November 30, 2025

PILGRIM’S PROGRESS!

HOWDY PILGRIMS! (Do you think John Wayne said this to the 102 passengers who arrived on the Mayflower in 1620?) You never know. In any case, I hope you and yours had a delightful Thanksgiving. We had a large family get-together and a big turkey. (I’m not referring to myself here!) Our feast was wonderful and during dinner I entertained my fellow pilgrims with some edifying information about the holiday we were celebrating.

For instance… did you know that turkey was probably not on the menu at the first feast? (Too hard to catch or kill, and a pain in the butt to cook.) In all likelihood, the pilgrims and Indians ordered take-out. (whatever they could take out of the stream) Maybe they had Chinese. You never know. Nowadays, Americans eat about 46 million turkeys on Thanksgiving… and 50 million pumpkin pies! Gooble gooble!

Would you like to guess which US president made Thanksgiving a national holiday? (Here we have a number of turkeys to choose from!) If you said Abe Lincoln, you’re right! (Biden and Trump were the first to offer a pardon to every turkey in the country!) Do you think that was a “fowl” joke?

Lest I forget, I should say a word or two about last Friday’s football game between Texas A&M and the University of Texas. As some of you know, I hold 3 degrees from the A&M university system, but I’m not bitter about losing to the drug-enhanced, testosterone-filled thugs who play for the Longhorns. Not bitter in the least. Actually, I feel sorry for U.T. After the big game, some Aggie broke into the University of Texas library and stole the book! The police recovered the book, but all the pages had been colored in by the thief! But, hey, I’m not bitter.

On a more uplifting note, my new historical masterpiece, titled, WONDER OF THE WEST, won another gold medal this past week for “Outstanding U.S. History Book of 2025.” The award was presented by the NIEA, which is the National Indie Excellence Awards. (now in its 19th year!) I am greatly honored to receive the gold medal, and I truly appreciate the substantial financial remuneration. (i.e., loot) If you happen to find yourself in Washington, D.C. next week stop by the Hay Adams Hotel (near the White House) and say hello. (I’ll probably be in the lobby, signing books and drinking martinis.) Of course, I may have to testify at some hearing while I’m in town. You never know.

In closing, I hope some of you were able to watch a portion of the Netflix show “Death by Lightning.” (The story about President Garfield’s life and death.) Some of this sordid tale was based upon my enthralling history book, titled, THE SECOND MOURNING. Not to sound arrogant, but had they followed my entire book I think the show would have been much more interesting. The assassin, Charles Guiteau, was actually the more fascinating historical figure. Alas, I do not make the final decisions.

Well, my dear friends, I shall now take my leave…. Have a wonderful week and remember that Christmas is only 25 days away! (also remember my shirt and pants sizes… just in case you’re inclined to buy me a gift! Hey, you never know!) I’m only kidding about the clothes. I much prefer cash!

Take care and love to all,

Doc Yanoff

October 26, 2025

SACREBLEU! ANOTHER GOLD MEDAL!

BON JOUR, mon ami….. I am delighted to announce that my new U.S. history book, titled, WONDER OF THE WEST, has recently won a gold medal at the 2025 Paris Book Festival! Oi la la, what a pleasant surprise. The award was presented for the “Best U.S. History/Biography of 2025,” and marks the 5th literary award that the book has won. A scheduled award ceremony (which was supposed to be held in the Louvre Museum!) has been moved to the Jardin des Tuileries, so if you should find yourself in La Ville Lumiere (The City of Light) in early December please drop by for a glass (or two) of champagne.

In the meantime, please remember that copies of WONDER OF THE WEST can be readily obtained on Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com, and leading bookstores across the country. (That would be our country, the USA, not France.) So what else is new these days? Well, as I mentioned on my last blog, we met some wonderful folks on our recent river cruise. One couple, Peter Vernasco and Pamela Anderson, own Olivewood Ranch, and they produce the BEST olive oil I have ever tasted! They sent us a couple of bottles of their award-winning oil and it was truly marvelous. If you’re looking for a thoughtful gift this holiday season, you should check out their website. You won’t be sorry.

