The Battle of the Stuff!

I'm not sure it was a wise choice to start cleaning out the basement before putting the Christmas decorations away. Usually I'm a fan of keeping the Christmas stuff up until about Super Bowl, but this year for some reason I am feeling ready sooner. Problem is, I need at least TWO areas of my house that are sanctuaries (or where "sanctuary-ness" can be restored in 10 minutes of quick straightening), and right now there is hardly a sanctuary to be had around here. Even the floor of my precious library has become a dollhouse campground. So I've got to stop blogging and get to work. I'm going to give myself an hour to make some sense of the first floor. I'll resist the urge to start putting Christmas things away. That--not including the tree--is a solid two hour process, and I only have one good hour left in me tonight. At some point I will reminisce about December, with its myriad of concerts and family gatherings, and about Christmas in VA Beach and New Year's Eve playing cards with Shelley while trying desperately (like the trio of pretty much middle-aged people that we are!) to stay awake until midnight. Finally, I announce the birth of our newest little cousin: Shelley's sister Stacey and her husband, Brad, (introduced here before), had their little girl, Ryan, last night! Mother and baby are doing well--more details to follow as we hear!