HO HO HO one week to go!

So what's up with all this Wall Street chicanery? I can only dream of having a tenth of all the money that's been lost over the last three months. Many opinions and leading minds will tell you that we as a nation have to own up to our need to live large; and I agree with that sentiment to some degree. I also believe that because of American's bias towards allowing the "White Collar" free reign of the financial wheels, such as hedge funds and money market funds and..., well you get the point, that this heavily contributed to the finacial meltdown that began in September. There's a reason why we have laws and regulations to govern most everything that isn't nailed down in America, it's because sadly people are weak and will break the law in the name of greed. Of course, the hypocritical rub is that we as a nation are all too ready to let someone, who wears a two thousand dollar suit to work, off the hook because gosh darn it he has an MBA and well he does look good in that suit and that BMW. Enough of that soapbox. Christmas is a week away. The one thing I really like about Christmas these past few years has been the advent ( nice how I worked that in huh?) of radio stations going to Christmas music round the clock. For those of us who really dig Gene Autrey it's quite the boon. However, it also means I am forced to endure Pop screechess Mariah Carey. Not enough words that have a negative connotation can adequately express my extreme displeasure for Mariah Carey, as I believe she is a hack to the "Nth" power. Seriously "All I want for Christmas" is for Carey to spontaneously combust mysteriously in a New York nighclub on Christmas Eve... is this too much to ask? I suppose the problem with that is then this will somehow make her a pop culture saint and will ensure even more playing of her awful Christmas music. Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Claus but even he can't stomach The Screech. Anyhow, so I'm off tomorrow and looking forward to sleeping without impunity or would that be with impunity? Of course I will be punished for this but it's going to happen.... oh yes it is. The newest discovery this year is cherry flavored Three Musketeers bars, officially bringing to pass the fourth sign of the Apocalypse. Who cares though, they're a comfort food. At least that will be my story when Judgement day comes. "I'm sorry I ate that fiftieth cherry Musketeer bar for breakfast...I'M WEAK!!Please be gentle oh forgiving Lord". So lately these past few years I can't really get a handle on what I'd like as a present for Christmas. I think it's a sign of growing old, you begin to acquire so much junk in your home you realize what's the point of that Cyndi Lauper chia pet? Actually I've heard they are trying to market a Mariah Carey chia pet but can't stop them from tipping over.
Merry Christmas J

Chestnuts boasting in an open foyer.... or sumpin like that.

Yes.... is that's time of year when the world falls in love every song you hear seems to say...Love me I'm Hannah Montana. Anywho in a couple of weeks we'll open gifts, travel about town and come home exhausted from the same ole, same ole deja vu we experienced last year. Just once I wish they'd televise "It's a Wonderful Life" during the lead-up to Christmas. They never show that movie anymore. As you get older you begin to realize that routine is at once a blessing and a curse that befalls us one and all. Mix it up? sure!... got the extra bucks for that? Is there a true meaning of Christmas anymore to be found? Does anyone want to find it? Is it a Charlie Brown Christmas? Ya betcha! Sorry couldn't resist that dig at Mrs. Marcus. Maybe Christmas is feeling like something new is afoot and yet still being grounded in the faith of celebrating the one perfect person who guides, loves and forgives us, even when we don't listen to his counsel so well. Maybe it's feeling that the human race is inherently good and does strive to do good and take care of one another sometimes. Maybe it's recognizing that in this gargantuan universe even though it just might be us here, at least we're here. Perhaps, its enough to realize we can't do it all alone and that the person next to us feels the same way but is afraid to admit that, so we just hope secretly that he feels the same way. Maybe Christmas is all those things to us and we know this but choose only to recognize it for a few days a year, for that is all the spirit we can give. Christmas is a time to remember the one person who loved us despite all our faults, mistakes we make, and continue to make. Christmas should be about realizing all of this and loving each other as Jesus did.
J