Okay, it wasn't much. But I woke up this morning here in New York City and looked out the window of my apartment... and, got a slight "A Christmas Story" feeling. Y'know? When Ralphie wakes up and looks out his window on Christmas morning with the slightest real hope of still getting the "Red Rider Range Model 200 Shot Air Rifle with the compass in the stock and this thing which tells time."

Yeah... first snow in New York.

It's the kid in me... but, I love snow in New York around this time of year. I put "Central Park in the snow" in a song I wrote, because to me it's one of the most romantic places on the face of the earth.

Hernshead (the rocks behind me at "The Hill") in the snow

I am reeeealllly lookin' forward to the big, annual "Year-End Holiday Concert" at Merkin Hall in two weeks. Every year we have such a good time. And, I just started getting ideas about some of the stuff to do that night. I mean, we'll make it up as we go along like we always do. But, I've got a few ideas. I'm gonna have some fun people in the audience. Maybe we'll get some of them to do something on stage with me.

And... there's an outside shot that my long time friend and partner, Roger "Dodger" Bartlett, will be coming through town on that weekend. If he does, we WILL see him there!

"Dodger"

The Concert at Merkin is a great time every December since we started having them.

Y'know... the box office is actually open today, if you wanna get some friends together and give them a call:

212-501-3330

There are plenty of really, really good seats left... especially in the front of the balcony, which is right on top of the stage!

One of things I'm thinkin' about doing... well, I better not give it away. But, you guys have got to be ready to sing all night. This thing has become such a yearly tradlition with me. I've played Merkin Concert Hall since around 1999... played it over 10 times. And over these years, this "Year-End" concert is the one that has always meant the most to me. The feeling in that hall is tangible and good. This year as always, I'm just gonna try to make it a "feel-good" night all around... tell a few stories... hopefully laugh as much as we sing.

It's just us.

Hey listen... I look at the stats here on this website and see that there are people visiting here from all across the country and in different parts of the world. If you're new here, take a few minutes to go click on the "Archives" button over there and see what we've been up to around here. Got a few original cartoons for you to download, a couple of FREE songs, too. and if you feel like emailing me for any reason at all, just hit the "Contact" button. I can't answer them all, but I read every single email I get. (Even the ones from people who just wanna tell me I suck!) Ha! that's one in a hundred... but, I read 'em just the same! It's a fascinating world we live in these days. Kinda cool.

Anyway, whatever you're doing make it a good day.... a worthwhile day.

And, if you get a chance, stop by this website later on. (Click on the logo)

Because in January we'll be getting together again for a very, very special evening. The VOICES TOGETHER CONCERT.

I'll tell you all about it at Merkin Hall. But let me just say that my friends and I... a bunch of ordinary people, refuse to ignore the carnage that is ravaging the Iraqi people... today... now... as you are reading this. The violence is devastaing the ordinary people.. the civilians, especially the children.

We found a remarkable group of people with an organization called LIFE, who have people on the ground in Iraq... really getting desperately needed help those who need it most. And, there is a woman we've found named Elissa Montanti, an otherwise ordinary New York woman, who has made 4 trips into Iraq to get people and bring them here to the States for the medical help they cannot get in that war-torn part of the world. She is an angel... a true hero. We want to help her do the work she has chosen to do in any way we can. Therefore, VOICES TOGETHER Concert.

She has done amazing things already for so many... but, everyday there is much, much more to do.

And... she just went to Iraq again to get a few more kids to get them in the hospital here!

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Dalal lost her leg in the fighting . . . . . . . . . . . Dalal sowing off her new leg with Elissa

But, there is soooo much more to do. Please help us... help Elissa... help them.

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Anyway... just go visit that website and see what you can do to make the world a better place. It actually does take effort. It actually takes sacrifice. It actually does take more than words, or spouting opinion, or writing a song. It takes action.

Okay... I'll let you now more about that as it gets closer.

For now... see you in a couple of weeks at Merkin Concert Hall.

Thanks again.