I have been remiss in posting updates to my less than eventful life. Not sure anyone noticed.

December is a whirlwind for me just as it is for others. I am involved in a four-part acapella caroling group and this, ladies and gentlemen, is our hot time of year.

You see lots of interesting things when you are a caroler. People usually smile at you because for some reason people like hearing songs they have heard a million times but those songs seem more interesting as they are actually been sung by human beings in front of them. But I have also learned that people also become instantly uncomfortable the second you make eye contact with them. Maybe its because this is very different that hearing music coming out of speakers, a one-way direction that does not require interaction. You would be uncomfortable if speakers made eye contact with you. That's my theory.

So I look over their heads. Next time you see carolers, look directly at them and wear an interesting hat.

When it comes to Christmas, there are two kinds of people - people who shop ahead of time and people who do not. I am the latter.

Of the people who do not shop ahead of time, there are two kinds of people - people who did not shop ahead of time because they are very busy and people who just plain do not like to shop. I am the latter.

Of the people who do not like to shop, there are two kinds of people - people who do not like to shop because they are making a strong and personal statement that they are adverse to commercialism or people who are lazy. I am the latter.