We haven't put up a single strand of lights yet, nor do we have a Christmas tree. I have rescued the angel from her box and put her on the mantelpiece next to the tin lanterns containing candles striped like peppermints, but that's about the extent of our holiday decor. Next weekend, perhaps. I look forward to getting the tree and decorating it. I do not look forward to stringing lights on the front of the house. I'm afraid we're bringing down the tone of the neighborhood by waiting so late. Dear me, December 5th and still no lights? Tsk.

I went shopping this weekend but didn't buy anything. I froze up, unable to find anything appropriate for my small list of recipients and unwilling to spend money on less than the right thing. I was slightly put off by being on a time limit, too. We had to go to a party and I hate being rushed when I'm shopping. I ought to have made use of that time, though. I don't know when I'll get another chance to go to the mall. The next two weekends are packed full of visitors and parties, not to mention this killer final I have coming up in two weeks which I have to study for while still attending classes and learning new material. I'm really mad that I got into a psychological snit and failed to take advantage of my last free Sunday.

The pet sitting gig hasn't worked out. Either the owner wasn't impressed by my references, or she's found someone else, or she can't be bothered to fit me into the schedule. This is disappointing, but maybe it's for the best. I'm pretty busy despite my conviction that I'd have a lot of free time in December. I haven't bought a car yet, but this Saturday I'm going to a big car show at the Cow Palace (isn't that a great name for an arena?) in San Francisco. Some credit unions, including ours, are holding a "buy this and we'll finance you" exhibition. If I find something in my price range I'll sign up, otherwise I guess I'll have to wait until we get our taxes back. However, I fear it will be nothing but SUVs which I wouldn't own if they were the last cars on earth. There are a ridiculous number of them around here and believe me, they never see a dirt road or haul anything other than kids. Get an SUV, turn into a big jerk driver who feels entitled to park in two spaces at once because your fat ass vehicle can't fit into the regular space, ignore traffic safety rules and flip me off while doing it, and revel in being gas hogs as well as bad for the environment.

I feel sort of strongly about SUVs. Ahem.

But this is far afield from the blinking, singing, nodding Christmas decorations I began with. Or maybe not. It's the same sort of "mine's bigger than yours" stuff, really. Who cares if it wastes electricity? So what if it looks bad during the daylight, tacky plastic commercialized images scattered across the lawn like the soiled remnants of a failed garage sale? I like pretty lights as much as the next person but I feel slightly let down by the competitive nature of some of the displays and I will never be a fan of excess. Still, there are plenty of heartfelt, tasteful decorations around. A strand of icicle lights dangling over the front porch, a plain evergreen wreath tied with a red plaid bow on a door, a simple outlining of the eaves with colored bulbs, a prettily decorated tree showing through the front window, all those things charm me and remind me of how beautiful the season can be.

I just hope the neighborhood association doesn't kick us out for insufficient gaudiness.

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