Another Delco Guy In South Jersey

Tax Time

I did my taxes yesterday and was left shaking my head at how screwed up the tax system is in the United States.  It takes a guy with a master's degree and 20 years of experience in finance 4 hours to do do a return, and it's now so hard to do a paper return that I paid $58 to file my state and federal returns electronically.  At least I didn't have to pay for the stamps and envelopes.

In the end, I paid about 15% of my income in Federal taxes, more than Mitt Romney.  That's insane, but the REALLY insane thing there is that if the roughly $18,000 I paid in rent had been a mortgage payment, I would have qualified for itemized deductions and paid about $2,000 less.  The system really is bent in favor of folks who have mortgages.  I know I benefited from that system when I had one, but now that I am a renter, it does seem to be rather unfair to give such a giant tax break to any one group.

I know the tax code is rife with other examples, from the capital gains tax rate being far lower than the rate on earned income to the solar tax credit to the hybrid cars credit to the investment costs credit.  After spending all afternoon entering all the stuff I gave away to charity last year only to be told that I don't qualify for that deduction, I've got to admit that I am a flat tax guy at this point. 

All the loopholes and thresholds and schedules and credits and alternatives, I have to say there has to be a better way.  The tax code has created its own $9 billion sector of the economy.  Imagine what Americans could do with that money if they weren't spending it on TurboTax or H&R Block.  That's 1.5 million week-long vacations to Disney World's Animal Kingdom Lodge, including flights, character meals and Park Hopper passes.  Or, for my right wing, gun-nut readers, roughly 536,000 Colt M16-A1 machine guns for 'home protection.'

Anyway, to look a bit closer at the numbers, I paid about 26% of my total income in taxes last year when you look at federal, state, local and social security taxes.  That's more than I paid for shelter or transportation last year.  In fact, when viewed as a single budget item, it's the largest.

Granted, my kids got a good education of that money.  Private school would have been more expensive. I had the protection of my local police and fire departments and the military to make sure that I am safe. That's worth something too. I also got free roads to drive on to work every day.  Oh wait. No. I pay another $1,000 a year to cross the bridge. I don't get free health care or child care or anything like that for my taxes, like I might in Europe.  Those things cost me me another $6,000 a year or so.

And these were only the taxes that were taken out of my check.  I have not even begun to total up the taxes on gasoline, clothes, dining out, services and the like that I paid last year.  I would have to guess that would add another few thousand dollars to my tally.

When it comes to government size and accountability, I am a conservative.  The Commerce Department?  Really? Rick Perry was right, even if he couldn't remember all the departments he wanted to cut.  We need a more basic approach to government and a more fair way for Americans to pay for it.  That we tax children's clothing in many states is simple insanity. 

I think it's time that there was a basic flat tax that exempted some base income for a single person or family and then taxed all income above that number at a flat rate.  Your basic minimum expenses would be exempt from taxation, but above that everyone would pay a fair share.  No more special exemptions for herding llamas or investing in proton accelerator heating plants. 

If you risk some money to make money, then the gains on that risk should still be taxed, but some allowance should be made for the risk.  Not the roughly 50% reduction that folks see now, but something.

I know.  Pretty boring topic for a Monday.  Imagine how worked up I would have been if I had OWED money!

Midnight In Paris

Two weeks ago I was the fifth wheel at a little couples party where the night culminated with a little movie.  Apparently my brother in law Kevin is a man of many hidden interests and had read the reviews of likely Oscar nominees. His suggestion for the night was Woody Allen's 'Midnight in Paris,' which I am sure Allen would be furious to have called a 'little movie,' but surely fits the bill.

Despite the rather unlikely source for the selection, this little movie was indeed perfect for a night.  It's a great date flick or low-key way to spend an evening at home, but color me shocked that it was nominated for the three big Oscars for Picture, Directing and Screenplay. 

Written and directed by Woody Allen, 'Midnight in Paris' stars Owen Wilson as Gil Pender.  Pender is an American writer in Paris struggling in his career and his relationship with fiancee Inez, played by Rachel McAdams.  Wilson seems an odd choice as a traditional Woody Allen protagonist and you can sometimes hear Allen's nasally New York twang in the lines rather than Wilson's laid-back twang.  Ultimately the role works for him, it's the audience that needs to get used to him in the role rather than Wilson growing into it.

The story revolves around Gil Pender traveling back in time as he wanders the streets of Paris each night at midnight.  He is transported back to his favorite period, the Roaring '20s, where he meets an array of literary and social luminaries including Hemingway, Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald, Cole Porter and Picasso.  Every night Pender is taken on another adventure, meeting more of the celebrities of the day and eventually falling in love with Picasso's mistress Adriana. 

Their kiss transports them back to Adriana's favorite time, the Belle Epoque of the 1890's, where they meet Degas and other artists who feel the Renaissance was the height of civilization.  Pender reluctantly returns to the future, leaving time travel behind and deciding it is time to live life in the the present.

While shot on location in Paris, the film lacks some visual panache as the photography features lots of golds and reds, and the effect, to me, somewhat limited the beauty of the setting. The dizzying array of characters from the past was also a challenge, as I sometimes felt like this was a quicky survey of literature and art history.

The length of the film was also a bit of a challenge.  At only 94 minutes, the last 20 minutes or so felt rushed.  The beginning of the movie and the relationship with his in-laws is far better developed than the conclusion and several other characters with far more ultimate significance to the film. I am not sure if Allen got bored with the script, ran out of ideas for the time travel sequences, or simply decided that the movie was good enough.

And it is good enough as a nice bit of light entertainment, a fun diversion from work and life and reality TV.  But it's the second of the nominated films I watched and was left thinking that the nomination was a gift rather than a serious award.

Friday Fantastic Four - Iconic TV

This week's passing of Robert Hegyes, best known for his role as Epstein on the 1970s TV show 'Welcome Back Kotter,' got me to thinking about iconic TV this morning.  So much of what is on TV today is pretty formulaic, with the crime and court procedurals, the family comedies and all the reality TV crap.

Shows like Kotter, which you can still catch on local channels in syndication or can pick up at Amazon, still play well 25 years later.  Yeah the hair and clothes scream 1977, but the jokes are still funny, the stories are still interesting and you can still relate to the characters even in the social media age. It's probably not a top 4 iconic show, mostly because there was only so much you could do with a story line largely centered on a high school class, but it's still a show that broke some ground.

What are the four most iconic TV shows of your lifetime?

