The past week and a half has been a whirlwind of activity and holiday travel. I was at first hesitant to take some time off from blogging, but I am sure glad that I did it. In fact, I barely opened my laptop over the holiday break. December 20 was my last post for the holidays as it was the day Jeff was returning home from Georgia after two weeks away. Sensing that I was nearing the end of my rope from two weeks of single parenting, a series of really crappy weather days in the North Country, holiday preparations, and an overall sense of ennui that was taking hold…