It’s cold, really cold, and one of the absolute necessities are gloves. But what’s it like from the viewpoint of a glove? “I like being needed, especially when the weather gets really cold. I feel appreciated. But one of the great occupational hazards of being a glove is being lost. I hate being taken for granted, neglected and lost. The worst is being left on the ground or in a parking lot. Very lonely and very little chance of every being found. However, it has happened.

Individually, most people think of starlings as pesky little birds that destroy crops and dirty car windshields. They were first introduced into the United States around 1880, by a group of Shakespeare enthusiasts, who wanted to recreate Shakespeare's Garden in Central Park. Needless to say those 60 or so proliferated, much to the chagrin of many wild bird lovers.  

  I know it’s winter, but until recently it hadn’t really felt that way. I wasn’t even wearing my real winter coat.    

As today is New Year’s Day, I thought it would be interesting to learn how we developed the tradition of making New Year’s resolutions. Using Google as my research tool, I learned the Babylonians made promises to their deities at the start of each year that they would return borrowed objects and pay their debts. The Romans began each year by making promises to the deity Janus, for whom the month of January is named.

Let me start with best wishes for the new year. I hope I helped a bit to get you ready with last week’s blog highlighting my song list to ring in the new year which also exists in a YouTube playlist.

Everything seems to be in a constant state of flux. New reports on someone sexually harrassing someone else. It is disturbing, shocking and infuriating all at same time.   It's hard to feel steady when new revelations come out, on what seems like an hourly basis. Now I just shake my head and wonder who's next.   We have a huge new tax bill, which very few people seem to know anything about. Oh bits and pieces have been released but I don't think we'll understand the full extent for awhile.  

It's that time of year and whether or not they are followed through with, it is time to make New Year's resolutions.In as much as this has been one of the best years of my life, my first resolution is to keep on keeping on.Pass

Last Saturday, the Mediterranean Snack Bar in Huntington closed its doors - for good. It had been an institution for 43 years and, I can safely say that Flo and I have been eating at “Mediterranean” for a majority of those years. It was a safe place, good food, always welcoming and comforting. It’s the end of an era. I think back on other “institutions” that have come and gone. Some replaced, others always missed. A fitting reflection as we approach the end of the year.