I’d do unspeakable things for some jalepenos and food that doesn’t have the words LOW SODIUM, SUGAR FREE or SOY in bold type on the label.

And some two ply toilet paper.

Somebody please go out and have a double jalapeno cheeseburger and then call and tell me about it in nasty detail.

At least the view out the window this morning was lovely.

I’m with the in-laws this week. Tomorrow we head to Atlantic City for a few days to give the elders a chance to recover from three days of hosting people who sleep less than 14 hours at a stretch and insist on eating food with foreign substances in it like basil and oregano.

It has rained pitchforks for two days, but today was clear and beautiful. We packed the car for the arduous trek 20 minutes down the Boulevard to the Morris Arboretum where I was able to walk at a pace that actually covered some ground and shoot a few photos. Both were invigorating.

We’ll come back here New Year’s Eve, when we will keep them up until midnight, force them to finish their half glass of champagne, and they’ll spend the next six months bragging about their wild New Year’s party to their friends.

Yes, the tranquility that comes from knowing I have no need to go near a retail outlet to buy anything other than booze until after January 2nd.

This morning was cold and foggy, a particularly good combination for photos.

It was a lovely holiday. Now it’s time to put away the menorah for another year and scrape the wax off the table.

Hope whatever you celebrate is equally enjoyable.

That I can now look both right and left, as well as up and down without making noises like Peter Boyle in Young Frankenstein.

I’m not a 100% recovered, but at least I can come in off the injured reserve list. Considering that in trying to be of assistance this past few days the husband has burned his hand lifting something out of the oven for me, and then somehow managed to slam the basement door into his forehead while taking out the recycling, this is a good thing.

He might have had to wrap the last few oddly shaped Hanukkah presents, and frankly, I was afraid he might put out an eye.

While a large chunk of the country gets snow, we get wind. I don’t mind. It made for some stunning skies this morning.

The fact that I managed to raise my camera in front of me to take these pictures is something of an accomplishment. The last few days I have been paying the price for a stunt that was no end of fun at the time. I was jumping on the trampoline with the boy. We were yukking it up; couldn’t imagine how this laugh riot could get any more fun. Then we had the brilliant idea to add our collection of those really big exercise balls. It was like we were in an oversize version of the Chuck E. Cheese ball pit, without the smell of pee and the threat of pinkeye.

I don’t quite know what happened next. I just know I was flying through the air like a rag doll, ass over teakettle, in a way that was at best undignified, and at worst, potentially fatal. I only wish someone had been filming it. The panicked look on my kid’s face told me it had been spectacular.  I seemed to have gotten off scott free, felt a little like a bobble head for a few days, but other than that, no real damage. Then a few nights later I had to wake up the husband and have him lift my head off the pillow. I seem to have whiplashed myself.

You don’t realize how many of life’s activities require you to look down until your head won’t go that way. Chanukkah gift-wrapping this year will be slap-dash at  best.

I have been rather lazy about this little dusty corner. Got to get on that… Okay, so here are some photos of things I would grab if the house were on fire, and a belated entry into Jagosaurus’ Sandwich Party.

I had coffee with Athena on Friday, and we ate cookies; I admired her holiday decorating skills, and we gave each other little tokens of friendship. I now have my very own Athena! I have intended to buy one since I first saw her work, but I seriously could never make up my mind. I had mentioned this one being a front runner. So she gave me one all framed and everything! The title makes it even better.

Mrs. Rigby Was Denied a Raise, So Unfortunately,
the Family Pet Bore the Brunt of Her Aggravated Temporary Insanity

She is hanging just outside the studio door in a place of honor, just across from this one, my very own Shel Silverstein original.

And to complete the yellow theme, my belated entry into the Sandwich Party. The rules are that you have to make (or order), photograph and consume a sandwich on the appointed weekend, and post your photo. Well, I got steps 1 through 3, then I spaced on posting the photo. So here it is…last Sunday morning’s breakfast. A luscious scrambled egg and pepperoni, on challah, with cheddar. Photographed on the work table in my studio.