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It can be done. All across America, families are meeting a mighty financial challenge - the challenge of paying college costs with retirement potentially on the horizon. How do they do it? They go about it consistently; they also get creative.

It was 8:30 a.m. on Black Friday, and many residents of Kauai were still waiting in lines for the tempting sales being held at the island's few large retailers: Macys, Walmart and Kmart. However, more than 100 visitors were lined up with me to visit one of the local spiritual treasures – an anomaly among the usual visitor destinations of rugged coastlines, sunny beaches and resort hotels.

It’s that time of the year, when the rain comes and affects the playing conditions on the golf course. The three keys to playing golf in wet conditions are simply to stay dry, use more club and knowing the rules of golf for casual water.

Designs, style, materials and colors have evolved through the years. I remember mustard yellow appliances, Formica counters, narrow hallways and the dark wood casings of homes built in the ’50s and ’60s. Most of us felt modern as we painted the wood trim white, brought in red and orange shag carpets, added acoustic ceilings and rain lamps into our space. The ’70s ushered in earthtones complimented with grass paper on our walls.

Yes, Virginia, there was an editorial about the credibility of Santa Claus, appearing more than 100 years ago in The New York Sun. It was written by Francis Pharcellus Church, an assistant to the paper’s editor.

The other day I was admiring, er … critically assessing my Christmas tree and its many ornaments. Ever notice a trend in ornaments? Back in the ’50s there were bubble lights and fragile but brightly colored glass retro ornaments – although in the ’50s you wouldn’t exactly refer to them as “retro.” But we can trace the trends of the decades just by looking at our Christmas trees.

Q: My friend told me that her labradoodle, Frank, has been diagnosed with “reverse sneezing.” I have never heard a dog sneeze. Is this really sneezing? What causes this?

Traditions of Christmas can be hard to change. New traditions may face some resistance. I have been caught between the old and new before. With the easygoing nature of my family, anything new or different has been completely embraced as part of the celebration.