Category Archives: Holiday observations

Posted in Holiday observations

The Resolution Elephant in the Room

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by Bob Sparrow

We have stuffed ourselves since we knowingly bought more candy than we knew we were going to need for those two trick-or-treaters that come at Halloween.  We’ve foolishly thought that we’d really ‘try to watch it’ this year during the ‘Holiday Season’ – we didn’t. So now we’re at a place where we’ve been almost every year – time to get serious about exercise, losing some weight, eating healthier and OK maybe drinking a little less going forward. We’re thinking like this because we’re finally going to put this year behind us and get a new lease on life at the beginning of a new year. We’re thinking, “New Year, New Me.” Even though we know we’re going to bring that same old ‘me’ into another new year.

     But hope springs eternal, so we go through the exercise of either mentally making or actually writing down, some “New Year’s Resolutions”. Perhaps, like me, you just think casually about a few things that you could improve and rely on ‘hope’ to somehow make this new year different.

     So, I would be the last one to give you tips on how to make better resolutions or how to accomplish those that you did or may have already made or are thinking about making. No, I’m just going to offer some observations that I’ve found about resolutions and hope we can all get a good laugh at this way-too-frequent fruitless exercise.

  • On “Healthy Eating”:
          A friend of mine once vowed to “eat clean” starting January 1. On January 2, she proudly meal‑prepped grilled chicken and broccoli… then rewarded herself for her discipline with a slice of cheesecake. By January 4, she was meal‑prepping cheesecake.
  • The Gym Membership
         A guy I know signed up for a gym membership on January 1 with the enthusiasm of a motivational speaker.
    He went once.
    He spent the rest of the year referring to the monthly charge as his “charitable contribution to fitness.”
  • The “Read More Books” Resolution
         A lady decided she’d read a book a week.
    She bought 12 books on January 1.
    By February, she had read… the receipts.
  • The Minimalist Makeover
         A woman decided she’d declutter her entire house.
    She started with her closet, found a sweater she forgot she owned, tried it on, loved it, and spent the rest of the day online shopping for clothes that would “match the sweater’s vibe.”
  • The Meditation Journey
         A man downloaded a meditation app and promised to meditate every morning.
    Day 1: “This is so peaceful.”
    Day 2: “I think I’m doing it wrong.”
    Day 3: Fell asleep and woke up late for work.
    Day 4: Deleted the app because “it was stressing him out.”
  • The Sugar Detox
         A guy swore off sugar for the whole month of January.
    On January 3, someone brought cookies to the office.
    He ate one.
    Then he ate six more to “get rid of the temptation.”

You may have your own ‘Resolution Responses’, whether you set yourself up for failure or have an unusual ‘success story’, we’d love to hear it.

Either way, we wish you a most happy and healthy 2026.

Posted in Holiday observations • opinion

LONGING FOR NOSTALGIA

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By Suzanne Sparrow Watson

As Christmas approaches this week and we prepare for the holidays, it’s easy to find yourself swept up in a wave of nostalgia. At Christmas, nostalgia is everywhere: in the music, the movies, the recipes passed down through generations. We seek out the flavors and rituals of our childhoods, hoping to recapture the magic of simpler times. We remember sticky fingers from candy canes, the glow of tree lights, and the anticipation of gifts. Or if you were like me, you’d already peeked at your gifts and couldn’t wait to officially receive them. Today, nostalgia is a cherished part of the holiday season, a gentle ache for times gone by. But did you know that, centuries ago, nostalgia was considered a dangerous illness—one that could land you in the infirmary, or worse?

