Bah. Humbug.

I am having a hard time really getting into the Christmas spirit.

Maybe it's because we have nary a Christmas decoration in our apartment-- not a tree, not an angel, not even a display of the beautiful Christmas cards I have received (though I am so grateful of every one). Decorating the house when you aren't actually spending Christmas in your own home somehow feels a little strange (leaving for Boston in Christmas Eve). Though I suppose we could have strung some lights to make the place festive. Is it too late? Maybe not.

Maybe it's because I am super crazy busy at work-- our busiest of the year are the weeks leading up to Christmas and New Year's when tourists descend like termites into New York City, running around eating up all the free space and walking all slowly on the sidewalk blocking fast walkers such as myself. But despite being so busy, I am cutting the hours of my part-time staff because it should be EVEN BUSIER this time of year. l suddenly feel nervous that I might not have a job if things continue as they are. Thinking of traveling to NYC? Boy do I have a deal for you. Hotel prices are a fraction of what they were last year.

Maybe it's because the shortest day of the year is quickly approaching, December 21st, and the lack of sunlight is really getting to me, despite my happy light on the desk. Maybe I should have considered the prozac this winter. Definitely too late for that.

Maybe it's because I am dreaming of living in a place where I can invite my friends and family to join us in our home holiday spirit. But that's not happening anytime soon. Well, not this Christmas anyway.

I don't know. This year just feels a bit off. Maybe once I get to Boston and join my sister (TWINS TWINS TWINS!) and my Mamma, I will get a flaming shot of holiday joy. Sadly D. isn't coming with me this year, so we'll have our own private Christmas on a date to be determined. That's something to definitely look forward to.

My name is Julius and I am your twin brother.

Julius Benedict: My name is Julius and I am your twin brother.
Vincent Benedict: Oh, obviously! The moment I sat down I thought I was looking into a mirror.

Exciting breaking news from Interravision! We have been given permission to officially say that we have 2 new potential readers approaching... my gorgeous sister is carrying TWINS. She is due in May, and I cannot wait to be an East Coast Auntie in addition to my duties as West Coast Auntie.

Seeing my beautiful sister, you know the skinny/athletic one, already showing at just over 13 weeks was a killer when I saw her in NC a few weeks back. Man, she is gonna get huge... I love it!

I am already thinking about what fun presents I can shower upon them. Surely these baby toupees will have to be item #1!

My Happy Lite

I got my Happy Lite in the mail on Friday.

It's really bright. No, seriously, it's really really bright. Like a white shade of bright. On the low setting it still almost hurts my eyes.

Is this really going to work?

I'll keep you posted.

Alex Lodico Ensemble

I can't get enough of these guys who play in Penn Station on some Friday evenings. I even bought their CDs! Alex himself seems like an interesting guy-- check out his interview with NPR.



http://alexlodico.com/

Like that's so hard

Bravo TV, arguably my favorite channel thanks to obsessions with Top Chef and Project Runway, is hosting a new show: "First Class All the Way".

In Bravo's newest series, First Class All the Way, Sara Duffy, founder of SRD International, a Los Angeles based multi-million dollar travel concierge business, takes viewers inside the world of high-end luxury travel while revealing the drama of keeping demanding clients content and making extravagant dream vacations come to life.

From my own personal experience as a travel planner and sometimes concierge working with a very wide spectrum of people: this is absolutely ridiculous. Why? Pleasing people who have lots of money isn't really that hard. If a client is willing to pay whatever it takes to have the experience they want, the travel planner is on easy street, as long as they really understand what the client wants and they are creative enough to deliver.

Want a hard challenge? Try to make people happy who don't have an unlimited budget to spend. Especially in a city like NYC. Like a client who wants to come during the busiest weekend of the year who wants to spend less than $200 per night AND be withing walking distance to Rockefeller Center AND in a hotel that isn't disgusting. Now THAT is a challenge.

Bravo TV should make a reality show about that. Seriously.

PS: The people this lady has hired to represent her are absolutely terrible and stab each other in the back time and again. She should fire them all, or give them more work to do so they don't have time to be so petty.

The Morning After

Good Morning America,indeed!

I woke up this morning feeling as though it was some holiday and I could turn off the alarm and go back to sleep... but No! It is not a holiday, but it is a new day. And I am grateful for it. I became teary after reading the editorial pages of the New York Times, especially this piece, "The Next President".

My facebook homepage is filled with excited comments and pictures of celebration, save one friend's page. She was a good friend back in high school and now is very conservative. Her status reads:

[Name Omitted] is heartbroken that so many of her beautiful, compassionate friends made such a grievous mistake... and thankful that God is bigger than all of this.

A grievous mistake... I am tempted to write back in opposition, but know it would do little good. She is as steadfast in her opinions as I am in mine. But I am thankful that this God she speaks of granted us one powerful force: the force of free will. The people had a choice and their choice, not their mistake, is Barack Obama. I am sad for her that she cannot see the greater accomplishment in equal rights, democracy and opportunity-- things I am sure her religion supports.

Shake it off... back to good news...

In other news, my mother served as campaign manager for Billy Keyserling in the Beaufort, SC mayoral race. It looks like he won by a slim margin! Whoopee!

Election Day: 11:00pm

It's Over!

OBAMA WINS!

Glory Glory Hallelujah. And even better, there is virtually no way to contest this win. A clear, solid victory.

I am watching the coverage eager to hear Obama speak, it is sure to be a landmark speech. My God. I really can't believe it. What a long journey this election has been. He has many huge challenges ahead of him; I just hope he can live up to the great expectations we have placed on his shoulders.

We got you the job, President-Elect Obama, now go and do something great.