Milly, the liver and white springer spaniel who lives at my house, turns 5 years old this week, and you’d think she’d have outgrown all her puppyness by now.

Benjamin Franklin stopped by my office the other day to catch up on what’s going on in America today. Hey, everybody at some time in their life has imaginary friends. Mine just happen to be the Founding Fathers. So sue me.

Many years ago, I came up with what I thought was an ingenious way to dealing with that annual exercise in futility, the New Year’s resolution.

Last week, I joined a growing number of Americans in becoming a cord cutter. What that means is that I have gotten rid of cable TV and I have signed up for a streaming service that bring me television programs over the internet.

One of the most often asked questions this time of the year is one that I don’t have a good answer for.

It’s ironic that in the days before his death, I’d been thinking a lot about George H.W. Bush. I had watched a documentary about his presidency and I was reminded that 41 wanted us to create a “kinder and gentler” nation.

I have always been a fan of the game show “Jeopardy!” More accurately, I should say, I have always been a fan of the game show “Jeopardy!” on those occasions when the show doesn’t make me feel like an idiot.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It’s the one time of year I get together with my extended family of aunts, uncles and cousins. This is a good thing. I know some people dread the holiday family gatherings, but my family enjoys spending time together.