Yesterday and today were the calm days between storms; the family gift giving and meals were Tuesday and this evening a guest arrived for several days. I haven't had a chance to do some of the more recreational things that would have been part of the holiday (making cloth gift bags) and I still have to finish my holiday letters—now New Year's letters.

The spectre of the accumulation of thrift-store items in the front room is looming - the boxes and envelopes and packing materials that should be managed are bulging into the front hall. It will be my big chore in 2024 to restart listing those items in an efficient and frequent manner. (eBay is reporting sales as income over about $400, so I need to keep track of what I paid for things before I sell them. Paperwork.)

Meanwhile, or adjacent to that work, I had an interesting conversation at a holiday party this week with a woman who works at an estate sale business. There is so much that goes into pricing - and whether the items are in prime condition or need work - selling them at wholesale or retail prices accordingly. It's the same on eBay, where scarcity is a factor. Too bad bread machines are passe (I read that in Martha Stewart Living this week) - I have several to list, but eBay is stuffed full of them. But other things I have that they aren't overstocked with. (I played with the sentence and couldn't get past ending with a preposition. It isn't really a problem, but the English major rules die hard . . . )

My guest is snugged in the front bedroom (she loves that firm mattress and all of the pillows) and I'm wrapping up my day. And year. I seem to have at least one resolution (but in the continuity of activity here it is just another day, not another year.)