Back in LA after a busy but fun holiday sojourn in New York. Does anyone else feel like flying becomes more and more of a pain in the ass? I used to dread Southwest and fear Continental, but I just flew both and the truth is, they're no worse than the rest. Our return trip connected in Cleveland, where it was frigid and snowing, but the temperature in the cabin of that Airbus must have been 90 degrees. The hours trudge by at a glacial pace at 35,000 feet. Not even "The Nanny Diaries" playing on five-inch screens could help pass the time.

Hope everybody had themselves some delightful holidays! It's a new year, and one of the things I'm planning to do with it is post a lot more to this site. Interesting times are ahead. Check back often!

-jw