Exceptional articles selected by our distinguished readers panel.http://www.holidailies.org/entries/bestofen-ushttp://www.holidailies.org/img/holi09-feed.gif/8831http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rsswebmaster at holidailies dot orgGreenTunahttp://greentuna.blogspot.com/2010/01/follow-that-star.htmlhttp://greentuna.blogspot.com/2010/01/follow-that-star.htmlIt's a comforting and comfortable feeling when things and people and events are exactly who and where and what we expect them to be. But who decides the norm?Tue, 05 Jan 2010 23:17:28 -0600Sherry Osbornehttp://andromeda.qc.ca/?p=2260http://andromeda.qc.ca/?p=2260I was so out of breath that I gasped the basics to him while I headed to the phone and called the police.Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:32:05 -0600KarenDhttp://www.hatontop.com/olj/2010/01/05/collecting/http://www.hatontop.com/olj/2010/01/05/collecting/I thought this was strange, because he did not use these tubes to make art, nor was I allowed to do so (there was other paint for me to play with), but now I find myself doing the same sort of thing.Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:02:18 -0600Kymm Zuckerthttp://kymmz.livejournal.com/231291.htmlhttp://kymmz.livejournal.com/231291.htmlWhat must it be like to think your life was going to be a certain way and then with no warning it's all taken away from you. And she was very young, to have lived through the war and then this, that must leave a mark.Mon, 04 Jan 2010 05:36:40 -0600Melindahttp://woomptastic.com/2010/01/03/over-and-out/http://woomptastic.com/2010/01/03/over-and-out/So it was indeed a happy holiday season for me, for us. I paused and looked around and realized that this right here, this is the life I have been trying to get to all these years.Mon, 04 Jan 2010 01:01:52 -0600Ginnyhttp://prayingtodarwin.wordpress.com/2010/01/03/the-murraying-kind/http://prayingtodarwin.wordpress.com/2010/01/03/the-murraying-kind/I don't think this is my daughter's first time around. Because she has the soul of the Perfect Housewife.Sun, 03 Jan 2010 23:06:08 -0600Krystyn Wellshttp://www.glitterbook.com/2009/?p=42http://www.glitterbook.com/2009/?p=42And you know what makes conversation easy? When you can have short silences, pauses where you don’t have to speak, you don’t have to be witty.Sun, 03 Jan 2010 21:23:09 -0600Bev Sykeshttp://www.funnytheworld.com/2010/Jan/03.htmhttp://www.funnytheworld.com/2010/Jan/03.htmIt was Christmas night many, many years ago when the doorbell rang and he stood there, looking frantic. His father was beating up his mother and he wanted us to help by calling the police. "Tell him it's XXX," he said. "They know me."Sun, 03 Jan 2010 00:02:41 -0600Bozoettehttp://bozoette.typepad.com/red_nose/2010/01/0210.htmlhttp://bozoette.typepad.com/red_nose/2010/01/0210.htmlJoe embellished his further -- he took his peppers and chopped a few pieces into his bowl. He then lifted a nice big spoonful into his mouth.Sat, 02 Jan 2010 19:48:28 -0600Sarahhttp://www.journalscape.com/rhubarb/2010-01-02-07:35/http://www.journalscape.com/rhubarb/2010-01-02-07:35/I pitched pennies, rode the merry-go-round twice, bought pink cotton candy, and won a small prize shooting arrows into a target pinned onto a bale of straw. Lunch time came and I was hot and tired, so I sat down at the booth where a small dark man was selling Italian subs (submarine sandwiches). I bought a lemonade and ....Sat, 02 Jan 2010 09:41:01 -0600Zannimhttp://zannim.com/2010/01/best-in-decadehttp://zannim.com/2010/01/best-in-decadeAnd though we grew up 70 miles apart, it took a chance meeting in Portland, Oregon, to make it stick.Fri, 01 Jan 2010 11:59:04 -0600Michaelhttp://buntsign.com/Dec09/20091231.htmlhttp://buntsign.com/Dec09/20091231.htmlIf the best thing that can be said is that things could be worse, well, I’ll take that over some of the alternatives.Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:34:05 -0600Ruthhttp://roolily.wordpress.com/2009/12/31/new-year-new-dreams/http://roolily.wordpress.com/2009/12/31/new-year-new-dreams/. . . I quickly learned that when a director jokingly says, “Put her in this shot,” there are suddenly seven people moving with military precision – snapping polaroids, putting a pen in your hand over a line on a release form and herding you through wardrobe. . .Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:43:59 -0600meloukhiahttp://meloukhia.net/2009/12/that_strange_impermanence_of_life.htmlhttp://meloukhia.net/2009/12/that_strange_impermanence_of_life.htmlThat January First, though, it was an even stranger day. It almost felt like we slipped outside time together for a moment.Thu, 31 Dec 2009 12:19:04 -0600JohnSherckhttp://wheresmyplan.blog-city.com/the_waiting_game_1.htmhttp://wheresmyplan.blog-city.com/the_waiting_game_1.htmSomeone in the house, not naming my wife by name, isn't good with waiting. Christmas presents almost kill her if they sit under the tree too long, and now that she's done with school stuff until after maternity leave ends, she's going a little stir-crazy.Wed, 30 Dec 2009 23:19:20 -0600GreenTunahttp://greentuna.blogspot.com/2009/12/worst-of-times-worst-of-times.htmlhttp://greentuna.blogspot.com/2009/12/worst-of-times-worst-of-times.htmlToday I heard a commentary on NPR stating that the past decade was the worst EVER. But sometimes it seems to take a little more time and a lot more work to remember the good stuff and I, for one, would rather learn and live than hang my head in eternal shame.Wed, 30 Dec 2009 21:48:42 -0600Stone Girlhttp://stonegirl.wordpress.com/2009/12/30/time-fillers/http://stonegirl.wordpress.com/2009/12/30/time-fillers/And somehow I feel that at the end of next year, people will look at me more approvingly if I say “I read 50 books this year” rather than if I say “I played Civilization on the Playstation 100 times this year.”Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:43:36 -0600Sherry Osbornehttp://andromeda.qc.ca/?p=2239http://andromeda.qc.ca/?p=2239It simply never occurred to me that we were atypical and that most people didn’t have Christmas that way, that most people juggled family and spread Christmas out.Tue, 29 Dec 2009 22:19:46 -0600Alicehttp://www.margaritasandmadhatters.com/?p=401http://www.margaritasandmadhatters.com/?p=401My mom’s compelling need to know everything about everyone comes from her starring role in the movie of Life, supporting cast: everyone else. Everything, everywhere, has to be all about her. Otherwise, why would it exist? Movie storylines don’t have subplots that are irrelevant to the main character.Tue, 29 Dec 2009 18:06:28 -0600Beth K.http://littleowl.livejournal.com/621775.htmlhttp://littleowl.livejournal.com/621775.htmlBack home, there was apple pie and hot tea before bed, then snuggling down into warm sheets and comforters for a 'long winter's nap'.Mon, 28 Dec 2009 09:26:53 -0600Kymm Zuckerthttp://kymmz.livejournal.com/229406.htmlhttp://kymmz.livejournal.com/229406.htmlWe went to church at St. Jane Frances tonight, I haven't been there in I'm not certain how many years, but I'm pretty sure it was before my Dad died, which means it's longer than 13 years ago.Mon, 28 Dec 2009 03:35:37 -0600Kittyhttp://cinemagypsy.wordpress.com/2009/12/28/covered/http://cinemagypsy.wordpress.com/2009/12/28/covered/I hate electric blankets because they remind me of a dying wish that was not fulfilled. Sixteen years later while on the hunt for a Snuggie, I finally learned to deal with it and in an amazing way.Mon, 28 Dec 2009 01:30:55 -0600hannahhttp://www.notbroken.net/?p=87http://www.notbroken.net/?p=87A list of things that will encourage me to say no.Sun, 27 Dec 2009 00:38:02 -0600sulyahttp://iamtheoctopus.wordpress.com/2009/12/26/the-red-shoes/http://iamtheoctopus.wordpress.com/2009/12/26/the-red-shoes/Thinking about it now, I have no idea how I used them for three solid winters in this climate, but I did. In fact, I probably wore them between 250-280 days a year for three years. Partly because the winter and wet spring weather here lasts a long time and partly because much to the chagrin of one of my friends, I’m not much of a fashion plate.Sat, 26 Dec 2009 20:36:01 -0600Hollyhttp://www.coldspaghetti.org/blog/2009/12/26/the-bird-is-the-word/http://www.coldspaghetti.org/blog/2009/12/26/the-bird-is-the-word/The (former) vegetarians tackle their first ever turkey.Sat, 26 Dec 2009 15:34:52 -0600JohnSherckhttp://wheresmyplan.blog-city.com/christmas_wars_and_battles.htmhttp://wheresmyplan.blog-city.com/christmas_wars_and_battles.htmA brief history of the holiday, what we know from centuries ago.Fri, 25 Dec 2009 23:54:52 -0600Erikhttp://www.electronic-replicant.com/?p=2428http://www.electronic-replicant.com/?p=2428Ten