photo credit: @gaellemarcel via Unsplash
We’re definitely staying in today, because it cooled off considerably here in California and we’ve been getting a ton of rain. Although today seems to stay mostly dry (more rain to come over night.)
If we had a coffee chat today… I would tell you that it’s weird to be back at work. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I am glad we’re back, but getting back into my routine (getting up at 5 am instead of closer to 8 am) has been an adjustment and we’re collectively trying to figure out what the hell we were all doing 6+ weeks ago and also what to prioritize before the next looming shutdown in January when the current CR (continuing resolution) ends. Everyone I talked to said that we needed the (mental) break, but that it’s also like not much has changed. It will still continue to be a rollercoaster working for the federal government. (Like I said to one of my colleagues today, whatever happened to ‘boring politics’? Boring politics are good politics! I’d be ok with that again.)
If we had a coffee chat today… I’d say though that I am pretty pleased that both the House and Senat almost unanimously voted to release the Epst*in files yesterday. That was unexpected on the part of the Republicans. Which, also makes me wonder if they know something we don’t? Why the sudden change of heart? Are they actually ready to throw Tr*mp under the bus?
If we had a coffee chat today… I would share that I postponed my jury summons. I didn’t know I could easily postpone for up to 90 days. I really didn’t want to deal with it before the holidays, especially because I didn’t want to reschedule my annual check up at my primary care practice, and I also have potential, already twice-postponed fieldwork coming up that could have been impacted. I just hope I didn’t jinx it by rescheduling, so that they’ll all the more call upon my service in January.
If we had a coffee chat today… I would confess that I am utterly lacking any sort of holiday spirit so far. It feels like one more thing piled on top of many things. I see all the food guides and gift guides popping up all over the Internet (and hear the Christmas music in stores) and I want to scream “too soon!”, although it’s really not too soon, in fact, if you want to be prepared in the slightest way, you’ll better get with it. I guess it might be a good thing that we’re not traveling for the holidays this year, so we can keep it low-key.
But I will say that I am a tiny bit excited to decorate our home for Christmas this year. We didn’t put up a tree last year because we traveled to Germany for the holidays, so this year we’ll make it christmassy. And my family had their annual cookie baking day last weekend (because the first of advent is next week) and while I really would have liked to participate (I actually facetimed with them that day, so I was sort of ‘there’), I am looking forward to baking my own batch of cookies soon!
If we had a coffee chat today… I, last but not least, would like to remind you that you can still sign up for the Secret SANta Swap until tomorrow, Thursday, November 20 (by 11:59 pm PST). We currently have 10 participants (including me). I’m planning to send out info about your swap partner on Friday.
What would you share over coffee today? Do you feel the holiday spirit yet?
I am doing NaBloPoMo this month. 30 blog posts in 30 days. Come join me. #nablopomo2025
Links to the Participants List. Happy Writing!
Melissa
November 19, 2025 at 1:26 pmI’m so happy you’re back at work, but yes, the change to your mornings must be jarring. Hopefully, your politicians can get their acts together to pass some actual bills to avoid the need for another continuing resolution, but I suppose that’s too much to ask. I have not done anything about Christmas either, but I’m not too worried about that. We always put our tree up on the 1st December, so we’ll do that. Now that I’m playing piano at church I’ll also need to learn some Christmas songs, but I haven’t had time to even look at that.
San
November 20, 2025 at 9:19 pmThat’s so wonderful that you’re playing Christmas songs on the piano at church. Do you just have to refamiliarize yourself again? I am assuming you’ve played these songs beforeu
Daria
November 19, 2025 at 1:41 pmThis is strange but I feel like people in New Jersey have started decorating right after Halloween. And good for them, I certainly can use a few twinkling lights. We have not decorated yet but I have bought some festive candles already and have been enjoying their scent. Balsam farm, oh my, so good! So I think I am starting to feel it.
San
November 20, 2025 at 9:18 pmOh candles and string lights can really set the tone! Great idea to get into the spirit!
Lisa's Yarns
November 19, 2025 at 2:05 pmI think Republicans got behind the vote because that’s what Trump said they should do and they are all a bunch of lemmings that are afraid of a primary challenge. They can’t think for themselves, they have to get their marching orders for the head cheetoh. Yes, I have nothing but disdain for most Republicans. At least a few people went against the grain to push for this. I do not care for Marjorie Taylor Green but at least she has a backbone.
