The boy and I had discussed getting a Christmas tree this year, but then we got so busy, we sort of forgot. On Thursday, I insisted that we go get a small tree. The boy made a face, then confessed that he had planned to get one secretly and decorate it overnight to surprise me. Once again, I have proven to be impossible to surprise! Last night, we decorated our mini potted pine with purple and silver balls. It's very pretty. Then, I took off his collar, and laid it at the foot of the tree. I took it off because he left this morning to see his family in LA. He will be gone for two weeks; he took Jordan with him, so she will have some sun and get spoiled by her grandma and great-grandma. I went last year and did all the family stuff with him, and decided to take a year off. I miss him terribly already. Whenever we are apart for any extended period of time (which isn't very often), I always miss him and appreciate him and cannot wait to see him. In the end, the break is very good for us, but while it's happening it sucks. He does so much for me, and although I try not to take his impeccable service for granted, I notice all the little things when he's gone. My goal for the next two weeks is to get lots of work done and catch up on answering all my email (so, if you haven't heard back from me, please be patient). This weekend alone, I've got three things to work on: the foreword to Best of Best Lesbian Erotica 2, which will come out in the spring; the thirty-fourth installation of my Anal Advisor column for Taboo Magazine (two more and I will celebrate my sixth year writing for Larry Flynt's fetish mag); and my next Village Voice column, which is my annual Best & Worst of Sex. Next week, I've got various appointments and meetings, so I will be working right up until Christmas Eve!