I don't go to work between Xmas and New Year's. I'll probably check my email occasionally and read some resumés for the position I am filling. But mostly, I'll do what I want to do. Here are my plans:

Read: Mountains Beyond Mountains, Tracy Kidder's inspiring book about Dr. Paul Farmer's work in the developing world, Tatiana de Rosnay's Sarah's Key, and Chris Cleave's Little Bee—just because they have been on the best seller list for so long. If I hadn't already read The Help by Kathryn Stockett, it would be on my list and if you haven't read it, it should be on yours.

Clean up and out: Up means the places that I never get to—like bookshelves-- and out means get rid of some possessions that haven't been used in months or years.

Study Spanish: My goals are modest, but we bought a subscription to Rosetta Stone and I'm going to really try to set aside some time each day to study Español

Cook: For company, several untried-by- me recipes.

Movies: As many as possible. Definitely, The King's Speech and The Fighter.

I'm going to be busy, but it's a different busy.

It's called vacation.