The word “nostalgia” was coined in 1688 by Swiss physician Johannes Hofer, who combined the Greek words nostos (“homecoming”) and algos (“pain”). Back then, nostalgia wasn’t just a wistful longing for the past—it was a serious medical diagnosis, closer to what we now call “homesickness.” Hofer observed the condition most often in young people far from home: soldiers, servants, or children sent away to the countryside. The symptoms were dramatic: melancholy, loss of appetite, disturbed sleep, even heart palpitations and, in extreme cases, suicide. Autumn, with its falling leaves, was considered especially dangerous, as it stirred memories of home. Hofer’s cure was simple: send the patient home. Until that was possible, treatments ranged from vomiting and mercury to opium—remedies that sound more like punishments than comfort. Swiss soldiers feared that singing traditional cowherd songs could trigger nostalgia, so performing these songs was reportedly punishable by death. Wow – even the America’s Got Talent buzzer isn’t that draconian!

Fast forward to today, and nostalgia is no longer something to die from—just something to sigh about. And studies show that people between the ages of 20-30 suffer the most from it. Perhaps because they are at the age where the “magic” of the Christmas season is either swept away by the grind of a full-time career or they are responsible for creating memorable Christmases for their own children. But why does Christmas, in particular, evoke such powerful feelings of nostalgia? The answer lies in the holiday’s traditions. Christmas is a time when families gather, stories are retold, and memories are made and revisited. The sights, sounds, and smells of the season—gingerbread baking, carols playing, pine needles underfoot—act as triggers, transporting us back to moments of warmth and belonging. Not to mention childhood, when Christmas meant we just showed up, and everything was wonderous.

It’s remarkable to think that what was once seen as a weakness or even a disease is now recognized as a source of strength. In the 19th century, nostalgia faded as a formal diagnosis, absorbed into broader concepts like melancholy and trauma. Today, psychologists see nostalgia as largely beneficial—a resource that can boost mood, inspire optimism, and strengthen social bonds. So, as you hang ornaments on the tree or sip hot cocoa by the fire, let yourself feel nostalgic. Remember those who are far from home, as well as those who are no longer with us. Reach out to friends and family, share stories, and create new memories.

Nostalgia, once feared as a deadly disorder, is now a gift—a way to honor the past while embracing the present. This Christmas, let’s celebrate the bittersweet beauty of memory, and let it bring us closer together.

As I have done for the past ten years, I am sharing one of our family’s most nostalgic memories – Pop’s Christmas Ice Cream Fizz recipes. Enjoy!

POP’S CHRISTMAS ICE CREAM FIZZ

Fill a blender 1/4 full of ice cubes

Add 6 jiggers of gin

Add 4 scoops of French Vanilla ice cream

Add 1 small bottle of soda water (the size you get in a 6-pack)

My brother Bob adds an egg, so the white adds some froth, brother Jack doesn’t add an egg.  Personally, I’d add it just because you can then claim it’s a protein drink.

Just blend it well and – voila – you have a concoction sure to put a positive spin on everyone and everything!

Our mom served them in a wine glass with a dash of nutmeg.  As we got older, we would conspire with Pop and ditch the wine glass for a chilled beer mug from the freezer. Saved having to go back for seconds…or thirds.

My brother and I wish all of our readers a very happy holiday season, blessed with all the presence you could ask for.

Your authors, Christmas 1972
Posted in Holiday observations • opinion

DECORATING – THE UNOFFICIAL SPORT OF THE HOLIDAYS

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By Suzanne Sparrow Watson

The turkey knows he’s yesterday’s news

It’s a truth universally acknowledged that, as September rolls into October, while some people still haven’t taken down last year’s Christmas lights, others are meticulously plotting the precise moment their inflatable Santa will make his triumphant lawn debut. In recent years, the race to decorate for Christmas has become its own quirky, competitive sport—one that seems to start a little earlier every year. Forget the “Twelve Days of Christmas;” we’re headed for the “Twelve Weeks of Christmas,” and the starting pistol fires long before the turkey is even thawed. Apparently, Halloween is the new Christmas Eve. As the last trick-or-treater scurries home and the candy wrappers settle, you can practically hear the distant jingle of sleigh bells…or maybe just your neighbor testing his light-up reindeer. For many early birds, November 1st is the official kick-off: skeletons down, snowmen up, and peppermint-scented everything invading Target. Gone are the days when Christmas decorations politely waited until after Thanksgiving.

