Attempting to see things in a positive light.

 I am triying , valiently to see things in a less negative, and futile way. I am old but not dead yet, but i do not need to constantly see everything as a score on the misery index. I am drinking less and striving to be cheerful. So far so good.

...and the Elf, how it did burn so...

     In the end, the Elf burnt just fine. People were great.  Kind, decent, funny people who got the joke. There isn't really more to it than that. I am a lucky man to have a fine partner who loves me in Laurie and attractive, well behaved children and some nice friends who will always come to my house to see me do something truly unwise and monumentally stupid. Bless you all: every one.