I remember when I worked for a company out of Monroe, MI that gave its employees a week off at Christmas...basically the 23rd thru the 3rd and that was great! It was a large corporation that many would recognize, and it was run like it was a family business. Family came first, therefore everyone had plenty of time off at Christmas. I haven\'t heard of a place anywhere else doing that. On top of all that, you got a Christmas bonus...*gasp* imagine that...and actual bonus! Not a jar of cashews...not a basket of snacks...(although those snacks I got this year were pretty good, along with 4 or 5 bottles of wine...). A Christmas bonus...something that I think is disappearing all over the place.

The longer I work, the more I being to realize that the only way to work is for yourself. However, I\'ve known people that have done that, and they say that they work even harder. Judging from this past month\'s experience, I\'d have to agree. Doing the side-line thing has kept me very busy, and probably quite cranky...and I think that\'s been evident with the number of updates I\'ve been able to put on the site. (I promise, more Olivia coming soon...and plenty of pictures too...probably sometime in 2006, but they\'re coming...). It show no sign of slowing down either, which in the end is a really good thing for me, but on the other hand, there\'s alot of personal things that need to get done as well, and a much needed break must be taken. Something a bit longer than a 4 or 5 day weekend. Maybe its time to cash in on my niece\'s promise to teach me to snowboard...

Anyway, I hope everyone\'s holiday was safe and enjoyable...and longer than mine felt...