The presents are unwrapped, everything is all over the house and it's freezing cold outside. We still have one more Christmas - with my mother and brothers on Sunday - but for the most part, Holiday 2003 is now winding down into the quiet. We visited with Cory's family, watched the Kings' game, ate too much food, opened presents and made another trip out to see the lights and enjoyed not being rushed or stressed out about anything.

Peach aprioct brandy, courtesy of Cory's sister, made the lights seem extra sparkly.

I have to work tomorrow - something that never seems right when you've been raised on having two weeks off from school at the holidays - but it should be calm and slow (hopefully) and I can get various things done and feel accomplished but not worn out.

And that feeling will be highly welcomed around here. I am so ready for the post-holiday comedown. For the quiet. For the calm. For the just being. Which is why January is - behind December and then November, of course - is one of my favorite times of the year. Bring on the wintery white stillness of the new year. I am ready.