Pete and Pam were friends with Dr. Jim Gemmer (and his lovely better-half, Anne) The good doctor and I shared a memorable beer in the Black Forest and had some sparkling conversation throughout the voyage. As I’ve said many times, the best part of travel are the interesting folks you meet, and this trip was no exception.

Speaking of friends, I would like to thank Helena, The Princess of Portugal, and her charming husband, Baron Lee, for hosting another extraordinary gala feast last week. On this occasion, The Princess made FEIJOADA, the national dish of Brazil. (Basically a hearty stew) It was wonderful, and I managed to consume a meager two helpings… and lots of good, red wine. My wife loved the meal, but slightly embarrassed herself. She asked our host if a Brazilian was the number after a trillion!

Well, as I’m sure you know, Halloween is just around the corner. Need some fun facts? Do you know that 41% of Americans believe that ghosts really exist? (80% believe that they’re going to get an IRS refund!) Last year, Americans spent 700 million dollars on Halloween costumes! (Roughly what my wife spends at the mall each year.) I can’t prove it, but I really think that Halloween (which is America’s 2nd favorite holiday) was invented by someone affiliated with the American Dental Association. Have you ever seen what candy corn does to your teeth? Thank God it’s at least a vegetable.

For those of you who have inquired about the 2026 Caribbean Book Festival, I am thrilled to announce that I will be participating in several discussion groups. So far, I’ve signed up for gigs on St. Bart’s and St. Thomas, but I’m sure more stops will be added as the festival nears. I shall, as they say, keep you informed. Make sure to bring plenty of sunscreen and a generous supply of Alka-Seltzer. (I hear they sell rum on some of the islands!)

Well, amigos y amigettes, I must take my leave. My wife is dragging me (again) to our Sunday morning tennis lessons. I know how to play, but she insists that my game could improve. (Isn’t that why they invented cheating? To eliminate the need to practice?) In any case, remember my motto….. “When in doubt, call it out!” Have a wonderful (and joyous) week… and keep your eye on the ball. (Even though the racket works better!) Love to all,

Doc Yanoff

September 21, 2025

ALPINE ADVENTURES! (Part Two)

I just realized that the word Rhine rhymes with wine, which is just fine. However, on our last river voyage we focused on beer, which turned out to be a very wise choice. Except for one incident… after guzzling a few pints of ale, I inadvertently walked into the ladies room and quickly discovered that the Germans are fixated with certain numbers. Some guy kept yelling, “Nine, nine, nine!” I yelled back, “No, number one!” The guy walked off huffing and puffing, but that’s because he was a sour Kraut.

Our first biergarten adventure was actually in the fun-loving city of Cologne, where all of the semi-inebriated citizens smell awfully good. (Yep, this is where the famous perfume was invented.) One our first night, we sampled 3 different breweries, and from what I remember they were all great. The good folks of Cologne love Kolsch beer and bratwurst, which makes them some of the wisest people on earth. (OMG, does that stuff go down easy!)

After Cologne, we sailed through the beautiful Rhine River Valley and stopped overnight in Koblenz, Rudesheim, and Speyer. Each town had its own unique charm, and a lot more beer to sample. Lest you think that I consumed too much bratwurst, I would like to point out that I also overindulged with an absurd amount of wienerschnitzel and sauerbraten. One evening I drank a little too much schnapps and couldn’t find my own wienerschnitzel, but that’s a long story.

The last leg of our voyage brought us to Strasbourg, France, and then it was off to Basel, Switzerland for a death-defying ride through the mountain passes of the Swiss and Italian Alps. Our guide, whose name was Heidi, was quite knowledgeable, but hard to understand. (She kept yodeling every time she saw one of her relatives or a herd of sheep.) Our lovely Swiss Miss told us that we were traveling across peaks that were 16,000 feet high! Don’t ask me how Hannibal (the Carthaginian general, not the cannibal) marched his army and a herd of elephants across the Alps. The poor pachyderms must have worn special snow shoes. (Which they packed in their “trunks” no doubt!)

