Alright, 16 days to go...

Where is all the Christmas decorations? Apart from driving by the street vendors selling cut trees, I haven't seen one indoors with all the tinsel, bulbs, and stringed lights. Is everyone in denial? Or is there a lack of Christmas spirit? I did consider purchasing a pine cone wreath around Thanksgiving but opted for the gold festive table cloth. (Wow, my life is full of exciting choices isn't it?) Anyway, I have convinced my wonderful roommate that a white Christmas tree will be cool and fun. So, once we find this tree- which to be honest it will have to withstand the force of 3 cats with veracious appetites for anything jingly, sparkly, and dangling. This tree may have to be suspended much like a chandelier. Its going to be more like a art installation then anything traditional. But I have to kind of debate with what is considered traditional. So, why are we placing gifts under a cut tree in our sitting rooms anyway? How this tradition began I am clueless? And how its still around is beyond me! But I still love the food, the get togethers, the surprizingly awesome gifts, hanging my dog's stocking-then filling it with treats, mistletoe, eggnog, mailed Christmas cards, shopping, wrapping, singing Christmas songs, and having the day off! So, come on people deck the halls!!!

Broken windshield

It's Broad street around 4pm its snowing and getting dark. I'm happy enough, heats on and a song I happened to love just started. I have a nostalgic moment as I turn it up. As the chorus starts-"Can you take it all away? Can you take it all away? While you shoved in my face!" I look to my left and notice a police car behind a regular car in the center lane. The traffic slows and I notice the car has a smashed windshield, there's a young woman in tears, and the police officer is writing. Now I pass the whole accident, still singing the song and trying to analyze what I just witnessed. Since, there was only her car and no tow truck, I started to wonder if she had hit a pedestrian! That would make sense, if she had made a right hand turn on to Broad street. Who did she hit? Was he homeless? Where is he now? And I start in to the chorus again- "Can you take it all away? Can you take it all away? Then think- I wonder how hurt that person must be or worse did he die? Judging by how smashed in her windshield was I could only imagine. Well, after a few tears I made it home, thankfully!

I need the perfect black boot!

It's as if each winter season I find myself ill prepared for what to wear? I didn't just move here from some tropical island. I was born and raised here in the NJ/PA area. We only have two seasons-cold & hot! What did I wear last winter just t-shirts and tank tops? And even worse yet, my footwear there's nothing for snow except for a pair of black work boots battle scared from salted rainmelts. But I can't pair them up with a cute skirt and tartan tights. I'd be in contempt of style court! They would give me a strong verbal warning to never look like one of the extras in-Singles again. So, ok I have a few sweaters, and some long sleeve shirts, but nothing extensive. To top it all off I have a few tattered coats with missing buttons, blown out pockets and the lining in one has fallen down, like some tired old lady slip. I really need super sexy and super cool black leather boots (the added bonus of keeping my feet warm would be nice but not necessary if the other 2 needs are met)! I am not kidding, this is desperate ladies...Who wants to go shopping?

We are last to sign the Kyoto treaty!!!

Australia signed today, leaving the United States last to sign the Kyoto treaty...we are the #1 contributors of carbon emissions globally!

Dec. 1, 1955

I rarely take the bus, but when I do I find it a humbling experience. As it takes so much more time then it is to just get in your car and go. So, on the rare occassion that my car is being serviced or abandoned because of happy hour delights. I find myself on a bus stop unwillingly at the mercy of someone elses schedule. But as I wait I start to look around and see my neighborhood, my surroundings in great detail a vantage that is hardly viewed through windshield. It isn't climate controlled and it doesn't have a trendy soundtrack. It is beyond my control and we all need to be reminded how good we have it. Rosa Parks sat down in the "whites only" section of the bus on this date 52 years ago. She was tired of being seggregated. This was not long ago, this was just a generation ago. My parents generation! They knew a time where they had to choose what fountain to drink from and what bathroom to use and not being "white" or "black" the decision was not always easy. But I raise my glass today for Rosa Parks for her I owe my right of being equal.