I have a plan! Drive to Santa Fe. Check into a hotel. Sleep late. Eat lots of green chile dishes. Walk around Old Town. Eat posole. Drink mexican hot chocolate. Visit a nearby pueblo. Xmas eve, wander old town and oogle the luminarias. After xmas, drive 4-5 hours south and visit me!

Uh, that wasn't what you were looking for, huh?

Oh and sopapillas!

I just crashed my cat into a chair.

Were you driving the cat, Sarameg, or just swinging it around the room?

I'm not going to stay with my family this Christmas for the first time in many years, and I was thinking of buying a tree and decorating a little. Well, I looked at trees ... the live ones are mostly larger than I want, plus my apartment's so hot and dry, I was afraid one would dry out and die before Christmas. I thought of one of the rosemary trees, but much the same problem. I looked at artificial ones, but didn't see any I liked that weren't really expensive or too big. Yesterday I came home and found a package - a present from a friend. I opened it and inside was a tiny boxwood "tree", maybe 18" tall (I think it's boxwood branches in florist foam in a tree shape). It's got a big gold bow on top, red berries, and big gold jingle bells on gold cord wrapped around. And a tiny tree skirt! Besest friend ever!

She was chasing the ribbon. She's been relentless about it. If she's awake, she's bringing it to me to flail.

Toddson, that's a wonderful gift.

Timelies all!

Happy Birthday Typo Boy!

My cat just ate a post-it. Neon orange.

My cat just ate a post-it. Neon orange.

Don't worry, you'll see it again.

Update on Johnson:

The office of Senator Tim Johnson has released the following at approximately 5pm ET:

Admiral John Eisold, Attending Physician of the United States Capitol said, "Senator Tim Johnson has continued to have an uncomplicated post-operative course. Specifically, he has been appropriately responsive to both word and touch. No further surgical intervention has been required."

I opened it and inside was a tiny boxwood "tree", maybe 18" tall (I think it's boxwood branches in florist foam in a tree shape). It's got a big gold bow on top, red berries, and big gold jingle bells on gold cord wrapped around. And a tiny tree skirt! Besest friend ever!

I've seen those at Eastern Market and am seriously considering it. Either that, or hanging my nice ornaments off a pretty ribbon over my notsomuchanymore!fireplace.

Would a ficus plan object to having ornaments hung on it? Cuz I have two of those.

The Modest Needs link just solved my dilemma over the last two gifts on my list. Yay for the great idea!

eta: I spoke to a cardiologist about Johnson today. He does aortal imaging research (he even commented on how incredibly niche that is) and is a vehement Dem. He's looked over all the Johnson stories and is pretty hopeful. We ended our discussion about it with every appendage crossed.