It’s New Year’s Eve and our tradition for nearly 30 years is to watch When Harry Met Sally, Diane’s favorite movie. Diane and I saw When Harry Met Sally in 1989. This year’s watching will be most poignant with the recent tragic death of the director, Rob Reiner.

The clever screenplay was written by Nora Ephron. Starring Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher, and Bruno Kirby, When Harry Met Sally follows the title characters from the time they meet in Chicago and share a drive to New York City through 12 years of chance encounters in New York City which climaxes in a 1988 New Year’s Eve party.

Rob Reiner had a different (not happy) ending planned for When Harry Met Sally, but Reiner–while directing When Harry Met Sally–was introduced to photographer Michele Singer. The meeting not only influenced Reiner’s decision to change the film’s conclusion to a happy ending, but resulted in Reiner and Singer’s marriage. How do you celebrate New Year’s Eve? GRADE: A

It finally happened. Diane, Patrick, and Katie decided I needed a cell phone. I have been resisting cell phones for years. I don’t think I need one. I’ve gotten around 76 years without one. But, I was outvoted so Santa brought me a pink iPhone 16 Plus.

My preferred method of learning is reading so I picked up iPhone for Seniors and iPhone for Dummies to help me learn how to use my new cell phone.

How long have you had a cell phone? Do you have any tips for me?

The 10-5 Philadelphia Eagles take on the 11-4 Buffalo Bills in a game missing motivation. The Eagles clinched the NFC East and may be tempted to “rest” some of their starters for the Playoffs. The Bills clinched a Playoff berth when Art Scott’s 49ers knocked off the Colts on Monday Night Football. The Bills still have a tiny statistical chance of winning the AFC East but that would require the New England Patriots losing to the NY Jets this week or the Miami Dolphins next week. Not likely. So the Bills might be “resting” starters, too. The Bills are 1 1/2 point favorites.

How will your favorite NFL team perform today?

Diane and I traveled to Shea’s Performing Art Center to watch this holiday production. ‘Twas the Night Before… is Cirque du Soleil’s first Christmas show, based on the classic poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas” by Clement Clarke Moore.

We enjoyed the blend of thrilling acrobatics, lovable characters, and a soundtrack including holiday classics re-invented by Cirque du Soleil. Jugglers, dancers, inventive acrobatics, vibrant costumes, and semi-disco music garnered a lot of applause from the sold-out crowd. If you’re looking for a different kind of holiday event, ‘Twas the Night Before… by Cirque du Soleil fits the bill. GRADE: B

Based on a popular video game, Fallout on AMAZON PRIME Video is a wacky series about post-nuclear holocaust America (you can read my review of Season One here). In Season Two, the odd couple team-up between Lucy (Ella Purnell) and the Ghoul (Walton Goggins) continues as they pursue the discredited Hank (Kyle MacLachlan), last seen heading toward Vegas in chunky power armor to enact some awful, unspecified scheme.

“Future episodes see attention-grabbing guest roles for Kumail Nanjiani and Macaulay Culkin; Nanjiani, in particular, seems to relish the chance to play a cocky heavy. But the most notable addition to the cast is Justin Theroux as the immaculately mustachioed Robert House, a reclusive Howard Hughes-esque founder of a robotics empire and would-be shaper of the future.”

 Fallout, Season 2 will have eight episodes, with one episode released each week from December 16, 2025, through the finale on February 4, 2026.  Mildly entertaining!