There's good news, and then there's bad news.

First, the good news: This is my 332nd post. That means that by the time the year ends in three days, I will have only missed 34 days. I don't think that's too bad.

But, there's bad news: This is my last post of 2008. I'm headed out of town in the morning, and I won't be back until the new year. I haven't decided whether or not to consciously continue posting here in 2009. I guess it'll be a surprise for all of us!

So, until we meet again: So long, and have a happy, healthy new year.

Right now, I should be packing for my trip. Unfortunately, I am laying around instead, trying to figure out which movie to watch.

That's right: I have not yet begun to pack.

In fact, I haven't done much of anything (aside from some laundry) all day.

If I pop in a movie and pick out some of my finest, warmest, able-to-withstand-snow clothes to pack, that's multitasking, right?

On this Boxing Day, I stayed away from any and all boxes. I was not among the throngs of people who needed to return unwanted Christmas gifts, so I slept late, putzed around the house and went out for an early afternoon movie.

I really haven't decided if "Seven Pounds" was a good film or not. I had really high expectations for it. I can't say it changed my life, but it didn't bore me, either. I suppose it was just alright.

I went to my parents' for dinner (Chinese leftovers) and a winter coat fashion show. I still don't know if I'll end up taking my new coat, or my dad's UM coat, which I think makes me look like a green marshmallow. Regardless of which one I choose, I do need to begin the packing process -- and soon. After all, my flight leaves in less than 60 hours.

Today was quite possibly the best Christmas ever!

I went down to meet my sister, and we exchanged gifts. I got her a PRODUCT(RED) shirt from the Gap that said TREASU(RED) on it, which she put on immediately. (It helped that, when I arrived, she was still wrapped in a towel from her shower.) For me, she ordered the "Yes We Did" poster by Shepard Fairey, commemorating the Nov. 4 election of Barack Obama as the 44th U.S. president. I loved it! I would've gotten it for myself, but I can't make political contributions, and the order form said this would be such a contribution and, once I was asked for my employer's name, I quit filling out the form. So, my sister got it for me.

After we were done with the gift exchange, it was off to Tropical Chinese, where we had a 1 p.m. reservation. The place was packed! Apparently, even the Chinese go here to eat! Since it was lunchtime, there was all kinds of dim sum being offered from steaming carts. However, I had to order off the menu: Emperor's Prawns in a Grand Marnier sauce, served with the best broccoli ever and a side of steamed rice. I'd been looking forward to it since my first trip, when I decided to order "something new" -- and fell in love with a new dish. My sister ordered from the dim sum carts, and I tried some shrimp dumplings and part of a sesame ball (filled with lotus seeds). It was all well and good, but nothing could compare to the Emperor's Prawns.

After we were full, we packed up the leftovers and dropped them back at her apartment before heading to the movies. We weren't sure what was playing at exactly what time, but we were flexible. We settled on "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," which started 40 minutes later. It was a full house, and I enjoyed the film. It did seem to drag at times, but I thought it was a good movie. Of course, both my sister and I picked the precise moment that Brad Pitt reached his "ultimate hotness." (And, yes, the man can act, too.) By the time the movie was over, it was dark out. Even though it wasn't yet 7 p.m., I was tired. We went back to her apartment, where we lit the Chanukah candles and I retrieved my leftovers.

So, here I am, back and home, enjoying the last bits of Christmas lunch and deciding what to do next. After all, I am officially on vacation. I might as well make the most of it, right?

I always thought people had to be crazy to go to a mall on Christmas Eve.

Well, call me crazy then -- because I was at Sawgrass Mills this afternoon.

I wasn't there to buy last-minute Christmas gifts, though. Instead, I was in search of the perfect coat because I will be heading to the Midwest in five days. It's cold there, and I, as a native Floridian, do not own a coat.

Well, that might be an overstatement. I do have a purple coat in the closet in the room I used to occupy at my parents' house. But, I haven't used it in years, and it's far too small now.

So, today, I picked up a replacement. I may not keep it, but at least I have something to fall back on. If I decide not to take it -- instead choosing to lug a giant UM jacket I bought for my dad at least a decade ago -- I can always return it.

I made it through my last deadline of 2008, and I am so ready for vacation!

