For some reason I haven’t been reporting progress this year, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been doing it. (It also doesn’t mean I haven’t been whining about it, just not in print.) I’m up to 168 km on the Concept 2 Holiday Challenge – only 32 km more to erg. I think I will take tomorrow morning off, erg 7 km each Thursday and Friday, then either do another half-marathon (or just the 18 km I actually need) on Saturday or split up into 10km Saturday and 8 km Sunday. I don’t know – I was tired enough this Saturday to be a bit leery of another half-marathon, but it doesn’t have to be fast. And I do like the idea of getting to rest all of Sunday.
The Chanukah candles Mom sent arrived yesterday, so I will be able to light my actual menorah tonight. Even better, she sent my birth and marriage records, complete with apostille, at the same time so hopefully they have also arrived at HR in the Netherlands.
Tonight I will be dressing as Mrs. Claus to host our last Toastmasters meeting before Christmas. I was “volunteered” for the role in my absence – actually they wanted me to be Santa, but I don’t have a costume (and would feel funny in a beard). Normally I get very annoyed at anyone who just assumes all Americans celebrate Christmas, but for people here, who have seen American life either via TV and movies or short periods spent studying or working there, it doesn’t seem like an unreasonable assumption. (I do make the point about US diversity whenever possible.)
I am very bitter about having to work through the holiday period – I will “work” from home Xmas day, and we do get New Year’s Day off. (My first year here, we got Dec. 2 off as a national day; last year I had enough vacation time to take the week off. This year, due to the economic downturn thye forced us to use most of our leave in the first half of the year. Then I used the rest plus “personal leave” time (30% pay) for my brother’s wedding and the long-planned trip to the Masters Nationals, so I have NO time off left.) It seems kind of funny that I feel so entitled to a holiday that isn’t even mine. On the other hand, though I didn’t grow up with a tree or CHristmas prezzies, I did get time off every year of my life, not to mention getting to enjoy the holiday decorations everywhere (we do have those here) and the Christmas specials on TV.