1. The Simpsons - still fresh, funny and making a statement after all these years. I know not everyone is a Simpsons fan with the low brow and slapstick stuff that the show sometimes relies on.  But each episode is saying something in a way that is accessible across generations. proved a prime-time animated show could be a winner and inspired dozens of copy cats.
2. The Rockford Files - Everyone probably already knows I am a big Rockford fan, but TRF really was a different kind of show for its day.  It made it ok to be a TV detective who wasn't a tough guy, made the careers of many of new faces (Tom Selleck and Sopranos creator David Chase among the most notable), and has the best opening sequence of any TV show ever.
3. M*A*S*H - I think everyone watched the last episode, but if that's all you remember, then you missed how much this show changed TV.  It was anti-war, created the 'dramedy' genre, showed the blood and dirt of war right on your living room TV.  As the Vietnam era ended, M*A*S*H lost a bit of its edge, taking on other social issues before going out with the most watched TV episode ever.
4. Seinfeld - The show about nothing that dominated TV in the 90s, Seinfeld was never really one of my favorites.  I do recognize how thoroughly it became part of the culture and  remains so today.  Like Friends, the 4 person cast was huge together, but never really had as much reach as individual actors.

The Descendants

So to kick off my reviews of Oscar-nominated films, today we have the movie that I have been really interested in seeing since I heard the buzz a few months back.  In 'The Descendants,' George Clooney stars as Matt King, the emotionally distant husband of a woman in a coma and the father of two girls who is facing a series of life events.

There are three stories intertwined in the film.  First, a tragic accident has placed Clooney's wife in an irreversible coma.  In talking to his older daughter Alexandra (Shailene Woodley) about her mothers impending death, Clooney discovers his wife's infidelity.  And odd near-road film ensues as he seeks to learn more about his wife and her lover. 

As part of that road film experience, Clooney tries to learn more about his older daughter's wild ways and tries desperately to connect to his younger daughter Scottie (Amara Miller in her fist role) who he feels he cannot reach.  The fatherly journey shows Clooney vacillating between buddy and father figure, struggling to find a place in the 3 person family, which is augmented by interesting stoner boyfriend Sid played by Nick Krause. 

The third leg of the story is about a family land deal. Clooney is the leader of a family that owns thousands of acres of pristine wilderness on Kaua'i and is facing a decision of what to do with the family's birthright in the face of shrinking finances and rapacious developers.  A wide cast of cousins, anchored by Beau Bridges as Cousin Hugh pull Clooney back and forth on the horns of this dilemma.

Clooney is a superstar and this is a tough role for him.  Cuckolded husband of a dying wife trying desperately to connect to his daughters while protecting a family legacy is pretty tough to pull off for anybody.  For Clooney, best known for shallow, slick roles like Danny Ocean and Dr. Doug Ross, this is a real stretch.  I know movies are not generally shot in sequence, this feels like a role Clooney grows into throughout the film. While nominated for an Oscar, the nomination seems like more a of a nod for Clooney's best work yet rather than for the best work by anyone this year.

The story is really the star of the film, and I was happy to see it nominated for best adapted screenplay.  It's a look into some pretty ordinary lives, people facing problems we can all relate to.  The writing though makes these problems interesting and compelling, sometimes even funny, rather than maudlin and dreary.  My favorite lines come when Clooney finds and confronts his wife's lover, Brian Speer, played ably by Matthew Lillard.

Brian Speer: 'It just happened.'

Matt King: 'Nothing just happens.'

Brian Speer: 'EVERYTHING just happens.'

Pretty simple stuff, right? Yes, but written and delivered in just the right context that lets us know these are people like us, caught in a situation we can recognize, even if we have not lived it precisely. THAT'S great writing.

While set on the the islands of Hawaii, the photography is gray and misty and not really as visually stunning as I expected.  There are some amazing vistas now and then, but for the most part, the whole thing feels like it was filmed during the rainy season.  That may be by design, but it feels a little haphazard. The native Hawaiian music, costumes and accents are pitch-perfect, if a little hard to get used to at first.

This was a very good, if flawed film.  Clooney is friendly and affable, but ultimately at sea in a difficult role.  The supporting cast is all very good, but there are some really uneven moments as each of them basically has a scene-stealing moment only to fade into the set again.  The story stands out on its own though and ultimately won my great praise.

Go see 'The Descendants.'  It's a great way to spend two hours, even if it isn't one of the top films of the year.

WordFUL Wednesday

Screw Worldless Wednesday for this week.  I am in a rut.  I seem to write a lot of the same things on here and i need to break out of that  cycle.  Sure, I write about my great kids and we all love that, but hearing how great my kid are gets boring even to me after a while. 

I write about how things have changed in my life and how it's hard but I am coping with it. Yeah, everyone's life is hard, they just don't all have blogs where they whine about it every day.  Seriously, some of the stuff I have written makes we want to listen to James Taylor, grab a bottle of Jack and stare morosely into space for a few days.

A lot of the stuff I have written since starting the blog back up in June have been the basic updates about life.  Seriously, reading back, I can't believe several dozen people actually stop by to read this crap every day.  I'm bored out of my skull reading it and it's my friggin' life!

Back in the day, I was way more wide-ranging.  I did some news analysis, social commentary, sports discussion and reviews of books, restaurants and the like.  Semi-interesting stuff that assumed that people cared what I thought.  

You're all on notice.  I'm going back that way.  Yeah there will still be family updates and the like, but there's going to be a more concerted effort to actually write about stuff that matters outside my small circle of family and friends.  Not really for more readers, either, but really because I am feeling the need to expand what I am thinking and writing about. 

So read the blog if you want to, if not, you've got Facebook for the updates.

And That's The Ballgame - Andy Musser Passes

The three voices that I most associate with my youth have all left us now.  First 'His Whiteness,' Richie Ashburn stepped out of the announcer's booth in New York City and passed into the night after calling a Phillies - Mets game in the Phils' dreadful 1997 last-place season.

Fresh off calling the 2008 World Series win for the Phils, Harry Kalas died preparing for a game in Washington, DC.  I cried that day, and again a few days later when thousands welcomed Harry home to Philly one last time.  While we still get to hear him sing 'High Hopes' every time the Phillies win at CBP, I still tune in sometimes and expect to hear him calling the game.

And today we lost Andy Musser, the third member of the Phillies broadcasting crew of my youth.  He was always the quietest of the three, the most generally reserved, but I really think he only paled in comparison because of the two Hall of Famers he worked with.  His double play calls were as smooth as Bowa, Trillo and Rose were on the field.