Whence we crossed the Alps, we visited the Italian Lake District and spent a few glorious days exploring Lakes Maggiore, Garda, and Orta. (We skipped Lake Como because George Clooney wasn’t available for lunch.) One of the more interesting stops was a visit to the Monastery of San Giulio on Lake Orta. The monastery is home to 70 nuns who have taken a vow of silence and spend their days in quiet reflection and prayer. (No offense, but I can’t imagine 70 women being silent for any length of time. They must use sign language or something.) My wife has a funny sense of humor. She asked one of the nuns if I could join their order. (She said no. Well, actually she just shook her head.)

In closing, I would like to reiterate something I’ve said before….. the best part of any trip is meeting other folks from around the county. On this occasion we were lucky enough to meet some wonderful couples, including Greg and Joyce from Ohio, Diane and Nick from Pennsylvania, John and Sarah from Virginia, and Deb and Jennifer, from PA and South Carolina. All of these charming people made our trip an event to be remembered!

Next week I shall have some FASCINATING literary news to share, so be here or be there. Until we meet again, I wish you a salubrious and fun-filled week! Love to all,

Doc Yanoff

P.S. I have attached some photos for your viewing enjoyment!

September 7, 2025

DUTCH TREAT!

Greetings from the Netherlands, a/k/a Holland, where 26% of the country is below sea level! Fortunately, most of it is at eye-level, and boy did I get an eyeful. Yours truly, and his faithful travel companion, recently returned from several weeks in Europe. We began our latest adventure in the bicycle-crazy city of Amsterdam, but that wasn’t the only damn thing we saw. When you go to Holland, you might rub elbows with Rotterdam, Westerdam, Oosterdam, Zuiderdam, and Volendam. But don’t bother looking for Potsdam or Hoover Dam. On this particular outing, we sailed aboard the Viking Sigrun, an impressive longship. Most of the voyage took place on the Rhine River, which is quite lovely this time of year.

As I mentioned, we fly into Amsterdam, which is an interesting city, overrun with death-defying bicyclists. (They defy you to cross the street without being run over!) We had the pleasure of staying at the Pulitzer Hotel, which is named after Peter Pulitzer, the grandson of Joseph Pulitzer, the founder of the literary award that I expect to win one of these days. (To improve my chances, I left a book in the men’s room and service elevator.)

The city of Amsterdam is known for many things (some of them legal) and we had no trouble seeing the most famous sites. Our hotel was just down the street from the Anne Frank House and an easy walk to many of the museums. The most famous museum in town is the Van Gogh Museum, which we tried to go to, but couldn’t find. Apparently, the painter moved around a lot. (He was probably a “moving Van.”) I kept asking people, “where did Van go?” Nobody seemed to know, which was rather “ear-ritating.” (Should I have “cut” that joke?)

Overall, I think we spent our time wisely. My wife went to a store that sold kitchenware. (She never showed me the pot she bought, but she was giggling about her purchase all afternoon.) I was interested in purchasing a lamp, so I went to the Red Light District, which had some very unusual window displays and a VERY friendly staff. I didn’t buy anything, but I did get a shot of whiskey and penicillin. (Better safe than sorry!)

After several fun-filled days in Amsterdam, we sailed down to the quaint village of Kinderdijk, the self-proclaimed “Windmill Capital” of the Netherlands. Being a semi-famous author, I was reminded of my favorite novel, written by Miguel de Cervantes. Naturally, I’m referring to the timeless classic DAN COYOTE, the marvelous tale of a Spanish Knight-errant and his faithful sidekick, Sancho Panda. What a memorable book.

