For the first time today, I was thrilled to have moved from Turkey Hollow and into the warmth of Hell's Kitchen. In the Hollow, it was -15 degrees while the city on the Hudson was a balmy 5 degrees with wind chill. I almost wanted to break out the sun deck chairs and get the tanning lotion. After all, that is a 20 degree difference and that is exactly why I moved 'south' to escape the brutal winters. Much to my surprise no one seems to share my philosophy about the current heat wave in New York City.

The week between Christmas and New Year is like purgatory where one ideally leaves everything from the past year behind and yet we are not quite prepared for what we hope will be the bliss of the next year. Half the people are at work and half are on vacation. Some places are open and some are closed. Magazines have already done their double issues so the new ones for the next year have not arrived yet. Given the big meals over the holiday season, people are attempting to cut back or they are stuffing themselves preparing for that horrible New Year's resolution that begins in just a couple of days.

Nothing is quite right with this 'twilight zone' week.

At this time of year, I do my year-end cleaning. I literally write down all the stress, sad news and difficult times from this past year. This personal ritual is my attempt to clean house. By the way, there is no way in hell any of you are going to see this list. In some ways, I have been a 'bad boy' at times or had 'way too good of a time!' But once the list is done, I light a match and burn all my sorrows away from the last year. On January 1st, I sit down to write my visions for myself in the next year. All the places I want to see, the accomplishments I am seeking, good health and maybe some more of that 'way too good of a time!' Somehow it works for me and I feel I have done my penance for the past year and my celebration and commitment to live next year fully. For me, it is all very tidy.

This year, I live one block just off Times Square and if I lean the right way, I can catch a glimmer of it out my bedroom window. Never having spent New Year's Eve in Times Square, I think this is the closest I will ever get to it. Can't help but wonder over and over again, where do all these people go to the bathroom who have been standing there so long? So besides leaning out my window at midnight, I think my cats and I will stay inside, snuggle up in a big blanket, put on some great movies and have a cup of hot tea. Glad more than anything that I have gotten through this strange week and tomorrow will be just another day.

Happy New Year, everyone!