Man, I am so into this birth of Christ thing

Christmas music on Pandora is the only thing keeping me sane at work right now. This means I am on my way to going INsane and I only have an hour of Pandora listening for the month left. Freak out.

Anyway, I am way in the holiday mood this year and love to share fun new sites. That being said, I present SketchySantas.com!  The tagline is simple, "Santas can be sketchy."  I know for certain Ryan and I have a picture that would definitely qualify for this site.  Imagine me, at age six, slouched on Santa's lap with a scowl on my face.  Then imagine that same scowling (yet, oh so adorable) six-year-old wearing purple sweatpants and a pink sweatshirt adorned with Tweety Bird and Sylvester graphics.  That's me.  Thanks to White Oaks Mall for the memories.

Picture is credited to SketchySantas.com.  Nothing is better for the children than a retro alci grandpa Santa.

More Christmas gift ideas

I am nearly finished with my Christmas shopping, thanks to my Amazon.com shopping spree yesterday.  Nothing is better than seeing a flat rate of $XXX on my bank statement!

If you're a slacker, I have some last minute options for you.  Thanks to AsOnTVInfomercials.com for inspiration and ideas.

1 - The Necky.  It's like a Dickie but outside your sweater!  Do you have a total moron in your family that has difficulty wearing a scarf?  (Quite possibility, the same relative living on government assistance?)  We have a match.  Plus, the Necky is available in three colors: navy blue, charcoal gray, and designer leopard.  Please somebody tell me when designer leopard became a "color."



2 - The Chia Obama for the Dem in the family.  Let's be honest, everyone knows about this (but I loved it anyway) so I only have three words.  Yes, we can.

3 - The Bedazzler.  Timeless but now culturally relevant thanks to MTV's newest disaster of humanity, "Jersey Shore."  Consumer spending is down for Holiday 2009 and many of us do not have the time or resources to walk into an Ed Hardy store and drop 200 bucks on a blinged out hoodie.  (Or we don't want to because we're not an asshole.)  If your family member or friend's biggest wish this winter is to look like a total guido/guidette/jerkface then get creative and bedazzle a black button up or sports bra for them!  They will love you.  Then they will drink too much, vomit on themselves and attempt to fight someone on the sidewalk at 2:45 a.m.

"Easy, fun & fabulous!  Snap, push & pop!"

If you have a Macy's in close proximity please...

It is very rare that I use this blog as a call to action. That's really not the reason I write. Today is a little different. I am urging you, if you have a Macy's in close proximity, to visit sometime during the Christmas season. Remember writing letters to Santa as a young tot and addressing them to the North Pole? Go relive your past!

Today my roommate and I stopped by to send Santa mail (asking for a clear career path and a nice boy, respectively). This campaign, Believe, is inspired by little Virginia's now famous "Is there a Santa Claus?" letter. With each letter written and submitted in the bright red letter box, Macy's grants $1 in support of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation "grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy." I began my relationship with M-A-W as an two semester intern in college and continue to support the Illinois chapter as a wish granter. I cannot describe, in words, how the wide smile of 4-year-old can brighten your life. This one little boy in particular will visit Walt Disney World in the summer of 2010, after completing treatment for leukemia. Every dollar truly makes a difference as wish costs typically fall in the $4,000-$5,000 range. Sixty percent of children visit Walt Disney World and many stay at Give Kids the World, some of the most magical places in the world (in my opinion). Others have big parties, receive room makeovers, or whatever a child can dream. One little boy asked for a basketball.

So I encourage you to make a difference, one letter a time.

"Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy."

My Previous Governor is a Loser

Blagogate 2009 continues!  This tweet just appeared on my feed from State Journal Register (Springfield, Ill.) breaking news.

Police look into break-in at Blagojevich lawyers' office

This burglary happened last night in Chicago and computers, likely containing information for Blago's defense case, were stolen.  Oh man.  I will comment more on this later.

My [ex] governor is worse than your [ex] governor.  If you are from Illinois, disregard.  We all lose. If Grandma could read this blog I would want her to know that I don't care if he's Crotian "just like my parents." Stop associating with that!

Totally Unnecessary and a Little Newsworthy

I largely support the medical community.  Whether it's cancer research or putting mascara on little bunnies (joke!) I take great interest in the daily leaps and successes of continued medical advancement.

Today my insightful and amazing friend Jen sent me a blog article about vodka in pill form.  This article is from the original source, The Times of India.  Whoa, what?  As the blog author put it, "...a powdered form of alcohol that will soon make the consumption of vodka more convenient."  Oh good, dropping 1.5 ounces down my throat then slamming the shot glass on the bar was way too intrusive.

 “Dry” vodka can be wrapped in paper and carried around in a pocket or a bag. Vodka in form of a pill would come handy at parties when “consumers” would be able to calculate their exact required dosage." - Times of India

Leave it to Russian scientists, facing the disbandment of their Soviet labs, to create a catalyst that can only fuel Russia's drankin' problem.  For the rest of us, we must rejoice.  Now we can sneak vodka pills (which I imagine in packaging similar to that of Mentos) to dive bars, company picnics and family reunions.

I can only think of Mean Girls at a time like this.  Specifically the scene where Tim Meadows' character, high school principal Mr. Duvall, questions Ms. Norbury's class about false drug accusations.  If you haven't seen it, shame on you.  The exquisite Tina Fey plays Ms. Norbury after all.  (Girl crush alert!) 

Mr. Duvall: Has your teacher ever tried to sell you marijuana tablets?
Token brown kid, Kevin G: What are marijuana tablets?

Come all, let us rave.