I can breathe! OK, I am not all better, still stuffy headed, occasional coughing bouts, but I can imagine a time when I will be better. One of the best things about being sick is how much you appreciate being well. I will be able to think again and get exercise and worry about other things.

Yesterday morning Ray got up and drove me to work, so the family could have both cars. We continue to receive a lot of donations from the community. I had to beg someone on the phone not to buy anything more for us--we have 5 high chairs and 3 strollers and all the paper products and children's medicine we could use for a while. Talking about how generous people had been at the staff meeting started people talking about how they hadn't had a raise in years. Of course, I reminded them that some people were being laid off or getting decreases in pay. The Director's office is full of presents--bikes and piles of packages. I really hate it--call me a scrooge, but I think we are sending the wrong message to people in poverty by giving them too much on Christmas. Meanwhile, we are looking for the cheapest price at walmart and lowering taxes. I am glad we are going to pass health care reform; I hope it doesn't make things worse.

Ray and Vanessa came to pick me up after taking Amelia to the Grit to have lunch with her friend Becky. After we went home and had lunch, Vanessa and I picked her up at Becky's Mom's house and went to Target. It was a little Christmas-y, by that I mean insane, with lines at the checkout and in the parking lot. Amelia and I stopped in at Michael's and we saw Harriet there. She looked good.

When we got home, Ray had set up the tree in a bucket of water and stones. It looked great, if you like "natural" trees--very tall and straight, but a little sparse. Amelia put the lights on and the star from Ikea on top. Ray and I put some balls on. Amelia made potato soup--it was delicious and we finished off the apple pie. I was in bed and asleep by 9:30--in spite of the Revenge of the Pink Panther.