Just to drop everyone a line to let y’all know The Great White Shank is still alive. A whopping 83 hours worked last week to keep India and management happy. Wow. I’m heading back home for a few days – I know I’ll find cold weather; I’m just hoping I can find some snow. But before I go, a few odds and ends.

It isn’t just Hillary Clinton. Believe me, Barack Obama will rue the day he loaded his incoming administration with Clintonites – they’re freakin’ everywhere! These people have no soul and no allegiance to anyone except themselves and consolidating their own power. You thought the State Department under George W. Bush continually undercut him throughout his two terms in office? You ain’t seen anything yet.

The best opening line on any rock album anywhere is from Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of the Moon” when a voice intones over the thumping heartbeat, “I’ve been mad for f**king years…”. Like millions of others, I always identified with that voice and thought he were speaking for me.

…But I still think “Wish You Were Here” was the best album the Floyd ever made.

…and “Comfortably Numb” their best overall song ever.

While we’re on the subject of music, “Oh Holy Night” is the best Christmas carol ever, hands down. Rickie Lee Jones’ version on The Chieftains “Bells of Dublin” is a fantastic version – kid you not.

…but “Once In Royal David’s City”, done right with a big chior and church organ, will bring tears to my eyes.

And what would Christmas be without Loreena McKennitt’s “To Drive The Cold Winter Away”?

…and you can’t beat Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass’ version of “Let It Snow, Let It Sow, Let It Snow” from their Christmas album.

The Red Sox locking up Dustin Pedroia for the next six years was a shrewd move. Building your team around hard-nosed players like Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, and Josh Beckett will never do you wrong.

We’re throwing caution to the wind in these uncertain economic times and resuming our crusade against our credit cards. God willing we’ll pay the next-to-last-one-off this month, leaving only the “Big Kahuna” Chase card ($8K balance) left for one last all-out assault in the New Year.

If given the choice between Italian and Mexican, as much as I love the latter, I gotta go with Italian – especially if Pagliuca’s in Boston’s North End is anywhere near.

That’s all fer now, see y’all in the eastern time zone!