Happy New Year!

Yes, I know that the new year started a few days ago, but nonetheless - "Happy New Years" to everyone. May the world come to great peace and everyone have food, water, shelter and good health. Failing that, let us hope for the best.

I know that we all have expectations for each year and I wish you the best in achieving or dealing with those. For Mary and me, it will be likely be dealing with the prospect of my, slightly accelerated, retirement. Right now, I am evaluating the options offered by the college relative to my anticipated retirement benefits. No, there was no "buy out" option offered as with some of the county agencies. The offer I can't refuse was essentially "Take what you have been planning on now. Or, take less later." The benefits in question focus on the level of health care coverage assumed by the college when Mary and I retire. And so, the analysis has begun. I'll keep you posted.

To keep me in a more positive frame of mind, I have fired up an old practice from several years ago. At that time I created an electronic diary of pictures of people, places and things that I found interesting for one or a hundred different reasons. At that time, I called the diary "Be Looking Good." Then, I prepared the pictures in Power Point with a simple caption. I am now going to use one of my favorite programs, PhotoStory (free from Microsoft and better than anything else I know - get it if you don't have it.). This time, however, I will post it here periodically for others to see. I am calling it simply "Looking Forward."

Best wishes for the future.