A few nights ago, we headed downtown with the kids for the annual town Christmas parade. It was quite chilly, but we had a great time. We had to park pretty far from the historic loop, and walk into town. There were many more out-of-towners parked in the streets this year. I feel fortunate to live here year-round and know the parking places that are always overlooked.  read more »

Okay, I admit it. I may have been overreacting when I was lamenting the commercial-spawned "death" of Halloween. I guess I'm a bit of an elitist when it comes to DIY holiday culture. I have to admit that I hold more respect for people who work through their problems instead of just throwing money at them. But I do understand the concept behind paying for convenience, and I know that some people are just more creative than others. (I'm still sticking to my guns regarding those obnoxious inflatable lawn decorations, though. They just need to go away.)  read more »