Home improvement and holidays do not mix. Count on quadruple the time you think it should take to refinish floors, especially if a nasty virus is involved. Even when using the correct tool for removing base trim, count on damaged walls, split and splintered trim and gauged knuckles. Most importantly don't watch home improvement shows, they lead to grandiose thinking and the need to make changes.

Instead, spend holidays sleeping, watching Firefly and Pirates of the Carribean on DVD, listening to great holiday gift CDs and reading good books.

Off to Erie and Alan's family for the week. New Year's Eve will be spent with Chris and Elad(!) getting down in Youngstown.