Missed a few games when I was "overseas" but here are five more remaining games:

Music City:  Vandy vs NC State.  A double digit win for the 'Dores.  NC State doesn't care, why should we?

Sun Bowl: USC vs Georgia Tech.  Barkley not playing.  Ga Tech is fun to watch (triple option is almost ALWAYS fun to watch).   Tommy Trojan by 2 TDs because they're just a better team.

Liberty Bowl:  Iowa State vs Tulsa.  LOVE the ISU unis.  Nobody traveling far for this one.   A rematch.  ISU won the first one back in September 38-23.  They'll win this one too, but by +

Gay Bashers Bowl (Chick fil a, sorry, couldn't help it) LSU vs Clemson.  At last, two legit top 25 teams.  Real football.  I'll take LSU but to me it's almost a pick em

NYD etc games to follow

First day in Kona – smooth. No frantic sight seeing. Good food. Relaxation. A nice run along the Pacific.

Second day in Kona. Fun. Breakfast with puppies. D & R went parasailing. We then went whale watching (2-3 hours) spoted five humpbacks …. no great breeches but a lot of blowhole action and some GREAT tail shots. One mugged us (swam towards our boat) and came to within <100 yards. Another shoreline run, dinner at the Kona Brewing Comapny (food was passable, beer was awesome.) then off to the airport. KOA is primative. No electronics. No PA system. They use bullhorns. Boarded a 757 from the tarmac. Up front but fitful sleep. Up from LAX to ORD. Nice breakfast, sound sleep. Sadly got out of Kona late, so I missed my INTENDED LAX/ORD flight and now have a 3 hour layover in Chicago. My kind of town. Not.

Two hours of packing (mine took 5 minutes)and car loading. Then to other house where we UN-packed, then repacked. I swear for all the traveling these people do they're the most dis (r is it “un”?) organized bunch I've ever seen. I can wake up, pack for a 24 hour car trip and be out the door in lees than 15 minutes. Five of us and two kids taking a 2 ½ hour drive to Kona. Five hours (and four potty stops) later we arrived. My nephew (6) has some mild learning disabilities so we try to be understanding. My niece (2) is one of the sweetest, custest, sweetest children ever placed on the planet. Wife has approved a Friday departure instead of Saturday, so only two more days to go – flight will be at 10pm. Midwest is having issues but I should be able to get to LAX w/o a problem. From there to ORD might be tough but but DFW is doable. We'll see. In two more days.

Wesley J. Smith praises dead white men:

Recall that white men issued the Declaration of Independence’s “self-evident” assertion of universal equality. Three hundred thousand white Union soldiers gave their lives to free the slaves. Having been convinced of the sheer moral righteousness of the Suffragette cause, white men amended the Constitution to grant women the franchise. White men also risked their safety, and sometimes shed their blood, in solidarity with people of color to bring down Jim Crow. In short, but for the acquiescence of—and societal reform by—white men, we wouldn’t have reached the current better day in which an African American was twice elected president and the current female Secretary of State is his heiress apparent

Up before the sun, travel to the other house (MiL insisted we wear pj's “so it'd seem more like Christmas”) … I then spent two hours watching somebody else's kids open presents and another two hours watching them play with the boxes. Back to “our” house. Brief nappage. Then the kids came to “OUR” house. Noise and clamaty ensued. Wife and I made Tom & Jerry's which soothed a few nerves. I spent the day surfing the net and reading some stored law review articles. Evening brought Christmas dinner (pulled chicken on a tortilla, with a tossed green salad – you know – traditional) then the kids left.

I fixed the last two T&J's and wife and I drank them in a hot tub in the rain forrest. Not bad. Not bad at all.

Ritual

That's what's missing. My wife's family has very few. My family has many. And some are at Christmas. I've lost a LOT of mine over the last decade or so. Friday night football with dad in the press box. Alumni Day at the State Fair. So I wanna hold on to the ones I have. And as positive as this trip has been, it is absent ritual.

"Whereas, on or about the night prior to Christmas, there did occur at a certain improved piece of real property (hereinafter "the House") a general lack of stirring by all creatures therein, including, but not limited to a mouse.