The remainder of my voyage will be discussed ad nauseam in future blogs, so if you find this post elucidating (or hallucinating) please tune in next Sunday, whence I will continue bloviating about our other port stops. Trust me, you will not want to miss a single word. (maybe a few sentences, but no words.)

Incidentally, not to brag, but my new history book, WONDER OF THE WEST, was recently chosen as the “Best U.S. History Book of 2025” by the judges of the Hollywood Book Festival. The First Prize Award is financially staggering, but more importantly I get to attend a gala dinner in N.Y.C. (Why they chose New York instead of Los Angeles is a mystery.) In any case, I might attend the awards ceremony if I can find my old bullet-proof vest.

By the way, speaking of steak dinners….. Do you know what they call a cow with no legs? (Ground Beef!) Do you know what they call a cow with no ears? (Nothing, they can’t hear!)

Well, I think it’s time to MOO-ve on, so please take care and keep smiling. If you would like to see some photographs of my recent voyage, please scroll down. Love to all!

Doc Yanoff

August 3, 2025

REMEMBER THE MAINE?

No, not the US rallying cry during the Spanish-American War, which I so brilliantly wrote about in a history book titled, GONE BEFORE GLORY. I am referring to the actual state, which just happens to be the northeastern most state in America. I recently returned from “The Pine Tree State,” and I am happy to report that the place was magnificent! (We drove through New Hampshire, too, which we took for granite. Bad joke.) In any case, we had the pleasure of staying at the lovely Nonantum Resort in Kennebunkport. We wanted to stay at Walker’s Point Estate (The Bush family compound) but the entire Bush clan was in town, so it was difficult to get past the Secret Service. (We encountered the same problem with the Obama folks in Hawaii.)

After gouging ourselves on lobster and clams for a week, we drove down to Boston, which as many of you know, is often referred to as “Beantown.” Lots of baked beans. Everywhere you go you run into beans. The good part? We never had to stop for gas.

For continuity’s sake, I should mention that we actually began our escapade in Atlanta, then flew up to Albany, New York, rented a Humvee (actually an SUV) and drove north to Lake George, one of the most beautiful lakes in the universe. As some of you know, I actually grew up in Lake George…. meaning that I spent most of my teenage summers there. My parents owned and operated the Flamingo Motel, which is located in Diamond Point. Needless to say, I have a million fond memories of the region.

On this trip, we stayed at the splendid Sagamore Resort in Bolton Landing. The resort is perched (not a fishing pun) on the shores of Lake George and is simply stunning in every regard. (I have attached some photographs below.) We spent about a week wining and dining, and had a marvelous time with the grand-kids. (Who never stopped eating!) If you’ve never been to the Adirondack region, you are truly missing one of America’s most beautiful places…. so start packing!

Now for some earth-shattering literary news….. I am proud to announce that my recent history masterpiece, titled, WONDER OF THE WEST, has been selected as a FINALIST in the 19th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards Contest! (You can view my interview and read about the book by going to http://www.indieexcellence.com) The award comes with a HUGE cash prize, which I am willing to split with any of my blog followers. Just send me your bank PIN numbers so that I can transfer the money in a secure fashion. (Hey, if you can’t trust me, who can you trust?)

One serious note about money…. now would be a good time to purchase any of my books, because ALL royalties will be donated to the Texas Flood Relief. (To help with the disaster of July 4th.)

Finally, if you’re curious about my last outing, kindly scroll down and you will see some lovely photos. The first ones were taken in Lake George, then second group in Maine, and I think there might be a shot or two of the grand-kids. (I have to take a shot or two every time I’m around them!) Well, take good care of yourselves and enjoy the remainder of the summer. Speak with you soon,

Love to all,

Doc Yanoff

June 15, 2025

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY, 2025!

I know it’s been a while since we last spoke, but I’ve been “panhandling!” (Not begging, just vacationing in the gorgeous panhandle region of Florida.) The boss and I flew east to participate in a book signing and catch some rays on Rosemary Beach. (Just up the road from the setting of my new “Adam Gold Mystery,” titled, THE LONG HARD FALL. We spent 4 enjoyable nights at the lovely Pearl Hotel, which as the name implies is a real gem.

