I’ve been thinking lately about what makes a good friend. Is it someone who listens to you and holds your hand when you’re feeling down? Is it someone who doesn’t judge you and just loves you -- warts and all? Maybe a good friend is a person who laughs with you and tells you you’re funny – even when you aren’t. Or perhaps it is someone who gives freely of their time, their attention or – better yet -- their kidney.

Here we are into the third week of January, and my ten-year-old son is already predicting there will be no “snow days” this school year. I tried to tell him that it doesn’t usually snow that much in this area before January or February, but he is convinced that I am wrong. His reasoning, of course, is attributed to the “Snowpocalypse of 2009” that dropped close to two feet of heavenly white precipitation on the Friday kicking off winter break.

I’m not big on New Year’s resolutions. I haven’t been for quite a few years now. I guess it’s because I’ve reached a point in my life where I’m “on” to myself – I pretty much know what I will or won’t do. I may say that I’m going to do something and then give it my best for a few weeks, but within a month or so, I’m back to my old habits. After years of doing this, I realized I wasn’t fooling anyone – including myself. Kinda reminds me of the way I play basketball.

1) Dinner at The Local – my family and I love everything about this restaurant! The ambience is warm and inviting. The food is fabulous and prepared using local ingredients. Even the light fixtures, chairs, bar, and balcony were built by local craftsmen. My son recommends the shrimp and/or the mussels. He also lives for the homemade bread. I personally like it all, including the wine selection.