Some would argue Musser's voice went silent years ago when the Phillies management pushed him aside to give Chris Wheeler a larger role.  I still heard a bit of a bit of it in my mind though until Harry passed a few years ago. Wheeler and Tim McCarver were a part of those broadcasting teams as well, but never really seemed to be as big a part.  McCarver went on to make it big in broadcasting.  Against all odds, Wheels is still here, over-analyzing every pitch.

I grew up lisetening to the Phils on the radio on my grandfather's porch, and on TV on Sunday afternoons at my other grandfather's in Essington.  The silences were as important as the things that were said.

Today, we lost my last link to the soundtrack of my summer afternoons and evenings. I'm sad, but I remember seeing Musser a few years ago at a beer event he was working.  Someone inevitably asked him if he missed the games.  He looked wistful for just a moment and said something like, 'I'd be crazy if I didn't, but I've got a good life.'

Andy, thanks for all the great memories and say hello to Whitey and Harry for me.  I'll have an Anchor Steam for you!

Snow in Medford!

I slept in a bit today and woke to the sound of ice pebbles on the window glass. The snow here in Medford has begun to change over to icy rain. I'd say we ended up with a bit less than two inches.

Not much, but just enough to coat the ground and make everything look petty!

The Fragility of Health

My mom is in Atlanta this week helping attend her youngest sister, who is hospitalized with some significant health issues.  Her brother and sister are also down there, which signals how difficult things are there right now.  It's been a long series of travails for my aunt and I am so very happy we got to spend some extended time with her in Cape May Point this past summer.

Death in my family has (save the sad exception of my cousin) always been the wasting, suffering kind.  Cancer, heart disease, post operative issues.  Never particularly sudden.  Always an ordeal for every one involved.  The patient, the kids, the spouse, the grandkids, the friends, all with equal measures of sadness long before the funeral.

A few years ago, with my father in the hospital for a heart procedure, I worried in this space that my life was headed into that zone where adult kids spend more and more time at hospitals talking to doctors about their parents then they do at their own doctor's office.  Happily, that has not turned out to be the case and the hospital visits have been notably few in the intervening four plus years.

I had a pretty significant health scare last year that I dealt with and ultimately turned out to be more of a reminder of my mortality than an emergency. As I sat in the doctor's office the day of the procedure, heart racing and not sure what would come next, I reflected on how few times I had been the patient myself and that It was all so de-humanizing and difficult for someone who prefers to be the guy in control.

So now, up here in Philadelphia, where I can't control a single thing about the situation, my thoughts are drawn to my aunt and her care-givers. How much there is to worry about for them. How difficult it must be to relax and let things happen.  things are a lot better then they were a week ago in Atlanta, she's in a better hospital, surrounded by family who can take shifts to be at her side.  The care much more coordinated and the care-givers are able to give each other a break here and there.

We're all going to die eventually, I get that, but we also want it to be on our own terms. Like the athlete who gets to retire amidst the cheers of victory rather than the silence of the off-season, we want to fight valiantly to the end, to do the things on our 'Bucket List,' to see our children become successes and to hold our grandchildren until they are too old for all that. I know we all don't get that chance, and that's a good reminder to leave work a little early to get to the game or to spend a little extra time reading that last book before bed.

I am hopeful for my aunt that she will weather this latest storm and enjoy the company of her grandson and the rest of the family at home very soon. And I thank you all for your thoughts and notes of support.  It's really appreciated!

Wordless Wednesday - August 17, 2011

 

 

Commuting

I work about 20 miles from my home.  The kids' schools are about 7-8 miles each way.  In any other place but New Jersey or Southern California this drive would probably take 45 minutes.  Some nights, if I work late, and don't have to pick the kids up, it can actually be done in the time Google Maps says.  But most times when I am driving it, it's between 60 and 75 minutes.

Varying the drive helps.  Several of the alternate routes add 10 miles or so, but the traffic flows a bit more nicely and the time still ends up being the same. I thend to prefer the longer distances and fewer tail lights in front of me.  The stress of having to get from one place to another by a given time is plenty without having to worry about if you are going to have some idiot on his cell phone not notice that you have stopped and plow into the back of you.

Every now and then I take the PATCO train into town just to shake things up.  It's not the most convenient thing to do, since I have to drive about 30 minutes to the train station and then the train takes another 30, but it's an interesting change on days when I don't have to pick the kids up.  The views are a bit more stimulating than the back of the Honda Pilot or Chevy Tahoe that I would otherwise be looking at on Route 70 in Cherry Hill.

No matter how I do it, I still spend about 20 full days a year in the car on the way to or from work.  That's an awful lot of time spent listening to NPR, Audible books, with the occasional top 40, country or sports talk station mixed in.  You'd think that for all that time spent doing something that I would have more to show for it than just returning to the same place as I started the day.

A Good Time For A Long Weekend

Whew!

Have you ever had a weekend where you felt like you needed another weekend to recover?

This was one of those - thank goodness I have tomorrow off!

After a pretty cool Friday night with the boys dancing and me hanging out with Emma and the Duff girls, the slow Saturday morning was a welcome few moments of quiet.While I wish I could have done the coaching clinic in Cherry Hill, I had other priorities this weekend.

We rolled over to Delco for a cousins afternoon. Spunky helped me make dessert and we all got back to our roots with some Sloppy Joes!  Add in some Ransons, Wii, red wine, a kitten and Midnight in Paris and you've got a great night for kids and adults alike. 

Today started with some tough new from the South, but we friends and family pulled together.  After about a million emails, texts messages and phone calls, all the bothers and sisters are together in Atlanta, and we are hopeful that things are improving tonight.  Thanks to everyone who made this weekend wonderful instead of difficult.

I wrapped up the night feeding my Food Network addiction and being really REALLY happy I am off tomorrow.

My Little Helper

I turned my back for a second and Spunky is right there to help out!

Friday Fantastic Four - Friday the 13th

The observance of Friday the 13th is a classic superstition here in the US.  In Greece and some Spanish-speaking countries, Tuesday the 13th is seen as a day of bad luck.  While some people have a stress-inducing phobia of Friday the 13th, the folks at the Grey Lodge Pub see it as a cause for celebration!

What superstitions do you honor?

1. I still wish on my birthday candles!
2. I always put a little money in a wallet or purse I give as a gift to give good luck.
3. I believe in 4 leafed clovers and used to find them all the time in the yard in Moorestown!
4. When I coached, I had a lucky pair of underwear I always made sure I wore for big games.

