Fa La Jolly Elf Socks

Above: A holiday window all done up Lower East Side Style (NYC) -- Lava lamps, screaming skulls and hookahs, these are a few of my favorite things. ;-)

Below: One of the animated windows at Macy's on 34th Street (Midtown Manhattan) as in 'The Miracle on 34th Street Macy's.'

'Tis a wondrous culture clash....!

However, right now, instead of Christmas, it's feeling more like 'Sometimes I Feel it's Raining All Over the World.' It's warm, in the 60's Fahrenheit, and stormy right here right now. Thankfully, it didn't start until after I got home from work and was inside for the evening. Yay! Thanks for small favors!

Anyone who knows me knows I take NJ Transit commuter trains to work. Anyone who knows me knows that I'm one of those evil anti-cellphone kinda gals. Tonight on my way home from work there was a young woman who was not only talking way too loudly on her cellphone, but she also said "know what I'm saying" - "you know what I'm saying" in between about every fourth word she uttered! Ack! Two pet peeves wrapped up in one in this girl! Plus, she was loud! I so wanted to look over the seat back at her and say, "Yes! I know what you're saying. The whole world, or at least this train car, knows what you're saying! We can't miss what you're saying because you're so DARNED LOUD! Shut up!" Then, in my fantasies, I grab the cell phone and stomp on it.

Alas, all I really did was give her a dirty look when I got up to exit the train. Or, would that be detrain?

You don't want to hear my thoughts about cellphone use in restaurants, theaters, stores and other public places. I don't want to know your personal life. I can't imagine who you must be talking to on the 6:40 AM train or why you can't go an hour without gabbing!