Just got a call from our insurance broker. State Farm is no longer going to insure our house, so...I have to get a new insurer by March. Fun.

Just got a call from our insurance broker. State Farm is no longer going to insure our house, so...I have to get a new insurer by March. Fun.

WTF? I knew they weren't issuing new policies but I didn't realize they were dropping people.

Oddly enough, I was just on the phone with my credit union this morning since my Travelers non-owner auto insurance is going up from ~$190 for six months to $225. I mean, $30/month was already ridiculous for basic liability insurance. If my credit card doesn't come up with a decent rate, I think I'm much better off paying the daily rate to the car rental place.

insurance is such a racket. bro hates when I say that(He's done it) but--

WTF? I knew they weren't issuing new policies but I didn't realize they were dropping people.

Technically since my building has three units it counts as an apartment complex (as far as they are concerned). And they are dropping all of those.

The Garden Apartment having its own address is nothing but a hassle! I wonder if I can get it...decomissioned or something.

I'm not decorating my house this year, so I'm decorating myself. Today I am wearing "velvet" green leggings with gold and green snowflakes with a green tunic sweater and a cheap but fun necklace of baby Christmas lights that I can switch on. No one but DH will see. But that's OK!

What's happening with everyone this weekend?

What's happening with everyone this weekend?

Today: various errands, along with finishing decorating the tree and hanging the giant wreath on the porch.

Tomorrow: finishing whatever errands didn't get done today, plus my neighborhood's Krampus walk!

Krampus walk! That sounds fantastically fun.

Krampus walk! That sounds fantastically fun.

My neighborhood goes hard, and a Krampus walk is 100% on brand for us. (Tim and I are not participating as Krampuses [Krampi?]; we're just going to be spectators/cheerleaders and then join the Krampus party after the walk [the Krampus party is being held, hilariously, at a church].)

I was just looking at the Facebook page for the Krampus walk, and we apparently have a guy who moved here from NOLA and is all in on the event; here's what he posted: "Sounds like great fun! Are drums welcome? I'm thinking about organizing The Mystical Krewe of Krampie. Drummers and marchers in full rigs handing out Moon Pies. I was one of two principal drummers in the Krewe of Nutria in New Orleans." AWESOME.

I'm not decorating my house this year, so I'm decorating myself.

I approve this strategy and I'm going to need pictures.

I went to a xmas party last night and if the weather settles down a bit, I'll be going to another one in the East Bay tonight. And that will be my full quota of sweater-y socializing.

The East Bay party is mildly daunting since it's with Emmett's godparents (I've known Karen since HS, and she's the mom of Maggie the Girl - who just had her second child, btw).

I will not have seen Karen's social circle for several years so I'm bracing for a few rounds of "I'm sorry for your loss" and "How are you?" said with earnest eye contact. "Oh, you know, the usual grieving widower bit with depressed teen daughter." Then I do a hard pivot to "Matilda's going to Japan!" and that will divert conversation.

See? I've got a strategy.

Matilda and her friends went to see Interstellar last night, as apparently it's a bunch of people's favorite movie and it's having its ten year anniversary.