The Christmas carols at church today were exquisite, voices assisted by strings, flute and two pianos. For some reason the third Sunday of Advent is always my favorite--we're well into the season but not yet swirling in those last few days before Christmas. I wish I could say that my heart is as quiet on the fourth Sunday as it is on the third, but I'm just being honest here...

Is it just me or have you noticed that parking is not as bad this Christmas season and the stores aren't quite as crazy? I think that internet shopping, which I've been doing for years now, is finally starting to affect the total volume of shoppers out on any given day. Not that I actually GO in stores, you understand. Just observing from outside :-)

Could we just go ahead and extend Eggnog Lattes for two months?

I will pick up the very last gift tomorrow. Then starts the wrapping marathon. I bought myself a pair of memory foam slippers just for this purpose. It's the most standing I'll have done in a long time...although sometimes I do sit in a chair and lower my ironing board to just the right height so I can SIT and wrap!

Winter was canceled.

While on my Hawaii trip I finished (thanks to Kindle!) The Courage to be Protestant. I think I mentioned before that the writing was pretty bad. It did get better, almost as though Wells switched editors halfway through. Regardless, it's a valuable book and I'm glad I bought it.

I'm still not holding my breath, but I'm beginning to smell a meltdown in the Democrats' Health Care Destruction bill. Doesn't mean they won't still pass something horrendous, and whatever it is they'll claim victory, but perhaps we can avoid some of the worst parts: public option, Medicare buy-in for people my age (which is worse than a public option and I'll tell you why if you email me), and what amounts to a repeal of the Hyde amendment. We'll see.

This month, Shelley, our senior who's also taking Dual Credit college courses, finished up French 3 with a solid A. She's really found a love here, second only to her music. Yesterday she went as part of the French Club to participate in a story time with kids at Barnes and Noble. She read, in French (and beautifully to my ears), Dr. Suess's Les Oeufs Verts au Jambon. Oh, you haven't heard of that one? Well of course you like Green Eggs and Ham!

Have a wonderful week-before Christmas!

Labels: Books, Holidays, Kids, Political Observation, Weather