Halloween and Christmas cohabitating

In our family we always put the Christmas tree up on December 14th. Why? Because that is Bob’s birthday (and a happy birthday to my fun/great/fabulous brother this week!). But frankly, I think he got shortchanged. Rather that anticipating the celebration of his birthday, we were excited to see the Christmas tree go up and, more importantly, the presents underneath it. These days, December 14th is considered so late it might as well be the 4th of July. So, why do people start so early? Is it pure excitement? A desperate bid to outshine the neighbors? Or perhaps a coping mechanism for the shorter days and longer nights? Some experts suggest that early decorating is linked to happiness; apparently, those who string up lights sooner tend to be cheerier. That’s probably because they get a double dose of holiday cheer, plus bonus time for complaints about tangled cords. Retailers, of course, fan the flames with relentless holiday displays that pop up sometime between Labor Day and the first pumpkin spice latte. Walk into any store in early fall, and you’ll find candy canes elbowing aside cornucopias, and Santa glaring at a stack of Halloween costumes. It’s enough to make a person question the space-time continuum. Somewhere, a calendar weeps in confusion.

25,000 lights!

If you live in suburbia, you know that Christmas decorating isn’t just a tradition—it’s a competitive sport. There’s always that one house that goes full “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” by November 2nd, leaving the rest of the block scrambling to keep up. The result? A dazzling, blinding display that can probably be seen from space, and several confused delivery drivers who now need sunglasses for evening package drops. This escalation leads to what I call “The Glitter Wars.” You start with a tasteful wreath, and by mid-November, you’re frantically googling “giant inflatable penguin with top hat.” The winner isn’t declared until New Year’s Day, when the last blinking snowflake finally burns out in a blaze of post-holiday glory. Of course, not everyone is on board with this early decorating craze. There’s always that one neighbor who stands guard, ready to issue a stern “It’s too soon!” as you hang your first bauble. But really, isn’t part of the magic in getting swept up in the ridiculousness? Besides, if you can’t beat them, join them—grab a mug of cocoa (or pumpkin spice, we’re not judging) and bask in the glow of a thousand LED icicles.

In the end, the answer to “How early is too early?” is: Who cares? Life’s short, and if hanging up a Christmas star on November 1st makes you happy, go for it. Just be sure to warn the neighbors before you plug in your display—they might want to buy blackout curtains.

Posted in Holiday observations

Can Sophomoric Humor Cure Writer’s Block?

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  by Bob Sparrow

   Sometimes I have plenty of time to construct a decent blog on a subject that many people can relate to. Not so this week. Actually, I did have time, but sometimes no matter how much time I have, ‘writer’s block’ can make it difficult to say anything intelligently. This week I’ve ended up saying things not so intelligently. So, I’m offering this warning; if you have something better to do, which should be easy to find, do it!

Let’s begin with the pretext that you have someone on your Christmas list that is very difficult to buy something for, either because they already have everything or you’ve drawn a name in a ‘Secret Santa’ of a person you don’t really know or relate to. So, here’s some suggestions that center around what the Brits call the loo or water closet. When I think about it, there are lots of names for what we euphemistically call a bathroom, even though we’re hard pressed to find a bath in many bathrooms now-a-days. Other names include, restroom, where no one really go to rests; John, supposedly named after the guy who invented the flushed toilet; head, if you’re on a boat; privy, an abbreviation for private; outhouse, if it’s outside; toilet, from the French word toilette, referring to a cloth covering a dressing table (I don’t understand it either – it’s French!). Let’s not forget potty, for those who actually have a pot to piss in.

     OK, I think I went to see a man about a horse and forgot to come back. I seem to have forgotten that we’re here to highlight some gifts that keep on giving and could finalize that diverse Christmas list of yours. So here you go . . .  

  • These ‘Novelty Mugs’ in the form of portable out houses, will be a hit at your holiday party. The tops open to let the aroma of the drink inside fill the nostrils of the drinker.
  • If the Novelty Mugs seem a little crass for you, you can dignify your shot glasses by bringing them indoors with the ‘Gag Mugs’ – shot glassses that lets the liquid flow right out of the toilet into your mouth. Surely a hit at any holiday party.

