Ghosts of Christmas Past: Hawaii '05

December 25, 2005
Waikiki Beach Honolulu, HI



I didn't sleep well on the cot, mainly because it's difficult to regulate temperature in these rooms. I was tossing and turning all night. So, when mom and dad went for a walk, I just slept in and was happy to do so.

When they came back and I started groaning to life, mom produced "what Santa left outside the door. I mean, he always knows where to find everyone."

She's too funny: a battery operated blinky light stocking with a picture of Santa surfing in a Hawaiian shirt. It was mainly filled with items from her purse and Crabtree & Evelyn toiletries, left daily by housekeeping. But the thought was all there!



Mom and I spent the afternoon at the beach and dad was elusively elsewhere. I had sent and received text messages to all my people and we were trying to reach the family. Mom and I had some good chats under the sun, while I mainly felt that I was battling for her to have the slightest inkling of my perspective.

We moved over to the pool bar for tropical drinks, called dad to join us, and we talked to the fam.

We had time before dinner, to do a little shopping which turned out to be a peaceful and cathartic hour where I walked the grounds listening to reflective music and feeling quiet. I had success with the excursion, having had a good idea of what I was looking for. By the time I got back, it was just about time for dinner. I was still feeling quiet so I went ahead downstairs. We were eating the Christmas buffet in the Rainbow Lanai and requested one of the seats by the water on the perimeter, and we got our wish! It was a lovely meal and evening.

THE Shoes

I’m hard pressed to find words befitting of Drew's Christmas gift to me, but here is my best attempt.

Stuart Weitzman calls their paten-leather spike-toe pump "Sensual"; the color "Red Quasar". But I think it's back to the drawing board for their namers because that description lies horrifically flat, and falls far short of their captivating quality. They are the physical incarnate of sexy. These are shoes that you would shop separately to find clothes striking enough to match, instead of the other way around. They are, in fact, arrestingly stunning. They should accompany a warning not to look directly at them. Non-suspecting victims may easily fall prey to the many hypnotizing layers of depth in their surface sheen.

It's difficult for me to break away from the pretentious tone of this piece, but it's the only way for me to verbally justify the most amazing pair of shoes I have ever owned.

Inasmuch as the shoes are incredible, I'm easily just as moved by the gesture. He had them for months, having responded to my strong reaction when I first noticed them on a co-worker one day in the fall. Aside from all else, I truly love being surprised! It's rare that someone can pull it off. I can't help it, but I pay attention. Finally I have someone in my life who does, too.

Schlemmy, remember how after you got your fabulous shoes at Furla, we talked about how we should just sit around some night and admire our amazing shoes? Well, it's a date!

Hmmm ... what would I look like as a mutant?

That's right. I didn't say ideally beautiful and that's what I meant! I wish everyone in the entire world, or at least this country of utterly skewed ideals, could see this clip.

GO DOVE!!!

Trees up. Trees down.

Christmas trees going back up at Sea-Tac

Do you feel the love this warm and snuggly holiday season? Well, maybe if you're a gentile in the Pacific Northwest, but not so much if you're a Jew.

Rabbi Elazar Bogomilsky went to the Port of Seattle to see that an 8-foot menorah be included with the decorations at SeaTac International airport, and threatened with a suit. I agree that the suit is taking it too far, but I honestly believe the story would have turned out the same if he had merely made an informal request. One 8-foot menorah to the probably countless Christmas trees: I just don't understand the problem. Yes, it does bring up the issue of political correctness, but that’s just the way it is in this day and age. And after all, it is an international airport.

So, instead of granting his wish, they take down all the Christmas decorations. How does this solve a single thing? By trying not to insult anyone, the Port managed to insult everyone.

To add insult to injury, hate mail has been pouring in to Jewish federations across the country. Hate mail. Happy fucking Chanukah. The Rabbi withdraw his suit, and up go the Christmas trees, and just the Christmas trees, again. Apparently, the Port has made plans to speak with the Rabbi on plans for decorations for next year. But in the meantime, the only decorative representation remaining honors the Christians, and Seattle is the laughing stock of the country.

I'm so embarrassed. Actually, I don't know what I am more: embarrassed or mortified. Why didn't you narrow-minded, self-righteous, arrogant idiots just give the man his menorah? After all, giving: isn't that what the season is all about? Great. Way to represent!

Christmas in Seattle

Because if we're serious about two things here in this town, it's coffee and recycling. So, why not just be efficient and combine the two?!