We kicked off the new year by installing a Toto washlet to keep our bottoms warm against the winter chill. We hired an electrician to install the GFCI outlet, but I bumped into the toilet paper holder while installing the bidet, requiring us to call in another contractor to patch the hole. I was at least successful cutting a hole into Melody’s closet wall to install another outlet to power her paper shredder. Meanwhile, we satisfied my jjampong craving at Doma and Melody’s bagel-curiosity comparing Forgotten Bakery’s version with Noah’s, which Westley pointed out tasted more like bread with a hole in the middle. The two of us also had back-to-back meetings in Hawaii this month. Melody took the first trip to Honolulu, which gave me time to hang out with Westley over gundam, MTG, Astro Bot, and Disney+ shows like Skeleton Crew and I am Groot. I then took the next trip to Hawaiian Eye in Kauai. Unlike my last visit there in 2020, this was a rush job. I landed in Lihue on MLK Monday afternoon, and managed to squeeze in a poke bowl, snorkel, and hotel check-in before ad boarding at a private residence with a personal chef. I awoke Tuesday to give my talk, then filled on Tip Top oxtail soup and loco moco on the way to the airport for my flight home. Perhaps it was the sea turtle encounter, speaker-of-the-day win, or industry-sponsored first-class flights, but my 24-hours on the island felt productive and invigorating. Hopefully, this will help fill the hole in my soul left by the incoming administration that promises tough times ahead for science and healthcare.

After a year of big trips, it was nice to be home for the holidays. Both Christmas and New Years Day were on Wednesdays, which made the rest of the two holiday weeks rather unproductive. We hunkered down with beef noodles, spaghetti, onion soup, and hot pot to keep ourselves warm while enjoying board games, video games, and gunpla. For board games, Westley was less enthusiastic about Ticket to Ride than the cooperative albeit more challenging Pandemic Legacy Season 1 campaign that we got him for Christmas. For video games, we gave him GOTY Astro Bot, which was no surprise after his months of anticipation and dressing up as the title character for Halloween. I reached the final boss of Shadow of the Erdtree, although young Radahn put up such a tough fight that we turned to Carbot Animations to make us feel better. Our last gift for Westley was a RG GaoGaiGar, which we are holding off while tackling a large MG Ver.Ka UC0093 unit together. The tiny stickers did require me to break out my new progressive Ray Bans, as I learned the joy of eyewear ownership. Melody spent her holidays tracing ant trails, and got Remy and Nico some food puzzles to engage their little brains and stave off obesity. We pigged out with the in-laws on Christmas Day over prime rib, velvetized hot chocolate, and an Overcooked marathon. Otherwise, we stayed home to complete the Star Wars ennealogy and embark on the Harry Potter heptalogy to prepare for a possible LA trip for spring break. I also completed the first season of Pachinko and second season of House of the Dragon. With grants and papers waiting for me in my inbox, I wished I had a bit more holiday family time before returning to the grind.