December. I’m having trouble sleeping.  Elderly Dog is sick and her coughing sounds like a flock of geese has landed in the apartment. Add to that the typical year-end anxiety and some unexpected and distracting Boy Drama — it feels like I haven’t had a good night’s sl...

January is the natural time when we feel compelled to start fresh. It’s named for Janus, a Roman god who symbolizes beginnings, transitions, doorways, All that cool clean slate, fresh start stuff. 

But unlike September, when I get the urge to buy school supplies, Januar...