Merry Christmas, everybody! Hope you all had a great weekend. My time down here in Venezuela with my family has been great. Always fun to spend time relaxing and having fun with family. I also got some great news regarding some things I am planning for 2011. Hopefully I can share this exciting stuff with you guys soon. 

Thank you all for reading my blog and submitting your questions. Got some good ones this week … 

Q: At times, you have been criticized for not directing your pitchers to throw at batters in retaliation for them throwing at White Sox hitters. Your thoughts on this. 

A: First of all, I am not a headhunter. When I was playing, I used to tell pitchers what to do and who to hit because I was in the lineup and pitchers could hit me. As a manager, I don’t like telling pitchers who to hit because I’m not in the lineup, and I don’t want any of my players to get hurt because of me. The players should police themselves and take care of that like they used to. Players always took care of that stuff. They shouldn’t need anyone telling them what to do. 

Q: Ozzie, what did you get your wife for Christmas? 

A: I got her a purse because I know how much women love purses. To me, presents don’t really matter. And to my family, it’s more about all of us being together. That just doesn’t apply to Christmas, either. That’s what we enjoy every day. I want my family to be tight, so our main joy comes from seeing the kids together on Christmas. 

Q: What is the typical Christmas like in the Guillen house? 

A: We have dinner and a nice get-together. We hang out, drink and dance. We don’t get to the whole presents thing until way later. To us, it’s a bigger deal on New Years because we have a lot more traditions that we do then. Christmas is more a time to relax and party. 

Q: What is the best Christmas gift someone has ever given you? 

A: To me, the best Christmas gift I can ever get is that all my kids are with my wife and I. We are still together, and that’s all I can ask for. Every material gift has a different meaning, and they are all special. But I do enjoy scarves for the cold Chicago winters. 

Q: What do you eat for Christmas dinner? 

A: Hallacas, pork, turkey, “pan de jamon” — which is bread with ham and some special stuffing — and chicken salad with carrots and potatoes. Oh yeah, and lots of Polar beer. 

Once again, I want to say best wishes to all you guys, from my family to yours. I can’t wait for 2011 because 2010 was very frustrating to me. I even got some grey hair over it, and I can’t have that! (haha) I’m not Richard Gere! And just remember, if you want your dreams to come true, you have to wake up and go get them! 

Happy New Year! 

— Ozzie