It was a long day; I'm all headachy.

I just need to do a few things before my head hits the pillow so I can sleep well before I wake up and put in my last workday of the year tomorrow. Hopefully, it will be a short, easy one.

It's been a long day, and I don't have much time before I need to plop on the couch for one of the funniest sitcom episodes in recent history: It's "Slapsgiving" again on "How I Met Your Mother."

Suffice it to say, the reason I am home so late is that I made a pit stop at mom's for some leftover matzoh ball soup. (Rule No. 1: Never say no to matzoh ball soup.)

All my gifts are wrapped -- and I have a whole 90 minutes to spare! Go me!

I don't know if it's to punish me because I'm such a procrastinator, but I experienced a cookie avalanche not too long ago. Two dozen brownie bites fell to to floor as I tried to arrange the just-out-of-the-oven cookie sheet on top of an empty muffin tin. I was wearing one of those silicone gloves to prevent burns to my hands. Unfortunately, I couldn't prevent the burn to my arm as I reached into the oven. So, still stinging from that, I was unable to maneuver the cookie sheet before it lost balance and came crashing down.

I hope the trash likes the brownie bites as much as my co-workers do.

I have just an hour until I need to be at today's holiday gathering, and I've accomplished only half of what I'd planned for today.

All of the Chanukah presents I have for tomorrow's family get-together are still unwrapped.

But, I managed to get cookies baked. (I didn't want to arrive at the shindig empty-handed.)

The holiday merriment has officially been put into high gear!

My immediate supervisor invited out entire department to his home for our annual Chinese gift exchange -- with all the gifts coming from the fabled "eBay room" that we've all heard of, but never entered (probably because it's too full for anyone to walk into).

I ended up with an Art Deco vase that I love. I also acted as a proxy for a co-worker who was unable to stay for the exchange. I hope he likes his serving tray.

I still haven't wrapped and bagged my gifts. I got caught up with some long-distance calls last night. My friends will always take precedence when they're footing the bill.

In an attempt to no longer be known as the girl who cried "I am leaving now" (but who doesn't actually leave for 30 minutes), I left my desk at 4:30 this afternoon, and was in my house by 5:15. I would've been home sooner, but I spent a good 10 minutes gabbing with a co-worker before I actually got in my car.

Yes, I slept like a baby yesterday. Yes, I am hoping that I'll be able duplicate that tonight.

But, before all that can happen, I must wrap gifts. Or put gifts in bags. We'll see what's what, then get everything squared away for the giving portion of my holiday season, which commences (and ends) this weekend.

Today was the last Wednesday deadline of the year, and it was a doozy.

I spent no less than 12 hours in the office. By the time I got home, I had two minutes to pop a frozen meal into the microwave and check the mail.

I spent the next two hours watching my favorite Wednesday TV shows, then went to bed, where I slept soundly for the next eight hours.

Or so I hope. We'll find out tomorrow.

If the current trend continues, at this time tomorrow, I won't yet be in my car, heading home.

The good news is that I am counting down the days to my end-of-the-year vacation, and there are only six more left.

Piece of cake. I can totally do that.

Even if I'm at work until 9 p.m. by the time Friday rolls around.

Another day, another attempt to leave work early ends in failure.

Sure, I only stayed 30 minutes beyond my intended departure.

And true, I did make it home before the sun went completely down.

But, just once, I'd like to turn to leave and not be told, "Wait, I have something for you."

It's a good thing I only had to go to the post office once this holiday season.

At the only local post office that's open on a Sunday, there was a line waiting, even before it opened its doors at noon. I figured I'd let the initial crowd dissipate, and come back later.

At 2 p.m., the line was out the door and into the mall. Luckily, I had a sandwich with me, so I killed a few minutes eating egg salad on marble rye.

Thirty minutes later, I was done. The two packages were handed over, and I even had some new stamps. Now, I just sit and wait to hear that they've arrived. Sure, I sent them by Priority Mail, but I wasn't about to spring for Delivery Confirmation.

I set out at 9 a.m. this morning to finish my holiday shopping. And I am pleased to report that, a mere eight hours later, my mission had been accomplished.

Sure, it took me several trips to unload it all from the car, but at least I can say I am done. And I have eight days to spare (before Chanukah).

