Not exactly in the thick of it...

Happy New Year, everybody! Until this instant, our blog has been claiming that Charlotte and I are "in the thick of it." Actually, we have been "out of the thick of it" for a couple weeks. However, with our holiday recharge over (Charlotte) or winding down (Mike), we should be returning to more regular posting here.

To account for our absence, we may have some holiday-themed postings from our time spent in Latham (NY), Otisville (NY), and Harrisburg (PA). Also, our blog will definitely be benefiting from a certain new sidekick of Charlotte (details to follow). Until then, though, here are a few snippets of what we've been up to so far in 2011!

Seeing Phish at Madison Square Garden on New Years' Eve!

You may be saying to yourself, "Well, that's cool and all, but it doesn't look like they bothered to create an elaborate onstage diversion involving dozens of dancers, disappear, and then suddenly reappear floating above the crowd in an enormous hot dog, showering the crowd with hot dog-shaped balloons and mustard confetti, all while singing a hot dog-themed song, like 'Meatstick.'" You would be wrong.

Anyway, aside from the excitement on New Years' Eve (and early January 1), my activities have largely included:

Channeling my inner Oda Wiedbrecht;

Unveiling "JMA Books" on Amazon Marketplace to unload some old textbooks and show the e-commerce community some REAL customer service;

And hoping that my Christmas cactus blooms soon, while simultaneously hoping that the Tiny Tim of my cactus collection, who we have now affectionately named "Prosthetic Saguaro," makes it through the year in good health.

Anyway, here's wishing you good health (and happiness) in the New Year, too!