Celebrate!

How time flies! It's already the last day of the year--the end of the first decade of the new millennium. Ten years ago we were worried about "Y2K". We were afraid some things would stop working when the calendar flipped to January 1, 2000. We survived. 

Will you celebrate tonight? What are your New Year's eve traditions? I'm getting old. Sometimes my wife and I don't even stay up till midnight. Are you glad this year is over? Are you excited or worried about 2010? 

Best wishes to you for a great year in 2010!

Pain

Friday was a real pain. The pain in my neck nearly drove me out of my mind! Hot pads, pain pills, pain relievers--no relief! My body worked so hard to fight the pain, that I was tired the next day. 

We say that "he's a pain in the neck" or "she's a real pain" when someone annoys us. We also say, "No pain, no gain." 

Some people think that physical exercise must be painful to be helpful. If you don't feel pain, you're not working hard enough. I prefer a painless, easy stretch, or a relaxing walk, thank you! 

You can also use "pain" in a more positive way. You can say that she takes great pains to avoid mistakes in her work. She's very careful, very thorough--meticulous. 

I hope that life is not painful for you now.

Who are "they"?

Sometimes we use a shortcut when we quote someone but don't know his or her name. 

1. They say it's going to snow tomorrow. 

2. They say you should get a flu shot this year. 

3. They say you can't take it with you. 

4. They say that love makes the world go around. 

5. They say that pride goes before a fall. 

Who is it that says all these things? How did "they" get so smart?! Here's the source of the quotations above: 

1. The weather bureau or a local meteorologist 

2. The medical community, your doctor, or the CDC (Center for Disease Control) 

3. Common saying that means you won't have any of your earthly possessions after you die. 

4. Another common saying 

5. The Bible (book of Proverbs) 

What do "they" say in your country?

Snow

Has it snowed in your neighborhood? We had some a couple weeks ago, but it disappeared fast. 

According to the latest weather forecast, we may have some more snow soon. It depends on the temperature whether we have rain, snow, or both (a "wintry mix" our forecasters say). The last few days definitely felt like winter to me. 

Do you like snow? Some people think it's a "dirty" word. I like snow. I like to watch it fall. I like the way it makes a shiny white blanket over everything. I even like to drive in it. When I was a kid, I went sled riding on our farm almost every time there was enough snow. One time I nearly ran into a fence! So for me, "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!"