Just getting to four days off was a stumble. A desperate act. A lurch and a slump. But I made it.

And now it's another three plus weeks before another holiday vacation.

It feels like we all need it, even though a lot of us didn't get one. Imagine getting up in the wee hours of the night (or not even going to bed) so you could be the one to open the doors to ravenous shoppers. And then get trampled to death.

Y'know, because the TV deals are that good.

But I am happy to get the rest, and I'm glad I'm not one of the millions who had to deal with the many more millions who rushed out into the cold morning air to spend what they had left.

I haven't written about the election since the election. And I'm very happy about the result. For the first time in over a decade, I felt better after an election. And not disappointed in the voting habits of the nation.

I was in a convenience store (I've been loitering in convenience and grocery stores lately. Although I do get paid to do this, so I guess it's not truly loitering.) in Las Cruces, and one of the clerks wondered what people would do with their McCain/Palin stickers. Would they leave them on their cars as a wounded reminder? I suggested they write "oops" over the sticker with a Sharpie. And then mentioned that I still see Kerry/Edwards stickers on cars.

I remember a popular bumper sticker in the 90s was "Don't blame me, I didn't vote for him." I know there are probably a few companies printing those up as we speak. Interestingly, I didn't see that particular sentiment while Bush was in office. I guess it takes a certain type of person to slap that sucker on the back of a vehicle.

Of course, Impeach Bush was rather in vogue for much of this millennium.

Must be a difference in mindset.

But my thankfulness this year has pretty much been getting through it. One more month to go, and I feel better than I did when it began.

Four days off and I got one for myself, one and a half for the family, a half for the band and another for laundry and prep for the next long run.

It was nice to realize I could still play a craptacular guitar strum. It was nice to make my own coffee. And it was nice to keep the TV off, because there is no real news--even though there is, the world doesn't stop turning for our holidays. But I didn't want to see it. I'll get my fill as the world leaps headfirst back at me next week.

Thursday morning was breakfast with friends. Everyone was on their way to family gatherings in the afternoons, but this was a calm before the storm.

But instead of going to a family thing that afternoon, I went back to my place. I looked after my simmering Carne Adovada. I listened to music, then played music, then listened to more music. I popped a beer regularly and knew that family time was coming up. There would be time to share with others, but this was my time.

And I was rather happy about that.

Matt Worley reenters the hustle bustle once again.