Yes, 2006 has been very... challenging. I didn't like being 500 miles away from where I was needed, but even from Westchester it was hard enough to make much of an impact at the Castle. And even apart from the tragedies of 38th Street there's also the fact that since January I've spent so much time away from Da Chimpz, dealing with various issues, business and personal. Not that they care -- they've always had a very wide comfort zone so they do change well. But they still have lots of bedtime denial and Alane always gets the brunt of that.

Maybe she should get herself a pair of those inflatable boxing gloves... the boys still talk about those things.

I wonder if I have been cured of my "Fish Eye" reflex... Next time I pass through the wine section I may find myself muttering "piss-water" in my bitterest curmudgeonly tone.