In celebration of the New Year, I went out to lunch with a dear friend (and wonderful gardener). I had the fried oysters appetizer, followed by bison chili (with beans). It was all tasty, but the company was better. Yet the day was frigid, particularly with the wind. If only we could always stay on the sunny side of life! -- Good wishes to you with that. -- Unfortunately, my head and chest cold also celebrated the new year by coming into full blossom. Although I tend to like blossoms a lot, this one, not so much. It is no longer anything that can be easily ignored. For dinner, I just had some spicy minestrone soup with crackers. I also just finished a movie, have a good fire going, and now am soon off to bed, with a new box of tissues at the ready.