Do you have any silly superstitions?

Have a great weekend!

Wordless Wednesday - July 18, 2007

Wrapping Up Christmas

Today has been one of those days we all have to do but no one really wants to.  The Christmas presents have been worn and played with and maybe broken.  New Year's resolutions are already being broken. Epiphany has come and gone.  Playoff football is on TV.

Which all means it is time to take down the Christmas tree, outside lights and generally de-decorate. As a kid, we usually did it the weekend following Epiphany, and it was one of the saddest days of the year for me. I was fully prepared for sadness today, but the day ended up being pretty good, if a little solitary.

The kids wanted no part of now that the tree is down, preferring to return from their mom's tomorrow with only the little trees in their rooms to remind them of the recently-enjoyed holidays.  So now the ornaments are wrapped, the lights are bagged up, the tree is down and the house has returned to normal.

And I feel pretty good about it all.  It gave me a chance to clean up a bit, to really look at all the great ornaments we have and to think about all of the happiness the represent.  So here I am resting on the couch, with shiny floors, vacuumed carpets, the sharp smell of vinegar mixing with the fading aroma of cinnamon-scented pine cones. It's a quiet moment before the week roars to a start and we only have stray pine needles and some pictures to remind us of Christmases Past.

Have a great week!

Friday Fantastic Four - Favorite Tools

Hello everyone and welcome to the first Fantastic Four of the New Year.  I am helping some friends and relatives around the house this weekend. Last night I had to gather up my tools for the projects which got me thinking about all the tools I have and what my favorites are.  For your list, feel free to liberally define tool as anything that helps you complete a task.

What are your favorite tools?

1. My Makita LCT200W Drill/Driver set.  When I first used Bopper's version of this tool a few years back, I knew I had to have one.  Super-light, plenty of power and easy to use all day long.  At just more that $200, every serious handyman should have one.
2. My Stanley knife - One of my oldest tools.  Used for so long most of the paint is gone.  Easy to load blades, feels perfect in my hand.  I have bought a few knives over the years to see if they would feel better and I keep coming back to the old standard.
3. My HTC Thunderbolt - It surfs the web at blazing 4G speed, takes super 8mp photos, replaced my GPS, entertains the kids with Angry Birds, reads me my Audible books, has super traffic and weather apps and oh yeah it works pretty darn well as a phone too!  It's the Swiss Army Knife of smart phones!
4. My Wusthof chef's knife - A birthday gift from my brother and his bride afew years back, this knife is perfectly balanced, keeps a great edge and is a super all-around performer in the kitchen.  While my knife skills are not Food Network worthy, this baby gets it done for me!  It came in a set with a great bread knife and paring knife as well.

So what are your favorite little helpers?

Have a great weekend!

Holy Cow! It Snowed!

We've got an unexpected coating of snow here in Medford! Be careful and take your time on the way to work!

Back To The Real World

For the first time in over two weeks I had to go to work today.  I know.  Most of you are not sympathetic.  I get it. 

Today really started last night with the making of lunches, selection of outfits and review of what was needed for the week. It took me a little while to wind down last night and everyone was a bit drowsy this morning.  Even after needing to spend a few extra minutes getting Emma moving, we still all made it to school and work on time. (I was even early!)

I'm amazed at how quickly it all gets right back up to speed.  Dance class started back up last night.  We have doctor and other appointments this week.  Baseball workouts also get started this week, which means that we are scant weeks away from actual outdoor practices. 

We've still got de-decorating to do. John and Emma don't want any parts of that, so I guess I will have to do it solo this weekend. I love having the lights and decorations up, but I saw more than a few trees out at the curb this morning on the way into work. 

I made a few mid-year resolutions in 2011 that are pretty big and have been doing fairly well on them.  I have two for 2012 - I want to begin eating healthier.  I started with a healthy breakfast, but I suspect the 2 cans of Coke and the ham sandwich for lunch are not the best way to get through the day.  The second is to do more writing away from the blog.  I have a few projects that I have put on the back burner, but I want to get them moving again.  I like writing and it makes me feel better about the world, but I get sidetracked too easily.  Hopefully this is the year one or more of those projects comes to fruition.

On the sports front, my kids and I really enjoyed watching The Winter Classic yesterday.  I can honestly say that if every game were played with that intensity, I would watch a lot more hockey.  While I don't think that there will be anything to it, I am eagerly anticipating at least the possibility that Jeff Lurie will end our long local nightmare and can Andy this afternoon. 

On the weather front, it's 28 degrees today, we already saw our high temperature out there and tonight it will be dropping into the teens.  If you have been using your back step as an auxillary holiday beer cooler, bring the stuff in our you will be cleaning up quite a mess when temps jump back up to the 50s this weekend.

Anyway, welcome to the 2013!  I'm looking forward ot the year and all that it brings.  Hopefully I will do a little less daddy blogging and get back to restaurant reviews and opinion pieces, but who knows.  Enjoy!

2011 - A Year In Review

I've tried to write this year in review a few times without it sounding too maudlin.  Speaking candidly, 2011 is a year I am glad to have over and I am looking forward to 2012 and the promise that it brings.

As the year draws to a close, I have weathered some significant storms.  There were moments when I thought, 'Can there really be anything else coming?'  Some things will take more time to play out fully, but I think that at the end of 2011, things are looking a bit brighter.

We all know the hard things that have happened, but there have been some wonderful moments as well.  Emma and John are the stars of the circus that is my life. They have been super though all of the changes we have seen this year and I am so happy for all of their achievements.  Emma is a happy and determined little ballerina and John makes the most of his talent on the baseball field every day.  The best times I have had this year were watching them do the things that they love.  The kindness they show each other and to their family and friends makes me wonder how I got so lucky.  I am lucky to know a lot of great kids, but they are the best of the best!

My brother Matt and Heidi got married this summer in a beautiful place that we all love.  I was honored to speak for them on their special day.  It is without any irony in the world that I say that they deserve each other. I will always be grateful for advice and support he has given me over the years. She is a beautiful person who I am so happy to have as a sister.

My parents and sister and rest of the family have been with me at every moment along the way and the kids and I have appreciated the gifts, kindnesses and the places to sleep as we have made our personal adjustments.  They say blood is thicker than water and this has been a year where I have fond that be be a very true statement.

That is not to say that I could have done it without my friends.  You guys (and ladies) have been an amazing well of support, helping me move in the heat, feeding me, entertaining me and the kids, checking in by text and email and dropping by to say hello, you have made things fun for me again in a way that I cannot begin to thank you for fully.

