Reception one is at the home of two young doctors. A new house. They've only been in it four weeks. The yard is a sea of solid sod squares with edges showing. The house looks new but a little lived in. They don't seem to have three thousand books unless there are in boxes in the garage.

We meet some nice people, admire the doctor's cute children and have black-eyed peas, bisquits and turkey and ham. (Isn't it time to go out for Chinese or Japenese or Indian or even enchiladas. All this holiday food starts making me dream of such things.) Fortified with this and some of their coffee, I am myself again.

We drive the scenic route back to our house without getting on the highway. We are starting to count the lot and house For Sale signs that say the 'reduced' (always on a little attached sign, set at a jannty angle) and noticing the return of 'For Lease' (which we predict will replace the 'Now Hiring' in popularity). Must be all because a Republican got the White House, huh? Yeah, um, right.

I am really enjoying 'playing' with my computers and going at my own pace around the WEB and such.

I've been thinking about this saving gig. For a few years I've been saving calendars. The wall kind with a picture and a month on display at a time. Did you know there are only 14 possible calendars? (If you don't count the addition of the actual year on the pages.) Makes sense because the year can begin on any of seven days and it is either a leap year or not. So...if you save all your calendars then you could give them as presents later...when they could be used again. Cheap? Yes. But clever and thrifty, I think.

Reception two is at a smart downtown condo with a view of the Capitol. Disco music plays. There is shrimp ceviche and little taps things. But black-eyed pea dip just in case. We see a lot of friends.

Tomorrow, it is back to work. Sigh. I do like this leisure thing!