It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Skinner Plaza is all decorated in lights to make a nice Christmas village. There are groups selling trees in most of the parking lots. The stores, of course, are full of holiday decorations and busy with shoppers. There is no snow or cold weather though. We still stroll around in shorts and flip-flops. I have to mow the lawn. We will NOT have a white Christmas.

But we are putting together our mailing list for cards. We have to get packages wrapped and into boxes to send to our families and friends. We made a last shopping trip today to our favorite basket shop to get presents for some family members. We are almost ready. We'll put up our tree next week. It isn't an organic tree but it is real.

My mother complained about my answering machine message. She said it was too rude. All it really said was that we were not answering the phone and we probably had a good reason. Bowing to her wishes I changed it yesterday to say that we could not answer the phone and it broke our hearts not to be able to take the call. We hoped that they be so kind as to leave a message so we could get back to them as soon as possible. I may have gone a little too far in the other direction but I have always been one for extremes.

Wakana came back last night. When she left she had one back that was 2/3 empty. When she came back that bag was stuffed and weighed 20 KG. And she had three other bags with her. And she mailed three boxes from Japan. She had been shopping to buy Christmas presents and brought back fun stuff too. She got my parents some *******. You see, I cannot reveal any of the presents because my family sometimes reads this. So, Mom, if you are reading this, nya, nya, nya, nya, nya, nya.

We went to our favorite Vietnamese restaurant for lunch today. It has gotten seedier lately. We had to brush ant off the table. I noticed the Buddha by the counter was getting crusty with dirt. I'm afraid I do not want to go back there. It's a shame because they make the best fresh lumpia on the island.