Holiday hiatus

Nor is this the promised substantive post. Apparently, my dozing off on the couch this evening was the more important order of the day.

Instead, this is to inform my reader(s) that I'll be heading to Austin later today (Saturday) to spend Christmas with my mother. I'll return to Wichita on the 26th. And then, something (I hope) worthy of your visit here.

Merry Christmas, and peace and blessings be with you and yours this holiday season.

EDIT: Anyone looking for a New Year's resolution? How about this one, via Languagehat, from the American Speech Committee in (note the date) 1918:

I love the United States of America. I love my country's flag. I love my country's language. I promise:
1. That I will not dishonor my country's speech by leaving off the last syllable of words.
2. That I will say a good American "yes" and "no" in place of an Indian grunt "um-hum" and "nup-um" or a foreign "ya" or "yeh" and "nope."
3. That I will do my best to improve American speech by avoiding loud, rough tones, by enunciating distinctly, and by speaking pleasantly, clearly and sincerely.
4. That I will learn to articulate correctly as many words as possible during the year.

Oh--and stop slouching, too, while you're at it.