Spindle items
JESSICA FINCH Associate Editor

• MY FIRST HOUSE- this month, I finally made my first gingerbread house. Although I didn't bake or assemble the house, I decorated it "all on my own." My parents and I traveled to Fredonia for its holiday happenings event, joining my sister and her family. My nieces, 3 and 5 years old, also decorated their own houses. People have asked me, "I bet they ate a lot of their candy?" My answer, is, "No, actually. But I did." In my defense, I only had a small breakfast and was quite hungry by the time we started decorat- ing. I actually ate a large portion of my candy, but the house still looked pretty festive. I was particularly proud of the icing and cinnamon dot candles I made. But really, what was I supposed to do with one Andes candy, pink gum balls and jelly beans?

• HOLD THE SLOBBER, PLEASE - I never, ever, wait in those in ridiculously long drive-through lines. I think it's a disruption to traffic and a huge waste of time. But on Friday, after going through report after report in the police blotter, my Tim Hortons gift certificates were calling out to me. Plus, it had just started snowing and was the end of the week, so I thought, sure, it would be nice to treat myself. I stopped at an Amherst location and waited and waited in line. I ordered my medium coffee and pulled up. In the car ahead of me a large black dog was sticking its head out the driver's side window, blocking the exchange of money and a tray of coffee. It was, for a moment, kind of funny, but that all changed. I watched as the worker let the dog lick her glove, then pet the dog's head. The car left, I pulled up and told the worker I hope she had changed her glove. She responded by saying she only handled money. She then picked up my coffee, with the dog-germed hand, by the lid - basically how players palm a basketball - and handed it to me. I muttered, "Yeah, only money and my coffee." I waited until I was at my desk before drinking, I quickly discarded the lid and dumped my coffee into a new mug. The thought of dog slobber at my nose each time I took a sip was too much to bear.

• A DESERVED BREAK - There are more than 55,000 Western New Yorkers who suffer from Alzheimer's disease or another cause of dementia. The Alzheimer's Association, Western New York Chapter, is offering a social visiting program for people with memory loss or dementia at the Walden Galleria Mall, Walden Avenue near Interstate 90, this holiday season. The program allows for the caregivers to shop or eat while their loved ones spend time with trained volunteers. The program will be offered Dec. 12 in the afternoon, Dec. 17 in the evening, Dec. 19 in the late afternoon and Dec. 20 in the evening. Each session will run for two hours in the Community Room located off the food court. Preregistration is required for the program, and space is limited. For program times or to register, contact the Alzheimer's Association at 626-0600 or 1-800-272-3900.

• PAY ATTENTION - A reader contacted me about an accident on Casey Road, saying the driver who caused it had admitted not paying attention. As a lesson to all - keep your eyes on the road. Hang up the phone, don't worry about your makeup, put down the hamburger or stop other routine distractions you have developed. Plain and simple.