I'm most sad for the friends I have lost this year, both for me and for my kids.  We are who we are today in large part because of all that they have meant to us over the years.  However, I am also very happy to have met some new friends int he last few months.  With every change there is opportunity and I have appreciated getting to know some new people.

While things have been difficult at times, I have to say it's been a great year in a lot of ways.  I have re-discovered my writing voice, both here on the site and in some other work I am doing.  At my core I am a writer and that re-birth has been an exciting journey.  As someone said to me a few months ago, 'You write better sad.'  I don't know about better, but I certainly write MORE.  I've also been able to take a lot of photos this year, mostly of the kids, but also of places I have visited, games I have covered and generally everything that is around me. 

Sometimes I write, sometimes I take pictures.  Either way, I am trying to be more than a journalist of my life. I appreciate all that you friends have done to be part of my life this year. 

So as the lyrics of 'What are You Doing New Year's Eve' play though my head, I wish you all a wonderful New Years Eve and I hope that your 2012 is fun, exciting, safe and prosperous.

Annual Pesotski Family Christmas Letter

Every year about this time 200-300 Christmas cards and letters go out from my parents' cute little Cape Cod in Brookhaven, PA.  This little tradition grew a few years ago to include a photos page of the kids and grandkids (and granddog's) activities for the year.  I have been an indifferent supporter of the letter process most years.  Looking through the pile of cards at my sister's on Christmas Eve, I realized just how big this Christmas letter phenomenon is.  Dozens of letters were in the stack, from 6 pages down to a paragraph or two.  Seems like pretty much everyone publishes an annual family update.

As a guy who basically does that every day in this space, I get that.  The penny finally dropped.  People want to stay up to date with their friends, and some folks don't stay in touch any other way, even with Facebook and personal websites.

This year, my mom floated the idea of a 'greener' approach to the letter next year.  I suggested creating a website for the letter and photos next year and giving people a link to the site in the cards they send.  If the USPS is still in business next year, that would still mean 300 or so cards with stamps, but would save about 900 sheets of paper and gallons of ink!

So in an incremental step toward greening this Pesotski tradition, I present below the 2011 Pesotski Family Christmas Letter.  The photos page will be posted as soon as I figure out how to get it on the site easily!

Gone

Every day there is less around to remind me of you

The ordinary things that summoned you to mind

Are used up or fall to pieces and are swept away

And your existence seems all that much harder to prove

I reach for the phone to call the familiar numbers

And realize I can’t.  You are gone. The call won’t go through

How quickly it happened, a short slide and then

One day here, one day gone.

And I wonder, really wonder

What might have been

What will be

And if you’re doing ok

Getting Things Done

After a day of cookies and hospitals and grandparents and visiting a new kitten yesterday, today is decidedly a get things done day.  It's amazing how energized two zooming kids and a good night of sleep can make you feel.

We had a great breakfast of locally-raised eggs and local sausage, run a bunch of laundry, gone grocery shopping, paid the bils, cleaned up the Christmas debris and just finished lunch.  This afternoon we are hosting a pair of playdates, hanging some curtains in the kids' rooms, building Legos and maybe doing a bit of baking with the girls.

We've got nothing scheduled for tonight, so maybe we will make some dinner, put in some movies and see how things go after that!

For me, today is the essence of my winter break.  Getting some things done, enjoying some time with the kids and eating well. For those of you who have to work, I'm sorry.  I hope that it's at least a bit slower than usual.  For those of use off for a few more days, enjoy!

A New Day

  It started as just a hint of pink over the trees across the creek.

Then built into a glow in the trees that became a ball of orange.

Unfortunately, before the sun came over the trees, the clouds rolled in and all we got was a bright gray morning.

Still, the bright gray is better than the cold darkness and we've got the day underway!

A Day Close To Home

The kids and I spent the day close to each other today, enjoying being a family.  We read books, played Wii, straightened up a bit, visited with friends, laughed about our good fortune and cried about the things that have changed.

It was a full day.

I can't say today was exactly the day we were hoping for, but it was the day we had and I have to be thankful for the life we are living rather than that than the life we don't or can't live.  For those who have been so important to us over the last few days, weeks and months, thank you so much, we are looking forward to many more great times.

Happy Boxing Day!

Christmas Wore Her Out!

 

Happily Trashed!

It took about 30 minutes, but all the presents are unwrapped and the stockings are down and we're pawing through the piles of loot. Santa did a good job here according to the kids!

I Think Santa Found the New House

Santa found the new house and made his stop last night.  The presents are arranged, the stockings are stuffed and "A Christmas Story" is on TV.

All we need now are the kids!!!

I hope your Christmas morning has been as festive as mine has been restful.  For those of you with young kids, I trust that you are enjoying a bit of downtime before the next round of visits begins.  For those of us with quiet households this morning, enjoy it while it lasts, the visiting and travel start very soon.  For those cooking, please don't overcook the turkey!

Merry Christmas

The sun has just peeked over the trees here in Medford and I am enjoying some cookies and juice and the last moments of quiet I will likely have for a while.  This is the first time since 1994 that I have awakened on Christmas morning with no children or significant other to share the sunrise with, but it stings less than I thought it might.

I have a bit more to do to get ready for the kids to get here this afternoon.  We will have some time to ourselves for presents and then it is back to Delco for Christmas dinner with friends and family.  Last night was a nice evening in Swarthmore, but I can't wait to spend some time with John and Emma, hear about their Christmas Eve and watch them tear into their piles. 

Today is a day for the kids, a day for us to love and enjoy each other's company.  It's a day for sharing what we have and for thinking about those we love and those who have gone.

Enjoy your time today, because it is but a fleeting moment in your life and sadly the Christmas spirit seems to fade all too quickly. I'd like to say that I will take the time to treat every day like Christmas.  But tomorrow we will be off into the maelstrom of everyday life again, with work pressures, school projects, sports practices, family matters and bills come due.  We will do the best we can to be good people, but the spark of the Christmas holiday will sometimes be hard to find.

I wish you and yours the merriest of Christmases.  Thank you for all the happiness you have given to me and my family this year and I hope that you enjoy today and keep the spirit of Christmas with you all year.

Santa Stop Here

Emma's got her sign up to make sure Santa know we have moved.  The tree is lit, the presents are wrapped and I am at loose ends trying to figure out what to do with myself for the first Christmas Eve I can remember where I really have nothing to do to get ready. 

