Time for me to check out.
See you soon!

Watching Al Roker spread his unique brand of joy in Rockefeller Center, as they get ready to light the big Christmas tree imported from Shelton.

And that’s what it is.
A CHRISTMAS tree.

I was faced with the annual dilemma earlier today, writing a story about decorations in downtown New London.
The information said “holiday” trees.

What’s a “holiday tree?”
I know there are no Chanukah trees, and I know there are no Kwanzaa trees. That leaves Christmas. So that makes them Christmas trees.

When referring to the season in general, I usually use the word “holiday.”
Then, after Chanukah, I usually switch to “Christmas.”

That’s what it is, so that’s what I do.
I'm a simple man.

There are at least 32 college football bowl games between December 20th and January 7th.
As a sports fan, I will care about the traditional bowls, the Rose, Sugar, Fiesta and Orange, and of course, the BCS championship game.

And this year, I will have interest in something called the Meineke Car Care Bowl, in Charlotte on December 29th.
That’s what the UConn Huskies will be playing in. I’m calling it “The Muffler.”

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) -- Embattled Arkansas coach Houston Nutt resigned Monday, giving up his job three days after directing the Razorbacks to a victory over top-ranked LSU. Nutt told Chancellor John A. White that he wanted to close a chapter in his life.
Nutt said he was hopeful that his departure would unify the state, which had been torn with turmoil surrounding the football program.

Let's see, there's Peter N., Linda, Mark, and my friend Anonymous.

Hi everybody, I’m Gerry Brooks.
Our top story tonight: I hate my job! I want out! I can’t stand the people I work with!

Sometimes you learn about life by reading the obituaries.

I read the obits.
Everybody has a story, and in a few inches of newsprint, obituaries are the life stories of those who have left us.
Some are interesting, some are informative, and some are entertaining.

In the latter category falls the obituary of Peter Rabbett of East Hartford and Windsor.

Out of respect, here is Mr. Rabbett's obituary in its entirety.

But this is the line that made me read the entire obituary, and linger for a moment with an appreciation for the life of someone I never knew:
"Pete has a great sense of humor, especially with a name like Peter Rabbett. He had 25 fights, 10 with girls where he lost a few."

Somebody wrote that to convey Mr. Rabbett's spirit. And somebody read it. Me.
I think I would have enjoyed a visit to a tavern with Mr. Rabbett.
My condolences to his friends and family.

Got caught in a time warp Sunday.

From our 5:30 news on Thursday:

Hey, at least parking near the ballpark is only $50.

Justin Timberlake is going to be the celebrity host of the PGA Tour event in Las Vegas.
It will be called the “Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.”
Good for him. By all accounts, he loves the game and reportedly plays to a 6-handicap.

From Crosby and Hope to the Gatlin brothers, celebrities have been tied to PGA Tour events for years.
Bing Crosby and Pebble Beach were synonymous, as were Danny Thomas and Memphis, and, of course, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Hartford.

Once a year, Sammy would bring his buddies to Connecticut, and they’d play, on and off the course. They’d put on a show at Wethersfield Country Club, and later, at the TPC. And then they’d put on a bigger and better show at the Bushnell or the Hartford Civic Center. It was Vegas in Connecticut, with Sinatra, Sammy, Jerry Lewis, and Jackie Gleason, among others, taking the stage.

But under the leadership of Deane Beman and Tim Finchem, the PGA Tour went corporate. The big names of show business were replaced by the big names of business in the late 80s and early 90s.

It was the Sammy Davis, Jr.-Greater Hartford Open from 1973 until 1984. Then Canon came in, and it was the Canon-Sammy Davis, Jr.-Greater Hartford Open from 1985 through 1987. And then Sammy was told his presence was no longer needed.

Yes, he could be a major pain in his drinking and drugging years, and sometimes he could barely walk a straight line, much less swing a club. But his last few years with the tournament, he was clean and sober.
I can tell you the man was a joy to work with, because I had the pleasure of hosting a SDJ-GHO special with him.
And for all his fame, he hated losing “his” golf tournament. Before his death in 1990, his wife Altovise told me it broke his heart.

The PGA Tour is hardly about to come full circle, and lose its beloved corporate sponsors.
But I like the idea of a celebrity tie, and I like the idea of Justin Timberlake hosting a tournament.

Like Sammy, this kid can do it all: he sings, dances, acts, and undoubtedly has a better game than SDJ did. He may not have a Sinatra to come in and play with him, but he can always call in SNL’s Andy Samberg for a “boxing” match. (If you don’t get it, ask any SNL fan.)

And I have to believe he’s already helped break a PGA Tour record.
I used to think the “Canon-Sammy Davis, Jr.-Greater Hartford Open” was the longest name ever for a tournament.
But really, the “Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open” is a mouthful, isn’t it?

Shopping for a greeting card recently, I came across one intended for a brother’s birthday.
A smiling boy is asked by his teacher to spell “brother”, and he spells out “D-I-P-S-H-I…”

Every family loves, fights, laughs and cries. And those are the families with no problems other than the highs and lows that life brings.

So consider the DeLucas and the Alvinos. It seemed as if it was “Family Night” on our 11pm newscast Tuesday. Families with big, public problems.

Lou DeLuca (left) resigned from the State Senate, perhaps before he could be expelled. The root of his problem: trying to protect a granddaughter from a husband DeLuca believed was abusive.

