeing one another, but when we reunite, it is as if we never left one another and it is as if no time had passed. Whenever we get together, the rooms get loud and filled with laughter. We enjoy reminiscing about the good old days and reliving cherished memories. We simply enjoy one another's company, and you can actually feel the love filling the room. Everyone went home today and my home is now empty and quiet, and this makes me really sad.

Whenever I hear friends or co-workers talk about how much they hate their parents or their siblings, I feel sorry for them. I feel sorry that they don't know the same love and affection and bond that my family knows. And I know that I'm extremely fortunate and blessed to be part of such a wonderful family.

Reunion

Last night and this morning I said good-bye to the family that was here for our family reunion. Although we were really missing some members of the family who couldn't come, we still had a lot of fun. The best part was just getting together and talking about the "good old days" and all of the memories that we've made over the year. It was a great time.

I'll probably post more about the whole reunion later, but here is a short video clip. Yesterday was my Pa's 76th birthday, and we got the whole group together for a dinner at P. F. Chang's in Flatirons Mall. During the summer they have concerts every Thursday, and last night they had a really great band called Chase 'n the Dream. My Ma and sister got out on the floor and did a little dancing.

Work and Presents

Work: Things have been busy at work, but fortunately I was able to get a lot accomplished over the weekend and during this week. Fortunately (through many long days and nights), I've been able to keep my projects moving, and I've moved them all to a stage where they are in another person's hands. Right now most of my books are with other people in other departments in our office, or they are with authors or freelancers. That's a good thing for me, because it gives me a moment to catch my breath. In about a week or two I'll probably be in panic mode again, because everyone will be returning things to me. Oh well, such is the ebb and flow of my job. I'll take any chance I can get to relax even if it is for only a brief moment.

Presents: Next week is my birthday--33, yikes!--and I've already received two wonderful presents. My family sent me a nice DVD set of Classical Mythology lectures. The lectures are given by a professor of Classics from the University of Maryland. There are four DVDs that contain twenty-four 30-minute lectures. It's pretty cool. And it makes me miss school a little...

And when I got my mail today, I received another present from my very beautiful friend, Anna. She sent me a little book called The Perfect Gift by Rohan Henry. It's a little story about the friendship between two rabbits, and it is the cutest thing I've ever seen.

So in spite of all the stress I've been feeling because of work, I'm feeling much better now. I feel a little bit calmer, and I feel loved. :)

Current mood: somewhat relaxed
Current music: more of a shuffle - Faith Hill, "Beautiful"