I’ve never understood why John Lennon would sing “another year over and a new one just begun” in a Christmas song. There’s still a week between Xmas and New Year’s and anything can happen.

For example, six years ago, Wife didn’t have any idea on Xmas Eve that a week later I’d propose to her.

Twelve years ago, we wished each other merry Xmas and a happy new year a couple of days before Xmas Eve because I spent that one in Finland, and wasn’t sure if I’d be back for her New Year’s party.

But I decided to come back because I wanted to be with her. That much I knew then, and that much I know now. Everything else has just happened.

» Continued

The Best of 2011.

1. True Stories
» A loser never quits

2. Hockey
» Stefan Liv

3. Random
» No chicken

The Best of 2011, nummmbbbeeerrrrr 2. If, for any reason, the number one stories of 2011 can't fullfill their duties during their reign, the first runner up will take over their places.

1. True Stories
» Mother

2. Hockey
» Jarda

3. Random
» It’s a small world

The Best of 2011, nummmbbbeeerrrrr 3:

1. True Stories
» Better than science, fiction

2. Hockey
» There’s that Valeri again

3. Random
» Princes of dorkness

And now - counting down the best stories of 2011 - number four:

1. True Stories
» Noteworthy

2. Hockey
» It’s all in the game

3. Random
» One unique idea

And here we go, counting down the best stories of 2011. Number five:

1. True Stories
» Secret admirer

2. Hockey
» The faceoff circle of life

3. Random
» The one in which he gets a prize

I love Santa Claus. And I’m not just saying that to get great presents, really. (Although, hope you remember that, Santa, if it helps). I love the tradition, and now that I’m the one who’s spending his Christmas Eve thinking about Santa Claus plans, making phone calls to friends to see if anyone would be ready to don the red suit and get inside the character, I actually like it even more.

My Santa is not the one that gets in through the chimney in the night. My Santa is the one who walks in to see if there are any nice children in the house, and then leaves his big sack of presents to us.

Although, it’s not that straightforward. It’s almost never been that straightforward.

» Continued

Still with me? Counting down the best stories of 2011. Number six:

1. True Stories
» New kid in town

2. Hockey
» Son of a Goon

3. Random
» All the news that's fit to print

Almost there. No, not Xmas. Counting down the best stories of 2011. Number seven:

1. True Stories
» Nacho fast, said Columbo

2. Hockey
» Open letter to my beer league team

3. Random
» A few simple rules of men’s room etiquette

And we continue counting down the best stories of 2011. Number eight:

1. True Stories
» Labor of law

2. Hockey
» One moment in time

3. Random
» Ulf

Counting down the best stories of 2011. Number nine:

1. True Stories
» A Nora Ephron scene from a life

2. Hockey
» 99 balloons (for Gretzky)

3. Random
» The show must go on

It's almost Xmas, which must mean that it's time for Risto's 3rd annual Best Of The Year list. This year, there are three categories: True Stories, Hockey, and Random, and each day between now and the tenth day from today, I will post links to a Top 10 story in each category.

Starting now. Nuuummbbeeeerr ten:

1. True Stories
» Razzle dazzle this

2. Hockey
» Purple pain

3. Random
» Summer nights in the middle of the winter

Each title is a link to the story. Enjoy.

Every year, Son, Daughter, and I take the ferry over to Finland about a month before Xmas. We go see the grandparents, and other family, and spread a little advance Xmas cheer. Each year, we drive up to Dad’s, and we go to hockey games.

A few weeks ago, we made our 4th Annual Road Trip to Finland, and we saw two games, one of them a road trip inside our Road Trip, as we drove 150 kilometers to catch a Finnish league game in Kuopio. And not only that, but we watched it from a luxury suite.

That means one thing: Real food.

» Continued

“Is the number 17 in there? See if number 17 is there,” I heard from around the room.

I lifted one of the sweaters in the white box, just to see what was available. There are many codes in hockey, most of which I wouldn’t be able to repeat, but one of them is not to make a big deal out of your own number. On any team, everybody always knows each other’s numbers so it’s not a problem, but when you’re playing shinny … it’s a different story.

I lifted one sweater - a number 3 - and put it back down. I picked up another one. It was 21. I put it back in the box.

» Continued

Listen, man. I don't know how many of you people believe in astrology … yeah, yeah, that's right, baby. I am a Sagittarius, the most philosophical of all the signs. But anyway, I don't believe in it. I think it's a bunch of bullshit myself. But I tell you this, man. I tell you this: I don't know what's gonna happen, man, but I wanna have my kicks before the whole shithouse goes up in flames. All right! ALL RIGHT!
– Jim Morrison

About 15 years ago, I went through a big Jim Morrison phase in my life. I don’t remember exactly what triggered it, but it most likely was the Oliver Stone movie which came out in 1991. I probably watched it on video in my apartment, and decided that I was Jim Morrison.

Although, I always knew I wasn’t Jim Morrison. I wasn’t crazy like Jimbo, I wasn’t dangerous like Mr Mojo Risin’. Yet, I also knew that even if I wasn’t the Lizard King, I, too, could do anything.

» Continued

It’s not unusual to lose things in a move. Moving every little thing you have, your entire life, from one place to another is a big undertaking in itself, and to make it a little more challenging, you often do it very quickly, in a matter of hours.

I’ve moved twelve times in my life, and ten times since (and including the time) I moved from home, to go to college. That time, I had no furniture to take with me, all I had was clothes and records. A few plates, and glasses and forks and knives.

And my VW Beetle.

» Continued