I have been annoying my co-workers with my faux enthusiasm for 2019 all day long. “Are you ready to take 2019 by storm?!” has been my mantra today. Loudly, with gesticulation. It must be confusing for them since I am usually much more low-key. But feigning excitement does make me feel more enthusiastic and happy! Try it!

The Grok Nation staff just got back from holiday break, like many of you, and basically, to a person, we have all been sick, as have our entire families. Stomach flus, head colds, coughs, fevers. When you must work, you manage to hold yourself together; the minute your vacation starts, you are bedridden. Three members of my family were plagued with the stomach virus, three had terrible flus. My husband managed both a man stomach bug and a man flu, after which I looked at him and said, “I am not sure why anyone ever called women ‘the weaker sex.’” He coughed and asked for soup. No matter, we are ready to take 2019 by storm!

It’s been great having my college freshman son here for his winter break. I miss him when he is away! I have been experiencing the 7 stages of having your child home from college.

1. Anticipation. I was super excited that he would be coming home! We’d spend so much time together!
2. Welcoming. I made sure to have all of his favorite foods in the house. I cooked him whatever he wanted. 
3. Joy. Yay! My little boy is home. And he gave me copious hugs. True, he did infect me with a stomach bug.
4. Laundry. I spent an entire Saturday washing all of his laundry. And another Saturday. He really dirties a lot of clothes.
5. Irritation that the toilet seat is constantly left up. He was very well-trained before he left for college. What the hell happened?
6. Sadness. Like all good things, winter break must come to an end, and he is returning to school soon.
7. Pride. He is ready to take 2019 by storm!

We’ll have plenty of great content for you at Grok Nation in 2019. So you, too, can take 2019 by storm!

I’ll stop now.