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OK, I am departing for Little Rock tomorrow to visit the in-laws for a week. I won't be around here, but you can reach me via email. (or cell phone if you are lucky enough to have my number)

I hope everyone had a nice Christmas, or whatever else you dirty communists celebrate. Mine was pretty cool. On the 24th we went to Boston to visit my paternal Grandmother and then we came back here with my Mom & my brother for the main event.

My holiday traditions are so different now. What used to be massive get togethers of up to 35 people have been pared down to 3 or 4. Both sides of my extended family fell apart after respective grandparents passed away. I hardly ever see any of my cousins etc. anymore.

Anyway, my holiday movie tally included:

It's a Wonderful Life
We're No Angels (1955)

And what is probably the most meaningful for me, A Christmas Story.

I can't begin to properly articulate how dead on that movie is in its' portrayal of childhood. At least, it's accurate to mine anyway. I never read the book, but everything about the film is so perfect. When we watched it the other night, I said to my kin that they must have crafted those kids out of magic because they nailed the performances to a degree of convincitude previously believed impossible. I don't even really believe that the younger one was acting half the time. I'm reasonably sure he thought he was living in that situation.

I guess that's enough gushing for now. Drop me an email if you want.

I leave you with this to warm your heart in my absence. It is the happy result of The Funniest Site On The Web's ode to The Second Funniest One.

Thank you