Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Everything Else.

What you love about the holidays: Being around people who love and care about you, no matter how long you've been away or how infrequently you've talked.
What you dread about the holidays: My younger, ginger cousins and their yearly swath of destruction through Grandma's house.
Favorite holiday memory: Dad's movie marathons. They let me play programming director once ... once.
Best Damn Christmas Song: "We Three Kings" from A Claymation Christmas (Honorable mention: Eric Cartman's "O Holy Night")
Gift you're hoping for: Peace of mind. A social life would be nice, but I'm still taking baby steps over here.
Best gift you bought this year: [redacted]
Gift you don't want but will probably get: Blue jeans.
Who do you miss the most during the holidays? Being around loved ones.
Where do you wish you were right now? Dreamland.
Plans for New Years: Work. I don't have anything better to do.
Your New Years Resolution: Figure out where I want to be and how I need to get there.
Greatest wish for 2008: Peace, love and hope (yes, with an H) for all the world. If that's too much to ask, then:

A big ol' Mele Kalikimaka me ka Hau'oli Makahiki Hou to the SportsJournalists.com ohana.

 

What you love about the holidays: shopping, one aunt's cookies, another aunt's peanut butter fudge, chocolate advent calendars, finding the perfect surprise for someone
What you dread about the holidays: otherwise normal radio stations that insist on playing Christmas music; spending time with my ultra-competitive yet somehow passive-aggressive family
Favorite holiday memory: going with all my male relatives to see Pulp Fiction in the theater on Christmas day (while the girls went to see Forrest Gump) and laughing the loudest at the Marvin part
Best Damn Christmas Song: eh, 12 Days of Christmas
Gift you're hoping for: Since I'm working Christmas, we've been opening up the boxes as they come, which has been fun because it's like Christmas every day. I really wanted some Chanel makeup, and I've gotten some of it.
Best gift you bought this year: it's still a surprise!
Gift you don't want but will probably get: already got the toothbrush
Who do you miss the most during the holidays? whoever I love but isn't around
Where do you wish you were right now? the Bahamas
Plans for New Years: not sure yet, but I have a tradition of going to a hot springs/spa within a few days of the New Year, so I'll definitely continue that this year
Your New Years Resolution: focusing on the positive
Greatest wish for 2008: a Democrat in the White House

 

What you love about the holidays:Time off, bowl games, loads of great eats, the world junior hockey championship and watching my son go nuts on Christmas Day

What you dread about the holidays: Lousy weather, crowds

Favorite holiday memory: Watching my son's face last year when he saw a hockey jersey under the tree

Best Damn Christmas Song: Springsteen's version of "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town"

Gift you're hoping for: Can't think of one

Best gift you bought this year: George Foreman grill for Mrs. Huggy

Gift you don't want but will probably get: Probably a Blockbuster gift card even though I haven't set foot in one for 10 years

Where do you wish you were right now? I'm at home, that's good enough for me. Although I wouldn't mind being at the bar at the Parrot Lounge in Lauderdale sometime today.

Plans for New Years: A game at 2 p.m. (hi, JR & HC!) then a party with friends.

Your New Years Resolution: Lose a few pounds.

Greatest wish for 2008: A trip to Kitchener in May.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone here. You're the greatest!

 

What you love about the holidays: Going to my sister's place for dinner with HC and my three boys. There'll be about sixteen of us. Very relaxed, no meltdowns and since the cousins are all grown up, no crying babies. And the World Junior hockey beginning on Boxing Day.

What you dread about the holidays: Nothing

Favorite holiday memory: There've been too many to count. Seriously

Best Damn Christmas Song: Huron Carol

Gift you're hoping for: I'm not hoping for anything other than spending a great day with my family.

Best gift you bought this year: Well, HC's of course. But I can't say anything here.

Gift you don't want but will probably get: Any gift is special.

Who do you miss the most during the holidays? My parents. RIP, mom and dad.

Where do you wish you were right now? At home instead of work. Waste of time here today.

Plans for New Years: Hockey in the afternoon (Hi, Huggy) and then a quiet evening with HC.

