I love the Christmas season as it affects the workplace. Of course, I've been in the newspaper business for the last couple of decades and only have recent experience in how the holiday season affects that workplace.

When I was a hard news reporter (most of my career) it was a less noticeable affect. I mean, all the governmental bodies still met somewhat regularly, affected usually only when the actual day of the holiday falls on, or next to, the body's meeting day.

Then, they've already rescheduled it for another day.

As a sportswriter, the main effect comes from the Christmas holiday season only. With small town newspaper sports tied to the schools, when they go on the two weeks or so of Christmas break, there is usually less scheduled sports with at least one, seven- or eightday break in there.

And, for both hard news and sports, the Christmas season makes it hard to run folks down.

For example, my own family Christmas stuff (held early and now out of the way) got in the way of a couple of feature stories I'm going to do for the paper.

I've been playing phone tag with Randy Gay, father of Maranda Gay. I wrote about Maranda back in March, detailing her participation in age-level drag racing. Well, she's won her first race and as soon as we get through the holidays, I'll bring that story to you.

Also, we have two young brothers - Lonnie and Jared Edwards - both with Brownsboro connections, who are playing Division I football.

I waited until after they got through their semester finals before calling them and have messages left on their respective voicemails.

So, a slowing down, for a week or so, and then we'll charge into 2010.

Seems like it was just turning 2000 the other day ... or is that just me?

...

I'm not going to crow about the Cowboys win over the Saints last Saturday ... even given my co-worker Paul Bryant's vocal support of the New Orleans squad.

After all, in the end, the Cowboys are still only 9-5 while the Saints are 13-1.

Just let this be my low key, "look at the scoreboard and let it speak for itself" comment on the situation.