So, tomorrow is November 1st. That can only mean one thing--the holiday season is upon us! In less than a month, there will be Thanksgiving and then Christmas will follow up shortly after.

Last year, I had Thanksgiving at home, but then went to visit my parents for Christmas. I don't have anything planned yet for the holidays and the calendar seems to be rushing me.

What are your plans for the holidays? Will there be huge family gatherings? Or quiet days at home? Is the dwindling economy a factor? Will the turkey be smaller, the gifts fewer? Tell me about it...

Your comments--priceless!!



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Tomorrow is Groundhog Day. Folklore maintains that, every year on February 2nd, Punxatawney Phil, beloved mascot of a small, rural town in central Pennsylvania, makes his prediction on when there will be a break in the cold weather. Supposedly, if he emerges from his burrow and the weather is cloudy (he sees his shadow), then winter will soon end. If the weather is sunny, and he doesn't see his shadow, there will be 6 more weeks until Spring.

I think it would be great to have my very own Phil pet that I could carry around with me, giving me predictions on the future. For instance, when speaking to a prospect for the first time at work, I could ask Phil, "Will this turn into a contract, or am I wasting my time?" And Phil could say, "She has NO intention of doing business with you" and I could scratch her off my list and move on.

Or before I started watching a movie, I could ask Phil if I were going to fall asleep in the middle or not. Or before eating a meal, I could find out if it were going to give me heartburn or gas. Or before going on an interview, I could ascertain if that particular job was in my future.

The uses would be endless. I could save a ton of money on my daughter's college application fees, because I would know which would accept her. My morning commute would be a breeze because I would know which route would be fastest. I'd NEVER have to watch an awards show again, I'd already know the winners. Do you see where I'm going with this?

What would you use your personal Phil pet for? How could it help you save time and money?

Your comments--priceless!

Do you have Seasonal Affective Disorder(SAD), more commonly known as the "Winter Blues?" The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has recognized this as a subtype of major depression, and says it affects over 10 million Americans who live in northern climates. The symptoms include sadness and depression, often accompanied by excessive sleeping, overeating and weight gain. Women are more likely to have SAD than men. Although you might think it is related to the temperature, experts say it's more likely linked to reduced light caused by winter's shorter days. UV Light therapy has been touted as an effective treatment.

The most interesting thing about SAD is that it can also affect those living in warm climates, like me. For them, winter brings the holidays and anticipated happy times, while summer brings loss of appetite, insomnia, and weight loss.

While I'm definitely not qualified to argue with the APA, I'm not sure if I buy into this. I think that some folks are just depressed, period. Wouldn't matter if it were sunny, cloudy, humid or cold--they are just down. I think it may be more noticeable to others during extreme temperatures, I don't think climate is a factor. I've been known to be wrong though..

What do you think? Do you buy it? Have you suffered from this? Which one-summer or winter? How did you handle it? Share your experience--

Your comments--priceless!