While we were roughing it in the wilderness of West Florida, I decided to go on Safari. (Not the African kind — the web browser on the internet) I did, however, encounter some wild animals, but I also made some new friends on Facebook. (Two from Burundi and one from Chad.)

Between Margaritas, I volunteered to be a judge at a local fashion show. Well, it wasn’t actually a fashion show… it was more of a wet T-shirt contest. (same idea, I told my wife) In any case, the young lady who won the contest was very grateful and offered me a lap dance. Unfortunately, she meant a real Lapp from Scandinavia. Nice girl, but her Viking horns kept poking me in the stomach.

By the way, what do you think caribou care about?

Moving on….. a few weeks ago I had the pleasure of discussing my new historical masterpiece, WONDER OF THE WEST, with the charming and intelligent ladies of the Flintlock Falls Book Club. It was a delightful afternoon, and I would like to thank the wonderful Sheila Niles for setting up the event. I look forward to our next meeting!

Some more earth-shattering news… THE LONG HARD FALL was recently selected (by a major NYC newspaper) as “one of the best summer reads of 2025.” (Which, technically, means that you MUST buy the darn book and read it ASAP in order to avoid any legal consequences.) Hey, I don’t make the rules.

The next trip on tap (besides more beer) is a long-awaited outing to Lake George, New York. Upon my arrival in the stunning Adirondack Mountains, I shall be doing some much-needed research for a new history book set in that region. We will be housed at the Sagamore Hotel for a week or so, and then it’s off to Forts William Henry and Ticonderoga. (My parents used to own a motel in Lake George, a place called the Flamingo Motel, so I spent quite a few summers on the Lake.) Which, by the way, was recently named the “cleanest lake in America!”

Well, I’m off (somewhat reluctantly) to the bagel store for breakfast. The last time I went there I asked if I could buy a bagel with cream cheese, and the youngster at the counter said, “I’m sorry, sir. We only take cash.” (Jeez, what is this country coming to?) On that note, I shall take my leave… but I wish you all a stupendous Father’s Day and much love…. Until we meet again, I remain,

Dr. Stephen G. Yanoff (a/k/a Doc Y)

May 18, 2025

SPRING HAS SPRUNG!

So what’s going on with the weather? The first day of summer in 2025 is supposed to be June 20, but do not be fooled by this arbitrary and capricious date! The last few days (five or six, mind you) have been real scorchers, one hundred or more degrees each day! (And it’s only May!) How hot has it been, you ask? Well, it was so hot that my water bed began to boil! I saw a funeral procession pull through a Dairy Queen! Texas cows have begun to give evaporated milk!

All right, enough jokes about the heat. How was your Mother’s Day? Mine was a little unusual. I took my wife to San Marcos for a hot air balloon trip, but the dang place was out of business. The owner was filling his balloons with COLD AIR, so his business never got off the ground. (Ouch!) Being a thoughtful hubby, I offered my wife some Kashmir. She thought I meant cashmere. Foolish girl. She missed an good trip.

Despite the heat, I have been diligently pursuing my infamous writing career, and I am thrilled to announce that the 7th installment in the “Adam Gold Mystery Series” has just been published and is now available on Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com, and leading bookstores across the nation.

The newest tale is titled, THE LONG HARD FALL, and has already received some rave reviews from the usual culprits at the N.Y. Times and elsewhere. In this book, Adam Gold, preeminent insurance investigator, is compelled to dive into the dark and dangerous world of shady builders in South Florida — and confront Russian mobsters, Chinese Intelligence, and Haitian street gangs.

If you’re looking for a great summer read, then this is the book for you. Please note that all royalties will be spent promoting my frivolous lifestyle and tequila consumption. On this you have my word.

