Don't worry, Sue...I'm sure it will be okay.

iPod disaster has been (mostly) solved. Never-used desktop with huge external drive just became Home of the iPod and iTunes. My laptop will simply have the (fewer) MusicMatch files, if I want to use them, but since I have a nice pair of traveling Bose speakers and a dock, I won't even need to worry about the laptop. I'll just hook the iPod into the speakers and poof--music.

And yes, I am buying a PowerBook eventually. I have accepted this. It just can't happen until I make some money on the side here. Because...when the choice is "have money to travel with older laptop" or "have shiny new laptop but no travel money", there is no contest.

Btw, Hec, MWAH! for that Dorothy Hamill moment.

Hec! You don't really have snow, do you?

t /uncertain and gullible

bats eyelashes

Meanwhile - wheeeeeeee! Off to Egypt tomorrow morning! Haven't had anything like long enough back in Blighty, but c'est la vie. Have spent obscene quantities of money on books and DVDs and CDs which aren't available in the Egypt. Am v. chuffed with Santa-given and self-purchased booty. Go Team Christmas!

NB - are there any non-Christians who actively get offended about being wished a Merry Christmas? 'Cause I'm all 'Merry Christmas' gal, despite being (a) not Christian and (b) living in a Muslim country, and I've been cheerfully wishing Merry Christmas (or Kura Sanna W'inta taib, ie 'Happy Festival!') to all my Muslim mates with gay abandon, and been Merry Christmassed by them. But I know there are people who are much more intense about religion, so - any of y'all actively offended by it? Or know anyone who's actively offended? Just wondering. I'm little miss Trying-To-Avoid-Packing right now. Yes indeedy.

Happy Birthday Theodosia, Jesse, and Rayne!

The steak was excellent. Everybody should have steak today. Maybe with martinis.

Hmm. My favorite local restaurant happens to have $15 steak specials on Sunday nights. And cheap Bellinis. Coincidence? I think not.

Hope everyone is having a great Decompressing-from-Christmas-Why-the-Hell-Is-Everything-STILL-Closed?!? Day.

Hope everyone is having a great Decompressing-from-Christmas-Why-the-Hell-Is-Everything-STILL-Closed?!? Day.

With a helping of snow on the side, for me.

Fay - I seriously doubt anyone is offended by being wished a Merry Christmas. I have however run into some Christians who are offended at being wished "Happy Holidays", I guess cause that implies some other holiday might be of equal importance with Christmas. This meme is being spread in the U.S. by Limbaugh, O'Reilly, and other insano types. The idea is that Christmas is being threatened by not being mentioned enough, and they are going to "save Christmas" by bashing anyone who mentions the holiday season without mentioning Christmas. I admit to feeling some temptation to go through the season without mentioning the C word; but I've decided I've finally outgrown the "do not put beans up your nose" stage. (The stage of childhood where you would put beans up your specifically because someone ordered you not to.)

Oh, and a belated Merry Christmas lovely Fay.

waves mistletoe

MWAH!

Huh. I would have thought Limbaugh would speak more in support of the commercialization of Christmas, as that's more in line with one's religion if Mammon is the god one worships.

Ooh, Fay and mistletoe! Hi, everyone...have not been around because Actual Deadline, so, have worked all day despite it being Sunday. But I think I made it...go, me!

I admit to feeling some temptation to go through the season without mentioning the C word; but I've decided I've finally outgrown the "do not put beans up your nose" stage.

I had this temptation, too.

I'm not offended by someone telling me "Merry Christmas." If someone Jewish who knows I'm Jewish says it to me, I might roll my eyes, and there have been certain days, usually after shopping all day, when I've just felt so overwhelmed by Christmassy stuff that any mention of it will feel annoying, but never offensive.

I seriously doubt anyone is offended by being wished a Merry Christmas.

No, I can totally see irritation, which means that I'm sure there are people actually offended.

The presumption of Christianity is a stifling one.