The days are shorter and the Humming Birds are competing with the wasps and bees before their long flight south.

In customer service, it is the little things that matter. Likewise, in life sometimes it is the little things that drive us crazy. Like free Internet. Currently I am fighting a one sided battle with the Marriott on Sutter and Powell in San Francisco. In two months, it was recently announced, the Internet would be free to all Marriott Gold members. Normally, the Internet is free in the lobby but you have to pay for it in your room. At this hotel it isn't free anywhere including the exclusive club floor. All I asked the Desk staff was to implement the new policy early. Apparently loyalty means little here.

Perched on the Porch by Roger C. Lubeck

Winter Visitor

Let it snow

Jan 7th

Another 6 inches fell over night

and the snow is still falling.

Going for a foot.

Thanks to my friend Dan W. for his the note on the Twelve Days of Christmas.

According to some religious calendars today Jan 6, is Epiphany, or the Three Kings Day. Others calendars put the date on Jan 7 or Jan 16. Scholars, aware of the problems with the Roman calendar put the date sometime in March or April. Whatever the facts, by English tradition, last night was the Twelfth night, for you Shakespeare fans, the night of revelry, which I am sorry to say I missed, so today is the Feast of Epiphany, meaning we should all go out and buy a king cake.

If you don't know, "The first week of January in New Orleans starts the King Cake season. King Cakes (aka, Dia de la candelaria, Bolo Rei, Kue Keranjang, galette des Rois, or Mr. Mixie Dough) first appeared after 1872, when the Rex Krewe selected the Mardi Gras colors (purple, green and gold). The traditional King Cake is a coffee cake, and is oblong and braided. It is iced with a simple icing and covered with purple, green and gold sugar. Each cake contains a hidden bean or small plastic baby, and custom tells that whoever finds it must either buy the next King Cake or throw the next King Cake Party."

I say any day where you can eat a cake with toys in it is a great day.

So happy Three Kings Day to all.

Table for four

Table for four

New Year Day

This is the place to end the first day of a new decade.

Wish I was here.