One minute it was Thanksgiving, and I had plenty of time to get ready for Christmas; then I blinked and it was suddenly the new year. And while a couple of my political alter egos managed short Christmas posts in worldaffairs, this is the first chance I've had to write something in my own name.

I hope your holidays were stress-free, your New Year's as peaceful as my own (I was in bed and asleep well before midnight for a change), and I hope that 2007 is starting out to be a good year for all of you.

I have people to thank for gifts (real and virtual) and for cards. If you think your name should be listed here but it's not, leave me a comment, please. I don't think any gifts have gone missing, but a card or two or three could certainly be buried somewhere in the stacks of yet-to-be-read newspapers artfully arranged on my living room floor. :-(

So, thanks for a year of friendship to you all, and special thanks (they know why) to castalie, catheights, desert_rifka, dominiquelechic, french_hobbit, jenni_snake, looneyluna, luvmax1, maddiec24, maggie33, magickslash, maverick4oz, oogata, pride_of_erin, rileyc, rosesfade, and tobyfan. I'm not promising anything, but actual thank-you cards might also be coming your way.

Erin, would you please comment with the name of your city/town. I can't make out the first couple of letters. Thanks!