Later today I will be headed over to Delco to have our traditional Christmas Eve dinner with my family and friends, but for now I am enjoying a quiet morning here in Medford.

For many of us, Christmas Eve is the big holiday.  The kids love the gifts and the unwrapping and the frenzy of Christmas, but for me Christmas Eve, with its traditions and last-minute thoughtfulness is the essence of the holiday season. 

I hope you get things wrapped up early today and enjoy your time later.  Merry Christmas Eve!

Visions of Sugarplums Dance in Their Heads

 

All is prepared.  There is still some wrapping to do, but for the most part, it's all waiting now.  And trying to behave!

The Stockings Were Hung By the Chimney With Care

Well, we don't have a chimney, but we did it old school on the railing like when I was a kid! We've just about wrapped up the decorating here in Medford.  There's some wrapping to do today and a quick run out for 2 small gifts, but otherwise, everything's set!

How are your preparations going?

T'was the Week Before Christmas

It's been a busy week and the real fun is just beginning!  The kids and I spent the weekend enjoying the company of our friends and family, both locally and over in Delco.  The kids did their shopping for me, we decorated my parents' tree and caught up with some friends and the cousins.

This week has been a flurry of shopping and holiday prep, with some cool kid stuff in the middle.  I think I have finally wrapped up the shopping with one small possible exception.  I finished up the family holiday photo page and contributed some edits to the update letter that my parents send with their Christmas cards. 

Emma had her holiday dance showcase on Monday and we enjoyed a night out tonight.  Tomorrow is my last day with the kids before Christmas, and we still have a few things to do, but I am trying to stay relaxed about the holidays and play things as they come.

There's a lot more to come for the week.  I'm hopeful I have turned the corner on yet another cold.  I've got some work to get done tomorrow and then a couple of days to myself before Christmas Eve. 

I'm too tired to link or post photos tonight, but there are some coming, I promise!

Special Time With My Princess!

My Christmas vacation has started and one of the best parts is a little extra time every morning with Emma. Today it's a little breakfast at Dunkin Donuts!

We had a great weekend with so many family and friends and this is a wonderful way to start our week!

Friday Fantastic Four - Christmas Vacation

Today is my last day of work for 2011.  One of the benefits of working in higher education is the 2 week vacation around Christmas and New Year's. 

It's a great two weeks and gives me a lot of time off when most of the rest of the world is running hither and yon, trying to grab up last minute gifts and bottles of wine to take to holiday get together.  I get a week before Christmas to do all that I need to get done and then the next week to wind down.  There isn't any money to go somewhere warm this year, so I will be hanging close to my base.  I know you all don't get two weeks off, but if you did ...

What Four Things Are You Going To Do On Christmas Vacation?

1. Finish up shopping.  Yep.  Despite my earlier forays out into the shopping venues of Pennsylvania and South Jersey, I have procrastinated.  I have to make sure the piles are about the same and get a few more gifts and stocking stuffers.

2. Family Events.  While we won't have family visitors from afar this year, the locals will still gather.  My sister is the go-to person this year I guess.  I will be Swarthmore bound for Christmas Eve.  The Medford house is nice and cozy, but not really set up for large-scale family gatherings like the Mount Laurel and Moorestown houses were.

3. Lazy Days.  I have the kids a lot over Christmas Vacation, so there will be a lot of time spent just watching them play with their new stuff from Santa. 

4. Something for me.  If it stays nice, maybe some hiking.  If it's not so nice, I will have to find another way to stay out of trouble.  In the past I would always tackle some home improvement project.  I don't need to do that this year, but the days without the kids around can be tough, so I need to take some time for 'me' things!

So what are your Christmas (winter) Vacation plans? 

Have a great time this weekend!

John's Tree Is Up

Following his review of the latest Discover Channel Gold Rush, John got his little green Christmas tree put up tonight.  He took a good bit of time 'fluffing' the tree, as he's been taught,  to make it appear as large as possible.  He spent a bit less time clearing the area though, deciding it was best on his dresser among this technology and trophies.

Nevertheless, he is quite happy with the result and also feels that the tree complements his lava lamp. 'It's sweet!' was his proclamation.  Unlike his sister, he wants the tree off for sleeping. 

Emma spent her free time tonight extending her Christmas list.  From the little girl who last week could not think of anything to ask Santa for, the list sure has grown.  Emma also kept me company as I cleaned up from dinner, playing holiday computer games on the family computer.  They all seem to have hideous graphics and mindless pseudo-holiday music, but she was quietly enraptured until I saw her head drooping and dispatched her to bed.

As for me?  Two days down, Only three work days left for 2011!

Emma and Her Little Tree

Emma has been dying to put her tree up, so today I made sure we had a few minutes in between running all over Burlington County to get her little pink tree set up in her room.  Last Christmas it didn't come down until July!

John hasn't found the time to put his tree up yet, but he always makes sure the first thing he does when he comes home is to turn on the
lights for the big tree in the living room.  My guess is he will get around to putting his up tomorrow.  He was too busy texting his buddies today after returning to the land of cell phone service.

I can only imagine what the Chinese prison laborers think as they are stuffing these little trees in boxes so we can buy them for $5 and cover them with little glitter covered foam balls!

Winter Is Here

While the official first day of winter doesn't happen until the winter solstice on December 22 this year, today is the first day that it has felt like winter to me.  The deciding factor for me was the frost on the windshield this morning.  I'm pretty sure that I have not had frost on my windshield since March of 2009, a pretty good run, for sure, but a pretty stark wake-up call at 7 this morning.  Ahh to have a garage again, oh but then you have to shovel the driveway...

How far can we be from this scene?

We had a very mild fall, with temperatures in the 60s as late as 10 days ago.  I Even given the freak Halloween snow storm that his much of the Philadelphia region, I still have not really felt the cold until today.  As loathe as I usually am to bundle up, I went with gloves and a scarf today, but could not bear to put on a watch cap yet. 

Only 68 days until pitchers and catchers!

Winding Down

It's a few minutes before the season finale of Boardwalk Empire, signalling the end of my weekend.

Friday night was a fun time, drinks, dinner and dancing with old friends out in Philly.  I will be doing a review of one of the new spots we hit.  Saturday was a day of college basketball and football, and a night with some new friends.

I've been looking for curtains for my room for a few weeks.  Emma vetoed the last set after I hung them with a disgusted shake of her head and the remark, 'Daddy sometimes you have no clue.'

