Monday mutterings

Hello all. Yes, it's Monday again (how did that happen?). It's also almost Halloween, which means the year is almost over (how the HELL did that happen???). But instead of lamenting how time seems to be moving at way-too-fast speeds, how 'bout a way to turn my frown upside down? (yes, I'm corny this morning. And also addicted to parenthesis, it seems).

A reader emailed me last week and said, "Aren't you going to hold any contests soon? You haven't had any in a while!" Well, good point, I haven...