CafeChatNoir

So, yesterday Tiffany & Co. had a very good day in the market thanks to a jump in profit and an increase in their holiday outlook. Overall, I think when luxury retailers are doing well, it’s a decent sign for the economy. Lots of talk about it on CNBC and while they were covering it, a phrase came up that I can’t say I’ve heard when it comes to jewelry.

“They’re buying ‘investment grade’ pieces.”

OK, I like shiny things as much as the next gal, but for some reason, the idea of an “investment grade” piece of jewelry doesn’t conjure up a vision of something pretty and sparkly…

What the hell kind of jackass steals $1500 worth of Christmas trees from the Jaycees?

Seriously – what the hell is wrong with people? Nice job guys, stealing from kids. I hope you’re proud of yourselves.

This may end up sounding rather angry, but really, I’m feeling quite good about things right now.

So, I had a little revelation this evening, which has been years overdue, but hey, I always have been a procrastinator.

I’ve struggled with Christmas for many years. It’s not that I don’t like Christmas, I do. Lots of things I don’t like (Macy’s decorating before Halloween, people getting in fistfights in malls, the whole $$ spent on presents = love), but there are lots of good things. Giving. People actually being decent towards their fellow man, even if they can’t manage to carry it past New Year’s. Christmas cookies. Christmas lights. Spending time with people you care about. (Yeah, that goes on all year, but there’s something about it at Christmastime…)

The struggle comes with my grandmother. She has stayed for a month every year. This year, it’s only two weeks. We’ve never had anything really approaching a good relationship. I sort of understand the reasons, but she’s basically been a thorn in my side my whole life. How many 6 year olds ask their mother, “Why doesn’t grandma like me?” Yeah. There is nothing I can do that is right in her eyes – never has been. I’m used to it, but I still let it get to me. But it makes it incredibly difficult to enjoy a holiday when you have someone in your life who pretty much disapproves of everything you do, and lets you know it, and you can’t avoid them.

A while ago, I told someone who was letting some jackass get to them, “Do you really want to give them that kind of power to screw up your whole evening?” Hmmm, physician, heal thyself.

Tonight I decided, I don’t care anymore. When she arrives, I am sure she’ll find something wrong in the house in the first 24 hours. She will resent every time I leave the house, be it to go get groceries or actually go spend some time with friends. She will tell me “I’m trying to do too much” the minute something burns on the stove, and then obsess about the oven blowing up. I am sure she’ll have some choice words about my decision to go back to school. There will be fantastic dinners but the portions will be too large.

This is my life. The key word being there is MY. Not hers. If she doesn’t like what I do with my life, my time, my money or my house, that is HER problem. Not mine. Realistically, she has no power over me whatsoever – there is nothing she can do to me if she doesn’t like the way I live my life.

I will probably have to remind myself of this several times over the course of her visit. But, I like Christmas and I’m not letting it get fucked up yet again. I just want to enjoy this holiday, and I fully intend to.

Child’s Play

My absolute favorite Christmas shopping.

They’re now working with hospitals in the US, Canada, the UK, and one hospital in Egypt, and have managed over 1 million in donations of books, games & toys since 2003. Pretty spiffy.

You don’t fuck with me.

More importantly, you don’t fuck with people that I care about, and I assure you, that list ranges far and wide.

If you do, and I find out about it, I will do everything in my power to make your life a living hell, because I have more protective instincts than you can possibly imagine.

That is all.

A Charlie Brown Christmas will be broadcast on Tuesday, November 28th, 8:00 PM EST on ABC.

Remember, watching this erases all your sins for the year.

Didn’t sleep well last night at all – lots of weird dreams, dealing with the townhouse, this house, classes, the estate, and managing what we’ve distributed from the estate so far.

Apparently my brain has decided that these are now my full time jobs and is obsessing accordingly.

Usually when I start having “work” related dreams, it means I’m starting to lose focus and/or things are teetering on the brink of heading downhill if I’m not careful.

So, this means I need to redouble my efforts to stay on track and keep getting things done, otherwise who knows when I’m going to get a decent night’s sleep again.

Last week, our bartender Jess had a birthday, and there were lots of cameras all over the place. She was sweet enough to get me a copy of this one. :)

Me & my guy.

OK, yes, I am one of those people that will actually sit and watch drumline competitions when they’re on TV. Love it. Picked up this link from Fark.com – it’s easily the best I’ve ever seen.

And I, I walked over to the, to the bench there, and there is, Group W’s where they put you if you may not be moral enough to join the army after committing your special crime, and there was all kinds of mean nasty ugly looking people on the bench there. Mother rapers. Father stabbers. Father rapers! Father rapers sitting right there on the bench next to me! And they was mean and nasty and ugly and horrible crime-type guys sitting on the bench next to me. And the meanest, ugliest, nastiest one, the meanest father raper of them all, was coming over to me and he was mean ‘n’ ugly ‘n’ nasty ‘n’ horrible and all kind of things and he sat down next to me and said, “Kid, whad’ya get?” I said, “I didn’t get nothing, I had to pay $50 and pick up the garbage.” He said, “What were you arrested for, kid?” And I said, “Littering.” And they all moved away from me on the bench there, and the hairy eyeball and all kinds of mean nasty things, till I said, “And creating a nuisance.” And they all came back, shook my hand, and we had a great time on the bench, talkin about crime, mother stabbing, father raping, all kinds of groovy things that we was talking about on the bench.

Happy Thanksgiving, all.