This issue is somewhat late. It’s all my fault and the only explanation I am offering is procrastination. I’m out of work due to the economy. When the gas prices were high, people chose not to eat out, except at inexpensive places. When gas came down, they still stayed away from the medium to high priced restaurants. The restaurant is still going but by cutting my job, most of the shortfall was taken care of. Something will come along soon. (I hope.)

SANTA’S GIVINGS AND MISGIVINGS, edited by Jean Goldstrom and available from www.whortleberrypress.com is available and features fourteen tales of Christmas related happenings, including one by yours truly. I also have two stories on anotherealm.com and another one under consideration. Give them a try, you won’t be disappointed.

New music from Taylor Swift’s new album and Sugarland have been the most listened to lately. Taylor’ second album, FEARLESS, is a solid follow-up to her first one. More of the same – looking at the world through teenage eyes, but with a straight forward adult view is the take that I get from it. She writes most of her songs, so they are from the heart. Sugarland is another Georgia band that has made good and it’s not totally country as some of the tunes have crossed over to adult contemporary or A-O-R hits. Tom Petty, Meat Loaf, and anything Sixties fill in the gaps. XM radio does a good job on presenting the different decades on different channels with dj’s during the morning hours.

I’m glad the election is over so that the robocalls have ended and the ads are off of the TV. I grew tired of them over a year ago. Just pray everything turns out for the best and the country gets back on track. Things now are beginning to look like a Philip K. Dick book. Maybe things will turn back into the Heinlein/Asimov mode soon.

Barry