A few last-minute gift requests

There’s still a day or so left before Santa packs his sleigh for his annual trek around the globe, so I hope I’m not too late in sending out my Christmas wish list.

Here goes:

I want more Christmas music. Christmas music is one of the most soothing things to listen to, and we’ve only got a couple more days where we can listen to “White Christmas” and “Holly Jolly Christmas” without people looking at you kind of funny.

There’s something about Christmas music — when you listen to it, you can’t help but be in a better mood. With all the contentiousness running rampant around our community these last few weeks, I think we would all be well-served to listen to as many verses of “Jingle Bells” and “Silent Night” as we can. And that goes for everyone from the Quorum Court to the City Council; from hospital officials to steel industry officials — we all need a little more Christmas spirit.

Also this Christmas, I would like more scotch tape. I can never seem to find enough. Every time I set about the task of wrapping presents, I never seem to be able to finish the job without running out of tape. (Though, the fact that that I use a ton of tape to wrap presents may play a role in this.) If I could just count on tape being in the drawer where it’s supposed to be when I go looking for it — instead of on some random dresser or in the middle of the living room floor — we’d be halfway home.

I’d also like to be able to beat my 10-year-old daughter at Wii basketball for Christmas. I’m pretty good at most of the other Wii sports, whether it’s the Island Flyover or Archery. But I almost always get "pwned" in basketball. I think she’s using some kind of trick move. I want to know what it is.

My Christmas wish list this year also includes a sane political season. I’m not too optimistic for this one. With county races for sheriff, county judge and treasurer, among others, all on the docket for 2010, I expect the silly season to be in full swing before long. (It’s already started, to be honest.) Still, it would be nice if those running for office — and their backers — would at least try to keep their heads about them this go around. But I think I have about as much of a chance of getting this gift as my 7-year-old son does of getting a Nintendo DSI.

I’d also like the gift of faster Internet. At my home in the Greater Armorel Metropolitan Area, we’re still without broadband Internet service. The satellite connection beats dial-up, but it still kind of feels like I’m driving a Model T on the information superhighway. Even at work, where we do have broadband, it seems like I spend half my time watching pinwheels spin or progress bars fill.

Also on my Christmas list this year is an Orange Bowl victory. That’s where my Iowa Hawkeyes will be taking on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Jan. 5. It would be nice to see my boys pull off a victory in a January bowl game for the second year in row, if nothing else then to force Herb Smith to take back his comment about Iowa just being another “weak sister” from the Big Ten.

I am also wishing this Christmas for a quick departure from the public consciousness for this new “Avatar” movie. Everyone seems to be talking about it these days, but I’ve seen the preview, and it just looks colossally stupid to me. And really, really weird. What am I missing?

My last Christmas wish goes out to all the people experiencing a "first" Christmas this year — that is, a first Christmas without a loved one who has passed in the last year. In that same boat myself, my wish is that everyone find joy and peace this holiday season. Though there may be feelings of emptiness, there is still great happiness to be found at this festive time of year. My hope is that it is found by all.

May all of us have a very merry Christmas and a joyous New Year.