I am getting ready for NaPriLiMo and making sure to get the albums I am missing.  I am going to try to listen to them in chronological order so I am trying to fill in the gaps.  I found my ipod I never use and pumped it full of Prince.  So this is another reminder you have two days left to join me in NaPriLiMo!

I am toying with the idea of accepting the Pandora Prince station during this month.  I think it’s only acceptable if you have forgotten your ipod/music and need something to listen to.  Scouts honor!

Today was the best mail day ever.  Before heading to the airport I got:

• 2 netflix vids (Man on a Wire and a documentary about Latinos who love Morrissey)
• 1 issue of Star Magazine
• A really awesome homemade Christmas card
• 1 box of Christmas cookies from my friend’s mother-in-law, whom I have never met

Amazing.  With the snow it has set me in a jolly mood, which will be necessary to navigate the extensive delays I expect to face at the airport.  Like before every trip there were a few things that slid off the to do list, but I am hoping the Spirit of Christmas will bail me out.  If you will be in Chicago for the holidays, please contact me!  My plans so far are only to go to Portillos with my family.

Have a great holiday.

And now for my favorite historical holiday evar.

Today, December 5th, is Repeal Day in America.  Dec. 5, 1933 is when we Americans got our right to drink alcohol back.  How do you celebrate?  Drink!

My family isn’t a big pack of giftmongers.  We have a grab bag.  It’s 50 dollars.  It’s hard to think of a gift that is $50 and easily transportable in luggage that I wouldn’t have already bought myself.  Everyone gets everyone gift certificates.  It’s the pricey business I won’t buy for myself.  Here’s what I really want:

1. A cute, portable, USB record player with built in speakers.  While the Ion is the audiophile bet, I am in love with this one.
2. New knives and a knife skills class.  I have admitted that I am out of my depth here.  Please someone teach me to wield a knife right and proper.
3. A tour of North Korea during the Mass Games
4. A Stalin bust.  I prefer the turquoise but it’s all sold out.
5. A mini PC. That is powerful enough/has a large enough hard drive that I can bring it on trips to watch movies and email.
6. A Google Android.  I accept you as my overlords, Goog!
7. A see through clear umbrella
8. A year’s worth of cleaning ladies.
9. A breadmaker.
10. Lots of cute flowerpots, and the self watering bulb doohickeys.  I have a small army of succulents that I worry about.
11. Noise canceling headphones that do not go IN your ears, and are durable and very very portable.
12. A new messenger bag similar to this, in a dark color, that is washable and has many pockets for doohickeys and closes.
13. Brunch at Aquavit
14. Lunch at Momofuku Ko
15. Fish of the Month Club membership
16. A salmon fishing expedition
17. Tuition to sideshow school
18. Conjuring Arts Research Center Membership
19. Wii!
20. An RFID key chain such as this
21. A phrenology head
22. Etsy things! Like this necklace in silver, everything in doleangeliman’s store, especially this skeleton print and this sign print, a wood ring, this anchor in sterling, freak show signs like this, or a squid necklace.

What do you want?

I am not the most religious or holiday oriented person.  Okay, that’s an understatement.  But there’s one Christmas tradition I love, it’s Advent Calendars.  Perhaps it is the lure of chocolate, but I like surprises every day–doesn’t everyone?  I have always been left cold by the digital versions of Advent Calendars.  However there’s one that does it well every year.  It makes me feel like a kid, and the prize is—cheap flights to Scandanavia!  I haven’t bought any flights yet from them, but here’s hoping this year.  Even if you have no plans to fly abroad next year, the animations every year are fun.  Check it out here.