"Nothing New" - Taking the $$ out of Chri$tma$

The whole shopping frenzy that is the Christmas season is something I've been trying to come to terms with for years. Here's an idea from a work colleague:

"Our family started a Christmas tradition called 'nothing new under
the tree' - each year we give gifts that are not commercial in nature,
something handmade, a gift certificate for a lesson or some time
together, We have been doing this for 14 years now and it has taken the
consumerism out of Christmas."

Whaddaya say family? Wanna try it next year?

My boots are being held hostage!

About 2 weeks ago, on a Wednesday, I brought my favorite boots to the shoe repair place near work.

The next morning the building was shut down and evacuated by the Dept of Buildings. Apparently, the construction next door dug too deep and destabilized the foundation.

There are currently huge braces holding the building up.

Literally.

I think I'm going to have to go shoe shopping...

Only in NY. Really.

It happened in court:

"One by one, people were called to the front of the room. When someone with an open container violation was called up, the bailiff read their name and, strangely, the brand of alcohol they were drinking.

Middle-aged black men were usually caught with Hennessy, Hispanics always preferred Corona, and a preppy woman blushed with embarrassment when it was announced to the crowd that she was busted for guzzling white wine from Crescendo Hills Vineyards.

The only oddity came when an the bailiff announced “Moet Champagne” and an Asian man with a ponytail strutted cockily to the front of the room while murmurs of “All right!” and “That’s the way to do it, man!” came from the crowd."

Courtesy of Hoboken411.

Where's the Money Lebowski?

Thanks to Laughing at the Pieces for leading me to this critique of the Big L.

(I guess this is way the whole durn blogosphere keeps perpetuatin' itself.)

I'm Done! I'm-done-I'm-done-I'm-done-I'M-DONE!

No more boob-zapping!

Huzzah!

Woo-hoo!

Yippee!

(I tried to find a clip online of "Mad About You," Season 1, Episode 6, but no luck. There's a point in there when Jamie screams, "I won! I-won-I-won-I-won-I-won!" The phrase is a little off, but the triumphant excitement is dead on. I can screen it for you the next time you visit.)

Christmas Song Rant

I read this on one of blogs I follow today and couldn't resist sharing.

Here's an excerpt about that stupid Christmas Shoes song (you know, the one they made a TV movie out of): "if shoes are what impress Jesus, I'm screwed"

Revelation

I just realized something...

To celebrate the end of the major components of my treatment, the hubby and I are jetting off (I love how that sounds) to London the day after Christmas and staying through New Year's.

As you can no doubt appreciate, I'm particularly anxious to celebrate the END of 2007.

What I realized is that, since we'll be in London, we'll actually get to start 2008 FIVE HOURS EARLIER than if we were here.

Woo-hoo! Take that 2007!