On the sixth day of Hanukkah an enormous ice storm hit town, tearing down trees and knocking out power. A big oak totaled my wife's car and took out the phone line, electric, cable and broadband.

But back to Hanukkah.

The Book of Maccabees says, "A great miracle happened here." After the Maccabees retook Jerusalem's great temple from the Syrians, there was only enough sacred oil to burn the eternal flame for one day, but it miraculously burned for eight days. To this day, Jews celebrate Hanukkah by burning menorahs for eight days.

At my house this year, the electric menorah only stayed lit for six days. No miracle happened here.