Exiting 2011, Entering 2012

I hope my fellow Christians had a very nice Christmas. Mine was fine, considering how dull it felt with my Dad in the hospital. I did see him on Christmas Day afternoon Sunday, and he's doing OK. It looks like he'll be out of the hospital early next week to finish recovering from his broken pelvis at home. After the Christmas Eve service at Calvary, I came home and Mom came home later after she and Dad had communion served at the hospital. We each opened a present that night, and opened the others Christmas morning. Among other gifts, I got a referee kit bag (to replace the old one that was faded and showing its age), and three DVDs Rick got me: "Boogie Nights," "Pulp Fiction," and "Schindler's List." All three were on my DVD wish list. Rick also sent me a copy of the new book "Admiral Nimitz" by Brayton Harris, which Rick edited and I fact checked for Rick. He also sent me another new book, "The Russian Origins of the First World War" by Sean McMeekin, which should be an interesting read.

not much else happening. I did go to Chaifetz Arena Tuesday night (27 Dec.) to watch Saint Louis University beat Texas Southern University 71-39 in men's basketball. There was a good crowd, considering the opponent and that most students were away on holiday break. I enjoyed cheering on the Billikens, who are having a real good season so far. I also chatted briefly after the game with SLU radio play-by-play commentator Bob Ramsey, who I knew from when I was working on SLU's basketball stat crew in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

No special New Year's Eve plans. I'm not for big parties, anyway. I'll just be home and appearing on Naturally Autistic Radio's New Year's Eve show. This Sunday, I co-host Writer's Block from Naturally Autistic Radio from 2-3 pm, Central Time (12-1 pm, Pacific Time). More info on those programs at www.naturallyautistic.com/radio-show/. Hope you can tune in.

Here's wishing a continued Happy Kwanzaa to my African-American friends, and I wish all of you a very happy, healthy, prosperous and peaceful New Year.

Later.