I hope your new year is off to a wonderful start --- and that you're doing a lot less shoveling than we are! It seems every week brings a new storm to the Northeast and lots of snow, slick roads and school cancellations. I don't mind it as much during the weekends, when I'm home with a stack of books and a crackling fire in the fireplace, but the weather has made for some tough driving. As I write this, ANOTHER big storm is due in the New York/New Jersey area by midweek. Old Man Winter just won't quit!

For five days in January, life in my house takes a celebratory route as both of my sons mark their birthdays. Today Greg turns 21, and Cory turned 16 last Sunday. I took Greg to lunch today (he ordered a martini with olives, making me feel like I was in an episode of "Mad Men," and I asked the waiter to please "proof him") before driving him to the airport, as he is flying to California to meet friends to continue his celebration aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach. I love that he figured out how to make this momentous birthday special --- and applaud his efforts to extend the marking of this day by three extra hours by spending it on the West Coast. Bravo! Cory celebrated with his good friends, who we call son 2A and son 2B, both of whom keep things hopping.

Everywhere we look, people are talking about the weather; last week, 49 states all had snow, and most people are seeing temperatures that are a lot lower than usual across the country. We here in New York just got hit with 16 inches of snow, and the novelty is wearing off. My son has missed four days of school, and I confess that when the phone rings at 5AM, I wonder WHO in our town is getting up that early for school. Around our house, a 6:30 call would be just fine! Spring isn't that far off, though --- only 50 more days to go (but who's counting?).

Everywhere we look, people are talking about the weather; last week, 49 states all had snow, and most people are seeing temperatures that are a lot lower than usual across the country. We here in New York just got hit with 16 inches of snow, and the novelty is wearing off. My son has missed four days of school, and I confess that when the phone rings at 5AM, I wonder WHO in our town is getting up that early for school. Around our house, a 6:30 call would be just fine! Spring isn't that far off, though --- only 50 more days to go (but who's counting?).