That XMas is over fills me with a complete feeling of relief. The day itself was good, filled with lounging and fun and food and no obligations to go anywhere or do anything. We watched some of the Trading Spaces marathon on TLC (or rather, my wife watched while I played on the computer.) I did research on JDBC->ODBC drivers and otherwise did that stuff I do, which is fun to me. I'm at work today, but I think I'm the only developer here. It's awfully quiet.

There was a Harvey Pekar story in one of the American Splendor comics about him working a snowy day around the holidays when it was quiet and not busy. I've always loved that story because it really captures something about the workaday world, that blessed relief you get when things turn out to be easy for a change. I kind of have that feeling today. There are things to do and I'm doing them, but there is no stress or commotion, just calm and peace.

I listened to Yoshimi vs The Pink Robots all the way through again this morning, and I've decided it is a brilliant, fabulous album. Unlike a lot of bands that I like in their youth and then hate as they get old and sappy and lose their edge (Sting for one), the Flaming Lips are putting out music that is not as abrasive as their work of 20 years ago but is just as challenging. At first listen it sounds light and fluffy, but it actually is complicated and challenging. They make a few references to Pink Floydian territory and I think that's the aptest comparison, that this is more like Dark side of the Moon than the psycho music of their first few albums. I like it. Their song "Do You Realize", which is what they played on Saturday NIght Live and in that TV commercial, is a beautiful and touching song. Everything about this record is good.