Happy Festivus

Happy first day of Winter! When I got off work this morning it was a balmy 21 degrees outside. I almost wished I had a pair of flip-flops to wear! You can really tell the difference between 21 degrees and minus 21 degrees. It's been so cold for the last couple of weeks that our concrete steps leading to the back door have cracked. After the holidays we'll have to look into rebuilding the back porch and steps. It shouldn't be too awfully expensive (I hope!), just time consuming.

A friend of ours was out shopping recently and at the end of the transaction she thanked the clerk and wished her a Merry Christmas. At this point the clerk proceded to jump our friend's ass and yell at her, "How dare you assume that I celebrate Christian holidays! Blah, blah, blah..." Now let me tell you, I'm all for people being entitled to their own personal beliefs, and I hate it when strangers try to shove religion down my throat, but geez it was just a friendly comment. It is, after all, the most commercial time of the year. Everyone celebrates Christmas or Hannukah or Kwanzaa or Boxing Day or Give Me A Free Gift Day or something! And besides that, it was a store employee for christ's sake! All she had to do was smile and walk away. I'll be the first one to run scared when a bunch of Christians are headed my way, but I don't think I've ever been outwardly rude to any of them. (And believe me, I can be rude.) So I can only assume that the less-than-merry store employee will be spending this weekend gathered 'round the Festivus pole with her family, airing their grievances and competing in feats of strength. I, on the other hand, will be spending this merriest of holidays with Vickie's mom and her old-people friends and being dragged to church to participate in Christian-themed events. I need to further investigate this whole Festivus thing.