People in my office do some decorating in their cubes this time of year. There are a number of small trees, kids' holiday art, etc. The person in the cube across from mine has an electric menorah, and she's adding in another bulb every day. I like coming in each morning and seeing the new lights. It's pretty, and I'm glad she feels comfortable sharing a bit of her seasonal celebrations here. I'd probably feel a bit more "um, really?" if she was doing this on my front porch, even if she owned the building, and Judaism isn't close to the dominant culture in NC.

So, the consensus I'm hearing is that it is okay to be uncomfortable with otherness as long as that otherness is the dominant culture. Does this seem correct?

Looking for the like button again.

It's not feeling uncomfortable with otherness. It's feeling constantly reminded that you are, in fact, the other, that you are not part of the dominant culture.

It's not feeling uncomfortable with otherness. It's feeling constantly reminded that you are, in fact, the other, that you are not part of the dominant culture.

Yep. This is as good a summation as any: there are times when you just get smacked in the face with being outside of what's considered the default.

What flea said. It's like heteronormativity, but I don't know the term for religious-wise.

OK, just logged on for the first time today. I don't feel uncomfortable with Christmas decorations in general. (I sometimes feel annoyed at them, but that's in the same way that, living around here, I sometimes feel annoyed at football -- it's something that I don't really care about, and it's impossible to avoid.) The decorations on my neighbors' houses are pretty, and that's as far as my opinion goes. The ones on my house make me uncomfortable, because it's where I live. It's the door with my mezuzah, the window with my menorah, the place where I sleep and eat and get away from the world. It is also the landlords' house, which is why I'm not saying they're doing anything wrong -- they are completely within their rights to decorate the outside of the house as they see fit. But having to live with it -- having all that stuff on the place that I usually think of as "mine," even though I realize it's technically not because I'm renting it -- does make me uncomfortable.

I was listening to the Knit 1 Geek 2 podcast and they mentioned the American-Duchess website - which I thought some buffistas may enjoy. (It's historical reproduction shows, people.)

Of course, those interested buffistas may know all about that store already.

So that's what clocked stockings are! I was picturing actual little clock faces.

Of course, those interested buffistas may know all about that store already.

coughs

Who, me? Why yes, I'm pre-ordering a pair of their reproduction button boots. And then browsing button hooks on eBay. (Button boots! Real ones, that don't zip up! Impractical, time-consuming footwear, yaaaaay!)

I'd probably feel a bit more "um, really?" if she was doing this on my front porch, even if she owned the building

Even if she lived there?

The ones on my house make me uncomfortable

Is this a shared house? I mean, do they live there or just own it?