I avoided having to do a lot of Christmas shopping by driving a half hour back to my house in order to retrieve all the gifts (some of them hand-made) that I left sitting on the porch. Oy.

Mom and I are going to go out to IKEA near here, on the theory that there won't be too many last-minute furniture shoppers. Wish us luck!

At my 3 year old's (corporate, totally pc) daycare, last week was "December holidays" week - Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Christmas in Mexico (hee!), and Christmas. It's unclear how much actual theology was taught; they're three, after all. There were, however, treats. But no latkes.

I attended 5th grade in a very multiculti upscale suburb of Boston and loved it that they did lots of different holidays - parents came in and did Chanukah, Diwali, Chinese New Year, etc. I like Chanukah best, for the latkes, natch. Nothing like frying things in hot oil in a classroom with 10 year olds looking on.

In Ohio. Tired.

I'm off to go start Christmas shopping! Wish me luck!

That was my dad's line yesterday. It went ok. May it go well fo you too.

msbelle, I love that throwing and airplane are some of his favorites. At least you've continued to avoid the purple menace.

Things are going surprisingly well, so far. I got to Soho as the stores were opening, so it wasn't wicked crowded like it usually is. I got my Mom a faux fur blanket from Pottery Barn, pre-boxed and wrapped, and my nephew a board game from the Scholastic store.

Next, I'm heading up to Chelsea.

Good going, Tom!

W're heading to the farmer's market shortly. Will be cool. A little literally, but the sun is WARM.

What annoys me is how Chanukah is taught as if it's a major holiday, while actual major holidays are completely ignored. (Also, Cindy, on that Hebrew that you quoted, I was really surprised that they had the prayer word used for the name of G-d. I would REALLY expect them to use "Hashem" instead, on a paper being handed out to a bunch of elementary school kids.)

Also, I really see no reason for teaching about the miracle and the prayers at school. They can teach about the menorah and the dreidl and the "what people do" at that age -- the "what people believe" can wait until later.

Forecast is for 60 today in NYC!! 60 on 12/23!

What annoys me is how Chanukah is taught as if it's a major holiday, while actual major holidays are completely ignored. (Also, Cindy, on that Hebrew that you quoted, I was really surprised that they had the prayer word used for the name of G-d. I would REALLY expect them to use "Hashem" instead, on a paper being handed out to a bunch of elementary school kids.)

I was a little surprised by that, too. Maybe because it was an English transliteration? There's no credit on the paper (I can't tell what company published the lesson), so it's probably from a scholastic secular publishing house that does a Holidays-Around-the-World series.

Also, I really see no reason for teaching about the miracle and the prayers at school. They can teach about the menorah and the dreidl and the "what people do" at that age -- the "what people believe" can wait until later.

I had no problem with the lesson, which is why I'm not going to say anything to the school. School admins. don't want hassle, and it'll get canned in the wink of an eye, if anyone brings it up, so I'm just not.

I loved the lesson. I wasn't going to type out the whole thing, but it wasn't presented in a Worship-this-way sort of way. It was a presented in a Here's-what-this-is-about way.

Another earthquake and I was the only one in the house to feel it. The dog didn't even react. WTF.

I hit a brick wall, and now I'm home.

I'll rest up and decompress a bit, and then I'll go out again. Just three more presents to go.

Hopefully, I'll finish everything today, and won't have to do anything but drink tomorrow.