Although the temps are in the 20's, the breeze is brisk, from the north, and it is definitely wintry.  Snowflakes are falling, they tell us it's lake effect snow, but north of here, this lake effect snow is really dumping many inches.  Soon the ski hills and trails up north will be open. 

We had a birthday celebration for my son the other night at the restaurant where my son-in-law is the chef.  That boy can cook!!!  On Wednesday night, they have a buffet, featuring all of the things on the menu.  I also got a salad, a relish tray, home-made bread, along with veal parmesan, shrimp in linguini sauce, cheese dumplings, spaghetti with marinara sauce, Italian beef, barbequed pork, Sicilian breaded chicken.  There was pizza, mussels on the half shell, and other goodies I couldn't get to, because my plate was too full.  I told myself I would come back for more, but that never happens.  After eating as much as I could, I was just comfortably full, so didn't go back.  I settled back with a cup of extra delicious coffee and contented myself with a few spoonfuls of my son's birthday ice cream.  He got lots of nice presents, and the restaurant brings a camera and a big birthday hat; all the employees stand behind singing "happy birthday."  Well, it was a good time, lots of good food.  My son and his new wife look so happy together. 

But my left front tire was almost flat when I came out later.  I had to hurry to a gas station and put air in that tire.  This always happens with that tire, and I'm going to have to take it in and find out what's wrong.  My daughter attended the birthday party too, but the next day, she was very sick with her multiple sclerosis.  I had to spend an hour with her before she could even go to the party.  Yesterday, she came close to being hospitalized.  And just then, she got a letter from her neurologist, saying the neurologist was transferring my daughter's case to another doctor.  She has decided to go to a different clinic altogether.  I can't wait until they finally come up with something that will stop the immune system from destroying the myelin sheaths of the nerves that go to the brain.  I don't want her to get worse.  So yesterday was a scary time. 

If nothing else, I am beginning to work in the house, cleaning and decorating for the holidays.  There's no end to that work, is there?  I won't comment on the political scene, as that has enough commentators already.  My son is gearing up for the hunting season with his friends and father gathering for this coming weekend.  I hope he brings me a deer.