Dream Case.

This is the case of my dreams! Oh, to be moshing in that pit. Hey, Disney used my name in that movie, without my permission, remember?!? P. Sherman. That's me.

Photos.

A couple of photos for you today. As you can see, I have replaced my other camera.

Magnolia Cafe.jpgWent to the Haight.

Mist'n'Moss.jpgWent on a hike.

Tanglewood.jpg

SlugBoy.jpg

Happy Holidays.

I just cannot fathom all that is going on in the world right now. I certainly appreciate more deeply the good things in life, so if I seem a little serious this year it's because I am trying to stay composed in the face of all of this world's illness, while trying to remember all the world's goodness. It's just a freaky time of year for me, keeping a happy face for the little ones. I have a cousin, Sharon, who sends a poignant tome in the form a yearly update on their family. She used to handwrite these and now they're perfectly typed, spaced, punctuated and copied, double-sided, on cheerful holiday paper. I absolutely adore this practice of hers. They moved to Idaho and are glowing in their new lives there. Makes me want to join them. I think the grass under my feet has grown quite long and it's time to start looking for a change. Give me three to five years depending on the job market. I am beginning to wonder if this is going to be a good place to grow old. My other cousin, Nona, is a new grandmother. Talk about glowing. She sent me photos of the cutest little boy I think I have ever seen. Kristen is a ravishing young mother. Yesterday was the company Christmas party. What a lovely evening. A bit boring but that is always good. The food was fine, the atmosphere rustic. Lots of wood at Trader Vics. Impressive folk art, and exquisite turquoise jewelry and amber necklaces in glass cases made elegant surroundings.

The Other White Meat.

Today at the plaza cafe, the owner and one of her employees were behind the counter engaged in debate. When I made my purchase, she said, "Maybe she knows. What's the difference between a squirrel and a chipmunk?" Without missing a beat I replied, "One has more dark meat." They believed me, two sets of eyebrows raised in a simultaneous nod of crystal clear understanding. I told her I was kidding and that chipmunks are burrowing rodents while squirrels live in trees and can fly. Undetected sarcasm is rich, but it was me who wound up giving my chicken salad a sideways glance and a toss.

Modified.

Hi again, I am back. I am not going to let anything get me down. I hope you all had a lovely holiday. Ask me about the exploding pie some time.

I've modified the old adage "Live and learn," modernizing it in a way that applies to me and many of my friends. Now I say, "Live and burn" because it means so much more -- it's only after one is burned that one really learns from any given experience.

So, here's a toast to all you wonderful, kind, happy readers: Live and burn. But please, burn safely.