I know it is awful to buy presents for myself only three days before Christmas.

But I found this wonderful vintage copy of Dogsbody by Diana Wynne Jones at the used bookstore, and I swear I only stopped in because I was walking past to buy contact lens solution. I loved these books so much growing up (the 80s) and I still re read them now.

I received this in one of those White Elephant gift exchanges- you know, the ones where everyone tries to bring something terrible that costs less than 10 bucks.

It’s so strangely appropriate and yet so terribly, terribly wrong at the same time.

With only 10 days til Christmas, things are starting to get festive around here.

The Ice Cream Turkey is ordered.

The tree is decorated.

And so is the one at Ocean Beach.

Upcycled wreaths have been created, out of cardboard:

And out of skittles.

Stockings are hung in front of the Diana Wynne Jones books with care.

Christmas CDs have been mailed out to lucky recipients!

Cats have been dressed in Christmas costumes.

The streetscape is decorated.

– Cat rubbed her face in ink.
– Supermarket cashier told me my wrapping paper “is REALLY cheap!! Even though it’s not the prettiest.”
– Old lady caressed the globes of my ass while I perused the bags of cut up vegetables and then shuffled grimly away

One fine sunny day, Godzilla stopped to admire a gem of French Neoclassical architecture, the Petit Trianon at Versailles.

A sensitive, suffering soul, Godzilla was fully conscious of the vast discrepancies in wealth that allowed this beautiful structure to be built. While he contemplated the weight of history and thought about its philosophical implications, a party of picnickers arrived.

“New friends!” thought Godzilla, but as usual, his friendly overtures were woefully misunderstood.

An epic battle ensued.

For a while things looked pretty hit or miss.

Eventually, though, Godzilla prevailed.

Vive la France.