Next!

OK, celebrations at the recovery of my sweatshirt continue, of course, but they are dampened upon learning two mementos -- one quite precious to both Mom and me -- have been misplaced or Heaven forbid "cleaned up" by an overzealous would-be helper. Somewhat less precious to me but perhaps intrinsically with value is the Arlen Specter yard sign I asked the senator to autograph during a 1998 campaign event at Cedar Crest College during the cycle that saw Pat Toomey first elected to the U.S. House and saw Charlie Dent become a state senator. It holds fond memories, and I hope it's just tucked behind furniture. Of more importance is the fact that Mom can't lay her hand on the last recording we had of Dad's voice, in this case as he was offered the mic at a Gene Belletiere concert and said on cue in a deep croony voice: "Why's everybody always pickin' on me?" Charlie Brown indeed!! Mom would like to hear the tape again, and I sure would, too. This Fall marks 17 years since my family lost its patriarch. Fingers crossed the tape can somehow be recovered, especially since Mom recently pulled out of her ear a little boom box that could play it. Have a great one, everyone: excavations on the second floor of our residence continue. All kinds of things may be unearthed. Who ever knows?

Good Neighbors at Montco

Amazing!!!! A HUGE thank you to the unknown person who put my sweatshirt on a hook in the back of the classroom in Montgomery County Community College's Parkhouse Hall -- and to all those who left it on the hook for more than a week. I'm so glad to have it back, and you are all wonderful!!

(One advantage of no longer having a direct boss is that I can use exclamation points wantonly. Don't try this at home, kids.)

THANK YOU!!

Um, has anybody seen my white zip-up hoodie? It's chilly out this morning, and it's almost time to walk the dog. A little help here?

Images of Freedom

Reuters is reporting that China has reversed its 17-year band on displaying images of the Dalai Lama at a Tibetan monastery: let's hope this means greater religious freedom all around in China!

Arrest in the Slaying of Daniel Pearl

CNN and The New York Times are reporting an arrest in the 2002 slaying of kidnapped Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl.

What She Said

Enjoy.

Big Thanks for Service

I'm glad to give a shout-out to Adam, a help-desk tech at Comcast who got me back up and running online in fairly short order and to the customer service representative whose name I did not catch who transferred me quickly to him. Both were able, professional and patient. I will consider whether I can justify replacing the Netgear router we purchased through the ISP to set up wireless access here. In the meantime, I just want to offer many thanks for a well-handled call and for the service.

The Want Ads -- Take 294

Nonna Rosa's has a slightly worn sign on its front doors advertizing that it needs front-counter and delivery help. No phone number is listed. Might be best to enquire within, but here's the website for more info on the place: http://nonnarosarestaurant.net/website/

Christmas into February

I was so touched to have been spoiled by my family and by my love this Christmas, and getting snowed in for a few days without t.v. with part of them may have been the biggest gift of all. Mostly it was just nice to be listened to and to be remembered. I felt loved.

But Christmas has extended past its calendar for me, and not just because Mom is still clinging to the decorated tree (and I'm secretly loving it). I feel awful that our little bits of snow, plus the "superstorm" and the usual string of cold and 'flu-like irritations that came this year put me behind the curve for Christmas cards. Believe it or not, I wrote the few that I'm managing to send on SOTU night, and I'm mailing them this week. They were bought for being late, so they don't reference Christmas -- but I wish you and those on my of necessity small Christmas card list the joy, love and peace that comes with that season to light your entire year.

"Santa" also came late as well as right on the day to me, and I hope he stays all year: not only did I find the entirely logical and good place where I had stowed my trusty and rarely-used ceramic heater, but I also noticed that someone (presumably Mom, but who knows?) purchased a little heating fan that we can use to backstop ourselves if we ever have the need to do so! Both those things made me feel relieved and pleased, to say the least. There's one more item I'm going to find or replace, and that's my collection of bylined work, college poems and published editorials. Likely a member of my family is archiving them, although it's possible that they got lost in that last, most chaotic move. I still owe a newspaper librarian $20 (Canadian -- though I guess the two currencies are at near par at the moment) for the work she did photocopying my stuff from Ottawa. Part of me is hoping I actually get to go back and retrace my steps to create my own archive, although that may be a lengthy, lengthy process. I may never do any more work of value, but I'm planning to examine what I've done and see how it measures up, at least in my own eyes.

In the meantime, I'm going to continue to strive to better myself -- not in the financial sense, but rather the personal one. I want to live the kind of life that doesn't necessarily need to be recorded but would ring true and good if it were, accurately. If all else fails regarding my former line of employment, I'll refer you to my former boss (and a friend I miss), Bill, who said as countless editors no doubt did: "You'll write it better the second time."

May the rest of winter be kind to you, Northern Hemisphere, and may Spring come soon enough for your liking. Oh, and thank you notes are forthcoming.