News cycles bring tiresome phrases. Like "fiscal cliff." That is a big one lately. Whoever came up with that must be getting big royalties, which is not good for him if we go over that cliff because that means he will owe big taxes come January 1.We all remember Y2K. Ugh did I get tired of hearing about Y2K. I think that was even bigger than the fiscal cliff.

As the New Year approaches and relfect on the turbulent year this has been I am struck by a small bit of news that I found this morning. It's not earth shattering or even tragic but does illuminate the stark difference among countries.  

Between Thursday 12/20 and Boxing Day (day after Christmas) I ballooned up 2.3 pounds. My best analysis is that this girth growth is primarily attributable to my cookie consumption. Not just regular year 'round cookies which I can resist, but mouth watering, irrisistable (50%?) Butter cookies. I am thinking about coming out with a line of them called Kryptonite Kookies. What is your year end Krytontite?

It's been a rough couple of years.  There was some trepidation heading into the holidays.  There were times where fear that the world was falling apart around me appeared to be real and weighed heavily on my soul.  Sandy, Newtown, now Webster ripped us emotionally from comfort zones.  Even beyond major national tragedies,  everyday challenges likes jobs. politics, finances and even sports seem to drag us down.

In this season of giving, I started thinking about what have been my favorite gifts over the years. I for one, feel great stress in deciding on just the right gift to give so when it is perfect, I really get the significance. For me, and this may sound crazy, one of the best gifts my husband ever gave me was a Kitchen Aid mixer. I love to bake and the mixer I owned was old and not very good. The gift was a great surprise and I use it to this day.

Being Jewish, I do not celebrate Christmas. But, my family  generally spends Christmas every year in the same traditional way. If we’re not on vacation, you can find us at a movie theatre and, thereafter, at home eating Chinese food. I love family traditions. I firmly believe that they give our children a stronger sense of family and a sense of stability. If you celebrate Christmas, tell me your most cherished tradition. If you don’t celebrate Christmas do you have a traditional way to spend the day?Merry Christmas Gotham!

As usual I've waited till today to do my Christmas shopping. I had a great excuse this year....the world was supposed to end yesterday according to the Mayan calendar.

So, as is my compulsive pattern, I arrived early for a holiday party last week and was one of the very first on the scene. The problem with that was  no one I knew was there. Thus, there was no one to commune with (and hide behind). I know this is a business development, socializing, connecting "no no", but problem is, I'm shy. Painfully shy in new situations. In friendly, home field, familiar crowds I can float around and riff and connect with my guys and gals, but not as the new solo guy in a strange room.