Anthony and Donna Alvino are under arrest in connection with the hit-and-run death of UConn freshman Carlee Wines. The root of their problem: trying to keep their son (right) from being charged with the crime. Their son has since copped a plea, and will be sentenced on January 23rd, a year and a day after Wines’ death.

There may be reason to believe that abuses of power and wealth came into play in the trials (and tribulations) of the DeLucas and Alvinos.
And there may be reason to believe that love (however misguided) came into play, too.

Maybe they’re not your typical next-door neighbors.
Or maybe they are.

The next time you have some family friction, maybe you should remember the DeLucas and Alvinos.
You’ll know things aren’t all that bad.
You may even want to send them a greeting card that tickles your fancy.

I should have posted this last week (“Green is Universal”), but better late than never.

A friend and I met for coffee Monday, and as always, the discussion turned to our shared love of good writing for television news.
And whenever we have this discussion, one name always comes up: DOUG GREENE.

Nobody turns a phrase better than Doug…nobody I have ever worked with marries words and pictures better…and he does the best “man on the street” interviews since…well…me. (So shoot me. You gotta be good at something.)

Doug has been with NBC 30 since 1990.
He’s one of those unsung guys who comes in every day, does a great job, and goes home.

I’m a big fan, and I have one request to make of you.
When you see one of Doug’s reports, don’t just watch it. Listen to it.

“Green is Universal” week is almost over.
I learned a lot, and I hope you did too.

If anyone’s looking for me this weekend, I’ll be in the woods foraging for nuts and berries, and camping by the stream.

I was going to do one of those “Why can’t they wait til after Thanksgiving to hype the holidays” posts.
I mean, they don’t even wait for Halloween anymore, so what’s the point?

BUT NOW I GET IT!

NOW I UNDERSTAND!

The light bulb went on tonight when I saw this story on the Associated Press wire.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Curious George is the latest victim of Chinese-made toy recalls.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission says about 175,000 Curious George Plush Dolls have been recalled because they have too much lead in their surface paint.
The recalled dolls have a plastic face and are sold in five different models. They were sold with Curious George story or activity books at stores nationwide from December 2005 through August 2007. Consumers can contact manufacturer Marvel Toys for a refund.
Meanwhile, about 51,000 Children's Fashion Sunglasses have also been recalled due to dangerous lead levels. The yellow colored shades were made in China and sold at Dollar General stores from March 2005 through October 2007.

This follows our rather extensive coverage of the recall of another Chinese-made toy called “Aqua Dots.”
It seems the coating on the little plastic beads contains a chemical that can be converted into a powerful date rape drug. Even I couldn’t make that up. (The movie version: "I Am Curious: George"??)

But given all the recalls we’ve been reporting on seemingly nonstop, it seems to me the sooner you shop for the holidays (and we’re NOT getting into the ‘holidays vs. Christmas' discussion right now), the better off you’ll be.

Because at the rate we’re going, EVERY TOY EVER MADE IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE RECALLED!
GET ‘EM WHILE YOU CAN!

You wouldn’t want to disappoint the kids by getting them books, would you? UGHHH!
Besides, the ink might be toxic if they like a page so much they eat it.

One of the stories we covered Tuesday was that of a Hebron man.
He was arrested for calling the state police (more than once), and asking them to deliver beer to his house. He apparently had had more than one when he made the calls.

Face value, a funny story.

But his ex-wife emailed us with her side of the story, and it’s not so funny.
I won’t go into all the details, because much of it was personal, and not intended for the consumption of the general public.

She explained the toll her ex-husband’s alcoholism has taken on her and their children, and expressed her deep concern that other kids will give her kids a hard time about it because it was on the news.

I hope not, and (though I’m sure it’s of no comfort whatsoever) I feel badly for her and her children.

While the story was factually correct, we had a laugh at the expense of someone who needs help, and unwittingly, at the expense of an exasperated ex-wife and innocent kids.

This serves as a good reminder that, no matter how appealing a story may be on the surface, we always need to look below that surface to see what else is there.

Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling has his admirers and detractors.
Count me among the admirers, most especially for his honesty and candor.

Part of the reason I left sports reporting in 1979 was hearing little but the usual “backs to the wall, we gave it our all” responses to questions. And nothing’s really changed.

Schilling is different. Much different.
Exhibit A: his blog, “38 Pitches.”
No one has to guesstimate the value of the one year deal he just signed with the Sox. He TELLS you. He even breaks it down.

He took the hometown discount, but his bonuses are easily attainable if he stays healthy and in (relatively) good shape.
My favorite, of course, is the weight clause. He’ll have 6 random weigh-ins next season, one a month, and he’ll get $333,333 every time he maintains his weight.
He doesn’t have to LOSE weight, just not GAIN any.

I don’t have an agent (never have, and never saw the need to share my earnings with someone else), but on that weight clause alone I’d consider hiring his.

Some guy by the name of…Curt Schilling.
Smart dude.

There have been many exciting election nights, and there will be many more.

THIS is not one of them.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

The nation is reeling from the credit crunch and poor housing market, but Stan O’Neal is living the American Dream while so many Americans are living a nightmare.

Which month is worse, March or November?

A good friend just joined one of the major social networking websites, and apparently, so did I.

I was urged to check it out, and to do that, I had to sign up. I did.

SO NOW WHAT?
I don’t want to communicate with this friend via a website. I would rather drop a personal note, pick up the phone, or best of all, get together and enjoy each other’s company.

I don’t want to “make friends” with anybody this way.
Friends…REAL friends…are hard enough to make as it is.
So many impersonal ways to communicate these days.

So does that make me “antisocial?”