Is that person on your list that’s so hard to buy for someone who likes to learn? If so, we’ve got just the thing, the book that Einstein always read while relaxing on the ‘thrown’, Poop and Learn.

For the golfers on your list who are bored when on the pot or just like when they’re playing golf, they take too much time over a putt – ‘Potty Putter’ may be the answer.

If after reading this, you’re feeling like you need a drink or a shower, you don’t have to decide, you can have both with The Shower Margarita Machine; yes, you can sip that tequila treat while taking a shower – salt optional.

I apologize for being a little blocked up this week (that’s ‘writer’s block’!!), but now that I’ve posted this, I feel relieved!

The obvious answer to the headline question: No!

Posted in Holiday observations

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING WHIPPED CREAM BATTLE

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By Suzanne Sparrow Watson

By Suzanne Sparrow Watson

So, here we are, the official beginning of the holiday season. This week a lot of you will be either cooking, traveling, or if you’re lucky like me, bringing a dish to a friend’s house. I have hosted a lot of Thanksgiving dinners over the years and I’m very happy to turn the reins over to others at this point. I even gave my turkey roaster away as a definitive gesture of my surrender. But I have held on to a lot of good memories and traditions associated with Turkey Day. One of my favorites is the year our family spent Thanksgiving in Tahoe City at Bob’s cabin. There was a lot of alcohol involved and by the time the pies were served Bob and I were well into our cups. Then someone made the fatal mistake of placing a heaping bowl of whipped cream in front of us and it was game on! We got into a whipped cream fight that almost sent our mother into apoplexy. We were a long way from our traditional Thanksgiving table filled with the best china and silver, finger bowls and sedated conversation. But boy, did we have fun and it created a memory that still makes me smile today.

I have been looking at Thanksgiving traditions and have found some fun and rather interesting facts to share.

First, in Indianapolis, people have started an annual tradition of dressing their turkey in a baby onesie, dousing it in lighter fluid, attaching it to a long chain, lighting it on fire, and throwing it across the length of a football field. This tradition was basically started by a bunch of dudes who wanted to see a flaming turkey streak through the night sky, and now, it’s an annual thing.

Continuing in that theme, at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, the most popular Thanksgiving tradition is an event called Frozen Turkey Bowling, where people hurl frozen, oiled-up turkeys down a grocery store aisle at a set of large 7Up bottles posing as bowling pins. The event raises money to combat smoking, which is an awesome reason to throw a frozen bird at a bunch of bowling pins. Not that they really need a reason – in 2022 the Wall Street Journal rated Wisconsin as the drunkest state.

Something you may not know is that Thanksgiving inspired (if you can use that word) the first TV dinner. In 1953, the folks at Swanson didn’t sell as many Thanksgiving turkeys as expected. In fact, they had 260 tons of unsold turkey on hand. Inspired by the meals served in trays on airplanes, one of the Swanson employees used the turkeys to create the world’s first TV dinners. They sold for 98 cents each. These ready-made meals were an immediate hit. Who among us doesn’t remember those gummy mashed potatoes and rock-hard peas? We thought it was such a treat!

Most of us eschew TV dinners these days because they’re viewed as unhealthy. But before you get on your “clean eating” high horse, remember that even though our Thanksgiving meal may come from Sprouts or Whole Foods, it still contains a ton of calories. The average American can consume anywhere between 2,100 and 4,500 calories during their Thanksgiving celebration. Unless you throw the whipped cream at your sibling – that saves a few calories right there.

Black Friday isn’t technically a holiday, although it has become so entwined with Thanksgiving that it seems like it is. But can we all admit that Black Friday is the worst invention ever? It’s basically just an excuse for people to wrestle in a Macy’s parking lot over a discounted Keurig. Like Mother’s Day and Valentines Day, Black Friday wasn’t even a thing until we decided it was and started camping out in front of Target to buy TVs at a slight discount.

