Speaking of possibilities: changes in schedule are ahead, too. My attendance at work has been nearly perfect, but starting in 2006, I will become a serious caregiver for my husband while still working full-time. I'll have to take family care days, personal necessity days and vacation days off to care for him.

Did I mention that the light at the end of the tunnel is the headlight of an oncoming train?

I think 2006 will see a lot of changes. Comments in this journal yesterday reminded me that I am being assigned starting January to a outdated but still common style of "leadership" that has been in the workplace for generations.

The old-fashioned type of manager "delegated" his work to his secretary or assistant (usually female and subordinate) while he (usually male) went to meetings in his three-piece suit and played golf with Important People. The traditional mode for this type of person was that of the "yes-man". Tell them what they want to hear. And that their decisions are golden. And blame the problems or "bumps in the road" on some poor sucker down the ladder. Therein lies the path to self-promotion, which is what it is all about. (My boss isn't like that and I value him for it).

Do I hear an echo on the national level?