Well, I hope you enjoyed today’s pun-filled blog. Do you realize how hard it is to explain puns to a kleptomaniac? Think about it. Those poor souls take things literally. (Just saying)

And on that note… Have a salubrious (and mildly salacious) week, and remember to be nice to your grand-children. (You will need them to smuggle alcohol into the nursing home!) Take care and we shall chat again soon. Love to all,

Doc Yanoff

P.S. If you will scroll down, you will see what the new book cover looks like.

March 9, 2025

AUSTIN HISTORIAN MAKES HISTORY!

(Reprinted from the NYT, March 7, 2025)

A new non-fiction book, titled, WONDER OF THE WEST, by Austin, Texas author Stephen G. Yanoff, has recently been chosen as a FINALIST in the 2024 Foreword Indies Book of the Year literary contest. The designation marks the third major award that Yanoff’s book has won. In January, WONDER OF THE WEST was named as a “Distinguished Favorite” by the Independent Press Awards, and in February, the book was named as one of the “Best Indie Books of 2024” by the Shelf Unbound Literary Awards.

Readers who love American history will be fascinated by this incredible new history of John Charles Fremont, the most famous explorer of the nineteenth century. For more information about the author or WONDER OF THE WEST, readers can go to: http://www.stephengyanoff.com

February 16, 2025

HAPPY (BELATED) ST. VALENTINE’S DAY!

DID YOU GET MY CARD? Well, that’s because I forgot to send one! But while we’re on the subject, do you realize that (crazy) Americans send 145 million Valentine’s Day cards out each year? Of course, many of them aren’t mailed, but rather exchanged. Still, that’s an awful lots of stamps. Personally, I just give chocolate. (Usually a Hershey’s kiss. Small, but effective.) Sometimes I’ll buy a whole box of assorted chocolates, but not until after Valentine’s Day. (The price drops week after week.) Last year I gave my wife a box of Whitman’s samplers. (On July 4th) That was sort of fitting, because she did explode. Women.

We have had some crazy weather down here in Texas. Last week it was 86 degrees on Wednesday, and this coming Wednesday is supposed to be 33 degrees. Never a dull moment. I guess I should re-pack my bathing suits and wait a week or two. In any case, this Wednesday I will be heading for the Alamo in San Antonio. They have a terrific new museum down there, which was featured in my last “Adam Gold Mystery,” titled, DEAD ENDING. If you’re ever in the Alamo gift shop, please inquire about my book. (or you could just steal a copy off the shelves.)

Incidentally, I recently received notification that my non-fiction book about President William McKinley, titled, GONE BEFORE GLORY, is now being sold at the President McKinley Museum in Buffalo, New York. (The site of his assassination) The city, not the museum. I think they have a couple of autographed copies on display, too. By the way, did you notice that President Trump recently read my McKinley book? I’m guessing that’s why he wants to re-name Mount Denali in Alaska. (Which used to be called Mt. McKinley until President Biden changed it.) All of sudden I’ve become an influencer! Who knew?

Did you know that Saint Valentine’s skull is in Rome? (I think he left his heart in San Francisco.) A Roman priest named Valentine was stoned (no jokes, please) and beheaded on February 14, around the year 279, which is how the holiday began. Don’t ask me why we celebrate such a gruesome event, but you can view the poor chap’s skull in the Church of Santa Maria if you visit the catacombs. (No dogs allowed, just cats!)

Now for some more earth-shattering literary news ….. my next “Adam Gold Mystery,” titled, THE LONG HARD FALL has been delivered to my forlorn agent, who in turn has sold the dang manuscript for a rather handsome sum of dinero. Which means, that the unsuspecting public will once again be assaulted with another great mystery! The book is scheduled to be published in either April or May of this year. I shall, as they say, keep you apprised of the situation.

For those of you who have recently inquired about my travel schedule, kindly note that my first long book tour (and rum inhalation) will be in Late April at a Dude Ranch in Bandera, Texas, followed by a lengthy sojourn to Atlanta, Albany, and Boston in the summer months. If you would like to attend a book signing, I will post my exact schedule as soon as it becomes available.

