Hey it's super cold out there.  So what could the mail deliver that's the complete opposite of -1 temps?  Besides a few airline tickets to a few warm and sunny places...The 148 page Burpee seed and garden catalog! 

Visions of growing all kinds of stuff this spring.  Which will ultimately be reduced to a few tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, garlic and flowers.  But man, some of that stuff looks incredible.  Only 5 and a half months to go.  

This is it the run up to Christmas starts this week. That means cleaning the house, wrapping presents, prepping for snow storms...  Sounds about right.

Joel is home again.  Everyone has heard of the Freshman 15 well how about the Sophomore -15?   Yea, he lost 13 pounds since he left here in fall.   Seriously.  I guess all the bike riding, walking, tennis, studying and intake of jamba juice, jimmy johns and whatever he makes at home is a weight loss plan.  Its really not that much  - less than a pound a week, so lets not get all freaked out.  He did have a really bad cold last week, perfect for taking finals right?  So 3 semesters down and 5 to go?  When he starts next semester he will have officially completed more college than I have.   Super proud of him that's for sure.

Annual December trip to NYC

This week I was in NYC for work.  I think I have been in NYC at least 3-4 times at this time of the year.

Here is this year's Rockefeller Center Christmas tree and ice rink

Here is the Bryant Park Christmas tree.

I also met a friend for drinks at the Dead Rabbit.  Really cool little place and apparently quite swank.  

Below is a list of press and awards this place has garnered.

Tales of the Cocktail 2013: World’s Best New Cocktail Bar, World’s Best Cocktail Menu, International Bartender of the Year (Jack McGarry) Esquire: Best Bars in America 2013
Liquor.com: 15 Bars to Visit Before You Die
CNN: 10 Favorite New Bars of 2013
Village Voice: Best New Bar 2013
New York Magazine: Best Everyman’s Bar 2013
Forbes Magazine: Top 15 American Nightspots 2013
CBS: NYC’s 5 Best New Cocktail Bars
Eater: Where to Drink in New York Right Now 2013
Zagat: New York’s Hottest New Restaurants and Bars 2013
Wine and Spirits: Where to Drink and Dine in NYC 2013
Thrillist: The Thrillist 47

Yes is was really good.  They have a hardbound cocktail menu book.  Incredible stuff.

Tree

Well the tree and decorations are up.  I took a picture to find out that certain pictures when uploaded to Google+/Picasa can be "Auto Awesomed"  and one of those effects is twinkle.

Yes the train is up and the cat is sleeping under the tree.  She thinks she is outside.  Yes the star is a bit crooked now that I look at it.

Here comes winter

Cedar Lake starting to freeze over.

Caffeine update

Hey, tomorrow I will be coffee and for the most part caffeine free for 10 months.  I mean who knew you could do that?

I mean I have not been completely with out it.  I have a coke every now and then, and honestly it's almost too sweet for me now.  I think I have had fewer than 10 soda's in that time.  At a restaurant, I get water or lemonade.  Yea or a beer.

I did buy a 1/2 pound of Alterra, er, Collectivo coffee a few weeks ago. Two Sundays ago I made some.  It was pretty tasty but man the buzz was pretty intense again.  Took a long time to get that 32 oz  (a full french press full) down.  Then came the headache.  Pretty weird.   I may start drinking coffee again  but I really like the fact I don't need to have any every morning to get going and I have saved a bit of cash (I bet around $150. at $15.00 a month).  So maybe just a weekend thing for me.

Whats next?  Gluten free?  Paleo?  Man,  I think those would be so much harder than caffeine.  So many things in the diet to change for those.  I am sure the family would love that too.