Hello? Anyone out there??

I know, I know. I've abandoned you all and for that I apologize. Don't get those panties too tightly wadded, though -- I've pretty much abandoned everyone lately.

The kitchen is decorated in a nice shade of hovel, the "Big Room" has been completely overrun by a vagabond band of inflatable toys, motorized cars, race tracks and dirt, and the rest of the house is just depressed.

Meanwhile, I finally caught up on our vacation laundry, cleaned the oven from an unfortunate pound cake incident, and have enjoyed many hours of Playhouse Disney, Hannah Montana and football.

In my mind, as long as the kids are on vacation, I am too. Shawn may not agree with this, but he's at work, so I'm pretty sure it's just blatant jealousy.

We had a very active holiday, traveling to the lakehouse, Houston, Port Neches, back to Houston, and then on to Katy.

We visited everyone who would deign to let us in, and then some. We saw museums, movies, parks and dogs, and even lit a sparkler or two on New Year's Eve. We are such party animals.

I've been trying to pull myself out of the sink hole of depression and despair that covered me around Christmas, and thankfully, I am beginning to see daylight.

Resolutions have been made, budgets are in the making, and the kids and I are enjoying our $15 box of firelogs while we wait for Daddy to return and make us whole.

Our upstairs toilet flooded and leaked into the kitchen...mmmm... soup, anyone? And no one even yelled, cursed or stomped their feet -- we truly are evolving, no? That, or we're just too worn out to make the effort.

Mom and Dad got us an awesome flip video camera, and I am working on putting together a movie montage of the holidays for all of you faithful to look at and laugh. Or cry. Or hide your eyes in embarrassment.

I miss my parents and my sisters terribly -- I wasn't very good to them on Christmas, shame shame, and if there is anything I could do differently it would be to not have had all those beers on Christmas Eve. Alas, Santa did not bring me the Time Machine I've so fervently been wishing for all these years, so I'll just have to settle for remorse and guilt. That sounds about right.

My resolutions are numerous and I really hope I can keep them, although I've already broken one, but that's okay because I didn't really care about that one anyway. Who wants life without coffee???

So I'll leave you all for now, with promises of more posts today and tomorrow and the day after that, and wishes for a wonderful New Year to you and yours.