Now comes the really fun part: wrapping and bagging all the gifts!

Since it's been a long day and an even longer week, I'm just going to say it as quickly as possible: TGIF!

I had planned to leave work early today, but circumstances beyond my control kept me at my desk until nearly 7 p.m.

So much for crossing off the few remaining items on my holiday shopping list! I was hoping to avoid the weekend crowds, but it seems that's what's going to happen this weekend.

I also plan to continue my massive cleaning project. We'll see how that goes tomorrow.

Also, there's another Silver Alert out, this time for a 1996 beige Buick LeSabre. Here's hoping they find it soon, and that the driver is safe.

Tonight, I stayed at work later than I have almost any other day. (There was this one time I was there until 9 p.m., but we were putting out a paper that day, and it happens sometimes.)

Of course, it wasn't just me an a couple of co-workers this time.

Tonight was our "Meet the Publisher" open house event, and we invited the entire South Florida business community to come see our new offices, meet the staff, and eat, drink and try not to make fools of themselves. (I know at least one person who failed on that last count.)

Anyway, 220 people had RSVP'd for the event, but I'd say only about half actually showed up. Sure, the weather was a little wet, but I think that was a little rude. Sure, the event was free to attend, but money was spent on food and drink.

From where I sat at the check-in table, I'd say it was a success. People got to meet the publisher, and there were many positive comments about our new space. Mission accomplished.

When you have a runny nose that won't stop, the day seems twice as long.

I have no idea how it started, but I'm willing to bet it had to do with the germs infesting my office. I can't keep my workspace clean enough, and there's always a handful of co-workers who sound as if they're going to hack up a lung at any moment.

This week, it seems as if more than a few people are sick, with scratchy throats and especially bad coughs making the rounds. As for me, it's just the runny nose, but I can't seem to shake it. I've taken several doses of the medicine that usually dries me up in a snap, but it hasn't worked for me this time.

So, what's a girl to do?

I guess I'll just have to take two more pills before bed and hope for sweet dreams. And then, after I wake up refreshed, I'll be ready for a long day in that germ-infested office.

I have used more tissues today that the last several months combined.

I am not sure what's in the air that is causing my nose to run like the wind, but as long as this medicine kicks in soon, it won't really matter.

Here's hoping it knocks me out and I don't come to until the morning.

I had worked a 9.5-hour day, so by the time 5 p.m. rolled around, I felt like I'd been run over by a bus.

I was making the rounds, making sure it was OK to head home (because, well, you never really know) and was lamenting the fact that it was only Monday, and yet I felt completely beat.

And then, I looked out the window.

The squirrels were humping.

You see, our second-story office looks out into trees and, well, we see the occasional bird or other small animal.

Today, it was squirrels. And they were humping. It was enough to turn my frown upside-down.

I did not continue with the cleaning today, but I did take part in a very important mission: choosing my parents' new mattress.

Actually, I had nothing to do with their decision-making, but I did drive them to three stores (and then dinner afterward).

Anyway, the important thing to know here is that my parents have probably been using their current mattress for as long as they've been married. That's nearly 40 years.

What I'm getting at here is that there was this whole undercurrent of "this is the last mattress we're going to sleep on" going on.

It was a little morbid, but I guess that's how they deal with getting older.

The bottom line is they actually picked a mattress. I'll be the first to admit that I didn't think they would, after just one day on the hunt. But, for that, I will forever be proud. Sleep well!

I've spent most of my day doing major cleaning up. It wouldn't bee such a big deal, except for the fact that I've been severely lacking in the cleaning department for many years now, and it finally caught up with me.

But, the good news is that I filled up three garbage bags and got rid of a bunch of boxes! And it felt great!

I don't know if I'm going to continue today, but I will definitely do more tomorrow, while my laundry is spinning and my cookies are baking.

Today is a milestone in my life: Exactly 21 years ago, I attended my very first concert. I saw Whitney Houston (on tour for "Whitney," ages before she met Bobby Brown and discovered that crack was whack) at the Hollywood Sportatorium (which is no longer there).

It was quite a momentous occasion. I went with three cousins and my uncle. I remember were had horrible seats, but we sang out hearts out all the way home in the car. After all, we were 13. And that's what 13-year-olds do, right?

