Holiday Break 2024

One of the best things about my job is the annual holiday shutdown. I work at a university, and since the campus is a ghost town around this time of the year, they shut down operations for a few weeks. If you include the weekends, it's an 11- or 12-day break. We sacrifice five federal holidays during the year, combine them with Christmas holidays, and get paid for the whole shebang. Honestly, it's a bonus vacation, and who doesn't love that? Every year, I make the most of my time away from work. This year, I thought I'd show you how I spent it.

The Friday before the shutdown, my department hosted a holiday party at a small bowling alley with food provided. We closed down around 11:30 am and got to go home afterwards. I had only been in the department for a month and a half, so it was nice to get to know some of my coworkers better.

 

Our last day before the shutdown was Friday, December 20th, and we didn't have to return until Wednesday, January 2nd. I relaxed at home with a few drinks that evening. The next day, Saturday the 21st, my daughter and I went to my best friend Keith's house. He had gotten me a cake for my birthday (the 22nd of December), so we hung out with him and his little girl for a while.

On Sunday, my birthday!, we checked into Christmas Cabin. Every few years, my ex-husband and I get a cabin in the same state park for a few nights during the holidays - a tradition we've been doing for many years, which I've posted about here before.

My friend Jayne came out and stayed that evening, and we ate half the charcuterie I brought, had plenty of drinks, and enjoyed a roaring fire outside.

I got to wake up to this.

The next evening, two of my besties and their kids came out, so we enjoyed the other half of the charcuterie, more drinks, and another roaring fire.

The next day was Christmas Eve, the day we celebrate Christmas. My ex, myself, and our kids took a leisurely drive in the countryside around the state park. We found this cemetery and checked out some graves.

I made spaghetti dinner, we opened gifts, had more drinks, and had our last bonfire of the trip before we checked out the next morning.

My daughter went home with my son to spend a few days, and I took my ex to their house. I then spent that evening in the quiet solitude of my own home.

The morning of the 26th, I had a long, leisurely coffee morning. By afternoon, I was ready to get out, so I headed to the Joslyn Museum. It had recently opened after being closed for more than two years while they added a new section. I hadn't been there since it reopened, and it was incredibly cool to see the changes.

After an afternoon of modern art in the new section of the Joslyn, I stopped by the Dundee Dell for an appetizer and a drink.

On the 27th, I had agreed to meet the kids in Ashland to bring my daughter back home, so I figured it was the perfect time for a short hike out at Schramm SRA beforehand.

It was the perfect day for a hike.

Schramm had also gone through a few years of renovation, and I finally got to check out the new fish ponds.

I've taken this shot many times, but now it looks different. For reference, here's what it used to look like.

I got to Ashland well ahead of the kids and discovered an absolute gem in the downtown area: Willow Point Gallery. It showcases art by Nebraska native Gene Roncka, but was bequeathed a big game collection from local Archie Hightshoe.

I know I took pictures of the art as well, but they're lost from my phone. Still, I enjoyed my visit there, especially since the friendly, elderly lady working gave me hot mulled cider and a cookie.

On the 28th, I woke up early and went back to Schramm, but this time I just brought an omelette and made camp coffee. If you've never done this, you don't know what you're missing.

The next day, I headed over to Lincoln to spend a day with my son. We went to another cemetery where I chuckled at this headstone like a 13-year-old boy.

Before I knew it, NYE was here. Rebecca and I had reservations at a place that ended up being closed! Luckily, we found a bar a few blocks away that was open and deserted (it was early). We grabbed some dinner and a few drinks. They even let us take some party swag with us.

We ended the evening at my house with wine, charcuterie, and watched countdowns with fireworks videos from several cities across the globe.

You'd think with all those bonus days off I'd be ready to go back to work, but no. I was definitely ready for a few more days of relaxation. Still, I'm grateful every year for the break.

See you soon for the next installment from my trip to the UK!