The end of the year signals a lot of things for me: crazy holiday schedules, budget breaking, juggling way too much at the same time. And then the Ahhhhh! moment when it’s all finally over.

Call me a scrooge, but there’s a part of me that can’t wait for the holiday season to move on so I can get on with everyday life. (Yes, you holiday lovers can send me hate emails; I deserve it.)

The only saving grace to this hectic and excessive time is that I get to give gifts. I do like that part.

Case in point: Below are 4 editorial gifts to you… and although I wish they were cashezoids (definition: limitless cash falling from the sky) -- they are not. Instead, they are my editorial attempts to help you get that much smarter. Think of them as the gifts that keep on giving….

1. My OSP Forum: This new column is the place where YOU express your opinion via a printed soap box. Whether it’s an opinion about the perfect storm leading to 100GbE or another matter that gets your blood boiling, this is the place to let YOUR opinions be heard!

2. OSP Humor: Ever heard of latency via hamburger? Have we got a story for you. Starting in January, we’ll feature some real-life and, at times, embellished stories from the field. Too much serious stuff in our telecom world can make us all dull. Submit humorous stories, and I’ll share them with your peers.

3. Disaster Recovery: Floods, hurricanes, freezing temperatures -- you face them all. But do you get the credit you deserve? While you’re dealing with all that attractive stuff, why not snap a few photos and send ‘em my way. I’ll publish them and give you the “Attaboy!” (or girl) kudos you deserve in print.

4. OSP EXPO 2012 -- Denver, Colorado. Rocky mountains, CenturyLink’s Pieter Poll as our keynote presenter, and crisp blue skies. Does it get any better than that? Did you mark your calendar yet? November 13 - 15, 2012. Be there!

Whoa! That giving thing feels pretty darned good. Seeeeee… I’m not as Scrooge-like as you thought.

Wait a minute. I suddenly feel the need to place inflatable Santas and Rudolphs in my yard… Maybe not.