"So this is Christmas..."

So Christmas is already over, and march toward a blazing hot summer and a Spring purgatory of bland Sunday sports viewing is on. The build-up toward the 'Most Wonderful Time of the Year" is epic, almost mind-blowing. Now that it's over, it's almost, "Now what?"

Christmas, however, was pretty special. I didn't spend it with my Mom, Dad and sister as is the typical tradition, but instead with my wife and her family. It was year two of the 'alternating' format, where we spend the 'big ones' (Thanksgiving, Christmas) with different families. This year, Christmas was with my wife's family, and I've got to admit that it's a lot more fun to crash than to host. But my wife and I hosted two Christmases (one with my family last weekend) to some critical acclaim, and we notched a few bars of hosting-experience that will undoubtedly aid us in future excursions.


Christmas Eve was special. It was just the two of us, with plates of food and sweets in our gameroom running the gamut of holiday film favorites.

1. How the Grinch Stole Christmas
2. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
3. Simpson's Christmas (five episodes)
4. A Christmas Story
5. The Santa Clause
6. The Santa Clause 2
7. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
8. It's a Wonderful Life (Spectacular on Blu-Ray)

Of course, don't forget the egg-nog and seasonal beer. Christmas was wonderful.



Christmas and its break allowed me to rest now that all of the holiday work is done. For the first time since I can remember, we just sat around the house yesterday. There was no baby-registering, buying stuff for the house or shopping for groceries. It was sheer relaxation. I got at least seven hours of sleep two nights in a row for the first time in months. But work comes back tomorrow, and work sucks. The commute blows, and I'm reaching my wit's end with it. I did some rough calculations; on this track, I'll have spent 28 days of 2009 in a car driving to and from work.

The Christmas holiday did allow me some much needed time to get back to work on the books. My peak time for writing is first thing in the morning with a fresh pot of coffee. With the buzz coursing through my veins, I'm able to pound at the keyboard for hours. Any other time I'm spotty, especially with this 're-writing' garbage. Once football season ends (my addiction), there will be a lot more time on the weekends.

So honestly, who gives a damn about the Girl Next Door and resident skank, Kendra Wilkenson or whatever the hell her name is? What's she famous for? Being a skank? The same goes for Kardashian, Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton; you are famous for what? You are famous for being rich/skanky. And you know what? America eats it up, I mean absolutely eats it up. Every time I see a reality show focusing on a celebrity's life, I want to vomit blood. And as stupid as American Idol and Dancing with the Stars and Sing Off are, at least those shows are chronicling the every day minutia of celebrites' lives. At least there's some competition between everyday people (sorry America, Joey Lawerence is no longer better than me. Actually, that ship sailed right after his guest-starring run on the WB classic, "Half & Half) doing something that I can't do.

Who wants to watch Kate Gosselin and her ugly as sin ex-husband squabble over who siphoned $80 grand out of the 'reality tv' account? Who wants to watch Tori Spelling's emaciated skeleton plan a $100 thousand party for a one-year-old? Who does? Apparently everybody, because for crying out loud we've got a show about the offspring of the guy who played, 'Renegade'!

Until next time...