LOOK AT THOSE PRICES!!!(and you think it's a hassle to put .50cents in your local meter!) (And a Russian mobster-type came running after me while I took this pic...he thought I was doing some sort of uncover work. LOL!) He reminded me a lot of my Dad.

AN ILLUSTRATION OF THE NEW FREEDOM TOWER AND MEMORIAL PARK ON THE OLD WTC SITE IN LOWER MANHATTAN.

CHRISTINE AND I AT A STARBUCKS IN THE EAST VILLAGE.(thanks to the guy I badgered to take the pic!)

The last few months have been very hectic for me...Now, I'm not saying, "I don't have time", as I never use that excuse! It was a lack of motivation to write, and mostly the stress of starting my new job and leaving my old mgmt job back in Sept. The training was more intense than I had imagined and the company kept us very busy with other activities as well.

So, it's already Dec and the end-of-the-year is fast approaching. Anybody that knows me well has heard me say, "the years go by so fast!"

I took advantage of the in-between-holidays lull(and decent winter weather) at the end of Nov and beginning of Dec to take a few short trips. After Thanksgiving I flew East to visit an old friend, Christine and The Reilly's in CT. She now lives in Prague and was staying with friends in NYC and is a true native New Yorker. After our lunch and coffee, I had a long walk down to the WTC site where I was amazed at how many people were walking around the perimeter. There's a sturdy metal railed fence all-around and historic photographs of the site going back to the 60's during which time the site was being prepped and the landfill used for Battery Park. The new and single "Freedom Tower" is still in it's basement beginnings, although numerous illustrations of the finished tower and memorial park adorn the area. I feel a sense of optimism, and sort of rebirth. Symbolically, the new Freedom Tower will be the modern day "Phoenix" rising literally from the ashes! As I walked down Church St., I passed a fire station. Many of the guys were out and joking with the passers-by, but I was on a mission and it was twilight, so the photo op was foresaken...darn!

I will be busy with work until the New Year; no "holiday break" for me. Such is life, but I try to take it in stride and keep focused on the future. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and all the best in 2005!