This entry is a mixture of this and that. Kind of like the weather.
Mother Nature reads my blog?
Speaking of weather; A few short hours ago I wrote about the snow-covered scenery around here. Delicate beauty like that is so short-lived - as soon as a good wind blows or temperatures warm... But by the third day, today, not only was the snow still clinging to the branches, but the neighborhood was even more frosty thanks to cold, moist air and tiny flakes of snow.
Christmas story
It looks like Journal Sentinel editorial columnist, Patrick McIlheran, and I were both at Brookfield Square the Saturday before Christmas. In today's column he had an interesting take on the parking situation. My experience was much more pleasant. I dreaded going to the mall two days before the holiday for just one gift card, but Pick 'N Save didn't appear to carry the one I wanted. Dozens of cars queued in two lanes at the first entrance to the mall so I continued to the second and got right in. I didn't expect to park close, wouldn't have been surprised if I didn't find a spot at all, so was pretty happy when I found a spot fairly quickly. On the long walk from one end of the mall to the other, I encountered friendly people - Santa was still there taking orders, and I kidded around with someone that could have passed for Santa, if only dressed differently.
Bath & Body Works was pretty crowded when I got there but appeared to be well staffed. The checkout line was long and I thought I'd be there awhile. Thanks to four or so cashiers I was out in five or ten minutes with my gift card in a cute little gift bag along with a free sample. Things went so well at the mall, in fact, that when I crossed paths with a gal on her way in I tried to cheer her up. She parked as far away as I did and was tired of it - she works at the mall. In the five seconds we had in passing I told her of my positive experience and hoped things would soon get better for her.
Fast forward to that afternoon when the area around my wallet still stung from a grocery trip to Pick 'N Save. My good mood from the morning didn't last as I placed the bags in the trunk. Someone arriving in the car next to ours said "Merry Christmas!" and, without looking up, I said "bah humbug". Wouldn't you know it was Santa and one of his elves! How embarrasing. You know what else? Pick 'N Save does carry Bath & Body Works gift cards, I just didn't look hard enough.
my resolution
I try not to make promises I'd have a hard time keeping, but I will resolve to never wear an Urlacher jersey or Bears jacket on another Packers / Bears game day. I only wore them to church last Sunday to honor the new bishop, who's from Chicago, but now see the act may have jinxed the Packers.
speaking of football
The New England Patriots played the NY Giants last night. It was a close, well-fought game, one I stumbled upon only because it was on three different networks. Of course the Patriots won, setting the record for all sixteen wins in a regular season. Whichever team plays New England in the Super Bowl will have their work cut out for them.
