The Little Words Mean the Most

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Household metrics for the year

There are certain household metrics that track happiness and well-being: going to the movies together (did well with that in 2011), sitting together on the couch opposite an admirably burning fireplace (just once in all 2011). Easy to see why people go with gas fires. You flip a switch, it's on. It was a mean winter [just the kind I like], too.

That's Julie Pulie, Chicago-area photographer, wearing her new hat. And here are the smiles she captured on Christmas Day:

Real people

In chronological order

Road trip: Out

L-r: It rained the whole way. Rain so heavy it required metaphors: "cats and dogs." Twelve hours of driving from Rhode Island to mid-Michigan. We came within a micro-second of dying in a high-speed car crash. And didn't: that was the highlight. My life did not flash before my eyes. But time did slow down significantly. Later I saw the end of a rainbow ... as solid as a fence post. The end sat in a field harvested months ago. It wasn't magical. There were no leprechauns. The rainbow dented the mud like a plank. The border crossing was bilingual. Canada was a shortcut (saved us a couple of hours) to East Lansing, MI. Where I donned the colors. And Jane, our matriarch, bought dinner for Simone and me at the University Club, originally the "country club" (think swimming pool, golf and outsiders) for MSU professors. That failed. So they let in the riff-raff: local lawyers and doctors. Better; not great. Today, I think pretty much anyone can join unless you're another species. The food ("it used to be awful!") has aimed straight up. Jane worries about her wrinkles. But her facial structure is cathedral-worthy. CLICK any photo to enlarge and breathe the carbon emissions.

For Christmas, we went to Hawaii (the jigsaw puzzle)

Spot the bird

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2 philosophical propositions walk into a bar

One is about the road. One is about the road not taken. In other news: but you knew that (click the image to enlarge and read the fine print):

Sky = Psych