Hits & Misses (Dec 25-31)

Dear Reader, I have returned from my holiday break. It was a much needed respite that I enjoyed very much. And I'm ready to begin sharing my thoughts with you once again. Rather than attempting to catch you up on every detail, here's a look back at the week that was......

HITS

• Christmas Day was a joy in the Geriatric Ward. The entire family gathered around the table and shared the day together. Despite the occasional moments of extreme loudness (which have become a huge challenge for me in recent years), I enjoyed being surrounded by family on this most special day.
• I upgraded my phone -- something that had been long overdue. Now that my device could support it, I enjoyed several days with Spotify Premium services. I'm loving the music without the commercial interruptions.
• As the year came to a close, one of the local PBS affiliates aired a marathon of Downton Abbey. I fell in love with the series when it first aired. The marathon was a wonderful way to revisit some of my favorite characters and stories. I didn't watch the entire series again -- I needed some sleep, after all -- but I did watch a large number of episodes over the three day event.

MISSES

• I hate making returns! It's not that I am unappreciative of the gifts. I just despise having to walk in the store, make new selections, and try to get all of the math to work. This year's trip was fairly painless at least.
• As the year drew to an end, I knew that my time at home was also ending. So I found myself fighting the blues. Truthfully, I simply miss my family while in Texas. Things will get better in a few weeks as the semester gets into full swing. I think it would be much easier if I had memories with the Geriatrics in Plainview to draw on, but it doesn't appear as though that will happen any time soon.
• The crazy weather hasn't helped my mood either. I don't know if I need sweaters or shorts for December in Arkansas. It's wreaked havoc on my sinuses in the process.
• I get irritated when I have to listen to uninformed people passing judgment on others. When they pronounce their solutions to situations that they truly have no reason to comment on, they simply display their ignorance for all to see. Truthfully, it's just embarrassing and made worse because they have no concept of just how foolish they appear.