It was a quiet Christmas in Echo Park -- with pretty weather that led up to yesterday's wild winds and today's break. It seems to me there are fewer electric Christmas lights decorating neighborhood houses this year. My guess is that some of the lights-brightest people have moved away. And, except for a hysterical, bloody fight at 4 a.m. on my street a few nights ago, it's been quieter than ever, too. Down at Chicken Corner condo construction seems to be temporarily on hold. Magic Gas is open but hasn't had any gas. On Christmas I ate duck -- and loved it -- with apologies to the birds at Echo Park Lake (though, granted, they're not the ones who suffered for my lovely meal). It may be the last time I eat duck. There was a nice piece in the L.A. Times by Echo Park resident Meghan Daum who contacted the Wyoming coyote chronicler of the Daily Coyote blog. I see a coyote in Echo Park just about every day now--Griffith Park survivors perhaps. In any case, it's that funny, charged lull between Christmas and New Year's. Lots of people out of town (neighbors went to Colorado) but lots of visitors, too (neighbor's mom came from Boston). Waiting for something new to start but trying to stay in the moment and enjoy the slower pace. I believe in resolutions (Chicken Corner resolution for 2008: Remember that it's no longer 2007) -- but not for the calendar New Year, as a real resolution has a calendar all its own.