…From the winter wonderland of the NY burbs.

(1) Just when I had steeled myself to go out & start manually shoveling (no oil addiction in this household!) the 15 or so inches of snow from my driveway, I looked out the window & my next-door neighbor’s son-in-law was strolling up said driveway at the controls of a humongous snow-blower. He cleared the whole thing in around 10 minutes. A true American — thanks, guy. I only had to shovel my deck & front step.

(2) The Petroushka Ball went wonderfully well Friday night, thanks to prodigies of effort by the organizers. We were entertained at dinner by two fine opera singers, Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazon. Then we danced the night away. Romantic touch: When we were pretty much danced out, Rosie & I went and sat by ourselves on one of the upper balconies, drinking the last of our wine & looking down on the dance floor. After a while the audience struck up a rumba, one of the few dances I believe I am more than merely capable at. So we rumba-ed, just the two of us, alone up there on the balcony. Regrets in life: I wish I’d learned to tango. A couple down there on the dance floor were doing the **Argentine** tango, which is like tango squared. Great to watch.