I’ll tell you who else doesn’t like Black Friday – plumbers! You will not find them at any stores on Black Friday because it turns out that enough people clog their sinks and garbage disposals on Thanksgiving to make it the busiest day of the year for them. Personally, I think it also has to do with all that high-calorie food clogging up the plumbing in the bathroom, if you get my drift.

No matter how you celebrate or what you eat, my brother and I wish you and yours a very happy Thanksgiving. Go out and make some fun memories!

Posted in Holiday observations • opinion

‘TIS A GOOD DAY TO BE IRISH

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By Suzanne Sparrow Watson

If you’re like millions of Americans, you will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day today by consuming some spirits in honor of the occasion.  Some of us are genuinely of Irish extraction but on St. Patrick’s Day everyone is Irish.  Simply donning a green hat or sporting shamrock underwear gives the wearer implicit permission to get toilet-hugging drunk.  There actually are a lot of Americans with Irish bloodlines – 37 million to be exact.  That’s 12% of the population, ranking just behind Germany in most frequently reported ancestry.  Heck, we have eight times the number of Irish than Ireland itself!   Which is probably as good an explanation as any as to why the holiday is so much more popular here than in Ireland.  Twenty-five years ago, my husband’s cousin from Scotland came to San Francisco on business and we met him for dinner near our workplaces.  Unfortunately, the only night he had available was St. Patrick’s Day and to further the problem, we worked right around the corner from Harrington’s Bar and Grill.   We met at a nearby restaurant that required our cousin to walk from his hotel right by Harrington’s front door.  Or as close to the front door as he could get.  There are a lot of Irish in San Francisco and they seemingly all gather at Harrington’s each year to celebrate the patron saint.  When he finally navigated his way to the restaurant he was wild-eyed and I think just the tiniest bit shell-shocked.  He stammered, “What is with you Americans and St. Patrick’s Day?”  Well, it turns out, we practically invented the holiday.

NYC St Patrick’s Day Parade

Since around the ninth or 10th century, people in Ireland have been observing the Roman Catholic feast of St. Patrick on March 17.  But the first parade held in honor of St. Patrick’s Day took place in the United States.  On March 17, 1762, Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched through New York City.  The parade, along with their native music, helped the soldiers reconnect with their Irish roots.  Over the next three decades numerous groups formed to celebrate Irish heritage, each sponsoring a parade on St. Patrick’s Day.  By the mid-1800s the groups combined forces into what is now known as the New York St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the largest in the country and the oldest civilian-sponsored parade in the world.

Of course, all that marching is exhausting so finding a good pub to quench one’s thirst became part of the day’s tradition.  Some people take pride in finding good Irish pubs wherever they go, regardless of the time of year.  In fact, although I won’t mention names, someone I’m related to that also writes for this blog fashions himself a connoisseur of Irish drinking establishments.  He is the only person I know who could trek all the way to Machu Picchu and find an authentic Irish pub in which to have a Guinness.  But he is far from alone.  What is this obsession so many have with the Irish?  I’ve read more than one article claiming the Irish are the most beloved ethnic group in the world.  Of course, part of that affection is tied to the “happy drunk” reputation, but in fact it goes further than that.  The Irish are deemed to be some of the most sentimental souls on Earth.  One need only read the famous Irish poets to understand the truth of that.  The Irish are also known worldwide for their sense of humor and dry wit.  Oscar Wilde, the noted Irish writer, filled our world with his bon mots.  One of my favorites is:  “It is absurd to divide people into good and bad.  People are either charming or tedious”. George Carlin was perhaps one of the funniest comedians ever with his wry observations of everyday life and Melissa McCarthy is a talented entertainer (come on, that bathroom scene in Bridesmaids is a classic!).  The Irish also have the ability to write lyrically and capture an audience, despite sometimes playing fast and loose with the facts.  One of my favorite sayings, told to me by an Irish friend who was wound-up in the middle of a fantastical yarn, is “never let the truth get in the way of a good story”.  My brother and I have at times adopted that as our motto.