A variety of foot apparel, e.g. stocking, socks, etc., had been affixed by and around the chimney in said House in the hope and/or belief that St. Nick a/k/a/St. Nicholas a/k/a/ Santa Claus (hereinafter "Claus") would arrive at sometime thereafter.

The minor residents, i.e. the children, of the aforementioned House, were located in their individual beds and were engaged in nocturnal hallucinations, i.e. dreams, wherein vision of confectionery treats, including, but not limited to, candies, nuts and/or sugar plums, did dance, cavort and otherwise appear in said dreams.

Whereupon the party of the first part (sometimes hereinafter referred to as "I"), being the joint-owner in fee simple of the House with the parts of the second part (hereinafter "Mamma"), and said Mamma had retired for a sustained period of sleep. (At such time, the parties were clad in various forms of headgear, e.g. kerchief and cap.)

Suddenly, and without prior notice or warning, there did occur upon the unimproved real property adjacent and appurtent to said House, i.e. the lawn, a certain disruption of unknown nature, cause and/or circumstance. The party of the first part did immediately rush to a window in the House to investigate the cause of such disturbance.

At that time, the party of the first part did observe, with some degree of wonder and/or disbelief, a miniature sleigh (hereinafter the "Vehicle") being pulled and/or drawn very rapidly through the air by approximately eight (8) reindeer. The driver of the Vehicle appeared to be and in fact was, the previously referenced Claus.

Said Claus was providing specific direction, instruction and guidance to the approximately eight (8) reindeer and specifically identified the animal co-conspirators by name: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder and Blitzen (hereinafter the "Deer"). (Upon information and belief, it is further asserted that an additional co-conspirator named Rudolph may have been involved.)

The party of the first part witnessed Claus, the Vehicle and the Deer intentionally and willfully trespass upon the roofs of several residences located adjacent to and in the vicinity of the House, and noted that the Vehicle was heavily laden with packages, toys and other items of unknown origin or nature. Suddenly, without prior invitation or permission, either express or implied, the Vehicle arrived at the House, and Claus entered said House via the chimney.

Said Claus was clad in a red fur suit, which was partially covered with residue from the chimney, and he carried a large sack containing a portion of the aforementioned packages, toys, and other unknown items. He was smoking what appeared to be tobacco in a small pipe in blatant violation of local ordinances and health regulations.

Claus did not speak, but immediately began to fill the stocking of the minor children, which hung adjacent to the chimney, with toys and other small gifts. (Said items did not, however, constitute "gifts" to said minor pursuant to the applicable provisions of the U.S. Tax Code.) Upon completion of such task, Claus touched the side of his nose and flew, rose and/or ascended up the chimney of the House to the roof where the Vehicle and Deer waited and/or served as "lookouts." Claus immediately departed for an unknown destination.

However, prior to the departure of the Vehicle, Deer and Claus from said House, the party of the first part did hear Claus state and/or exclaim: "Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!" Or words to that effect."

So the Saints win but are still eliminated <sigh>.  At least the much disliked Steelers ae stayig home as well.

NFC

West: Seattle, Niners ... South: Falcons ... North: Packers, Bears ...  East: Giants.

AFC: no predictions as post season is set.  Pats, Broncos and Texans are solid, everybody else is canon fodder. 

For my NFC predictions to come true:

four of my six are in.  Bears & Giants CAN'T both make it.  Redskins will win the East but the Giants are STILL IMHO the better team.

NFC will be Seattle v 49ers again.  AFC will be the Mannings vs the Bradys - again.  And Seattle wins this season, as the Steelers won't be there to score a phantom TD.

Still no luggage.  And the gifts my wife sent via USPS didn't come.  When she asked to whom she should complain I advised that since it was the USPS she should blame Obama.  This did NOT go over well.

And somehow we've gone from two children to three.  The noise and confusion grows geometrically.  Rumor has it lunch will be taken at a nearby lodge which features much exotic game.   Should be good.  

I've brough my families traditional Tom & Jerry recipe and procured the ingredients, have "Holiday Inn" and "Charlie Brown Christmas" on my laptop (Shawn of the Dead and the Blade trilogy were also requested).  

Checking flights for the 26th.