The Week In Review.

SOOOOO, HOW DO you start into Blogging? The concept seems pretty straightforward-sit at a blank screen and let the Norman Mailer in you come out. You know, the guy of whom Woody Allen remarked in his movie "The Sleeper:" "When he died, he left his ego to the Harvard Medical School! Ouch. Oh well, I don't have a problem with conceit-that is a fault, and I have none.(Pause for guffawing:)) How about we start in my week of reality outside "The Cove?" We had our first cold one, for sure-and I'm not talking brewskies! In fact, since Tues., it's felt more like November than the last few, when it's felt like May.To think that some actually adore this time of year("brisk" they call it)! I'm only looking for the start of Christmas season, and wishing it'd fade over into spring right away! Anyhow, the major downer of this week was the loss of my church bro, Bill Birath. Just 58 years old, retired only a few years ago from 30+ years as a police officer. I'll say this, he did not just sit and take it, he tore the cancer in his body-and hopefully in general-a new one. If the folks at Sloan-Kettering can get a leg up on treatments from Bill's fight to be able to help others, it definietly will not have been in vain. Never was, but he is at peace now, and the funeral home was PACKED-both viewings! He will be missed. Speaking of Christmas(I never celebrated "holiday," and don't plan on starting!), it's popping up all over now. Actually, the first vestages start in mid-July when Hallmark previews about half their Keepsake ornaments for the coming season. I LOVE these things-got quite a collection. Not vast, but I'm happy with it. We'll be looking to put our decorations up soon, but near as I can see, Santa's traveling light this year. I guess I'm at the age where just being able to punch the ol' clock everyday is a gift. Definitely huge numbers around that can't, and I get a little more infuriated each time I see a "store closing" or "everything must go" sign in a window! Pickings are slim in my racket compared to last year, but even though lots of carriers have upended this year, people still need(most of)the stuff trucks deliver. Noise, congestion, etc.-no one needs that, of course. But I won't be the clown that's two feet off your rear bumper on the Turnpike. And you can't outsource trucking to some nation ending in "-stan," and get a delivery to Piscataway, NJ! As far as the colder temps, I may actually get to wear some of my sweaters this year if the trend persists. Today I just broke out one I got last Christmas for the first time. Burgundy, pull-over, kind of looks like the one Jurgen Prochnow wore in his role as the U-Boat Captain in "Das Boot." I'm also eyeing up the one that started the collection in the '80's-a hand-made, pure wool fisherman-type I bought in the Azores-back then for about $12 US(could,ve brought back a crate of 'em and sold them for at least $40 each!). Some say it's had it-just flops all over me. Hey, that's call "character!" Who wants to be straight-creased all the time?:) I'm quite comfy now, having just put away some New England Clam Chowder, and at 5:30 pm, it's already dark in NJ. But my heart is in the Cove, where it's always about 82 degrees, low humidity, and a light breeze. I'd be eyeing up a dip off that empty slip about now where those kayakers just arrived. What the heck-grabbing the towel, see ya later!:)