That’s my sister on Santa’s knee, while I pose in the background… In a bathing suit. Maybe allowing me to dress myself wasn’t the best idea, mom?

On a cultural level, I think everyone can appreciate Christmas. When we were kids, Thérèse, our French Canadian Catholic nanny, used to leave individually wrapped raisins and nuts wrapped in tinfoil around her Christmas tree for my sister and me. Therese used Christmas to show us that it wasn’t about the size of the gift – it’s about the thought, and love, and being with your family.

To this day, I remember the excitement of opening those gifts. And to this day, my mom marvels at the fact that, at age 7, the Barbie dream house I received was less exciting to me than a single raisin wrapped in tinfoil. I don’t think that makes me less of a Jew – I do think it makes me a more well-rounded human being.

Here’s to all of us expanding our horizons in ’09…

Piven, who is probably best known as Entourage’s Ari Gold, had been playing the role of Charlie Fox in 20th Anniversary revival of the play since preview performances began October 3.

Speed the Plow was written by David Mamet, the Pulitzer Prize winning playwright and author renown for his cynical, street-smart dialogue many have come to call Mamet speak. He’s the brain behind such gems as Glengarry Glen Ross , The Verdict and Wag the Dog.

Actors drop out of projects all the time, but I had to mention this one simply so I could post Mamet’s retort:

“I talked to Jeremy on the phone, and he told me that he discovered that he had a very high level of mercury,” Mamet said. “So my understanding is that he is leaving show business to pursue a career as a thermometer.”

Well done, sir. Well done.

People complain about the traffic, the shoveling, the scraping of ice off windshields… But there’s also the flip side; it’s beautiful, and there’s something unbelievably peaceful about the city after a big storm. I love to ski. I love snowshoeing and exploring the land around my family’s country house. I love my new North Face snow-pants. I love sitting in front of the fire after an adventure outdoors. I love seeing kids being pulled on toboggans on city streets. I love outdoor skating rinks.

This morning, happily bundled up and ready to begin my day, I walked out of my apartment thinking “what are people complaining about? This is beautiful.” It was at that very moment that I lost my footing on a piece of black ice and landed with a resounding thud on my hip. While lying on the sidewalk trying to decide if I should head straight to work or go back upstairs and wash the sleet out of my hair, it occurred to me that all those winter haters just might have a point….

But then I looked up at my dog, who was licking the sleet off my face, and wouldn’t you know it, she had a perfect snow mustache. So, despite the bruise on my hip and the dirt in my hair, I’m back on the winter bandwagon thanks to this face:

Clown Your golden days with Viagra Professional! Fruit Cup.

There was a link (for discount medications) but I can’t help wondering what the rest of the gibberish was for. Does it have something to do with spam-checkers? It got relegated to my junkmail folder anyway. Let me know what you think… and enjoy:

Arm Radar Bomb Solid Bird Jet fighter

Discount medications for you.

Milkshake Car-race Hose Explosive Flower Girl

Bridge Button Gloves Chair Tapestry Chocolates Space Shuttle Ship Bathtub Pyramid

Arm Rocket Bridge Fungus Satellite Sandwich Spiral Sandwich Drum Foot

Diamond Chair Bank Clock Leather jacket Desk Album Balloon Pocket Brain

Jet fighter Magnet Sandwich Gate Snail Insect Rope Library Fork Square

Pants Festival Boss Compact Disc

My friend and colleague CT Moore and I were talking about the most effective way to write a particular press release when he made the following comment:

“Unfortunately, the decline of Western civilization (for which the filed of marketing is partly responsible) has made it necessary to write for a 9 year old.”

This comment really made me laugh, because as a writer and marketer, I’m constantly reminded of just how true it really is.

Sure, there are a variety of exceptionally intelligent people out there. But, when you’re writing for a mass audience, you’re most often writing for the lowest common denominator within that group. And marketing is all about writing for mass – albeit targeted – audiences.

The best marketing campaign in the world can still miss its mark if you’re audience doesn’t understand what you’re talking about. You want to be creative and clever, but don’t ever forget that there’s a fine line between effective and “I don’t get it.”