So after the Eagles' big win over Miami today, I returned the rejected curtains, and picked out another set that at least matches my comforter.  After a few hours of grocery and Christmas shopping, I waved the white flag, but not before crossing two more names off the list.

After making myself some comfort food, I am now relaxing on the couch by the lights of the Christmas tree awaiting the last Boardwalk Empire for 9 months.  Sigh.

Friday Fantastic Four - Outrageous Christmas Gifts

It's holiday shopping season.  I can tell because the mail guy at work is delivering boxes to every cubicle and the roads around every shopping mall are clogged from dawn to midnight.

So since you are out looking for ways to stimulate the economy, I thought I would give you my Christmas List.

What are your top four fantasy Christmas gifts for 2011?

1. The CR-V is getting a little long in the tooth, so I think a new car would be a good idea.  The Noble M600 isn't the fastest car in the world, but it's int he top 10 and is super slick to look at!
2. My Dell Laptop is 5 years old and also headed to the scrap pile someday soon.  I think a nice Toshiba 3D Blu-Ray laptop should be just what I need to do the blog for the coming year.
3. I might be the last guy in America without HDTV.  It's time to change that!  I know my brother loves his Toshiba, but for me the TV to get is a Panasonic!
4. Phinally - A pair of Phils season tickets are the way to go for my final gift request for the year.  The team is in flux right now, but who doesnt like going down to the park on a warm summer evening?

So what gifts are on your fantasy Christmas list this year?

Everyone have a great weekend!

Wordless Wednesday

Weird Kids

Somewhere along the line my kids started eating their pasta piled on top of their garlic bread. They also always require mac and cheese to be served with ham so they can dip the ham in the cheese sauce.

Weird kids! But no weirder than I am I guess, given that I like my red wine chilled way cooler than standard and my beer far warmer than is generally served here in the states.

Got any food oddnesses of your own?

Holiday Lessons

We just had a great weekend preparing for Christmas.  The tree is up, Santa came to Swarthmore, the decorations are complete in Brookhaven and Emma wrote her letter to Santa.  Even battling a cold, it was a really nice weekend!

The preparation, shopping, cooking and parties make December a hectic, but happy time of year. Remembering past holidays with fondness is a huge part of why we all look forward to the season every year. Snow on Christmas Eve, caroling in the neighborhood, spiked egg nog, opening presents by the fire and seeing folks from far and wide are all great memories that will last a lifetime.

Still, the holidays can be hard sometimes. People who are missing from are lives feel all the more missing at this time of year.  Old wounds open afresh when you look around the table and notice the faces who aren't there as well as the family and friends who are.  Old traditions can be a little bit hard when the people who made them important are no longer in your life.

The kids and I were reflecting a bit on people who are no longer with us anymore as we unpacked our holiday items this weekend.  Emma especially had a hard time.  She missed the chance to say goodbye to some people who left us this year and it's hard for her to close out those feelings. 

With my heart in my throat and biting back tears, I had to tell my little princess, "Sometimes we don't get to say goodbye.  That's why we need to make sure the people we love know it every single day."

Emma Does Some Writing

Emma has managed to find a quiet moment after the happy chaos of last night to begin writing her letter to Santa.  It's a really sweet moment for me as a dad so be sitting her happily sipping my coffee and watching her.

It's in the noises and movements of children that there is peace.  I hope that you are all enjoying your time with family and friends as we go through the annual parties, gatherings and rituals leading up to the holidays. 

While the kids play in Swarthmore, Uncle Kevin and I are headed over to Brookhaven to put up the lights at my parents.  Then it's back to Medford for some snuggling time on the couch in front of the tree.

Have a great day!

A Dose of Perspective

I took my son to his friend's father's funeral tonight.  As tough as it was, I'm glad I did, because it was the kind of night that forced me to pull my head out of my ass and realize that my petty little problems today (and generally really) were nothing in the face of what some others have been going through.

Yeah, it was a bad day.  I'm sick, there were some kid issues, it was a struggle most of the day.

But it all paled in comparison to the anguish of a sweet little 10 year old girl crying at her father's funeral.  As her father's friends reminded us what a doting father she had and my son and his best friend looked back and forth at each other and the casket, I was chastened.  These little kids had lost their dad after a long fight with cancer.  I have a cold and some parenting problems.

Tonight we honored the life of a good man and a good father.  I hope his children always remember how much he loved them. 

Friday Fantastic Four - Home Sick

Well I have been laid out by a cold, so after toughing it out yesterday at work,  I am huddled under a blanket at home today.  Hence, today's illness-themed Fan 4.

What four things are part of your home sick routine?

1. Won Ton Soup - This is my version of my grandfather's 'Jewish penicillin.'  If I was home sick as a kid, he would make a big pot of chicken soup from scratch.  It worked, but I never got the recipe, so I swear by won ton soup.
2. Iced Tea - Decaffinated Red Rose tea by the gallon.  It keeps me hydrated and I can still sleep.
3. The Couch - I have to get out of bed when I am sick.  I usually rest and relax on the couch, where I can at least feel like I got out of bed even if I am not doing anything else.
4. Patheticness - Yep, I am pathetic when I am sick.  I admit it.  I got through yesterday with the help of Sudafed, but today is all about me!

Everyone have a great weekend and stay well!

Wordless Wednesday

J. Edgar - A Review

'J. Edgar' was not exactly what I was expecting.  I was surprised at the power or Leonardo DiCaprio in this biopic on the life of the legendary FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover.  I was also surprised that it's as much of a love story as it is an historical drama.

I don't go to the movies much.  I went last summer to see the Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie.  The summer before, on a rainy day in Maine, we saw another kid's flick, though which one it was escapes me at the moment.  I'm not sure why I don't go more.  I love the big screen, I love hearing the other movie-goers interacting with the film, I love the smell of popcorn.

I guess they are kind of a date night thing and, well, uhh, I am not going on many dates these days.  In my last relationship, our date night thing was going out for drinks and dinner more than it was going to the movies, so it's been a while since I saw a regular (notice I avoided the use of the word adult) movie in the theater.  But I am looking for new things to do with new friends, and a movie seemed low-key and not really too difficult.

J. Edgar is a pretty good movie.  It's a sweeping story about a really troubled and flawed man, moving across 50 years.  DiCaprio is really good.  REALLY REALLY good.  I have never been a fan of Leo, but this is the best work I have seen him do.  He shows Hoover to be the deluded, but fearsomely powerful man who built the FBI into his own empire.  The tortured, troubled but still brilliant man plays out on director Clint Eastwood's bleak sets and stages, seeming to drain the color from all around him.

