I've been trying to squeeze an update in but I've just been so dang busy. Despite, the seeminly endless pile of presents to wrap during this joyous holiday season, Christmas seems to be taking up a smidge of my time. The rest is divided between work, socializing and doctors. Work about 70 percent, socializing about 20 percent and the doctors about 10 percent. As most industries slow down at this time of year, this is one of the busiest times for mine. I'm working frantically on a year end section. Tonight I realized that all the photos I remembered vividly from the year, the ones I consider the "best" were all of really horrible things. Mothers crying over their dead children, beheadings, suicide bombings, the Americans strung up on the Fallujah bridge. These are the images that haunted me all year. Now, should I unleash them on our gentle readers? Some will find themselves in the section but they will be surrounded by other more tame images of politicos, hurricanes, Olympians, sextuplets and who knows what else I have up my sleeve. On the socializing front, I made optimum use of a three day weekend. Cyndemouse and I attended two fabulous holiday soirees. The first stop, Mouse's cousin, who has a lovely home, interesting friends, a gourmet spread and parties that almost always dissolve into sing-a-longs around the piano. We were introduced to an older gentleman, 71, successful business man. He told us that he likes his work day to start around 9:30 am, end by 4 pm and always to include a nice lunch and a nap. I pressed him for his secret to success. He wouldn't really tell me. But he did let me in on another secret. He said, apropos of nothing, "Do you know what I really like to do? Smoke weed. I have a pipe." Well, right on with your right on, Gramps. No wonder why he's got the munchies and needs a nap. After much merriment, a few flutes of champagne and failing miserably at getting business secrets, we headed back out into the icy night towards party number two. This shindig was hosted by one of my co-workers. She of the impeccable style, effortless decorating, bottomless glass. The guests at this party were younger, mostly journalist types and the people who love them. I met a dog trainer who gave me a great deal of advice on handling Quentin Badass' laundry list of behavioral problems, including his penchant for munching on my laundry if given an opportunity. Evidently, my dear boy lacks deference. He's supposed to not make a move unless I say so. In our house, everything is totally opposite and set up for the convenience of the dogs. I didn't snuggle down into my bed until after 5 am. But I was back up early because ME was unexpectedly in town on business, so we had lunch before he had to catch his flight. We grabbed a bite at La Hacienda in Bradley Beach. Our conversation leaned towards the esoteric things that we seem to gravitate to like Islamic tile, Flemish art, the band Wire, Russian authors, travelling to far flung locations and some normal stuff like dating because we are more than just cerebral. The good news of the week is I don't have a gallstone. Ever have an ultrasound? It's odd being able to see inside your own body. I would think with the state of technology today, you could see things in color but it's only black and white. So the pictures of say, your kidney, look oddly like something from the surface of Mars. Diagnosis at this point is gastritis, inflammation of the stomach. Sort of precursor of an ulcer. The doctor's edict of a bland diet devoid of dairy definitely is a downer. There was this cheese plate at one party that I normally would have sampled but I stayed away. Although, this is only after experimenting earlier in the week by eating some dairy at a office party and becoming disasterously sick afterwards. I can't ever follow instructions. I have to get burned before I learn my lesson. I had to order fish tacos at lunch to avoid cheese. On Monday night, I made pad thai and left out the chilis. It was tasty but not hot. How boring. Today I tried to get a cup of coffee at Dunkin Donuts. They don't have soy milk or non-dairy creamer. All of a sudden, I'm one of those difficult people ordering at a restaurant asking for substitutions. Ack. And it will continue on like this for at least another month. After that hopefully, I'll stop feeling bad after everything I eat and I can go back to my old tricks. if the symptoms return, it's off to a gastroenterologist. You know what that means. He'll want to put some tube down my throat or worse to get a closer look at my tummy. stockings hung by the chimney with care: 3 (0ne for me, Quentin and Maggie) ..... presents wrapped thus far: 35... left to wrap: about 15.... Christmas cards received: 21