Which brings me to another almost-milestone: In exactly six months, I will be 35.

I understand that half-birthdays don't really count for anything, but it's usually at the midpoint between my previous birthday and my next birthday that my mom starts saying she has a daughter who's "almost (fill in upcoming age here)."

This annoys me like you wouldn't believe.

Here I am, finally feeling like a pro at being 34, and I'm already being kicked up to 35? I don't think so.

So, I guess this is the official beginning of the countdown to 35. I usually don't start the countdown until after my sister's birthday has passed at the end of March, but I'm willing to make an exception this year.

After all, it's gonna be a big milestone for me. I might as well enjoy it for as long as I can. The next one will be 40, and no one celebrates that anymore, right?

I am finally in the holiday spirit, but I didn't really have a choice. My office held its holiday party this evening, so I had to be happy and friendly and ready to nosh.

Let me tell you: It was tough, but I did it.

You see, today would have been the 90th birthday of my maternal grandmother. She's been gone nearly 24 years, but I always think of her on this day. I wasn't quite 11 when she died, but I have very vivid memories: the movies (and the pre-movie trip to the drugstore for candy), the shopping (and the pre-shopping lunch), writing complaint letters to corporations (Nabisco and Swatch) and the composing of school reports (trip to Washington, D.C.).

And so, on this evening of eating, drinking and being merry, I raised a toast to grandma. I will always remember you.

After a long deadline day, I need to know that I have something I can come home and relax with. That's usually in the form of plopping myself down in front of the televsion and losing myself in a great story for an hour or two.

Five years ago, I was glued to the NBC combo of "Ed" and "The West Wing," two vast different shows that I loved the same. "Ed" was canceled after four seasons, while "The West Wing" was on for seven (the last on Sunday night, so that doesn't count it for these purposes).

Today, I am drawn to ABC's "Pushing Daisies" and "Private Practice." Both shows premiered last season as part of the network's all-new Wednesday. Unfortunately, the writers strike cut their seasons short, and both were off the air until about two months ago.

When they returned to ABC, so did I. Unfortunately, I was one of the few who did.

The ratings for both shows are significantly down and, although ABC won't come out and say it, "Pushing Daisies" has been canceled. Actually, it's filmed the 13 episodes the network ordered, but I don't know if they will all make it to air. And, even if they do, the final episode is a cliffhanger, which series creator Bryan Fuller says he will have to resolve in a comic book.

Well, at least I have five weeks until ABC rolls out its midseason schedule in early January. Sure, that means the return of "Scrubs" on two-episode Tuesdays. But what will be left for me on Wednesdays? You see: Although "Private Practice" was picked up for the full season, it will be moved to Thursdays at 10 p.m., which is way past my bedtime. (Believe me: If I could stay up that late, I would be watching the final episodes of "ER," a show I haven't watched in nearly eight years.)

So my dilemma becomes: What will I do on Wednesdays come January?

I guess I can always pull out my "Sports Night" or "Sex and the City" DVDs and spend some time with the CSC gang or the NYC girls. We'll just wait and see what kind of mood I'm in.

I never realized how informative AOL.com is until a few minutes ago.

Not only is there a quick link to my e-mail inbox, but I can log in to my AOL Instant Messenger, Facebook or MySpace accounts, too.

There's weather stats (it's 60 degrees here), along with national headlines in a variety of categories, plus constantly updated local headlines.

Of course, my favorite part had to be the list of cheapest gas prices in Broward County. Apparently, in Pompano Beach, there's a Hess that's selling regular for $1.80 a gallon.

If I wasn't the kind of person who spent all day hopping from one Web site to another, this would really be a time saver!

I would like to make an addendum to yesterday's post, in which I discussed how I loved rainy days. I still love them, but only on weekends or weekdays that I don't have to drive to work.

You see, I had to drive through pouring rain this morning on the way to work. (Not fun.) Of course, it wasn't all bad, as the dark clouds covered the sun as I headed east on the highway.

In fact, it took me about the same amount of time to get to work in the early morning rain as it did in the rush hour sunshine. (That's relative, of course, as the sun was going down fast.)

I guess I'll take rain over rush hour. Although that might change. We'll see.