…from the silly season.

For fifteen years, my stepfather and I take turns regifting this jar. 2005 was his turn to receive. Next year, the container returns to me. Someday, I’ll continue the tradition with my son.

Writer guy treats holiday crowds to a puppet show. To stage left, note the micro Christmas tree and holiday stool.

Last, The Wife created a masterful centerpiece using her favorite gift: a fruit and vegetable carving kit.

Two movies out this week; two times I feel robbed. Come on, Hollywood.

Wolf Creek follows three college-aged hikers stranded near a national park - also the site of a meteor crash site rumored to short out mechanical devices. Miles from civilization, they accept an offer from a stranger for a tow back to his camp, where he promises a speedy fix for their car troubles. Beware the man who offers free repair services at midnight. And so the movie begins. Unfortunately, before that, the narrative drags the audience through the following:

1) Characters drinking and smoking at a party.
2) Characters diving into a pool with their clothes on.
3) Characters hungover, driving to Wolf Creek, and complaining about the effects of hard core partying.
4) Two of the characters thinking about kissing, then doing so.
5) Driving. Oh, boy, lots of time in a beat up car.

This story is inspired by true events. If it’s even close to what happened in Outback three years ago, all I have to say is someone belongs in jail. Like the director.

Here’s to a brighter 2006 in the movies.

Verdict: Pay per view on someone else’s credit card.

Family Stone is 2005’s original concept answer to a year of remakes and sequels. After watching this film, I wished they caved in and remade another 70’s TV show. Like G-Force, or David and Goliath. Maybe even the Six Million Dollar man, starring the little person from Fantasy Island.

Problem one: Slow pacing. To the director, I say, cut the first 15 minutes and get to the point. Please. To the theater goer, either bring a pillow, or poke out your eyes. The mind you save my be your own.
Problem two: The girl meeting the big, bad family for Xmas is a major PITA. I disliked her, and so did everyone in the audience. If she fell down the stairs, I would have cheered. Well, only if she died.
Problem three: Predictable. Even the grandmother bound in a wheelchair seven rows back knew what was coming next, and said so. At points the audience recited lines in lockstep with the characters.

What works:
1) It’s safe for all audiences. The only person it might offend are those who enjoy laughter.
2) The story could work as a Sunday afternoon movie. At least with a different cast, director and script.

Verdict: Cable, or a free movie rental on an airplane.

Seems like forever and a day since the last update, but I’m back now, rested, relaxed and ready.

A single sentence tested my resolve. Over a Chinese food dinner, fate dealt me this fortune cookie message:

“If you think you’re too small to be effective, you have never been in bed with a mosquito.”

Freak accident at the print shop, or a cruel twist of humor? I’ll let someone else decide. A bigger mosquito, perhaps. Meantime, I’m laminating this fortune.

With Christmas looming, this week is a bit crazy, and normal updates will resume on December 27th.

Until then, a list of things that I loved most about 2005:
1) The Wife. Yes, she tops the list every year.
2) Finishing a solid draft of a novel.
3) The Eight.
4) Monk on DVD.
5) Stumbling into a new job that is fun.
6) Anniversary dinner at the Chart House in Weehawken, where every table has a perfect view across Lincoln Harbor.

Since the new job began, so too has a new routine. Writing comes first ( immediately after the hygiene and dressing essentials ), and runs from 6:00 AM to about 7:45. Then, it’s work. Once the holidays wrap up, the writing can start at 5:30 AM. With the late night shopping and holiday traffic, turning in early enough for that wake up call is difficult. Once the nights are free again, another hour or so opens up in the evening for writing.

I do like the job, though, as the work is task-driven. That is, the focus is on communicating open issues, rather than obsessing on how something was done. Whether an item is open is far more important to the boss.

Through the office window is a great views of the woods and old, wood frame buildings. Right now the students are on break, so it’s quiet on campus, save for a few instructors wandering the grounds.

Met with The Eight readers ( numbers four and five ) last night and into the early morning about the book. Since one of the two is a die hard mystery fan, this went very well. They definitely got on board with my vision.

I can’t say enough how valuable it is to vet feedback from one reader off another and get real time comments. Stephen King makes a good case for a reader group for all his drafts. Having tried it, I’m sold on this technique; the more eyes, the better. Their contributions can not be overlooked.

For instance, a key character owned a pet with a specific personality, and one reader made a point that the character had no business owning an animal, much less a high strung one. Not only did the pet conflict with their character, the critter added zero to the story. Alas, the the pet was slated for file 13 – the trash.

When I mentioned this cut to the couple last night, they suggested assigning the same pet to another character and renaming it, plus a way for the animal to contribute texture. All made possible by various iterations of feedback.

Who loves The Eight, baby?