Christmas shopping strategy - make a list, check it twice; do it in little chunks so that each gift is meaningful. If I shop last-minute, I end up getting totally overwhelmed.

Here are some shopping hints from a shopper who has been around a bit longer than you.(Fred said I should call myself an "aged shopper"). Harumph. He says that he has noticed the gifts that people give us are likely to be the ones that they would like to receive. Great wisdom from the Old Wise Man, take that Freddy, in exchange for "aged shopper". We have a friend who always gives gift certificates (which I hate), but that is what she is going to receive this year. I finally have figured it out. Turn around is the formula for shopping! What we are giving to most of our (older) friends this year is the book "The Marketing of Evil" by David Kupelian. It is a must for all reporters as well if you get a chance to read non-fiction. One year, we got so tangled up in work that I bought blankets for the Rescue Mission and sent all of my wealthy family and friends cards with a note letting them know that "their" blanket had been donated to the poor. It becomes much tougher when your friends already own five of everything. We are thinking of having a reverse Christmas one year, in which we invite people over to our garage to find and take a present away with them. I figure that will serve two purposes - cleaning out the garage, and giving everyone something they would like.

On an entirely other matter, we are all grateful to our loving God that Aaron is home, and that Ryan is not to be deployed soon. In any event, the boys, you, your siblings and parents are in our prayers. Love ya, MJ