There’s also the famous saying “Luck of the Irish”, although I have discovered that the phrase started as a derisive jab at the Irish immigrants who came to America in the late 1800’s.  It originated in the gold and silver mines to describe the Irish who found their “pot of gold” and became rich and successful.  The Irish were never given full credit for their accomplishments.  Instead, it was widely believed that the “Irish fools” had gained fortune only by sheer luck, as opposed to brains and hard work.  Our only full-blooded Irish ancestor, Julia Stack Billiou, came to America during this period. Her immigration gives our family claim to Irish heritage and provides cover for our love of good writing, a stout beer, and a strong Irish Coffee.  I call that lucky indeed!

Posted in Holiday observations • opinion

SEALED WITH A KISS

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By Suzanne Sparrow Watson

For those of you who celebrate Valentine’s Day, consider this your public service announcement: You have 11 days to buy roses, obtain a significant piece of jewelry, or at the very least, pore over the Valentine’s Day cards at Walgreens and choose something appropriately mushy/sweet/funny. My favorite story about buying cards is the one about the couple who go into Walgreen’s, each selects a card they feel best expresses their sentiment, hands it to their spouse to read, and then puts it back on the rack and walks out of the store. Gets the message across and saves ten bucks!

Many people choose to sign Valentine’s Day cards, and all other forms of communication, with an “XO” near their signature. I recently read an article on the genesis of this habit that I thought was interesting, or at least appropriate for this holiday. The origins of “X” being associated with a kiss can be traced back to the Middle Ages. In an era when literacy rates were low and formal education was a rare privilege, people who couldn’t write would sign documents with an “X” instead of their name. When people signed with an “X,” it wasn’t merely a mark; it was a symbol that carried the weight of an oath. To validate their intentions and their “signature,” people were also known to kiss the “X”. How the letter “X” transitioned from a kiss in the name of sincerity to a kiss of romance or affection isn’t clear. Theories on its initial use range from a British naturalist to Winston Churchill. But the most likely explanation comes from Marcel Danesi, a professor of linguistics anthropology and author of The History of the Kiss! The Birth of Popular Culture. He wrote that as the Renaissance era saw an increase of secularism, and with the 18th-century rise of the concept of romantic love, the symbolic “X” gradually expanded beyond its initial utilitarian function to become a gesture of affection.

An easier explanation could simply be the shape of the letter — that it looks like a pair of puckered lips, assuming, of course, that the sender has not had an overabundance of filler. And as for the “O” that often accompanies the “X”, even less is known about its origins as a symbol for a hug. It’s been suggested that the letter simply looks like a pair of arms wrapped around someone else; however, as with “X,” there are other theories as well. Whatever their origins, I hope you have plenty of X’s and O’s coming your way this Valentine’s Day.

Before I close, I would be remiss in not mentioning the recent loss of one of our most dedicated and long-tenured subscribers, Pam Landon, who passed away unexpectedly last Monday. I met Pam in 1999 and despite many personal setbacks in recent years, she remained one of the most kind, funny and positive people I knew. Each week without fail she commented on Bob’s and my posts, usually with humor or a story about her own experiences. She especially loved being an armchair traveler with Bob. In her last comment to me on my post encouraging people to eat junk food she said, “I discretely nibbled on a chocolate chip cookie as I enjoyed this blog. Thanks, as always, for brightening my day.” Rest in peace, Pam. I know that you are brightening everyone’s day now and hopefully still nibbling on a cookie.

