Here's the haul from Christmas 2008:

"The United States of Arugula: The Sun-Dried, Cold-Pressed, Dark Roasted, Extra Virgin Story of the American Food Revolution"

I should be reading more great fiction, but David Kamp's sharply written account of how Americans went from steak and potatoes to fois gras and orzo is too much fun to put off. If it came down to one person, it might be Julia Child. Far from the blathering hemophiliac depicted in that Saturday Night Live skit, Child brought the techniques of French cooking into almost every American kitchen and set the table for every celebrity chef from Emeril to Rachel Ray (though Ray herself might not even claim the mantle of "Chef").

A Sheepshead!  That was the net catch from a half day of inshore fishing on the Tampa Bay. Our Captain worked like the devil to find us some snook or redfish, but short of using explosives and a cast net (which I understand is illegal in Florida) there was no getting the scaly buggers on board.  Despite the meager catch, it was four hours of fishing with my son and daughter on a beautiful day in the mangroves. You can't beat that. And as the saying goes: "The Gods do not subtract from the allotted span of men's lives the time spent in fishing". 

Finally, a toy that will provide hours of enjoyment if it doesn't kill me first.  Portable GPS units are addictively fun, especially the kind that will call up and direct you to every bar, bowling alley, post office and pet store in America.  It's perfect for aiding directionally challenged drivers, but futzing with a hand held computer on the Crosstown is a recipe for a short 2008. 

Hope you got what you wanted or needed and had a chance to give a little too.  Happy New Year.