Happy New Year!  It's 2009 and I just got back from spending a week and a half down in southern NJ with the family for the holidays.  Santa Claus got me some cool gifts, including the complete DVD box set of the 2008 World Series featuring the champions of baseball, the Philadelphia Phillies (yep, there I go again with the Phillies talk).

Sorry to say that I missed some of that snow that came upon this area earlier this week; I actually enjoy the snow when I'm not working or caught up in traffic.  A winter wonderland is always nice in late December...after that, the only reason to have it now is for skiing, sledding and snowboarding.  And on that topic, I'm pleased that I'll be a part of the McAfee Ski and Snowbard Slope Spies team again this season.  Our first stop will be on Saturday January 10th at Camelback in Tannersville, PA from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Just stop by our booth in the lodge, get a slope spies sticker and if one of our spies spots you on the mountains, you'll be able to claim a prize from us.  It's that simple and a lot of fun.  Hope to see you there!

Finally, I'm man enough to admit I was wrong just a few months ago when I said that their season was over, but the Philadelphia Eagles are taking on the Minnesota Vikings this Sunday in an NFL Wild Card playoff game.  After last week's thrashing of the Dallas Cowboys, the Eagles have an excellent shot at going all the way and winning it all (sorry Giants fans, I know there are plenty of you out there).

GO EAGLES!

As I write this, we have the 2nd snowy day in the last 3 days.  Is this a sign of bigger things to come?  Perhaps a "White Christmas" is lurking in the days ahead?  Who knows, we might just be in for the "big one" that has been talked about for years.

Obviously, this is a banner time for all you skiers, snowboarders and snowtubers.  The season is well under way and from the looks of things, the resorts are off to a great start!

Hope you're enjoying the Christmas music we're playing on 102.3 WSUS.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a Macbook, but I'll settle for a Blu-ray DVD player.  Come on Santa, I've been good this year!

All this week, I had been on vacation.  No, I didn't get to go anywhere to escape, but the only thing I was able to escape from was the typical daily grind of the 9 to 5 life that many of us go through regularly.

My Sunday had started off rather quietly as I got up late and went to a diner down the street from my house for some breakfast.  In the midst of placing my order with the waitress, I realized that I forgot my cell phone.  Oh, the horrors of it all!  Yet, I didn't seem to mind it at all that my precious communication device was left at home.  I wasn't bothered in the least bit about possibly missing some phone calls...as a matter of fact, I welcomed the change of pace.  After all, there was life before cell phones; I just needed to embrace that feeling again at that moment.  If I missed a call, my voicemail would have been there waiting for me once I got home, whenever that may be.  So I ate my breakfast, with the refreshing feeling knowing that no one would interrupt me while I dined on my scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage and bagel.

I also got time to spend with my mother and I took her to New York to see the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular with the Rockettes.  If you get a chance to see it this season, by all means please do.  You'll love it!

Most of my week leading up to Thanksgiving was spent with my family and relatives in southern NJ.  It's funny how you know time passes by rather quickly when the next generation of relatives that you knew as children have started to grow up and can't help but laugh about it, knowing that you've experienced what they go through as older children or young teenagers.

With Thanksgiving having come and gone, I'm thankful for what my life has given me and wish the same for you to have a happy and healthy season this year!