So much for a good new year..

First of all, world, Happy Russian Christmas.. This was almost as special a day for me growing up as the Roman army version of the holiday.. we left our decorations up a little longer than the average family.. we shined them bright as can be on January 7 .. we celebrated the Ukrainian Rite of passage.. fun times. So for those who celebrate, or those who hack into email from Russia, Merry Christmas!

on… another .. note..

There has been some personal grief hitting my local area over the past few days. Someone I know from quite some time ago has lost someone very young and very important in his life.. Another person I know who just retired has succumbed to a heart issue..I see a few more tragic notes of traffic popping up on my Facebook feed..

This has been a little bit of a dismal start to the new year for me..
I know.. hope.. Be positive… Wipe away the sadness and replace it with the light of the world. 

But that all gets to be a little more difficult than what some would like.

And when grief hits like a freight train, there is often no other choice but to be completely knocked out by it.

So I hope your new year is heading in a better direction than some people’s I know..

life is very, very, very short.. and for some people right now, they are having to bury a little life that was cut way too short. 

I pray and send positive well wishes for anyone suffering or in a funk of some sort. There is help out there.. Google it if you need it. And sometimes the best thing, more than anything else, is human touch. A warm embrace. And a  cold beer.

May God bless everyone who reads this and those who don’t.