I can think of a few old acquaintances I’d like to forget!  Well, here we are, about to bid a fond farewell to 2014.  In three short days the year will be history.  (Literally!)  So, my dear friends, are you going to make any New Year’s resolutions?  Now that we’re making friends with Cuba, I’m going to make some revolutions.  I might even fly down to Havana to visit my hubcaps.  Actually, I’d like to buy one of those 1956 Chevy cars that I see puttering around the city.  Do you think they put Castro oil in those vehicles?  I once tried to buy a Cuban car online, but the deal fell apart.  (Close, but no cigar!)  I think it will be nice to establish relations with a Communist country that won’t hack us.  (Cubans are only allowed to hack sugar cane.)

Speaking of those pesky North Koreans, did you see what they did on Christmas Eve?  They leaked Santa’s “naughty list!”  Bastards.  No wonder I didn’t get any gifts.  Hey, at least they didn’t do what those not-so-great Danes did.  Believe it or not, Denmark is claiming that they own the North Pole!  They are about to forcibly seize the entire place!  Who do they think they are, Russia?  If they try to evict Santa Claus, I say we go to war!  (with snowballs)

Last week, I drove up to Glen Rose, Texas, to visit Dinosaur State Park.  Very cool place.  As some of you might know, I consider myself to be an amateur paleontologist.  I have spent many years studying the period when dinosaurs roamed the earth.  We call this the Meander-thal Period.  (They did a lot of roaming.)  My favorite beast was the Brontosaurus.  I’m also fasciated by his fast-moving cousin, the Pronto-saurus.  (The smartest of the breed was the Thesaurus, but they’re extinct, too.)

On Saturday, we trekked down to the Ransom Center at the University of Texas, to attend a special display called “The Making of Gone With The Wind.”  Excellent exhibit.  Lots of photographs, costumes, and production notes.  Did you know that the producers originally intended to make a more modest movie?  They had a script that was titled “Gone With The Gust,” but the head of the studio blew off that idea.  The original cast included Gale Storm, Hurricane Carter, and Charles Blow.  (Music provided by Howlin’ Wolf.)  Do you think I’m being too breezy?

For those of you who love the sound of my voice, (mainly my mother) I have some wonderful news!  Due to popular demand, (Mom again) The National Book Club has decided to re-broadcast my last book interview!  The entire program, in which we discuss THE SECOND MOURNING, will be aired on Tuesday, December 30th, at the noon hour.  The show comes on right after “Imus In The Morning,” and will be broadcast from coast to coast.  You can also listen to the entire interview online.  Simply go to:   http://www.the-book-club-with-John-Austin.  (Scroll down until you see my name.)

Well, my dear blog followers, I must leave you now.  I see that my darling wife has some of her hot buns on display.  (Now, stop that!  She’s in the kitchen!)  Honey, I can shrink the kids, but not my stomach!  Let me close by wishing you a very happy and healthy New Year.  On a serious note, please DO NOT drink and drive.  I wish all of you the very best!

Vaya con Dios…   Know what I mean?    Peace and joy…   In 2015!

Love to all,   Doc Yanoff