So today was not a good day.

Very recently a friend died, and today at the library I shelved the last book that friend will ever borrow. A silly thing. But a very final thing, and the longer it rolls around in my head, a heavier and sadder thing. I kind of thought you were a dud for a bit; it had been a long while since you'd marked as shipped and nothing came in. I had shrugged off this year's secret santa.

But that's because I am kind of an idiot. Your gift was very thoughtful and kind, and exceedingly punctual. Today was the best day for it to arrive at my post office, and it did.

First, I received a bottle of Secret Aardvark Habanero hot sauce. Which is delicious. Seriously. I've been left alone with it for half an hour and it's a quarter gone. I ran out of pizza and have been free basing.

I also got a kick ass ice scraper. The camera I would have used to document my gifts caught a terminal lens error in the ice storm I had a couple weeks ago. Tomorrow I will use it with prejudice and a vengeful song in my heart against Nature which has denied you the thank you pictures of hot sauce balanced on an adorable cat's head that you rightly deserve.

The biggest part of my gift- a donation to any cause that did good works, which was self indulgent of me to ask for-I know, I am grateful for. I was happy to learn of the existence of SMART (Start Making A Reader Today). Especially on this sort of day. Your donation has been matched. Thank you again, and may the new year bring hope, health and happiness to you and yours.