Posted in Holiday observations

What’s Coming for You in 2025

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by Bob Sparrow

Chinese New Year in Hong Kong

Your stomach, your liver and the bathroom scale are telling you the holidays are finally over, and that you can now focus on those New Year’s resolutions.  Not so fast – the Lunar New Year celebration starts on Wednesday!  You’ve probably heard of the Lunar New Year, but not sure exactly what it is, other than maybe having something to do with the moon.  Let me get you up to speed on this holiday celebrated in most Asian countries and communities.  Traditionally, the Lunar New Year holiday season begins with the arrival of the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ends 15 days later with the first full moon.  Yes, prepare yourself for a fortnight and a day of celebrating.  There goes my ‘Dry January’ . . . OK, I was never doing a Dry January.  Lunar New Year is a celebration that marks the beginning of the new year on the lunar calendar. It’s also known as the Spring Festival (although it’s not spring, even in China) or Chinese New Year.  The Lunar New Year is celebrated in most Asian countries and communities except Japan.  In Vietnam, it is called Tet, which translates into ‘Festival’.

You may have already heard that 2025 is the Year of the Snake, not just a snake, but a Wood-Snake.  On the surface, the year of the snake doesn’t sound too promising, but it can be.  The Snake symbolizes wisdom, good luck, prosperity, fertility, longevity, intuition and transformation while offering personal growth and change opportunities.  It’s also a good year for love and marriage but mediocre for health – avoid certain places (like hospitals, I guess) Hey, it can’t all be good!

Year of the Snake

Unlike zodiac signs that we’re familiar with that change approximately every 30 days during the course of a year, the Snake is the Chinese zodiac sign for everyone born this year and every year going back at 12-year intervals, like 2013, 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965, 1953, 1941, 1939, 1927 – I think that covers everyone except those readers who are 102+. The other Chinese zodiac animals are: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.  You’ll have to look up your birth year to determine the animal that you are and just what to expect this year.  Snakes, known for their wisdom and intuition, find luck with the colors black, red, and yellow. These colors enhance their natural insight and charm.  White and brown can bring bad luck, dulling their usually sharp instincts.  In the NFL Super Bowl race, the Washington Commanders’ colors are burgundy and gold, which is a lot like red and yellow . . . we’ll see.

The Chinese zodiac signs expected to experience excellent fortune this year include Ox, Dragon, Snake, Rat, and Rooster – are you one of those? These lucky Chinese zodiac signs can expect job advancements, financial gains, and personal growth. 

Where will AI go in 2025?

Oh yes, there’s more.  Twenty-twenty-five is a year for listening to each other’s needs and making the best endeavor to combine in a happy compromise, for to over assert your authority is to jeopardize your own stability.  A year of deception and uncertainty may not sound all that fun — but it does bring some positives, too. According to Astrology, some Zodiac signs have the opportunity to make huge financial gains in 2025 & these Zodiac signs are: TARUS, SCORPIO, CAPRICORN, PISCES, AQUARIUS & LEO.  According to experts, Sagittarius is the happiest sign of the zodiac, because it is ruled by the planet of happiness – Jupiter.  According to those who know this stuff, 2025 will be another year of massive change. AI, Robotics, space travel, and healthcare breakthroughs suggest that the possibilities of this new year are limitless.

Well, that’s it for now, I’ve got to set up my tarot card table.  I’d wish you all good luck this year, but I already know that you’re all going to make it one of your best years ever!  Party on!     

Posted in Holiday observations

We Wish You a Merry Twixmas

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by Bob Sparrow

Yes, here we are again at “Twixmas”, the week between Christmas and New Years, when I always find myself between “Mi Tu Phat” and “Yes, I’ll have another helping”.  I’m not sure who was in charge of setting up our holidays, but they should be fired!  The basic issue is that we’ve bundled three of our major holidays, where eating and drinking takes center stage, in the last five weeks of the year.  So, let’s see if we can reasonably move some of those special holidays around so it allows for proper celebration for each, without putting an undue strain on the stomach and liver.    

Let’s start with Thanksgiving, it is supposed to be a celebration of harvest in the fall, so let’s move it from the end of fall to the beginning of fall; after all, the first Thanksgiving was celebrated between September 21 and November 9 – so let’s move it back to the last Thursday in September.  Yes, I know Labor Day is around that time, but we can just move Labor Day maybe to sometime in August, a month that currently has no legal holidays.  Few are even sure what we’re celebrating on Labor Day, as we certainly don’t ‘labor’ that day, unless you’re having a baby.  How ever you celebrate it, it’s probably not a holiday where people stuff ourselves and are over-served, so let’s move it closer to Christmas.  