Finally, also in the wonderful world of literature, I am 1/3 of the way through my next non-fiction American history book. This one is quite exciting for me, as it deals with a gentleman that I have long admired but know little about … one of the most brilliant Americans who ever lived. (No, not me!) I am referring to the “Wizard of Menlo Park,” Mr. Thomas Alva Edison. I am fully expecting to win a Pulitzer Prize, but I shall not get my hopes up just yet.

Speaking of Valentine’s Day (one last time) … Did Adam and Eve ever have a date? (Nope, just an apple!) Never fall in love with a pastry chef. (He’ll dessert you!) What is Cupid’s favorite rock band? (Kiss!) All right, I’m getting sick, too. Enough of these sappy jokes! (You can blame these groaners on my grand-daughters!) Have a wonderful upcoming week and keep smiling!

Love, (Your special admirer)

Doc Yanoff, I.L. & B.V. (International Lover and Bon Vivant)

December 24, 2024

‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS!

Actually, it still is the night before Christmas. (at least for the next few hours) In any case, allow me to quote a famous Texas farmer who said, “Hoe, hoe, hoe!” I would have made an earlier post, but my darn computer was out of whack. I’m not even sure what a whack is, but I seemed to be out of one. Nevertheless, I am back in business and would like to take this opportunity to wish all of my wonderful blog followers a MERRY CHRISTMAS and/or HAPPY HANUKKAH. I hope that Santa or FedEx brings you all the toys you asked for… assuming you’ve been a good little elf this past year.

In order to improve my mind, (good luck with that) I’ve been reading all of Shakespeare’s plays, and today I finished “As You Like it.” I enjoyed the play, but I’m a little confused by one of the lines. The famous line that reads, “All the world’s a stage.” If that’s true, and all the world’s a stage, where is the audience sitting? Just saying.

Anyway, I love the holiday season, and I especially enjoy watching some of the old Christmas movies. (anything except “Die Hard” and that Chevy Chase thing) My absolute favorite is the 1951 version of the classic movie, “A Christmas Carol,” starring Alistair Sim. I love all the special effects, but to be perfectly honest, the movie scares the Dickens out of me! (Come on, that’s not a bad literary joke!)

I haven’t always been a big fan of Christmas. I was kind of ugly as a child, so my parents would hang me up and kiss the mistletoe! Which reminds me, if a rocket scientist has a foot problem do they get treated for mistletoe? (Get it, missile-toe?) All right, that joke barely got off the ground.

So, aside from these lousy jokes, what else is new? Well, as you may have heard, my new history book, titled, WONDER OF THE WEST, recently won a major literary award and was named as “One of the Most Notable Book of 2024” by the good folks at Shelf Unbound Magazine. If you’re looking for a memorable gift this year, you can order a copy on Amazon.com or at Barnesandnoble.com (If you send me an airline ticket, I will come to your house and sign the book!) By the way, I’m talking about a round-trip ticket.

Two days from now we are off on another adventure, but this time we’re staying local (sort of) and taking the entire family to La Cantera Resort in San Antonio. They have wonderful decorations this time of year and the kiddies love to ride the boats that float along the river walk. (The water’s a little cold for swimming, unless you consume an appropriate amount of tequila.) Still, with great food and shopping nearby, I’m sure a good time will be had by all. (assuming the grand-kids don’t find out what room I’m in and wake me up too early!)

Lest I forget, (or drink too much tequila) allow me to wish everyone a HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR! I hope 2025 is a marvelous year for you and yours, and I’m very grateful for your continued friendship and support. I’d like to dedicate this blog to my dear friends, Farah and Mike, who have gone through some tough weather in Florida… and deserve a MUCH BETTER year ahead. (with no darn hurricanes!)

I’ve included some random photographs of 2024… so scroll down if you’re interested… LOVE TO ALL!

Doc Yanoff