It’s about 6:3 on new year’s eve and the house is momentarily quiet.   In an hour or so our house will be full of people. Gabe is having a few friends over which will take us into the new year.. I’m glad we’re spending the new year here.. it’s been about 3 days since I got more than 4 hours sleep.. but.. still.. it’s been a really fun and relaxing break.. a great end to a pretty eventful.. and overall, pretty good year.. (more  end of year reflections later)

We got home around 11 AM after a very quick down and back to replace max on the boat.. It was great having him up here for the week.. We got to the boat around 2:00 yesterday. Max hasn’t had a key to his room for months, he had to pick the lock. I don’t know if I’m more disturbed that my kid doesn’t have a key to his own room.. or that I’m more proud that he can pick locks that much better than I can.. I think it’s the latter. His room held many treasures.. including his new adopted milk snake…   ( grew up with coral snakes.. I had to o the color thing really quick before I handled the snake.. red and yellow kill a fellow.. red and black.. lucky jack)…  We did get to see Jac.. .. which is always wonderful.

I then headed in to the midtown to see my friends Jeff and Michelle.. then met Diane and her yoga friend Sho, Max, Jac and Meredith for a great Thai dinner.. Getting to that dinner involved Sho ably navigating us through the crowds at Time Square.. which even the day before new years was way too much for me..

After dinner we retired to the boat for a reenactment of the last night of CHanukah.. about 3 days late.. Max had received a menorah from a drive by Chabad guy who noticed his ‘jewfro’

We took advantage of the burning candles of the menorah  to test out the robotic slider Max and I designed and built over the break.. I stuck my iPhone  on the carriage and took this..

Diane and I then retired to the car around 11 and got a few hours sleep before starting the ride home around 4L30 AM..

THe drive back was a great time to reflect on the year.. as always, since Sam’s passing, our measure of time and events is measured differntly.. I know that many folks will measure the year by world events, or the economy.. For me .. I’m feeling blessed that my family is doing OK.. my kids are doing well and following their passions. i have a wonderful life companion in Diane.. and I live in a beautiful part of the world. .  I know the world is not perfect..  our family and friends have had their share of challenges with work health and the economy  and there is stil strife and injustice in the world…    Even so, I’ve learned a very good lesson in a very hard way.. be grateful for what you have.. and for the beauty you can see in the world.. and I am.. and I do..

all the best to you and yours for 2012 !

Happy new year all.. happy new yar to you , Sam.. we feel you strongly on days like this !

-me