Lisa Hood

The holidays are officially over and I’m back to work.  My time off went too fast and I didn’t get nearly enough accomplished. I did get plenty of rest and spent time with the kids, doing our usual Christmas shopping day.  K already spent most of her money, so she and I went to the movies and lunch, with just a quick run to the mall.  T wanted to spend more time at the mall, but I wasn’t in the mood, so I cut the day short.  I’m sure she was disappointed, but she did get the boots she had her eye one, so that was good.

We had our usual holiday gathering, with Christmas Eve at Mom’s and then Christmas Day at Berta’s.  It was nice, but without little kids around, it’s just not the same.  I remember when K & T were little and so jazzed about Santa they would wake us up at 4 am.  No more.  They still expect Santa to come, but they sleep in.  They don’t even put out cookies or reindeer treats.   All those little traditions are what makes the holidays so special.  I don’t know if it was school and work and blogging or just general Ba-hum-bug-ness, but I wasn’t prepared for the holidays this year.  I did most of my shopping on line, only put up a small tree 3 days before and baked with the kids and one friend. That was it.

Hopefully next year I’ll be more in the Christmas spirit.  Alan told me he wants to shop with me because he doesn’t like feeling left out - which I totally appreciate, because finding just the right gift is the most fun. Maybe if he is more involved, I’ll feel more motivated too.

While I was off, I realized that if I’m ever going to work from home full time, I need to set up a space and routine for myself now. I need to be able to visualize myself working from home in a clean, non cluttered, light filled space that energizes and inspires me.  That’s one of my goals for the New Year, to make room for that possibility.   But more importantly, I want Alan to be working from home full time in 2008.  He is well on his way and I can definitely see that as a possibility.

Although I think he needs a better space to work in too.  

We had a family meeting and all of us agree we need to see more of him, so he’ll us the laptop and come out of the office in the evening, but still work.  I also want to clean out the second desk in the office and put in a couch, so when he is in there working, there will be space for T, K or me.  Plus I think he should invest in a flat screen monitor, because it will clean up his workspace and be easier on the eyes.  My January project is to redecorate his office and create a more enjoyable space for all of us.