Merry Christmas to all. Also Happy Hanukah to our Jewish friends. To the rest of you, Happy Retailers Solvency Day.

As to the title of the e-mail…No, it’s not a person. If you know me well, you’re probably not surprised when I tell you it’s a toenail. Many of you will remember, but for those who don’t, last year in February I was running on my Sunday long run when a car came up on the curb right at me. I kept my eyes on him to make sure I didn’t get hit, failed to see a raised part of the sidewalk, and stubbed my toe.

The big toe on my left foot turned black after a couple of days. I got used to it and it was my “runner’s toe”. It’s a badge of courage among runners and tells real runners that you too are obsessed by running. They say it takes about a year for a toenail to grow out. This last week, I clipped the last of the black nail. I’m no longer in “the die hard runner’s group”. I feel like I’ve been booted from the club. It feels like I’ve lost an old friend. Who Knows? Maybe it will happen again and I’ll be in the loop.

Jean and I ran this morning…I went six and a half and Jean went just enough more to say she ran farther than me. It’s that competitive spirit that she has and I don’t. It was warm (mid sixties) and humid so we whined just a bit about the weather. I’ll turn Jean into a “weather pansy” before you know it.

I’ve attached a picture of me watching TV on my last trip to Michigan. I looked at the thermostat through my frosted glasses and it was set at 57 degrees. It’s fine if you’re working up a storm, but you get a little chilly just sitting. Jean says if you dress appropriately you won’t get cold.

When she got down here, it was about 60 so she took a chill. She had me turn on the heater in the car on the way back from the airport. I was so hot I thought I’d pass out. Apparently her heat threshold changes depending on who pays the bill.

Ta Ta

Just (Maybe The Last E-Mail of The Year) Jack