Redskins beat the Giants, 35-20!!!

*Winner of the 1996 Broadside Holiday Contest*

Grey Clouds at Christmas
By Michael A. Tolosa

Christmas dreary, I wait for nearly
four hundred days of wishing dearly
that this would be a grander Christmas
but a damper day is Christmas merely.

White powder snow, like mold it grows
gives not the joy I used to know
blocks my paths; barricades my trails
its silent crunches mock as I go.

My euphonic love, light spread above
the night’s sharp chill, my body’s glove
my soul pours forth, masked thick white mist
broad wings o’er spread - a wretched dove.

Christmas dreary, its voice sings eerie
climbs high the tops of ropers’ weary
wish only that the sadness falter
but a damper day is Christmas merely.

I watched three movies last night. Serenity was good, but it didn’t live up to all the hype I’ve been hearing. I thought it’d compel me to watch the TV series, but I think I got the gist of the storyline. I, Robot is one of my all-time favorite movies—mostly because I absolutely love the Asimov stories it’s based on. I decided that I should own the special edition DVD, so I bought it the other day at Best Buy. I’m sure I’ll be watching it many more times. (Now, I’m just waiting for special editions of Blade Runner and 13th Warrior to come out.) The third movie I watched last night was Dominion. It’s an alternate version of Exorcist: The Beginning. It was completely shot by another director, then scrapped by the producers. The theatrical version is totally re-done with different actors, etc. It was interesting to see an exact replica of another movie—shot by another director. It wasn’t as good as Exorcist: The Beginning, and that’s saying something, since Exorcist: The Beginning was terrible.

I didn’t go to “Dinner and Theology” at McLean Presbyterian Church on Wednesday. I didn’t go to the Viki Nova show last night, nor did I attend Allie’s birthday party at Heaven n’ Hell. I’m not having lunch with Magda today. Kimbo has to work on Saturday (during the Redskins game). And I have no other plans this weekend. …Sounds like a winter social slump.

But I do have my Asimov books and two stories flourishing in my head. What I need are some good, solid days of writing. I think that’s what I’ll be doing this holiday weekend.

So, the girl I’m supposed to have lunch with today just declined. She says she’s working from home. Call me crazy, but I think that’s really rude. She should have declined yesterday.

Today is a half day. Most of my team is “working from home.” I would be too, if I didn’t have this lunch scheduled. Now, I’m here in the office for another three hours, twiddling my thumbs. I have nothing to do, and no one to do it with.

The only saving grace is that maybe my boss and her boss will be in the office & see me here. Maybe I’ll hand my resume in to my boss’ boss and apply for the open position. Maybe today’s a good day to do that.

I should go to the mall.

Are you working this Christmas from home?
Are you working this Christmas from home?
I’m a lowly contractor,
And I need these hours three,
So I’m working this Christmas from home!

(”Written” this morning in the shower.)