It's Christmas eve and the first night of Hannukah. What do I eat for dinner? The traditional seven fishes, a roasted ham or a brisket with latkes?   It's a conundrum...add in Kwanza and I'm totally food confused. I could use your help. Please let me know what are you feasting on tonight. I need some ideas ;)   Thanks and I wish a very warm and wonderful Happy Holiday to you and yours. We have a lot to be grateful for.

Our law firm has enjoyed the same Office Manager for over 30 years (9/84 DOH): Pat Sumple (nee Castrovinci) and she is retiring at year end.  Needless to say, I (we) will sorely miss her.  Although she can be tough and at times impatient, we will always consider her one of our Family and value her various contributions, opinions and decisions greatly. My partner Jane Jacobs cites her longevity and loyalty, marveling "No one works in one place for a lifetime anymore".

Last Sunday, I gave a half-full/half-empty canister of cat treats to my longtime neighbor. We kept the treats for the neighbor's cats -- Oreo and Hoppy -- who were frequent visitors to our front porch.

My mantra for the coming year seems to be: "I will not stand idly by." I think it originates in the Bible from Leviticus, I'm no expert in that department.

  I am reasonably convinced that I have written this blog before but the conversation continues so indulge me.     In my house, we are temperaturistically opposed. Yes, I know that is not really a word.  

I had an experience this week that truly showed me that, no matter how we perceive ourselves, there are others who see us quite  differently.  

I no longer devote much time to any music station. I long for the days of WNEW-FM which enjoys a Facebook page. No matter what music station you would dial up on terrestrial radio, the weeks leading up to the holidays means music that reflects that spirit and themes.

They call it a Polar Vortex, the Siberian Express, the Canadian Clipper...I just call it winter.   It's here...look out your windows (for those of us in the Northeast) and revel in the snow. I've got my snow thrower and shovels at the ready. You know it's winter when Fred is getting ready to go south and the sounds of winter suburbia fill the air. That low muffled rumbling of a snow thrower with the ocassional rush of the town plow scraping the streets.   In fact, my neighbor started his snow thrower at exactly 8A...I think he's reading my blogs :)