1m2aSandbox

We're not dead yet- though I apologize for the long silence. First, you know, two full weeks of winter break; the kind you wallow in wholeheartedly, reveling in the lack of a schedule and enjoying plenty of fires in the fireplace and copious pancakes on the griddle. One of the best family vacations ever.

Second, though, we've had a modest wave of sickness to help us ring in the new year.

Brian's been down with the flu, then my mom (who lives with us) came down with it a few days ago and developed bronchitis as a complication. Then Cora - who, unlike Brian and my mom, has had her flu shot - came down with a fever Monday afternoon and stayed home for Tuesday, the first day back from our winter break.

Fortunately for me, Cora woke up Tuesday with no fever and is ready to go back today. But it's been less than fun here for the past week or so, and in the interest of full confession I'll tell you that pretty much all my Christmas decorations are still up. I dragged the tree out Monday night so as not to miss our city's last day of offering free pick-up for mulching, but otherwise we're still full of holiday cheer over here.

I'll get to it eventually. Just probably not today.

Vacation? What vacation?