It's the week after Thanksgiving, still November, I already hate the Xmas carols I love, and I have a burning question: "Why, in towns in which it is illegal to throw a snowball at a tree, is it legal to stand out in the middle of a five lane road and beg for money?"

I'm surprised that there aren't more wrecks, or at least what I would call "knockdowns."

Have you guys tried to read the poorly hand lettered signs that tell you who's begging, and stay in your lane? And, what a vengeful temptation it must be when someone sees "that" officer out in the middle of a road standing under a green light?

Now before you call me a humbug and a scrooge, let me claim that I'm not. I give money to, and work for, a number of charities and do-gooder causes.

...I just don't do it in the middle of the road.