Home again from an extremely delightful two day road trip. How can a day of document productions in construction lawsuits be delightful? When you're doing it in a particularly choice section of Miami on a drop-dead perfect winter day - cool enough that a leather jacket was welcome, blazing sunshine, gorgeous movie-set scenery, Christmas decorations everywhere, it wasn't even like work, it was like a vacation day. Then we did lunch with a third lawyer on a different case, then the long drive back to WPB for the Christmas party. While Beloved Boss and I were down in Miami "working," Girlchild had my car in West Palm Beach, shopping and driving around. Yes, I could live there, if the occasionally hinted transfer ever happened. Oh yeah.

The company Christmas party was fun - it was a family sort of event, very casual, at a great seafood restaurant. Babies were passed around and cooed over, (I mentioned the lawyer breeding season this fall, didn't I?) Girlchild was grilled about her post college plans - mention that you're a criminology major and trying to decide what to do for a career, toying with grad or law school, and the ears of every lawyer at the table (IOW, most of the table) pricked up and career advice was offered until she wanted to scream, but she kept smiling. Plus there was one cute but rambunctious preschooler in residence, and at a table of 20 or so people she of course wound up sitting next to Girlchild, who is not overly fond of children. Smallchild kept crawling under the table, and at one point was discovered by her father searching Girlchild's purse. He was most embarrassed and apologetic. Girlchild was very gracious about it and did not "accidentally" kick the rug rat despite numerous opportunities, so I owe her an extra Christmas present now. Of course, I had my own cross to bear in the seating arrangements, so I felt her pain. But aside from our immediate seating companions the people were fun and the food absolutely wonderful.

And the best, most amazing surprise - some of you Faithful Readers with really good memories for inane trivial things may recall that a few weeks ago I brought in a document via subpoena that brought a swift and favorable settlement in a multi-million dollar case - it was cool and I felt really good about it, but figured that sincere thanks and recognition was enough. (God knows it's more than I've gotten in similar situations in other jobs.) Big Boss let us know last night that Beloved Boss and I were put in for company awards for this case, and we both will get nice surprise bonuses and nifty plaques to decorate our walls - well, he has walls, I have "walls" - I work in a Dilbert like cube farm. But we were both really excited about it, neither of us knew that such things even existed. Since this is surprise money I think it is meant to be splurged on something - I'm thinking maybe a loom. Or maybe I'll just blow it all on multiple frivolous luxuries during the After Christmas Sale Orgy planned with Girlchild. I'll have to think about it.

Anyway, it's definitely a feel good weekend. I'm not really ready for Christmas, but I'm ready enough - I've ordered deli platters for Christmas day, we'll take the meal over to my folks' house so they don't have to cook. Otherwise it will be a very low key holiday - Christmas Eve Mass, eggnog and gifts, such as they are, then the grandparents on Christmas Day, probably followed by a movie. Shopping Orgy to follow.

I'm making plans for 2004. It's time to get serious about taking care of myself - it felt very good to get out and be social, I have not been very social since my husband's death, aside from hanging out with my Usual Suspects, I mean. I don't really feel depressed, but I definitely had that "Fuck it, I'm too tired to bother," attitude. The last two years were unbelievably draining and exhausting, and it has taken some time to even remember what it feels like to have energy to go out and have fun. The road trip was fun, and though today I'm exhausted (that was a LOT of hours in the car) I officially feel ready to Get Selfish - I want more of this. I hereby declare 2004 as the Year of Me. I'm going to start taking care of myself - I'm a low maintenance type and I don't think I could really become High Maintenance no matter how I tried, but I'm going to start putting my diet and exercise on the top of my priorities. I'm going to start walking daily again - with the dog if he wants to, without him if he doesn't. I'm going to Moisturize and do lots and lots of crunches and start lifting weights again, and do things like Facials. I'm going to focus on my career and on Me. I think I've damn well earned a Year of Me.

Knitting News: On the finish line of the multi-directional scarf for Girlchild. Photos to follow - then I need to concentrate on knocking out the ribbed cap to go with it. I worked on it the last two nights in the hotel, while we watched movies and drank beer and talked. It's so great to have a grownup daughter who is a friend as well as a daughter - she's hilarious and honest and very wise, and she's become a friend I rely on for The Truth. But I digress.... I have an urge to buy wool because it's chilly outside, but I'm going to restrain myself - what I really need to do is look ahead to spring, and think about cute cotton blend things to wear as the New Me. Yep.