I should also say I'm a big fan of xmas, as well. I love the whole lights and garland and trees and PRESENTS thing.

But then there's the chanukah thing which comes with OMG latkes with sour cream and chocolate coins.

Which is why chrismakah is the perfect holiday.

My mom was trying to find some winter decorations for the house that were not Christmasy. She wasn't having much luck. (Inside decorations, not outside decorations. She wanted stuff like little figures of snowmen or ice skaters or stuff like that to put around, but nearly everything she found was red and green or had Christmas stuff with it. I found a few things, but all of them she either didn't like or thought were too expensive.)

It's weird. You'd think there'd be stuff that's just wintery, even, but it doesn't seem like there's much out there. Of course, I am Christian and have not decorated AT ALL and now I suddenly look all Grinchy because my neighbor (well, the new wife, I assume) has gone all out decorating. And I was just thinking to myself that it didn't matter that I didn't decorate since they were the only ones who would see it. But apparently, they have decorated for me.

In onerous task extension day, I tried to make my problematic phone call again and got a busy signal. This is a major state public office. I called the first time and got no answer, and this time a busy signal? Do they still have busy signals? Seriously, you don't have a voicemail system?

I did all the errands!!!

Yay, go you!

And oh, luxurious fair trade bath fizzy was luxurious! It smelled so good and felt nice and was just generally great.

Ooh! Third time's a charm, or posting makes it happen. Got right through, AND they gave me the answer I wanted. Yay for being in good standing!

I love the red and green decorations. Evergreen and holly berries are just winter shit. Like snow. Except in Socal, where we just get dust storms, which aren't as pretty.

Onerous task: scheduling a meeting with VERY IMPORTANT PEOPLE who all insist that this VERY IMPORTANT MEETING take place either monday or tuesday. Great. Except that their calendars are filled and they can't move these other meetings.

I suggested a rift in time-space.

PS: I missed you guys.

As a shiksa married to a Jew, I haven't that much trouble finding good holiday decorations. I buy all the sparkly decorations I want, but keep them in the blue and silver color range. I also find a lot of wintry-type decorations, like [link] and this: [link] Or a bunch of these: [link]

I also collect snow globes and put those on the mantel, and just avoid any baby Jesus ones.

My mom was trying to find some winter decorations for the house that were not Christmasy.

My mom has some snowman decor, so it does exist. I'll bet there are also lots of snowflake things.

There are actual snowmen out along my street. One is nearly 6' tall and has a carrot nose and coal eyes.