I have always enjoyed games that challenge the mind.  Like chess.  And then comes along Candy Crush and it ruins everything and I have become addicted to it.  

A name you probably never heard of but I'm betting you will during next years basketball season. No this is not another sports blog but one of inspiration. To really understand what I'm writing about, please watch this video first...it's amazing. (it's only 1 minute)   Zach Hodskins  

I'm sure you know O'Henry's story of The gift of the Magi wherein a husband-and-wife sacrifice for each other to buy then unusable holiday presents for each other. The closest that I have come to such a scenario occurred when i was very young on a long ago Christmas Day. As I remember it these many years later, on Christmas morning Santa brought me a beautiful top which generated electronic sparkles when spun. I was so enthralled by it!  I couldn't take my eyes off of it.

Unless it touches us directly, we are generally immune to crime. It is something that happens "out there" and “to someone else”. From that perspective, we follow the news and accept crime as part of the landscape.

The moral in the story is that dreams can come true.

Coming this week is my holiday drink with Fred.  We do it every year in December.  

In a recent study more than half of the population (62%) shop online at least once a month. The most common items we buy are electronics, books, clothing, household goods and office supplies.   Retail sales in brick and mortar stores are up by only a small percentage but shopping online is growing at 10-15%.