Hoover's long-time companion, Clyde Tolson, is played almost silently by Armie Hammer, who is best known for his roles in The Social Network.  Tolson is played as Hoover's foil, the light to Hoover's dark.  This is overplayed a bit and Tolson comes off as a bit of a pale moralist who doesn't really fit next to the gigantic Hoover that DiCaprio brings to life.

The love story between these two men is played as an affection never brought to fruition because Hoover is afraid of his mother's disapproval.  The real story between the men is as shrouded as the contents of Hoover's secret files, the MacGuffin of the movie, which are used to move the story thought the arc of the 20th century.

The sharp intake of breath audience from the when the men fight and utimately violently kiss was surprising to me.  It's not the first guy-guy kiss we've seen on the silver screen and I thought everyone kind of knew that Hoover had some skeletons in his closet.  My companion, though was shocked and had no idea what might be coming.

At a bit more than 2 hours, the film dragged a bit, especially in the early scenes.  I was also struck by how dependent I have become on being able to use IMDB and Wikipedia during a movie to fact-check or research actors and locations.  I resisted, but it was difficult! 

This is a tough movie to like.  It's spare and drab.  Hoover is not a guy who is exactly warm and cuddly.  We never really get beyond the basics with any of the supporting cast and Tolson is a 1 dimensional screen pairing. Still, it's a hck of a story and it's always nice to be in a treaer to see a movie.  All in all, it was a fun night out and worth the 2 hours and $11 a person to sit in the top row of a full stadium theater and be taken to another time and place for just a little while.

Philly is Still Occupied - For Now

Dilworth Plaza is still an occupied camp as of lunch time today, with about half as many tents in evidence than there were 2 weeks ago. 

I took a walk on this beautiful late November Monday, enjoying the bright blue sky and what is probably the last day we will see with 60 degree temperatures until April.  There were throngs of people out walking the Center City Philadelphia sidewalks, and lots of them were headed over to Dilworth Plaza, site of the Occupy Philly encampment.

Since the group was supposed to be out by late yesterday, some of the Occupiers have moved on.  Others are very much  still there.  Signs up around the plaza note that the Occupy Philly group plans to move to a number of decentralzied locations once the inevitable forcible eviction begins.

The mix of hard-core homeless to hard-core activist is about 50-50 right now, with several dozen of each group milling around quietly.  Police and media are prominently present.  There is a much quieter air than I have seen before, no bullhorns or group chants, no music or any really signs of energy.

Warm food was being distributed, a few folks were packing up, and mostly people were sitting around, waiting to see what is going to happen next.  I didn't bring my Canon on my walk today, as the big camera attracted some unwanted attention on my last visit.  Instead, I snapped today's photos with my HTC Thunderbolt camera.  Many others were doing the same thing, documenting what it seems may be the final day that Occupy Philly calls Dilworth Plaza home.

Back To Work!

It's a slow Sunday night here in Medford.  I'm winding down the weekend and waiting for Boardwalk Empire. 

I will be the first to admit that I am still struggling to find a rhythm to the weekends when the kids are not here.  The contrast between the whirlwind they create when they are home and the silence of the walls when they are not is so striking that I need to stay busy or go crazy.

And it was certainly a busy weekend!  Wednesday night's brush with mortality gave me a great deal to be thankful for on Thanksgiving.  The kids and I enjoyed the day Thursday, making 12 pounds of mashed potatoes before heading over to Carin and Kevin's for Thanksgiving dinner.  The food and family were great, and everyone pitched in to make it a good time. 

The kids played Wii while I met The Hills and Chicken for the traditional post-family decompression.  The conversation was outstanding as always, though I am not sure we will make The Plumstead the new location in future years.  It's a mite grungy for even a dive bar aficionado.  Carin convinced me to drive her to the hellish nightmare that was pre-Black Friday at Toys R Us.  45 minutes in line to be herded like cattle through a maze of merchandise to another line for electronics.  Sadly we didn't make it in time to get the item she was hoping for.  A drive by Target at midnight convinced us it was time to call it a night.

I participated in Black Friday, hitting Kohl's in PA with my mom and sister before my shopping meter hit the red zone.  Later, the kids and I hit Best Buy and Target, before we retreated to the relative quiet of Medford.  After the kids left, I worked a bit Friday night and really felt my age, seeing all the young folks back home visiting their families and desperate for a drink.

Saturday was a busy day, with several hours of leaf removal that sandwiched a visit from Carlo 'The Chief' Iacono.  He rescued me from a waist-high pile of leaves and took me for a ride in his '67 Mustang. We spent an hour talking about kids and Occupy Philly and how much our lives have changed.  I got back in time to wrap up the yard work for the year.  After a quick dinner with an old friend, I did some curtain shopping and saw a movie with a new friend. 

Saturday wrapped up at the Indian Chief, commiserating with a fellow soccer coach and listening to perhaps the worst cover band I have ever heard.  At least the company was good. 

The glorious weather of the weekend rolled on today.  I did some light hiking at a nearby nature preserve and worked up a pretty good sweat, showing just how out of shape I have managed to get.  After discovering there was no way to get electric to my christmas lights, I decided to add an outdoor outlet so I could hang the icicle lights. 

I weathered the Eagles loss before realizing that shopping is not my forte.  While all the curtians are the same size and color, two different patters were mixed together.  I guess I need to go back!

So, long story short, I made myself as busy as I could this weekend.  There were some highlights and some tough moments.  Still, now it's Sunday night and I can't believe how quickly this beautiful weekend passed! A four day weekend with glorious 60 degree weather in November and some very fine moments and wonderful people. 

Have a great week!

Friday Fantastic Four - Black Friday

It's Black Friday in America, that orgy of consumer excess that has shoppers pepper spraying each other over a $200 TV and people abandoning the Thanksgiving dinner table to eat dinner in line for the  Pod Touch 8gb that 728 other people are in line for ahead of you.

What are the four most insane things about Black Friday?

1. The 2,000 people in line at midnight at the Springfield Mall Target.
2. That I actually was out shopping in it. (Lasted a bit more than an hour!)
3. That the fire marshall actually thinks it is safe to put 1,200 people into a Toys R Us so stuffed with crap that you can only follow the person in front of you though the maze of aisles.
4. That it started at 9pm on Thanksgiving?

The kids and I are home enjoying the quiet finally.  I hope that you are enjoying some leftovers!