It was good to be out and about today. I was home till about noon. I finished writing all my thank you notes. About 50 of them. I started last night, and it wasn't hard to do. I don't remember writing thank you's when I was growing up, but I believe it's the right thing to do when you receive a gift. I have a very hard time getting Emily to write them, but she does most of the time. I think it's a lost art.

I went to the mall today to do some returning and exchanging. I breezed through Starbucks, Bath and Body Works, Borders, and Marshalls. Then I got stuck in Macy's. I picked up a bunch of wonderful, vintage-looking Christmas ornaments that were 75% off. I found a few baby outfits for a friend who just gave birth. Then...I couldn't find a register that had a salesperson, or that didn't have a super long line. I waited in one for about 10 minutes but the cashier was having a hard time and seemed very clueless and just plain confused, like she'd never done this job before. I left that line. I finally got out of there, but it probably took a good 45 minutes to check out. When I was leaving through Lord and Taylor's, I saw a beautiful feather tree, all white, stripped of it's ornaments. It was a display tree. The tag said $450. My mind was saying I Want It! I asked one of the associates if she could find out the sale price, and she took my name and number and said she'd call. I got a call as soon as I got home and was told it was $125, and that I could use a coupon. Oh, I was tempted to turn around and get it. I told Emily about it when she got home, and she convinced me not to. She said, you can hardly sit on our deck chairs; the seats are tearing. She said, you want living room furniture. Even though the tree was affordable, and even though I still really want it, she's right. I don't need another tree here. She doesn't know about the ornaments, but they were really cheap. Funny that I have to hide it from my daughter.

I got a big section of my basement put back together. I'd just been putting things anywhere on the floor instead of putting them away in their proper place. The Christmas side of the basement...forget that. It's terrible and will stay that way at least for a few more days.

Tomorrow is a work day; the first in a while. It's been a good, long break. And I only have to work two days then I'm off again. How strange! But good. Emily leaves in the morning for NYC with her dad and step-mom. They'll stay for a few days and celebrate Christmas with his side of the family. I miss his family.