December 2010 - hanging around

• " 'Uh, roger, Houston, Astronaut Carter Jensen here in the command module. All the systems and signals are a 'go' and we're ready for countdown to blast off on the first space mission to Mars. But, uh, wait, Houston, my Grandma's at the module door wanting to say goodbye.' "

• "Hey, Dad, there's plenty of exposed skin up front and I'm not getting any warmer. How about a re-wrap job?
• "Excuse me, but age one is NOT to early to start taking about modesty. How about some help covering up - - and get that blasted camera out of here. This ain't no free peep show!"

• "OK, let's see, that's one ornament behind the couch, one in the produce bin in the refrigerator, oh and the one in the toilet, another in the glove compartment of Grandpa's truck, that one buried out back with the tulip bulbs . . . let's see, what's another surprise I can leave everyone?"

• "During lunch last week with my stockbroker, we opted to invest in the Walt Disney Company, which together with its subsidiaries is a diversified worldwide entertainment company It's the second-largest media conglomerate in the world, behind Time Warner, and the world's seventh most valuable brands. Relative to other businesses, Disney is more insulated from the general economic . . . hey, look what happens when you touch that red stuff and I twist this green thingy!"

• "Santa Claus nothing — I believe in Elmo!"
• "Here's the thing — I thought I heard a voice in one of the packages under the tree. So I took off the bow and the wrapping and out popped Elmo! But to explain how the other five packages got opened — I got nothing."