It's not in my nature to be voluntarily gracious, so I like to call attention to those rare moments when I am so that I can rack up brownie points. Brownie points for what, you ask? Something. Somewhere. At sometime. It doesn't matter. Don't ask silly questions.

I was watching Justin Timberlake's HBO special the other day and, as I suspect any normal pop music fan would, thinking about how effing awesome JT is. As Mindy Kaling says, he not only sings, dances, and plays the piano--he does it all in a three-piece suit. Anyway, here's the gracious part. I have to give it up to Kate for seeing his potential way back when he was just the youngest, but not gayest, member of 'N Sync. Somehow she was able to see through the bleached blonde mini-afro...through the sweater vests...through his toolish bandmates...and all the way into his everlasting soul. She had faith when the rest of us (read: me) were betting that nobody would remember his name after 1999. My bad Kate.

On a completely unrelated note, the McDonald's at the corner of Spring Forest and Falls of the Neuse Rds had the following message on their outside sign: "Jesus is the reason for the season." First, I love it when religious mandates rhyme. Second, I thought twinkle lights and gift cards were the reason for the season???

In any case, Brick and Champ send all of you their fondest wishes for a healthy and happy new year!