My mother-in-law’s Christmas Tree arrived today, from a company that promised delivery before Christmas and now is apologizing with embarrassment that it did not ship until yesterday. They have refunded the shipping charges, but we will keep the tree; it should survive to be planted in one yard or another at some point, I expect, and it was well discounted–and besides, my mother-in-law will be much happier to have a tree late than not at all.

My musicians are coming. Collision rehearses this afternoon. I spoke with Baxter moments ago, who works nights and is groggily preparing himself for the outside world of the day, and Brittany promised last week that she would be here this week, so we’re good to go, or should be.

I also have the desperate need to buy some groceries; Christmas left us strapped for cash (it always does) and scraping the last of the food from the freezer, but some money has arrived, and there should be enough time to squeeze in a shopping trip after rehearsal if we make dinner a bit late.

Thus at the moment I have a brief space in which to attempt to accomplish a brief task, and the writing of this blog came to mind.

I found myself sitting in a diner awaiting a takeout order late last night, and so brought my Romans editing with me. I’ve passed the halfway point, but it’s still a long row to hoe before it will be ready for publication–and I am not at all certain whether I can reach the intended market. However, it’s worth the effort, I expect.

–M. J. Young