It's Christmas Eve here in the states. A few tiny snowflakes dance in the light outside my window while Ralph Vaughan Williams' Hodie (A Christmas Cantata) sings through my iPod headset. Though it's technically a week early, Christmas more than New Years always puts me in a year-end mindset.

2008 promises to be a tremendously exciting year, and I thought it would be appropriate tonight, my mind fixed on the future, to announce that I've officially been invited to attend the two live performances of The Fellowship of the Ring in Lucerne, Switzerland on February 23 and 24. I believe I'll be speaking with Howard Shore before each performance, and possibly have some other fun planned. More details will be available soon, no doubt. I'm beyond excited about all this, of course. So Merry Christmas to one and all... and bring on 2008!