In Gratitude

So far this four-day weekend has been a wash.

I spent this morning at the office, for one. Somebody halfway across the world decided to go on vacation early, which means that they overlooked a problem with their system that got brought to my attention last week. As much as I'd like to leave it alone and have them deal with the problem once they get back, I'm not that kind of person. Fortunately my support team was very forthcoming with their assistance despite the fact that they should be out there celebrating with their families. Their presence was what I was grateful for on the last day of the year.

I've also been working on my textbook for the last two days. My publisher tells me that it's on the verge of going to print (i.e. the first rollers are going to be greased on January 2nd), and as such, I'm looking at a slew of last-minute changes. So far, I'm grateful to Microsoft customer support for their prompt response (although you won't see me saying the same thing about Windows Vista), and to my publisher contact for actually sending me a few first proofs for my viewing pleasure.

Yes, I didn't quite expect my first (impending) book to be a textbook, but I'll take what I can get. Let's just hope that the government doesn't end up scandalizing it like a lot of other publications.

Apart from those, my weekend also involved accounting work for the family bakeshop (which is in production around the clock despite a diminished staff), and a family death anniversary (the occasions of which don't take a break even for the holidays). The jury's still out on whether or not I should feel grateful for being able to hang around my family for a bit, since it looks like we're all in work mode at the moment.

Beyond the past few days, though, I'm grateful for the events I've experienced in the last year, and I'm grateful for all the people I've met and associated with during that time. Yes, even the angry monkeys.

I'll see you all in 2008. Hopefully I won't still be at work then.