Jingle bells and Batman don't smell

Finally did something last night that felt like Christmas. I haven't been into the season at all this year - I've only half-decorated; I've already blogged about the marginal satisfaction of shopping this year; I've done NO baking; I haven't seen any Christmas shows - it just feels like the whole season is slipping away.

But last night, after a fabulous dinner with My Girls at Fino, we went down to 37th Street and looked at the lights. We went to Starbucks, and I got a peppermint hot chocolate, and we walked the length of the street, oooing and ahhing and even singing some Christmas carols. It was really nice. :) First time all season that I've really felt like it was the season.

Of course, that's all gone this morning. Crazy day at work, temps in the upper 70s today, and tons of non-Christmas stuff to do today (including going to court on that b.s. speeding ticket tonight - power to the people!), but at least for a moment, it was Christmas.

She's a mysterious soul

In my email, Mercedes Masters wants to know, "Does it satisfy her?" I don't know, Mercedes. I haven't really talked to her about it, and if I did, I'm not sure she'd tell me. She's a people-pleaser, so she's likely to tell me it's wonderful and all she could ask for when in reality, she's left feeling wanting. I'd like to think it satisfies her. She's a nice person, and I want her to be happy. But there's just no way of knowing if she won't be open about her feelings.

Temps in fabulous Austin, Texas to hit 70-73 today (depending on which forecast you watch). I see all these stories about blizzard conditions up north, and I gotta say, it's good to live in Texas. Oh wait - no, it's not. It's awful to live here, so if you live somewhere else, you should stay there. Don't move here. You wouldn't like it.

Sharky is filthy and deserves better, so I'll have to consider going through a car wash. It's a little chilly to wash it myself (by the time I get home, the temps will no doubt be dropping back into the 60s, and that's a little cold to be getting wet washing a car), but I also don't feel like spending a bunch of money on a Genie-level car wash, so I may just run it through a gas station set-up for a few bucks just to knock the dirt off. It's much too soon to be neglecting Sharky this way.

Hope you're all having a fabulous pre-Christmas week!

Where does the tree skirt go?

It's a beautiful day here in the neighborhood - in fact, it's unseasonably beautiful. It'll be in the 80s (as in a high of almost 90) today here in Austin, Texas, and that's just craaaaazy! It is November, right? Thanksgiving is only two weeks away, and I'm in a sleeveless shirt today (a zippy little number with a leopard print and these little fringe things all over to make it look furry. My co-worker said it's "super cute" and she's a fashionista - she knows.). I can't even begin to think about Christmas (only 6 weeks away!) until I'm at least in a jacket, and I've done no Christmas shopping at all. I'm not really complaining, because a beautiful day is beautiful no matter what month it comes. I'm just having a hard time getting into the holiday spirit when it feels like May.

But fear not! Retailers have indicated their wish to get me in the spirit whether it feels natural or not. In fact, some are going to make sure I don't confuse the biggest shopping season of the year with anything natural OR spiritual: http://www.hammacher.com/publish/72376.asp. Sure, you'd look like a half-wit to anyone who entered your home, but there'd be so much more room for presents!!! And isn't that really what Christmas is all about? (sniff!)