Good morning GH. It is just past 6:00 AM in "The City" and the current temperature is 43 degrees as we head down to a high of 42 under cloudy skies. In addition, there is a strong possibility of snow showers for the next several days. Maybe even some accumulation. I know I will be glad that Sugar the Weather Dog is being walked by someone else, read that younger, on those snowy days. I love walking, I don't like falling on slippery sidewalks.

Yesterday, I went downtown to try my hand at some local holiday shopping, but even though the stores were all open, I didn't find anything suitable for my needs. It looks like I may have to expand my search area. Neither Mary nor I really need anything, and that's why we have limited ourselves to small gifts for each other and regular giving to the local charities. I like to think that the real spirit of the holiday season is what you can do for others, regardless of your personal theological beliefs. I recently heard someone say that it is fine to believe that your hard work allowed you to enjoy your station in life, but remember that you built your place on the work of those who came before. I could not have said it better.

I never got back to the picture sorting. Maybe today. I have been avoiding playing guitar because it hurts too much. What was it that one of the players in Casablanca said, "Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon." I like to think that the pain will be gone and I'll be better than ever in a few months.

Today I may leave Mary to her own devices in order to finish her work. I may go up to Muskegon or down to Holland and do my holiday shopping there. Or, I may be able to do it more locally in Spring Lake. Hmmm, I hadn't thought of that before. I wonder what they have at the imported hardware purveyor in Muskegon that she might want. Just kidding, although I don't know how anyone wouldn't want something from there.

The painter comes back today to finish. More plastering, more painting and they will be done. Somehow I think it will require three days, not two.

That's about it for me. Ciao.