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.

Of course, the Cubbies will win the World Series, on the way, so it will all be worth it.

Yes, the Boston Red Sox winning set the stage for the apocalypse. A Cubbie win would put us over the edge.

Narrator, [Monk casting spoiler for tonight's episode] Sarah

I saw her, briefly, but got distracted before the episode ended. She looked OK. I like the NuNuCarly, but I still miss her.

I ended up missing it. She really was my favorite. I'm not sure I've seen NuNu Carly.

I read a really big GH spoiler at TV Guide (not concerning Carly). It's a couple of months away, but I kind of can't believe it was spoiled, where it was, as it was. I was going to white font it here, but even though this board isn't soapy, I don't think that would be in keeping with the rules. I'm going to put it in the spoiler thread.

I just sat down to the computer with the FedEx door tag they'd left yesterday, to find out if there was any way for me to get my sister's book before I left for home tomorrow. It's not like the tag acknowledges the existence of Saturday.

Before I could make it to fedex.com (I admit, I got a little distracted hunting for a Dr. Who 2006 Christmas special), FedEx showed up. It's a true miracle, especially for those of us with Internet-exacerbated ADD.