Lords A-Leapin' randomly encounter Eight Tiny Reindeer. Who survives?Fri, 25 Dec 2009 01:23:59 -0600Kimberlyhttp://musicandcats.com/2009/12/day-23-gifts-of-the-internet/http://musicandcats.com/2009/12/day-23-gifts-of-the-internet/In which I am moved to tears of gratitude for the gifts of this amazing web of connections we call the internet.Thu, 24 Dec 2009 11:21:33 -0600JLS Hallhttp://joysweb.blogspot.com/2009/12/vintage-thingies-thursday-doll-for.htmlhttp://joysweb.blogspot.com/2009/12/vintage-thingies-thursday-doll-for.htmlSome little girls are doll lovers and some aren't. I was definitely one. Still am, although now I'm a much older girl. And this year I'm enjoying a Christmas gift from long ago, who's back to help celebrate another Christmas Eve.Thu, 24 Dec 2009 09:31:44 -0600Charlottehttp://theatricalmilestones.blogspot.com/2009/12/bittersweet.htmlhttp://theatricalmilestones.blogspot.com/2009/12/bittersweet.htmlLet's face it: In many respects, this year's been like a bad country song.Thu, 24 Dec 2009 01:08:56 -0600Margaret DeAngelishttp://www.silkentent.com/Trees/?p=2270http://www.silkentent.com/Trees/?p=2270I knew instantly that something wasn’t right about this. And it took me just two clicks to get the facts. Try it yourself. Enter into Google the words “Michelle Obama soup kitchen cell phone” (Google will probably anticipate most of what follows after “soup”) and you’ll be able to access the same Snopes.com explanation I did.Wed, 23 Dec 2009 21:31:34 -0600SaturnCathttp://saturncat.multiply.com/journal/item/379/Random_Fiction_--_The_Wedding_Fairyhttp://saturncat.multiply.com/journal/item/379/Random_Fiction_--_The_Wedding_FairyThis is a random fiction blurb, prompted by nothing except my own fluffy brain. Enjoy!Wed, 23 Dec 2009 01:52:14 -0600Thomas Mulrooneyhttp://nosignalinput.livejournal.com/268466.htmlhttp://nosignalinput.livejournal.com/268466.htmlI’m so craving for a packet of Nik Naks right now.Tue, 22 Dec 2009 18:05:45 -0600Kittyhttp://cinemagypsy.wordpress.com/2009/12/22/she-sells-electricity/http://cinemagypsy.wordpress.com/2009/12/22/she-sells-electricity/The tornado sirens went off while I was on a walk. Running back home, I met a panicked stranger and offered her shelter in my house.Tue, 22 Dec 2009 04:46:11 -0600MissMelisshttp://www.missmeliss.com/2009/12/other-verses-o-holy-night/http://www.missmeliss.com/2009/12/other-verses-o-holy-night/Pipe dreams about recording aside, I’m not sure why I love this song so much. It’s much more religious than most of the music – even most of the Christmas tunes – I favor, and frankly, I have some issues with proclaiming the name of any king forever, whether or not they’re the son of God.Tue, 22 Dec 2009 02:45:39 -0600meloukhiahttp://meloukhia.net/2009/12/solstice-3.htmlhttp://meloukhia.net/2009/12/solstice-3.htmlEverything is still tightly furled and closed against the cold today. The bulbs are dormant under the ground. The trees are still and quiet. This, the shortest day of the year, will be over in a brief flurry.Mon, 21 Dec 2009 12:50:54 -0600Sarahhttp://www.journalscape.com/rhubarb/2009-12-21-09:47/http://www.journalscape.com/rhubarb/2009-12-21-09:47/The dark time of the year comes again. Day is compressed into a few hours; the night spreads its wings to the maximum. It is cold and windy. People huddle into their heavy coats and sweaters; animals curl up in their burrows or homes they share with their humans.Mon, 21 Dec 2009 11:50:09 -0600SuperMelhttp://fontfondler.blogspot.com/2009/12/cake-disaster.htmlhttp://fontfondler.blogspot.com/2009/12/cake-disaster.htmlI first sensed that something was wrong when the strawberry-lemon filling required 3 saucepans and "chill at least 2 hours before using". It went downhill from there.Mon, 21 Dec 2009 09:19:40 -0600Hollyhttp://www.coldspaghetti.org/blog/2009/12/20/12-days-of-christmas-in-sound-only/http://www.coldspaghetti.org/blog/2009/12/20/12-days-of-christmas-in-sound-only/Song provides inspiration to the week's challenges.Sun, 20 Dec 2009 22:16:34 -0600Ginnyhttp://prayingtodarwin.wordpress.com/2009/12/19/a-tree-grows-in-the-psych-ward/http://prayingtodarwin.wordpress.com/2009/12/19/a-tree-grows-in-the-psych-ward/The OCD was worst for her at night, when everyone else could escape into sleep, or some version of it.Sat, 19 Dec 2009 22:54:57 -0600