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Updated: 11/22/04



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"War and Peace"
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Monday, 22 November, 2004

Last week, I mentioned that one of the NBA's bright young stars had been benched by his coach for requesting time off so he could rest up from promoting his new rap album. It seems our little friend will have lots of time to recuperate since he was just suspended for the remainder of the season for his role in the brawl that erupted during the Pistons-Pacers game on Friday night:

NEW YORK (AP) -- The wrath of David Stern was unleashed, giving Ron Artest, Stephen Jackson and Jermaine O'Neal a long time -- extremely long in Artest's case -- to ponder the error of their ways.

The NBA commissioner suspended Artest for the remainder of this season Sunday and disciplined eight other members of the Pacers and Pistons, sending a strong message that the league won't tolerate the type of unprecedented violence displayed Friday night.

Jackson drew a 30-game suspension and his Indiana teammate O'Neal was banned for 25 games. Ben Wallace of Detroit was hit with a six-game ban, and Indiana's Anthony Johnson got a five-game suspension.

Four others drew one-game suspensions for leaving the bench during the initial stages of a fracas that quickly escalated into a five-minute melee with players and patrons exchanging punches.

["But coach, I wanted time off WITH pay!"]

It was a Chez Trauma weekend. Gary was on back-up Friday and Sunday and was repeatedly poked with sticks all day Saturday in-house. At least it's done - until Christmas, I think.

So yesterday was spent lounging with the cat and doing some basic housekeeping. I changed light bulbs and the heater filter and did a bit of holiday decorating. I got a tiny Christmas tree at Home Depot and put up miniature lights and garland. I did a bit of decorating in the foyer, filling a metal tub with some light strands, gold and silver balls and sleigh bells - it looks quite striking.

I also managed to complete quite a bit of my Christmas shopping - yay! I went through a bunch of catalogs on Saturday and then ordered stuff on-line. I have a couple of "emergency gifts" too, since I always forget a couple.

I normally don't find myself in the holiday mood until after the holidays are over. Since I've had a rental car for two days, though, I think I know why the Christmas spirit is a little early this year. One of the local radio stations has an All-Christmas-Carol, All-The-Time format from mid-November until the day after Christmas. Listening to that while driving back and forth to the hospital seems to have pushed me over the edge. I found myself hoping that "Miracle on 34th Street" and "A Christmas Story" would be on this weekend.

["You'll poke your eye out!"]

In keeping with the holiday spirit, the Jone Soda Company has released its full line of Thanksgiving sodas. Last year they created a national stir with their "Turkey and Gravy" flavored soda. The novelty drinks were being auctioned off on eBay, but this year they are making their products available to a wider market:

This week, Jones Soda launches a full meal deal of five Thanksgiving soda flavors, from the bile-colored Green Bean Casserole to the sweet -- but slightly sickly -- Fruitcake Soda. Last year's Turkey & Gravy is also back on the menu.

If you think it sounds less than appetizing, you're not alone.

"Oh, man, I can't drink that!" cries out company Chief Executive Peter van Stolk, after pouring himself a drink of mashed potatoes.

To banish the buttery aftertaste, he recommends a chaser of Cranberry Soda, the only one of the holiday bunch that doesn't make you want to pick up a toothbrush.

Beginning Thursday, they'll be on sale at some Target stores throughout the country, and at other retailers, for $14.95 to $16.95, with proceeds benefiting Toys for Tots.

[Mmmm, mmmm, good!]


Quote du jour:

"I wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month."

-- Harlan Miller (Better Homes and Gardens)

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