I'm glad Christmas is over. I got some very cool presents, but it was a sad, sad day. I sobbed like I haven't sobbed in a long time. More than once. I'm all teary just thinking about it. Enough of that.

My most favorite present is my baseball, signed by the 2007 Red Sox. I've been wondering what makes this year so special. I've always liked the Red Sox, but was most of the time a fair-weather fan. Occasionally when they were doing well, I'd get sucked in. Like in 1978, 1986, and 2003. Each time, my hopes were dashed. Dashed! After the fiasco of 2003, I swore I'd never get sucked in by them again. Even in 2004, I never got sucked in until the ALCS. Of course, I thought for sure they'd stuck it to me again, but they rallied and won the next 8 games and so became champions. It was nice. We were all happy. But I didn't feel vested in them, as I got sucked in so late in the season.

This time was different. First, in April, we bought a mattress that could be free if the Sox won the WS. I even spent more than I would have on the slim possibility that they would win and the mattress would be free. Three days after we bought the mattress, the Sox were in first place in the AL East. Then in August, I started watching games. I saw them hit four home runs in a row in a repeat game from April; I saw Buchholz' no-hitter (but went to bed before the end, not realizing it - I watched the whole thing the next day); I saw walk-off home runs from David Ortiz. It was very thrilling. Well, we all know what happened in the post-season. So this year is different from 2004 and every other year, because I got sucked in and my faith was rewarded (to steal a title from a dvd) this time.

Oh this cracks me up. I elfed Lowell, Beckett, Papelbon and Francona. It's so goofy I almost can't watch. But I have to: Red Sox Elves.

This is a picture of my dog Java. She's wearing a T-shirt of mine from when I was a little kid. You notice it says "Boston Patriots," something they haven't been called in like 36 years. It's fitting that my Boston is a Boston fan.

There are only two main things left to do in our construction: replace the boiler and paint the house. The first is being done today. The second, I don't know when. It seems to me that it's too cold to paint outside these days and the fresh 4 inches of snow doesn't help things, either. Although the snow does make everything look very Christmas-like.

Speaking of Christmas, I'm really trying to get into the spirit. I've been playing Christmas music, especially my father's favorite: Handel's Messiah. I put up our Christmas tree and decorations. We put the wreaths up on the house and put the candles in the windows. But the pain is still there. I guess it always will be there. I do love Christmas decorations, especially white lights. They help me think back fondly on old Christmases and my Dad and remember how safe and warm and loved I felt.

Here's an awesome website for Red Sox info and she has an online Red Sox advent calendar, too! I look forward to clicking on it every day: Center Field.