This may sound politically incorrect, but I am so pleased to have Christmas behind me. It's just been one of those years where there really was little time to enjoy the holidays. It's so easy to shop for little kids, but not so easy for teenagers. It's not a lot of fun fighting the crowds looking for the so-called "bargains," meaning cheap stuff that comes across as obligatory when it's unwrapped and likely won't ever be held with affection.
How does one follow-up a rock of Gibraltar diamond for the wife eight months later? How about a $20 watch at Wal-Mart? She was about as impressed as I was about the generic polo shirt she got me.
I like the Christmas songs, though even those can grate on you after a while. Even Christmas on television has become a bore. Same old movies, cartoon specials and low-budget football bowl games.
About the only "news" that drew my attention this Christmas was the shocking death of Hollywood actress Brittany Murphy, the resignation and then leave of absence instead of Florida Gators football coach Urban Meyer and the latest al-Qaida airliner terrorist threat.
Now, I'm looking forward to my second least favorite holiday, New Year's, so once again I can pledge to lose weight and instead gain more pounds. The latter is probably more realistic than the so-called resolution.