Actually, when you have to have a 4-year-licensed driver sitting beside you ... and can't drive on the freeway ... and not between midnight and 5 a.m. either ... ... somehow, one gets the feeling that one has arrived at one's second childhood! ole joyful

As I offer an occasional newsletter on personal financial management issues to clients and others interested, I was checking back through some old threads for matters that I might work on for a future message. When I got to page 8, I was quite surprised to find 5 of my threads in sequence. I have the opinion, rightly or wrongly, that I do not originate a lot of threads, so when, later on the same page, I found four more, I thought that very unusual. The first one on page 9 was one of mine, as well, so that made 2 sequences of five - most originally written at different times. There might be some egotism mixed in there somewhere - who knows? Maybe I just like the look of my name in print. And, as I often deal with rather serious issues, maybe I was just being frivolous. Is that allowed? Don't you get the feeling that life is just too darned serious, at times?? I hope that you have a happy and interesting start on your New Year. ole joyful

Happy 89.5 Ed. And I hope we are ALL around to wish you a happy 90th. edited to add: yes you can freeze the cake. I wrap fairly large pieces (uncut) in plastic wrap or a ziploc getting as much air out as possible. Then wrap again in foil. Label and freeze. Depending on how much you have left, you could freeze multiple packages to enjoy later, just don’t wait too long or it will be dry.

There's nothing wrong with free expression of opinions. Some people get a little to worked up over little things but that's okay with me. So long as comments there, as here, remain non-personal I'm a denizen of the double yellow lines in the middle, I don't have a lot of affection for either of the two major parties nor their leaders. Both sides have plenty to be criticized about and blamed for. Outrage has taken the place of engagement and compromise. Whether justified or not, there were plenty of Republicans who were unhappy with Obama and what happened during those years. And with Clinton. Is anyone more right or more wrong? Maybe, but it doesn't matter, because criticism of the opposition is what rallies supporters. Less so than in countries with parliamentary governments but here too, how the country stays on an straight course is by having periodic changes from one party to another. More extreme things get changed every so often or changed back to how they were before being changed, it's not a bad thing. In the meantime, obsessing over details or events really doesn't do much. Vote for the candidates you like and don't expect them to do much once in office. There are some exceptions, good and bad.