Robert Safuto

Christmas time is here once again folks. I know that because last weekend the community Christmas tree (see video below) got lit in Delmar. I went down with Juliet and the kids to see the parade and lighting. It has a very small town community feel to it which is nice. I distinctly remember a different scene when I was a teenager at the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting. It was a madhouse! We stood there packed in for a couple of hours. the lights went on, everyone went, "Oooh, aaah," then we dispersed. Similarly everyone went, "Aaaah," when the tree was lit but people stuck around and Santa and Mrs. Claus handed out candy canes.

We got the Christmas tree up pronto this year, heading down to the local nursery two days after Thanksgiving. Once again, it's huge! Check the video below for the moments after we put the star on the tree. It was snowing outside that day. White Christmas? Check! We've already had about ten inches of snow this month. That's how we roll in Albany. I've already managed to chew up an extension cord with my Toro electric snow shovel. I can attest to the fact that inclement weather is good for the economy because I rushed over to Home Depot to pick up a new 100 ft. cord and ended up getting 50 lbs. of ice melt plus a handy cord storage wheel.

The kids are enjoying the season. Rosetta has made a point to identify, covet and snatch here favorite ornaments off of the tree. Mia and I put up a few candy canes and Rosetta reacted by immediately snatching the lowest one she could find to start chomping on. As a result we now have a dearth of ornaments on the low branches. The snow has allowed us to go out and do some front yard playing and back yard sledding with Mia singing, "It's the most wonderful time of the year." No kidding. Juliet is planning do bake a gingerbread house or two with Mia's help. I'm sure Rosetta will pitch in by attempting to devour it at the first opportunity.

I'm glad to report that I've successfully finished my fourth semester of the part-time MBA program. Stressful it was taking two classes again but nice to know I'm half way to a graduate degree. My streak of getting an A- or better in all my classes is alive. I'll try to keep it that way next semester. School at night is a bit of a pain but I think it's good to get pushed outside your comfort zone and be forced to think about things (like predicting the price of GMCR stock or a marketing plan for a hair salon) you wouldn't normally deal with at your job everyday. You'll be among the first to know when the degree is complete.

I hope you're having a happy Christmas season wherever you. These days "you" are in a lot of different places. Sean in Italy. Jim in Austin. Emil in Hawaii. George in D.C. Dan in...well I can't say where Dan is because that's top secret info. Let's face it. Technology makes it easier for us to scatter ourselves about the globe. Give it a name.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.