Happy New Year from Koh Lanta, Thailand

Planet Earth, is that good enough for ya?

Once up a time, there was a giant named Finn McCool living in Northern Ireland. He was very tall, very strong and was ready to challenge any other living creature who pretended to be stronger than him. One day, he heard there was a giant living on the other side of the Irish Sea, in Scotland, named Benandonner, who apparently was also very strong and also pretended to be the strongest man living on Earth.

Finn didn't like that so he said "I'm gonna get that boy" and challenged Benandonner to a big fight! The scottish giant accepted the challenge, and as soon as he received the answer, Finn started to build a giant causeway for his opponent to cross the sea (what a nice man, seriously!).

Finn McCool was admiring his latest construction, when a deep sound was heard. As he listened more carefully, the sound grew louder and louder as the earth started to shake! Then all of a sudden he heard "McCool boy, this is your showdown!" Bennandonner was crossing the sea! But Finn was not expecting the scotsman to be so tall and so strong, such a tremendous opponent, so he ran back home as fast as he could to get help from his wife!

His wife told him to quickly dress up as a baby and get into his baby's cradle, which he did at once! Meanwhile, Bennandonner, not finding Finn McCool, walk towards the nearest house to ask about any giants living in the area. Finn's wife answered and said "I'm sorry to hear you had an appointment with my husband, but he is away right now, he should come back soon! Come in and have a giant cup of tea." As Bennandonner crouched to enter the house, he noticed a giant cradle with what looked like a baby in it. He said "hold on, if this is Finn McCool's baby, I don't want to meet the father, he must be gigantic!" And as quickly as his legs could carry him, he ran back to Scotland!

And this is how Finn McCool defeated Bennandonner, the scottish giant!

Merry Christmas to all!

-AJ

Let there be disco balls!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everybody. This is a picture of the creche underneath my Christmas tree. I was happy to see it there when I got home from travels yesterday and I wanted to share it with you!

-Louis