Good things about Christmas 2004:
1. Not having to buy the spouse a gift since he just ordered a car and that counted in the holiday gift category.
2. No ice, sleet, freezing rain or other uncomfortable precipitation.
3. Being able to pick out the kids' gifts with them, so there aren't any unwanted gifts.
4. The luminaries that lined the streets of our neighborhood last night.5. 24 hours of The Christmas Story on TNT.
5. Being able to go back to bed and sleep until a disgracefully late hour.
6. Not having to drive to or prepare an elaborate holiday dinner.
7. Chocolate chip pancakes for a late lunch (which I did not have to burn, errr, make).
8. The ability to walk into Rebecca's room and have your foot touch carpet rather than clothing.

Not so good things about Christmas 2004:
1. No snow. Cold as a (insert your favorite politically incorrect phrase here - I understand that the Wiccans object to the traditional sentiment), but no white stuff.
2. Cleaning up after the luminaries from last night.
3. Not having little kids around to watch as their faces glow with the first glimpse of presents under the tree.
4. Having Caitlin wake me up at 7:30 just like when she was little.
5. The dozen loads of laundry that are the aftermath of cleaning out Rebecca's room.

On balance, not a bad holiday.