It’s been really warm in MN so it doesn’t feel like we are entering the season of Christmas. But Will asked me if Christmas is tomorrow… ooh boy does he have a long time to wait! That is the downside of decorating early, but I desperately need the bright light of my tree on these cool, dark nights! We saw a bunch of Christmas lights when I took Paul to piano lessons on Monday and it brought us SO MUCH JOY. So I hope you can find some glimmers of light during what has been a really crappy year for you.
San
November 20, 2025 at 9:17 pmI know I am a little suspicious of the Republicans sudden change of heart. Oh well, the next few weeks will probably still be quite interesting…
So wonderful that you already decorated and are ready for the holidays (I do enjoy the Christmas lights!). I hope poor Will will be patiently anticipating Christmas…. 5 weeks probably feel like a lifetime at his age.
Martha
November 19, 2025 at 3:13 pmI just love the coffee chats. My fingers are crossed that the Republicans are ready to throw him under the bus, that would be so amazing! Not much in the spirit of things here, but I did get all my shopping done before it even hit Halloween. I’m glad to have that part done and over with.
San
November 20, 2025 at 9:15 pmGood for you for having all the shopping done for the holidays. That’s huge! Hopefully that means less stress going forward.
Jenny
November 19, 2025 at 3:54 pmI’m definitely feeling the holiday spirit- we haven’t decorated yet, but we’ll do that next week. I’m trying to get an earlier start on things, so I don’t have a panic attack in December like I usually do.
Yes, I’m sure it’s weird being back at work, especially as you feel it could be temporary. Good call to postpone the jury duty- you don’t need that on top of everything else right now. I would imagine a lot of people request a postponement this time of year!
San
November 20, 2025 at 9:15 pmI love to hear that you’re already feeling the holiday spirit. I know I can usually count on you when Halloween comes around :)
Oh, I didn’t think about that others might probably want to postpone jury duty too. Oh well, the automated system didn’t throw a fit, so I must have beat others.
Michelle G.
November 19, 2025 at 4:34 pmI’m sure it’s not easy to get back to work after a long, unsettling break, and the possibility of it happening again so soon. This year, I do feel ready for Christmas, and I was thinking of decorating this weekend. Maybe it’s because Thanksgiving is so late this year.
San
November 20, 2025 at 9:13 pmI know, Thanksgiving feels late… the Sunday after is the first of advent already. I think you should go ahead and start decorating now!
Ernie
November 19, 2025 at 6:46 pmI can’t imagine switching gears like this and getting back into the groove of work, even if you’re happy to be back. If we had coffee today, I’d tell you that I’m looking forward to having college kids come home next week. It snuck up on me. I’d also chat about my Christmas gift buying dilemma. It’ll be in an upcoming post – debating doing a gift for the fam to enjoy vs a ton of ‘stuff’.
San
November 20, 2025 at 9:13 pmYou must be so excited to have your college kids come home for Thanksgiving!!
Noemi
November 19, 2025 at 10:22 pmI bet going back to work after such an abrupt, but extended, forced break would be super weird. I know my friend at HUD is struggling with it. Lots of fires to put out, she said.
I’m think I’m ready for the holidays, maybe too ready? There was a brief moment earlier where I think I thought we were going into the winter break, not the Thanksgiving break, and that it would be January on the other side! Um, December hasn’t even started yet! So yeah, I guess I’m ready.
San
November 20, 2025 at 9:12 pmHa! You’re mentally jumping ahead… so hopefully you can enjoy the anticipation ;)
NGS
November 20, 2025 at 6:48 amThere’s no holiday spirit here yet, but next week I’m only working a day and a half, so maybe with some extra time to do some planning, I will get there!
San
November 20, 2025 at 9:12 pmI hope next week will be the arrival of the holiday spirit!
Sarah
November 22, 2025 at 6:17 am**whispers** I am also feeling uninspired re: holidays
San
November 22, 2025 at 12:08 pm<3 You and me both.
Stephany
November 22, 2025 at 7:06 pmI don’t think I’ve ever considered how weird it must be to PAUSE ALL WORK for an indefinite period of time… and then you’re just thrown back into the fray. Must be so unsettling! And knowing it could all happen again at the end of January – gah.
I am in the holiday spirit, but I don’t blame you for having a hard time finding your groove. I hope it comes for you, but it’s also okay if it doesn’t. This has been a hard year. <3
Tobia | craftaliciousme
November 23, 2025 at 12:39 pmIt must be so weird being back in the office.
We actually watch the first Holiday movie today. A week earlier than usual. But it’s so frosty and cold out that it felt right.