Have a Holly Jolly Retail Christmas ...

With Scott's permission ...

Working retail is HELL - at the holidays more than ever. People are rude (to put it VERY mildly), expect way more than a person can possibly give them, shoplifters are everywhere, and OF COURSE everyone is understaffed, because the holiday season is where profit comes from - so they're trying to cut as many corners as they can to actually MAKE a profit at this time of year.

Scott works six days a week, usually 11-12 hours a day (often more) during the holidays. His employees (and the rest of the world) LOVE him and would do anything for him - but of course, they feel beaten down, overworked, and exhausted. Sometimes, they just need to let off some steam, have a laugh, and re-focus.

Scott is a master at not taking himself too seriously and getting his team back into the spirit of having fun while they run themselves ragged.

Can you tell?

How could anyone not adore the guy ...

December 12 of 12

Time again for 12 of 12, everyone's cool buddy Chad's brainchild. These pictures were all taken on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 in Seattle, Washington.


I forgot to bring my camera to work with me this morning - which is just as well. Again, my teeth are clenched, my neck and shoulders and stomach are in knots, and I have workmares every night. So, let's just skip to the "after work" part, kids ...

Scott got home from work just before me.

A picture I bought from our friends' yard sale when they moved out - it's of an entry for the Chicago Tribune building contest in 1922, and part of the Art Institute's treasures. I had to have it. I just didn't have to know where to hang it - so it's been sitting in the upstairs hallway for a while.

We're not big Hallmarky warm-n'-fuzzy guys ... but I LOVE the movie "It's A Wonderful Life" and we've started collecting holiday pieces of the town. Yeah, kinda Christmas geeks.

Down the street to feed the neighbors' cat while they're on vacation. She's a sweetheart.

The kids' aquarium that I'm also taking care of. DAMN that's clean!

Kitty Cat was hungry.

Back home. My favorite Christmas decorations. They remind us of our three dogs.

Stoli gets to come in early every night. She needs a little extra love. And a chew toy.

After I got home, Scott told me there was a Christmas card that came addressed to the both of us - from my Uncle and Aunt in Florida. We're not that close, and I've never told them about Scott ... so I asked my cousin Jo about it ... (remember I'm from a conservative Chicagoland family ... )

And then downstairs to get a glass of wine. Oh, look - poinsettias ... purrty ...

Stoli waiting for me to come back upstairs.

Dinner - pre-cooking.

BONUS PICTURE - "BELIEVE":

I mentioned the card from my aunt and uncle above ... the message was short and sweet:

"Hi to you both -

Hope the bad weather didn't get you! Have a nice holiday.

Love,

(aunt and uncle)

I believe that there's more to love between people than there are obstacles. I believe that family is more important than we sometimes think (me, at least). I believe that sometimes I don't give people enough credit and am surprised that they could maybe, possibly say "Oh, he has a partner named Scott ... hmmm, okay."

I believe that this is probably the coolest Christmas card I will ever get.

Frosty the Snowman

I love retro (and I mean RETRO) Christmas stuff:

"God is all love"

Could it really be that simple?

Via The Huffington Post and Joe.My.God, the words of Sister Wendy:

Huffington Post: You've spoken out about gay marriage. How do you balance what you believe with what you have sworn to uphold?"

Sister Wendy: I believe in loyalty. We should respect our church, but never believe that the church has the last word. The church is saying "this", but I believe that sooner or later "this" will change. "This" is not the mind of our Lord. God is all love. It's a delicate balancing thing. The Church has changed it's position over the years, and because the spirit is with the Church, in the end the Church will always get it right. But in the end. The spirit of the Church is the meaning of love, which hasn't yet, perhaps, been fully understood.

Interesting. Love, eh? Pretty good answer to it all. Makes even this non-religious blogger think maybe there's hope.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow ...

It doesn't happen all that often in Seattle, but I like it - when I'm at home.

Wow - I still have a Midwestern drawl, don't I ...

UPDATE:

The power went out for an hour or so ... and it just kept snowing ...

Purrrty ... I loves me some snow.