New Years Eve Tradition

I spent the afternoon downtown as is my custom on New Year's Eve at the Macy's store. Today is the last day for the fantastic holiday light show, and the organ concert was really good today. After the concert I visited the Dickens Christmas Village display on the third floor. This historic display is made up of animated near life size figures that illustrate the story of "A Christmas Carol." The display was originally at one of the other deparment stores for years and years. Now Macy's is the only department store left in downtown Philadelphia.

A Tough Loss For Our Friends

Our good friends Pete and Carole lost their beloved feline "Spanky" (brother of "Alfalfa") on Christmas day. It's never easy to lose a pet that you have grown to love, and it's especially tough when the pet dies at a young age, full of vigor. The only comfort we can take is that while they were with us they were well cared for and loved, and their life, however short, was at least a happy one. Carole writes:

We are doing much better. Actually we now are getting to know Alfalfa better, he was always the shy, reclusive one - the hunter, but always around as we have lots of little critters on our property. Not playful [with the children] nor adventurous [like climbing the Christmas tree, which big ol' Spanky had done the last morning that I saw him] so he had been more like Spanky's shadow. Note the Christmas card, Spanky is front and center. Typical. It was strange for a while, but we are slowly getting used to it.

Our sympathy and love goes out to you, dear Pete and Carole.

It Was My Favorite Tree In The Forest

Here is Bradley back in 2007 in front of my favorite tree in the park near our house. It used to be so beautiful in the Fall when the leaves truned a brilliant gold every year. This Fall the tree fell over and died.

Occupy The Phila. School District HQ

Demonstration Wednesday, December 28 at 440 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia In a public policy decision right out of of fictional Dickens, the Philadelphia School Board layed off 47 school nurses right before Christmas. As the Occupy movement pointed out, we have money to build sports arenas, engage in foreign misadventures, fix up public plazas, and give further tax breaks to the wealthy, but no money to insure the health of children in our schools.

The Poor Democrats

Photo: A holiday display in the housewares department at macy's Philadelphia The poor Democrats are crying about conservative senate Democrat Ben Nelson's retirement. I'm glad he's going. Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out, Ben. Another multimillionaire senator retires. Big deal. Nelson was more on the side of the Republicans than he was Democrats, not that the Democrats are all that wonderful...they are not. Both majhor parties suck. They are two branches of the same crappy political party, actually...the party of, by, and for the wealthy and the corporations.

Holiday Show At Comcast Center

The show has been updated for 2011.

Shoulder Cat

Burmese cats like to hop up on your shoulder. Loki doesn't need much coaching at breakfast time if there is some buttery spread that he can lick off of your toast!

Fun Xmas!

This year for the first time we bought each other cards that say "husband" on them!

Busy Doing Fun Things

Making cookies, working on my antique toy trains, and listening to holiday music!

Holiday Joys:Food & Music

Yesterday I spent a few hours downtown soaking in the holiday festivities. I bought a Yule Log cake (photo to the left) and enjoyed a free concert (video below.)