Columns

OK, everyone, pull up a chair. Make sure to grab slippers and hot drinks in hand-warming mugs. Don't rush. We've got lots of time. When the sun rises after 7 a.m. and sets at 4 p.m., signals get confused and it can feel like midnight by dinnertime, but it's not.

I admit that I'm not a health nut. That's not a big surprise to those of you who know me, but along with my disdain for most vegetables, I have an equal level of contempt for well-meaning attempts to get me to "just try it." I've already tried it; that's how I know I don't like it.

I've been called for jury duty a number of times and in several states. The last time I was notified of my opportunity to enjoy one of the fruits of living in this great republic, I was in San Diego County, California, in the summer of 2000.

I am playing the slots at my local car wash. A single turn comes with each purchase, and now apples, bananas, lemons, oranges and cherries are zipping up and down on the touch screen next to my car window.

I met Santa Claus. I don't mean I chatted with a mall Santa or gave coins to a well-meaning bell ringer. I mean, I met Santa — THE Santa. In fact, I see him all the time.

As the holiday season begins, there's a certain magic in the air. The days grow shorter, the air grows cooler, and everything feels just a little more festive. For many of us, Christmas is a time for reflection, a time to slow down and savor moments with family, friends, and, of course, food.

My husband and I recently upgraded our heating system. When they came to remove the large oil tank, we were informed that it had to be cut up and removed in sections.

What is in a name? Shakespeare wrote that "a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." 1960s personality psychologist Gordon Allport stated that "the most important anchorage to our self-identity throughout life remains our own name."

When I was 11, my parents moved our family from a small apartment in the Bronx to a 200-year-old farm about 70 miles from New York City. There, we experienced our first power outages.

This month's words are "happy holidays." It is a wonderful time of year to see old friends and family during the holiday season. There are a lot of celebrations and parties for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's, and a large number of dedicated law enforcement officers are out trying to keep the roads safe for travel.