And it’s pretty quiet here today.  Outside our office, it’s snowing (kinda like in that happy jolly winter scene above) – but without the happy jolly shoppers, sledder and plump snowman.

No one’s here in Purchasing (they’re doing inventory at the warehouse):

Downstairs is pretty quiet today too….

Art Director, Mitch Nash, isn’t in yet either…although I KNOW he’s working – already had some emails from him this morning….

No one’s in the can either.

So, in the couple of days before Christmas, I want to wish all of our readers a very nice and quiet and lovely little happy holiday.

I’ll leave you with a little love from one of our amazingly prolific designers, Roy Fox.  He sent this card.  But I’m hijacking it for now.

A light up dreidel.  On my keyboard.  Ah yes, a reminder that I am indeed a Jew.  I forget who started this tradition with me – no crappy foil chocolate balls for you, Miss Israelite.  I am known here as the Prime Minister of Jewish Products.  Seriously.  And as you might know, we are really equal opportunity offenders here at Blue Q.  Although we’ve been lacking a bit in the Jewish Product category….(I’m workin’ on it!!).

But, back to this dreidel….

This could be from anyone.  No good clues here.   But thank you, Jew Appreciating Santa.

Speaking of Jewish people…(or not)….  This guy is my new favorite Christmas guy:

What a man.

Yukon Cornelius.

In all his prospector splendor.

Now, growing up as a Chosen person, I never watched this historical document of Rudolf.  We watched it this weekend.  I am totally in love.  Perfect, simple guy.   He wanders through his world, with these, his only provisions:

Corn meal
Ham hocks
Gun powder
Guitar strings

And except for not being Jewish, even my great grandmother might have approved.

You know the holidays are just around the corner when it takes two arms to carry in the mail. While I can hear the trees screaming every time I open my mailbox, I actually like looking at the catalogs. Not because I’m into acquisition but because I want to see what kind of crap people are willing to shell out good money for.

Hence, crap-a-logs.

Today’s big find is a 5-foot artificial pink Christmas Tree.

(By the way, the only thing more redundant than “artificial pink Christmas Tree” is “free kittens.”)

They also offer you an “alternate view”.  Thank goodness.

“Don’t let the whimsical hue fool you,” reads the descriptive copy.

“Fool you”? 

Fool you into what?
Fool you into thinking this was a good idea?
Or fool you into thinking that this abomination (pre-strung with 350 pink lights) is worth, get this, $129?

A companion Fantasy Ornament Collection features hearts, glitter balls, butterflies, chandeliers, and “shoe pairs.”
Let’s just say, if Tammy Faye Baker were to come back as a tree, she’d be yours for $129.

Every year in the office we torture each other in the form of Secret Santa.  Pass around a hat, pull out a name, and try to subtly drive that person crazy till just before Christmas.  This year I passed the hat today.

Too early?  There are still inflatable turkey’s on my neighbors lawn.  Oh well….

I really like who I picked.  This person….this is an interesting person to have.  I can do interesting things.  I might torture a little.