i sit by and watch the traffic go

I've never had good timing. My luck, in general, is bad. I've often bemoaned my cursed fate... except this week. Dude, I'd have to say that the sun is shining out my ass. I had to burn off some vacation days so I selected this week well over a month ago. An impending transit strike wasn't even a factor in my decision. I knew I'd have Christmas shopping to do and friends in town so voila! Vacation time requested and instantly granted. Thanks, boss!

I haven't done an ounce of schlepping because of this transit strike. Sure I've altered some plans, which is unfortunate, but I'm not hauling ass over the Brooklyn Bridge in arctic temperatures. Nor am I shelling out money to take dollar vans, livery cabs, etc. For those of you who are, I'm really sorry. It really sucks and with any luck, it will be over soon.

I'm sort of enjoying the vacation in my neighborhood. I did all of my Christmas shopping here, save for a couple of purchases on Amazon.com. The Adorable Five-Year-Old Niece is getting The Muppet Movie, The Great Muppet Caper and The Muppets Take Manhattan from her favorite aunt. Oh and I also got her The Neverending Story. I just need to get her a classic book and I'm done. I've been stocking her book and movie collection with my favorites since she was born.

I've also been getting caught up on movies. So far I've watched Rize and I'm halfway through Crash. I started getting sleepy and turned off the latter last night. I'll resume today. So far, I'm not really digging it. Everyone seems to be conveniently racist and super mouthy about their views. But perhaps that's the filmmaker's intent? Don't know. I have to watch the whole thing before I can legitimately critique the film.

I had a dream last night that was SO cool I didn't want to wake up. I was disappointed when I realized it wasn't real. I was in a diner having lunch with Ally Sheedy. What?! For some reason, I started talking about Andrew McCarthy like I knew him. And then Ally said, "He's a great guy. I know him well." And I said, "Oh right! You did a couple of movies together!" And then we talked about how much we both loved Andrew McCarthy. Yes, I know I'm a lesbian but I was positively smitten with the boy. How could you not love him in St. Elmo's Fire?!?! Or Pretty in Pink? His charm and cuteness completely transcended my sexual orientation. That is until he made Mannequin with Kim Cattrall and I was all, "Helllllllllllllooooooooooo, nurse!" I thought Kim was hot, yo (as discussed here).

Wow, this might be my least coherent and most random post ever (but do let me know if you have other nominations for this distinction). I don't have the mental energy to compose anything with a theme. Perhaps after a full vacation, my mind will once again be buzzing with activity. As it stands, my brain has not fully congealed after months of punishing it at work. It still has a mush-like consistency, you see.

I'm outta here. I'll check in again before Christmas. In the meantime, I've got presents to wrap, clothes to launder and blessings to count that I don't have to travel this week. Again, my sympathies and best wishes to those of you hoofing it back and forth!