My parents know me so well, except, of course, a RISK LEGO set (which doesn’t exist) would’ve been awesome. As for Lego Chess? Well, now I’ve got to learn how to play Chess!

I also got a vaccum cleaner, but took care to read consumer reviews about it before unpacking it. Judging by those reviews, I returned the cleaner this morning and used it towards a Dyson (it’s purple, and has lots of tools, and I’m looking forward to vaccuming my apartment later). Yes, I’m eating my words.

The rest of the gifts range from the useful to the ecclectic (an orange has been staple stocking stuffer since I was a kid). Three stones, Japanese obos; sketch pad and sketch pens; gift cards and cash; a book on responsible financial management; toothpaste, soap, and a box of Mr. Clean’s “Magic Eraser.”

(Speaking of RISK, I recently learned that Star Wars Original Trilogy RISK has been released, as has JUNIOR RISK: NARNIA. Unfortunatly, I was unable to find either today at Target).

Have you ever noticed that when you take off your shoes the odor drifting up from your feet smells like store-bought “movie” popcorn? The type with extra butter? Maybe it’s just me.

(Man, I’m tempted to drive back to the grocery store for popcorn…)

Usually, working, when I get to the door, my little “song and dance” is either “Oh, your total is $400…” or “Okay, so, a large double anchovie?” The holiday season — from Thanksgiving to a few days past New Years — is usually rife time for new greetings. “Happy Thanksgiving!” “Merry Christmas!” “Happy New Year!” and the generic “Happy Holidays!” for those spots of time where nothing else’ll fit.

Of course, the problem with getting a routine for so long is that it’s hard to break. So instead of consistently saying any of those holiday appropriate greetings, I’ve been continuing on with the $400 and anchovies. I did get a hearty laugh from a guy at Shawan Liquors yesterday when I told him if he ordered delivery on New Year’s Day he’d probably actually give me four hundred bucks (he agreed).

Here’s hoping I can successfully switch over to “Happy New Year!” for the next week. It doesn’t sound like much, and it really isn’t, but with luck, this’ll be my last New Year’s to say “Happy New Year!” when delivering people pizzas (because I won’t be doing it next year!), and I should try to get into the holiday spirit.

I think this concept, being worked out by the US Marine Corps as reported in Popular Science, is pretty neat. Essentially, it allows for a team of quick response Marines to load up in a space-capable aircraft of putting “boots on the ground” anywhere in the world in two hours. While some people may think “Hmm, tiny Sulaco!” and others say, “Hmm, can’t we pave the fucking streets in Baltimore City before we waste more tax money?”, I say - and think - sweet! First, any technology involving space is pretty neat. We finally seem to be on the cusp of getting serious about making a permanent move into the stars, and I think it’s fucking neat.