Your New Years Resolution: I stopped making those about 20 years ago.

Greatest wish for 2008: The Leafs to win.....oh, never mind. World peace then. At least that's achievable. Oh, and like Huggy, a trip to Kitchener.

 

What I love about the holidays: One time of the year that the whole family gets together and spending time with them is what is so important to me. I am also a new aunt so it is extra special this year (first time being an aunt)

What I dread about the holidays: Nothing

Best Damn Christmas Song: Well, not sure if it's Christmasey but Ave Maria. If not, then Wonderful Christmastime by Paul MacCartney (and fellow SJ'ers don't ridicule me for liking this song...there is sentimental value)

Gift You are Hoping For: Great health and Peace

Best Gift you Bought this year: Bought my twin sister a trip to Toronto and 1000.00 spending money for her trip.

Gift you don't want but will probably get: It's not about the gifts or commercialism of the holiday so that being said, don't want squabbles between siblings over Christmas Turkey Dinner.

Who do you miss the most during the holidays: A family member that passed away 6 years ago and two special friends I lost unexpectedly over the years.

Where do you wish you were right now: I am at work, but I am not fussy about where I am because I am either surrounded by family or tranquility.

Plans for New Years: Family Dinner at a very extravagant restaurant (I am not paying for it ;D)

New Year's Resolution: To take more time to smell the roses and not be a stress jelly bean so much. Also, to drink a lot more ;D and take better care of myself.

Greatest Wish for 2008: For people to get along more in this world and live life to the fullest.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Kwanzaa and I know its belated but Happy Hanukkah to all of you at SJ. Thanks for accepting me into your fold. This last year has been a riot and I can't wait for more fun and frivolity next year!

 

What you love about the holidays: Cooking, eating, seeing family I only see once a year, watching my niece and nephew open presents, being back in the Midwest where it actually snows.
What you dread about the holidays: The inevitable family drama. The inevitable weight gain. Getting stuck in the Midwest where it actually snows.
Favorite holiday memory: The year I got my first three-wheeler for Christmas. My dad found it used and fixed it up for me, and the keys were wrapped up under the tree. A yellow Yamaha. I rode it to death.
Best Damn Christmas Song: Traditional — White Christmas; Modern — Fairytale of New York.
Gift you're hoping for: Money.
Best gift you bought this year: Mizzou cheerleading uniform for my 2-year-old niece.
Gift you don't want but will probably get: Nasty weather on the day we fly back home.
Who do you miss the most during the holidays? My great-grandma.
Where do you wish you were right now? Nowhere but here.
Plans for New Years: Nothing special.
Your New Years Resolution: Keep up the exercise kick I started toward the end of the year and lose at least 15-20 pounds. Throw myself into my writing and land that next great job.
Greatest wish for 2008: A happy, healthy family; a productive career; a Democrat in the White House; a World Series title for the Cubs ... that should do the trick.

Merry Christmas Happy Holidays, y'all.

 

What you love about the holidays: A time to relax, reflect and see family.
What you dread about the holidays: Having to rush from place to place
Favorite holiday memory: Christmas 1989 - a white Christmas in South Georgia...deep south Georgia.
Best Damn Christmas Song: O holy night
Gift you're hoping for: cash
Best gift you bought this year: anything that I got for my wife
Gift you don't want but will probably get: clothes that I will rarely wear
Who do you miss the most during the holidays? This year, it'll be not being at my parents house on Christmas morning
Where do you wish you were right now? See above.
Plans for New Years: Desk shift later in the day after watching the early games that day.
Your New Years Resolution: Lose weight, eat healthier
Greatest wish for 2008: Be a better person on a professional and personal level.

