Outside the snow is falling...

While we're on the subject of Christmas kitsch, I bring you this -- my very own "bad Nativity."

Yes, this lovely Nativity set was given to me by my garage-sale-loving grandmother, who was shocked and saddened to learn during my sophomore year of college that I didn't have a little Nativity set in my dorm room. It sits about three inches high. Some features you may find interesting, that don't show in the photo... there is black glitter on the roof and around the manger, presumably to emulate the lumps of coal that fell from the sky the night Jesus was born... and there is a small hole in the back near the roof, in case you want to further illuminate its beauty. Ah yes, and the bottom says "MADE IN HONG KONG." However, I love my grandma dearly, and I can't find it in my heart to part with my miniature holy family.

Apparently tacky decorations we're on my mind today, because while out driving this afternoon on assignment, I felt compelled to snap a shot of this beauty:

Because nothing says "Have a blessed Christmas season" quite like a 6'+ inflatable Homer Claus and tree.It could be worse -- it could be the Virgin Marge and Homer and the blessed Savior Bart. Seriously, I know people who would put that in their front yards.

In other news, it's snowing! I love the first winter storm of the season, when everyone panics and the weather reporters are all "Oh my god batten down the hatches it's going to be the biggest blizzard ever stay inside buy plenty of food and candles and water and batteries and DVDs." Good lord, people, get a grip. We're expected to get 3-7 inches tonight. This was the scene when I got off work tonight around 7:


Indeed, snowy, but hardly a white-out. Although I've only been in my cozy apartment about 4 hours, and already I'm not looking forward to shoveling off my car in the morning. Oh, how I envy those bourgeois and their garages. The current view out my 2nd-story window:


Crap. Man, I miss college. Right about now, we'd be headed to Province Park for some sledding action. Highlights: Jake sledding into the frozen creek (he was fine, just wet and very, very cold)... teaching Zeeshan (our Pakistani pal) the art of sledding... shooting Jackass-style videos -- I don't think I like being a grown-up!