Go the mall on Christmas Eve expecting to see caffeine-fueled shoppers and you might miss the others. "We've been done with our shopping for a while, or my wife has," Don Gorman says at The Plaza. "We're just hanging out," wife/family shopper Karen says. Come on, why else drive here from Phoenixville? "To let the kids run, so they don't drive us crazy." Daniel, 3, stands tippy-toe in the stroller. Ashley, 4, leans into the fountain, and Rachel, not yet 2, does a squirmy-whine in Dad's hands. "I think she's hungry," the dad says. While here, they are spending money, too. "There're a couple of sales," Dan says. "I needed a new pair of jeans and my wife needed a new heating pad."
Inquirer reporter Mike Jensen is the college basketball columnist for the Inquirer. Each year, he gives a special insight into the tournament.
Inquirer reporter Jeff McLane is the beat writer for Temple. He will pick the tournament.
Inquirer reporter Tom Fitzgerald will blog about Hillary Clinton's Pa. visits March 10 &11.
Inquirer reporter Larry Eichel will post updates on Bill Clinton's March 7 visit to Media.
Inquirer reporter Tim Panaccio will write about National Hockey League trade talk.
Inquirer reporter David Aldridge will live-blog the week before the NBA's trade deadline.
Peter Mucha began this blog, before moving on to other writing duties.
Philly.com discussions are intended to be civil, friendly conversations. Please treat other participants with respect and in a way that you would want to be treated. You are responsible for what you say. And please, stay on topic.
These boards are monitored by Philly.com staff. We reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us in our sole discretion and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. Personal attacks, especially on other board participants, are not permitted. We reserve the right to permanently block any user who violates these terms and conditions.