I'll play catch up for a moment.

I spent Christmas in New York. Blech! I usually spend it in London. I love London. I love Christmas in London. I love going to the Christmas market in Covent Garden with Alan and poking about from booth to booth- especially the German ones. I love meeting friends for a jolly Christmas Eve dinner. Even nicer is the quiet Christmas day walk to the pub for lunch with friends. How deliciously scandalous and decadent that feels to an Amercian, sitting in a pub on Christmas day. I love New Year's Eve with my friends, listening to Big Ben strike the hour.

But not this year- well Chistmas 2004. It wasn't my idea either. It was one of those sort of bullying decisions Alan makes without consulting me. At least this time I let him know how unhappy about it I was. His excuse was he needed to get to the Data Center in NJ to upgrade several of the servers' OS. My take on that is, that's even worse. That turns it from Christmas together into a business trip where I am a side issue. Frankly it's also much more expensive in NYC because Alan always weasels us into going out to eat constantly. I don't like this, not just the insane expense, but I don't enjoy all this outside dining. I like eating at home, especially now that I'm in the new apt and I cook and bake exceedingly well.

At least Christmas Day we had a nice dinner. I made a large succulent duck with all the trimmings. Andrew joined us for dinner. It was quiet, good food, good conversation. Lots of warm affection. Then dessert, a very boy's dessert. Dark chocolate fudge brownies with vanilla bean ice cream on top and that topped off with candied orange peel - all homemade, even the candied orange peel. The peel was a surprise hit- it was nibbled away entirely in very short order. Good thing I made 2 batches of it. I used the leftover peel and all the pulp to make homemade orange marmalade. Bottled sunshine.

Alan bought me a magnificent slipcased edition of an archeology book on the Inca.

It was a very close 2 weeks but in some ways a remote time. There were questions and answers that needed to be said but weren't. And then Alan left 2 days before New Years to go back to London. That was very miserable. I spent New Years alone. Well with friends online. But no matter what people say, they are lying. It's not the same.

I've made it clear, in no uncertain terms, that next Christmas will be spent in London. Period. Or Else.

So that was my Christmas hols. Pah!

After New Years I had expected to go back to work for the Tech firm. The Manager had assured me of it, several times. But I waited and nada. It wasn't just me. The others emailed and asked if I knew hat was going on. Delays delays delays in the contract. Who knows. Instead of right after New Years, it's the middle of February now and we're still waiting. End of February he's saying now. Ha We'll see.

I'm getting loads of job interviews but no job offers. I guess they hate me when they meet me. Who knows. It's depressing. At least I get lots of quick responses to my resume even if they only interview me.

So January has passed. Now February. I spoke with AQlan on the phone for almost 2 hours on Valentine's Day. End of January, Federation launched. My new business plan is looking successful. Slowly turning the tide. Definitely on the way up. Fingers crossed.

I did get one job but it lasted only 1 day. Very BOFH situation. The money from that 1 day's work was gone immediately in paying 1/2 February's rent. It was a very long 11+ hour work day with no lunch or breaks. I'd probably have gotten ill between the stress and the long hours but the money would have been terrific. Ah well.

So here we are at the brink of the President's Day long weekend. And that is 2 months trimmed and condensed into 1 post.