The week between

 So, Christmas is over.

All the run-up, all the parties, all the festive foods, all the decorating. The presents, the cards, it all is now treated as passé. The television no longer shows Christmas movies or specials; the grocery stores are now featuring New Year's Eve foods and Valentine's candy. 

(I really do think we are too quick to move on to "the next holiday" in our culture). 

For most people, this is a week back at work - though in many workplaces, yes, it's a quieter week. Not much to do between two big holidays (though for me, New Year's Eve is never big). Probably lots of the more senior people taking this as vacation time. 

For those of us in academia, it's a week off. Oh, I know people who don't travel to family and who go into the office this week to work on research or whatever. Some years I drag reading with me and do it during this week. I made the effort to pre-load enough new lectures and to write my syllabi for spring so I don't really have to. 

It's nice to have the week off when there's really no expectations, not much is happening, you have enough leftovers (maybe) to eat, and it is just quiet. Oh, if you're lucky, there are new books to read or new games to play or maybe friends to go visit (sometimes it's easier to arrange meet ups AFTER the holidays). And for people like me, there are always craft projects to work on. 

But it is nice to have a break. I wish everyone could take breaks like this.