It’s the eve of New Year’s Eve and I’m mulling over the past year’s highlights and low points. On balance, the highlights win, although last week’s scare with Earl’s son and his dog certainly stands front and center right now.

 … finish reading Taking Stock

I’ve lived in a myriad of places, and many of them have been in Illinois: Chicago (more than once), Palatine, Arlington Heights, Wheeling, Libertyville. So while I wasn’t born in the Land of Lincoln, I have considerable attachment to it.

 … finish reading Illinois

If I am to believe the Internet, I am rich beyond my wildest dreams. I could bargain for the Taj Mahal or the Hearst Mansion. How does this work? In the past forty-eight hours, I’ve gotten approximately a dozen emails

 … finish reading Rich Man’s Dreams

I collect snowmen. Or, to be politically correct, snow people. I have stuffed snow people, ceramic ones, a quilt with snow people embroidered on it, ornaments, music boxes, etc. Some people collect Santa Clauses, but it’s snow people for me.

 … finish reading Snow People

Hectic . . . that’s the word that describes this time of year. I’m trying to keep up my usual schedule of working out, practicing piano, working, and blogging. But I find it gives way to shopping, wrapping, decorating, and

 … finish reading Hectic

Early in October, Earl was confronted with two boy scouts at our door, each seeking money in exchange for popcorn or trail mix or both. Earl ordered something from their catalogs, gave each lad twenty dollars, and sent them on

 … finish reading Boy Scouts

Earl and I just returned from our annual trek to Denver, Colorado, to visit my aunt and uncle and their grown children. And their children’s children. We’ve gone there for Thanksgiving for the past several years . . . I’ve

 … finish reading Thankful