the dreidel spinning has commenced!

last night was the first night of hanukkah - the festival of lights. the family gathers, the prayers are said, the candles are lit. nothing makes holiday memories like faces bathed in the warm glow of the candles and the faint smell of singed hair. of course, after the first night tradition of the gifting of the fire extinguisher, there is a frenzy as everyone descends on the gifts and tosses their diets to the wind and sour cream is slathered on latkes.