 

What you love about the holidays: Baked goods.
What you dread about the holidays: Family drama, on both sides of the aisle.
Favorite holiday memory: As a 20-something curmudgeon, I used to rail against the commercial evils of Christmas. One year, I received an embroidered Christmas stocking from someone that read "I believe in Christmas." I continued to rail, but I still have the stocking and have no idea who sent it in the first place.
Best Damn Christmas Song: AllI want for Christmas is You, vince vance and the valiants. (Not the best, but the one I enjoy listening to the most)
Gift you're hoping for: None, really. Didn't ask for much, don't expect much.
Best gift you bought this year: Can't mention because Ms. Slappy lurks here (HI HONEY!) but I did make an 19-minute slide-show movie for my mother of old family pictures that she loves
Gift you don't want but will probably get: Any gift that's given just so someone can say they gave me something. Would rather have a heartfelt card with nothing in it than some knick-knack that won't see any place but my closet after Dec. 26.
Who do you miss the most during the holidays? Honestly, the regulars at Fraser's Pub in Ann Arbor. I lived in the back corner for almost 20 years and we were all family. After I moved here, there have been times where I've felt the desire to road trip, not for the alcohol but the familial bonds we've developed.
Where do you wish you were right now? see previous answer
Plans for New Years: None. After the years at the bar, I've learned not to go out on amateur night
Your New Years Resolution: To be the best me I can.
Greatest wish for 2008: A full-time job.

 

Great thread idea, 21.

What you love about the holidays: Presents, family, friends... not necessarily in that order. And people do generally seem happier.
What you dread about the holidays: The malls. Spent 5 hours at the mall in the big city near where I live. It sucked.
Favorite holiday memory: My family used to do three Christmases-- one on Christmas Eve at my grandmother's, my immediate family's on Christmas morning, and my grandfather's on Christmas evening. Probably the one time of the year that we would see and be with both sides of the family (my mom's and dad's).
Best Damn Christmas Song: Don't really have a specific favorite.
Gift you're hoping for: Nothing specific. Didn't have a lot of money this year, so whatever I receive will be fine with me.
Best gift you bought this year: My fiancee and I bought these 'family trees' from Things Remembered for our moms.. They basically look like metal trees that you put pictures in.
Gift you don't want but will probably get: Nothing, really. Maybe dress clothes that I won't wear.
Who do you miss the most during the holidays? My grandmother and grandfather. My grandma on my dad's side died in 2001 and my grandfather on my mom's side died just a month ago. This Christmas is going to be really hard for that reason.
Where do you wish you were right now? Not having to work today. But hey, at least it's an early deadline!
Plans for New Years: TBA. I was thinking that my fiancee and I would go to the local 'First Night' celebration, but it depends on the weather at this point. If we don't go out, we'll stay home and watch the ball drop from Times Square on TV. Just like last year.
Your New Years Resolution: Trying to lose weight, which seems to be a goal of many of the SportsJournalists.commers. Also, I'm starting a new job just after the new year, so I resolve to be the best I can be at that as well.
Greatest wish for 2008: Hoping that everyone in my life stays happy, healthy and has a good year in 2008. (For all the SportsJournalists.com faithful wishing for a Democrat in the White House -- it doesn't matter who's in there.)

Happy holidays to all. I hope that I get a chance to meet some of you in real life at some point in 2008.

 

What I love about the holidays: Being with family and friends. That's really all there is. And to steal a line from "It's A Wonderful Life," remember what Clarence said: No man is a failure who has friends. I agree with that and thank all my friends, to whom I wish a blessed and joyous Christmas or whatever you choose to call this time of year.

That's all from me.

 

Casty--you just made me cry. Sending you much love and good health for the new year.

 

What you love about the holidays: Watching families enjoy it, especially children who still believe in Santa Claus.
What you dread about the holidays: Being alone.
Favorite holiday memory: Going to grandma's house for supper.
Best Damn Christmas Song: "I'll be home for Christmas."
Gift you're hoping for: My two brothers and I just exchange cards.
Best gift you bought this year: My Secret Santa present for a member of this board.
Gift you don't want but will probably get: Anything is welcome.
Who do you miss the most during the holidays? Parents.
Where do you wish you were right now? I'm just pleased to be here.
Plans for New Years: Watch a lot of football, toss back a few beers.
Your New Years Resolution: Quit smoking, drinking and lose weight (my annual resolution).
Greatest wish for 2008: To find a woman whom I love, and who loves me. Probably have to work on the smoking, drinking and weight thing to achieve that.

Hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!