As a marketing writer, it’s important to remember that it’s not about how smart you can sound – it’s about making sure your message is received and understood by your market.

I find myself asking the inevitable transition question: Will I be as happy there as I am here? When I realize that I don’t know concretely, the nerves kick in.

It’s easy to freak out at the mere thought of change, because change really means “stepping into the unknown”, and as humans, we are fundamentally uneasy about the unfamiliar.

However, there is a difference between good scary and bad scary.

Bad scary is turbulence on a plane, or falling down a well.

Good scary is starting a new relationship, or starting a new job.

I guess there’s also funny scary, like when a drunk homeless guy yelled and whipped a sandwich at my girlfriend Steph’s head the other day, but I’m getting off track (as usual.)

Anyway, my point is that starting a new job is scary. There are so many things to be learned, new co-workers to figure out, a new office to navigate, etc… It’s nerve-wracking, but it opens up a multitude of really positive possibilities as well.

So, this is clearly good-scary stuff. But dealing with it still requires some tricky emotional navigation, especially since I tend to deal with major life changes in one of two ways:

1. Freak out to the point where I become paralyzed and can’t do anything
2. Step it up and deal with the situation

While this is the beginning of another chapter in my life, it’s all the same book: I know the relevant life experiences – and people – that I’ve come to appreciate in this job will stay with me long after I’ve left this place. It is with that knowledge that I excitedly walk forward, eager to turn the page and see what comes next.

A girlfriend of mine was telling me the story of a recent breakup. She was having a bad day, and needing some extra coddling, so she turned to her boyfriend and said: “You love me, right?” Of course, she was asking the question rhetorically. Which is why she had to ask him to repeat what he’d said when he responded: “I think we need to talk.” Ouch. Needless to say, they broke up. She said a month later. I probably would have thrown him out that moment, but I digress…

We’ve all been there, in some way or another. You ask your boss for a review and you’re told “Actually, we need another skill-set.” You ask your old pal when the wedding is and he stutters: “This is awkward. You didn’t make the cut.” Whatever your scenario, you’ve asked a question only to receive the very last answer you wanted. And yet, don’t these moments tend to simply expedite the inevitable? Sure, if you hadn’t asked, you could have spent another month in that job, or another month in a relationship. But, by asking, you took control of the situation, stood up and asked where you stood.

Once you’re in the know, you can take control of your destiny. Sometimes it seems easier to live with the status quo than to question what’s up. But if your gut instinct tell you to ask, you might want to ask yourself why you’re thinking about it. What if you could be happier? Moving on is only as scary as you make it.

I think the future looks bright.

The million dollar question faced by most of us at some point during the year (most prominently after holiday seasons) goes something like this:

“Do I lose 5 lbs, or buy a new wardrobe?”

While the “gut” instinct tends to favor the latter option, one’s pocket book and common sense collaborate to encourage weight loss.

I’m not talking about a huge change – I’m simply talking about the 5 lbs that stand between you and the button on your favorite jeans.

The funny thing is, that little bit of holiday flab was probably acquired by drinking more frequently than usual, spending too much time relaxing in a sedentary fashion while snacking, followed by festive dinners with 9 courses – all things that you generally can’t do in your “real” life anyway.

And yet, the thought of restricting yourself in any way is downright painful:

“You mean, I’m going to have to make dinner, and I can’t just pick up two burgers, onion rings and a poutine on the way home?”

“You want me to WALK the dog?”

“What do you mean I have to go back to work and can’t spend all day eating?”

“Why can’t I have a case of beer with lunch and the entire bottle of wine with dinner?”

Maybe the thought of losing weight after holidays is so painful because it’s really a reminder that the vacation is over, and all the stresses and obligations of real life: Family, work, finances, etc… – are about to kick back in. That little flab around your midsection is your body’s way of spelling relaxation, and giving that up is downright painful.

So, I haven’t decided which way I’m going yet, but as summer draws to a close and the fall season sets in, the days in which I can wear my forgiving flowing skirts are running out. And while I can squeeze into my favorite jeans, I sure as hell can’t sit down in them!