OK, with that settled, let’s move on.  Even though the exact date of Jesus’ birth is unknown, I think I’d get a lot of push back if I suggested moving Christmas from its’ December 25th date.  Although, as I look at the host of holidays in December – Immaculate Conception Day, Bodhi Day (Buddhist), Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Day (Patron Saint of Mexico), Hanukkah, it seems like everyone was trying to squeeze in a holiday before the end of the year, maybe it’s a year-end accounting thing.  But OK, let’s leave December for our religious holidays and annual write-offs.

So, we really need to get New Years further away from all the December festivities.  Most of the world uses the Gregorian calendar, but, for example a country like China, still keeps their holidays from their old calendar; so Chinese New Years starts on January 29 – the end of January is a big improvement over the last day of December.  As we look elsewhere, we see that the Jews were only slightly smarter than the Christians, holiday-wise, as Hanukkah moves around from November to December.  In Vietnam, Tet, the lunar new year, is celebrated this year for nine days at the end of January to the early part of February.  That’s getting better, although nine days of partying could be detrimental to ones health.  Islamic New Year is at the end of June!  Well played Muslins!

I know moving the holidays is a low priority on anyone’s agenda, or most likely not on the agenda at all, but perhaps when Trump is buying Greenland, taking back the Panama Canal and making Canada the 51st state, he could change a few holidays around to better suit our social life.  I’m not holding my breath. 

Suzanne and I wish you all a happy and healthy new year!

Posted in Holiday observations • opinion

CHRISTMAS GRACE

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By Suzanne Sparrow Watson

Once again, we come to the season of Christmas. The time when the world slows just a bit, when we stop to count our blessings and reflect on the passing of another year. We enter the season of Christmas grace. On Wednesday morning children all over the world will delight in the presents they receive; their belief in Santa reinforced and hopefully they also learn a bit about the reason for the holiday. Of course, as we age, our priorities shift. No Tiffany blue box or set of golf clubs can take the place of the present we appreciate most: the presence of the people we love. There is something almost magical in the gathering of close friends and family this time of year. The hugs always seem to last a bit longer and the laughter is just that much sweeter. And, of course, we miss the presence of those who are too far away to join in the festivities or who are no longer with us. I hope, like me, that if you are missing someone this year you have a reservoir of wonderful memories to draw upon.

I received a Christmas letter this year that contained an anonymous quote about Christmas grace that perfectly describes the uplifting spirit of the season. It says: “Christmas is an unexpected gift of grace; grace to conceive at this time and place, a new dream or plan, to overcome an old fear, to discover a new strength, to find a new friend, to live boldly and honor the changes that are happening, to care for my soul as well as those I love, to elevate the discourse around me with laughter and hope.”

My brothers and I are lucky that we have we had a wonderful upbringing, with a dad that was the epitome of Christmas grace. As is my custom each year, I am sharing his Christmas Ice Cream Fizz recipe to hopefully add a bit of cheer to your holiday celebration.

POP’S CHRISTMAS ICE CREAM FIZZ

Fill a blender 1/4 full of ice cubes

Add 6 jiggers of gin

Add 4 scoops of French Vanilla ice cream

Add 1 small bottle of soda water (the size you get in a 6-pack)

My brother Bob adds an egg, so the white adds some froth, brother Jack doesn’t add an egg.  Personally, I’d add it just because you can then claim it’s a protein drink.

Just blend it well and – voila – you have a concoction sure to put a positive spin on everyone and everything!

Our mom served them in a wine glass with a dash of nutmeg.  As we got older, we would conspire with Pop and ditch the wine glass for a chilled beer mug from the freezer. Saved having to go back for seconds…or thirds.

My brother and I wish all of our readers a very happy holiday season, blessed with all the presence you could ask for.

Your authors, Christmas 1972